Haha to Kuraseba receives 11 awards of the Japan Academy Prize

The movie Haha to Kuraseba (Nagasaki: Memories of My Son), released in December 2015, which Sumitomo Corporation participated in producing, was selected for the 39th Japan Academy Prize in a total of 11 categories, including Picture of the Year. In particular, the film was honored by the receipt of the best actor and the best supporting actress awards, which went to Kazunari Ninomiya and Haru Kuroki, respectively. The award ceremony was held on March 4, 2016.

The film is the latest released work of revered director Yoji Yamada. The story is about a young medical student (played by Kazunari Ninomiya) killed in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in August 1945, who three years later appears before his mother (played by Sayuri Yoshinaga) as a ghost, to engage in heart-to-heart communication with her. Highlighting their time together depicted in a setting combining real life and fantasy, the picture exudes purity and warmth. The film's success was also helped by the superb performance of Ninomiya and Kuroki, who played the bereaved girlfriend of the aspiring physician who died too soon.

When accepting the award, Ninomiya expressed his deep delight in receiving the honor. He said, "With this high commendation, I think I have given back something to the people who have persistently supported me over the past years. Building on this, I will continue striving to achieve more."

Sumitomo Corporation has been collaborating with Director Yamada on his major film works, including 11 titles nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year, some of which he won. Those projects started from Gakko (A Class to Remember; given an award in 1994), followed by Tasogare Seibei (The Twilight Samurai; 2003), Bushi no Ichibun (Love and Honor; 2007), Kabe (Kabei: Our Mother; 2009), Tokyo Kazoku (Tokyo Family; 2014), among others.

Another movie by Yamada, Kazoku wa Tsuraiyo (What a Wonderful Family!) will hit the screens on March 12, 2016. We hope that many people will go to see his newest family-themed drama.