Takehiro Hira Honored at Tokyo Film Festival with Trailblazer Award

Japanese actor Takehiro Hira will receive The Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious Trailblazer Award at the upcoming 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 28, 2023. Known for his roles in FX’s acclaimed series Shogun and the drama Rental Family, Hira’s recognition highlights his significant contributions to the global entertainment landscape.

The award ceremony will take place during the “American Film Night” celebration at the Roppongi Hills Club. This event is expected to attract a gathering of industry leaders, filmmakers, and stars from both Japan and the United States. Hira will become only the second Japanese artist to receive this honor, following veteran actor Tadanobu Asano, who was recognized at last year’s festival.

The Trailblazer Award is presented to artists whose careers exemplify boundary-crossing narratives and enhance representation in global cinema. Previous recipients include notable figures such as Jean Smart, David Oyelowo, and Eva Longoria.

Hira gained international acclaim for his role as the ambitious warlord Ishido Kazunari in Shogun, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. His upcoming film, Rental Family, features Brendan Fraser and is directed by Hikari. The film, which premiered to positive reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival, will also have a gala screening at the Tokyo event.

Hira has recently completed production on Karoshi, a Lionsgate film co-starring Cynthia Erivo and Teo Yoo. He also appeared in Rumours, directed by Guy Maddin, alongside Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander, which debuted at Cannes.

Over the last two decades, Hira has established a versatile career, seamlessly transitioning between projects in Hollywood, Europe, and Asia. His breakthrough role came in the Netflix/BBC series Giri/Haji in 2020, where he portrayed detective Kenzo Mori, earning a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Lead Actor. Hira will soon reprise his role as Hiroshi Randa in Season 2 of Apple TV+’s popular action series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

The Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan’s premier cinema celebration, will commence next week in the upscale Ginza district. The award ceremony for Hira is anticipated to be one of the festival’s key highlights.

Additionally, on October 29, the Motion Picture Association will host its annual policy program focused on enhancing Japan’s production ecosystem, featuring speakers such as producers Schuyler Weis and Eriko Miyagawa. This session will be moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s Asia bureau chief, Patrick Brzeski. On October 31, Weis will present a masterclass at TIFFCOM, further contributing to the festival’s offerings this year.