Veteran Japanese actor Yakusho Koji will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. He is the third Japanese honoree of this accolade, following director Yamada Yoji and actress Kiki Kirin. Yakusho recently won the Best Actor Award at Cannes 2023 for “Perfect Days.” His career spans over four decades, with notable films including “Shall We Dance?” and “Tampopo.” Expressing gratitude, Yakusho stated this honor inspires him to continue improving in his craft. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 16, with a screening of “Perfect Days” on March 15.
Hong Kong:
Renowned Japanese actor Yakusho Koji is set to receive the esteemed lifetime achievement award at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, Japan.
The star of Perfect Days, Yakusho, becomes the third Japanese artist to receive this prestigious accolade from the AFA, following in the footsteps of director Yamada Yoji (2008) and actress Kiki Kirin (2016). He previously earned the Best Actor Award at Cannes 2023 for his role in ‘Perfect Days’, directed by Wim Wenders.
According to the Outlet, Yakusho Koji initially began his career as a civil servant before breaking into Taiga drama (long-running television series aired by NHK) and later appearing in various films directed by Kurosawa Akira.
He rose to prominence in the 1990s across Asia with his performances in “Shall We Dance?” as a ballroom dancer and “Lost Paradise.” He also had a significant role in Itami Juzo’s film “Tampopo,” as reported by Variety.
This honor reflects Yakusho’s remarkable four-decade journey in cinema. The celebrated actor has been nominated four times and has won the AFA Best Actor award twice — for “The Blood of Wolves” (2018) and “Perfect Days” (2023).
Yakusho shared his enthusiasm upon receiving the lifetime achievement award at the 18th Asian Film Awards, mentioning that this recognition inspires him to continue improving in the remaining years of his acting journey.
“I was genuinely honored to learn the names of the previous recipients, and I find myself in awe of such esteemed individuals,” Yakusho expressed. “Receiving this award encourages me to aim for even greater accomplishments in the years to come in my acting career,” as quoted by Variety.
The 18th Asian Film Awards will take place on March 16 at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. In addition to the awards ceremony, Yakusho will also partake in a screening of “Perfect Days” on March 15, where he will interact with fans in Hong Kong, according to Variety.
Beyond ‘Perfect Days’, the actor has achieved global recognition through films such as ‘Shall We Dance?’, Cure, 13 Assassins, The Third Murder, The Blood of Wolves, Under the Open Sky, and The Days.
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