Four NHK Dramas win at Tokyo Drama Awards

The Tokyo Drama Awards is a competition held every year in October during the International  Drama Festival in Tokyo. The concept of the Tokyo Drama Awards is “competitiveness in the  global market” and winners are selected with an emphasis on marketability in addition to  production quality. 

Winner of Grand Prix for Single Drama 
Winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tsuyoshi KUSANAGI) Deaf Voice: A Sign-Language Interpreter in Court  (2x 73 min., Aired on NHK General TV on 12/16) 

Naoto ARAI, a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and ex  policeman, grapples with loneliness and personal  challenges—having lost both his job and his marriage. However, his proficiency in sign language offers him a  chance at a new start. He becomes a sign-language  interpreter in court, leading him to a murder investigation and a surprising twist of fate. 
A Two-Part crime mystery adapted from Masaki MARUYAMA's best-selling novel. Tsuyoshi KUSANAGI, who plays the role of Naoto was awarded “Best Actor in a Leading Role”. 

The advice of experts in various fields, including sign language, deafness, and CODA, was  sought in order to broadcast this story. Nearly 20 actors who themselves were either Deaf or  hard-of-hearing were selected through auditions. Two sign language interpreters constantly  collaborated on set so that everyone involved in the production would be fully connected at all  times. After the broadcast, members of the Deaf communities described the production as a  trail-blazing event in the portrayal of deafness in Japanese TV drama. 

The executive producer, Koji SAKABE, expresses his delight upon hearing the news about the  win, “We are thrilled to hear the news. The participation of Deaf and hard-of-hearing actors  produced a powerful suspense drama that was not only entertaining but also uniquely socially  relevant. We are so grateful for their contribution and will share this wonderful news with  them.” 

“Deaf Voice” has also been nominated for an International Emmy (TV Movie/Mini-Series) and  the Asian Academy Creative Awards (Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology Episode). 

Winner of Excellent Award for Series Drama 
The Great Passage  (10x 49 min., Aired on NHK General TV on February 18) 
Midori KISHIBE, an editor at a popular fashion magazine,  is abruptly informed that the magazine is folding and that  she's being transferred to the Dictionary Department.  

Midori's life is turned upside down when she joins the  department which is run by the hyper earnest Majime  MITSUYA and his idiosyncratic team. Inspired by how her new colleagues are committed,  focused and patient in their decade-plus endeavor to edit one dictionary, Midori begins to  discoverthe fantastic world of words and propels herself into the new job. United by the  devotion to edit The Great Passage dictionary, the Dictionary Department team are hard at  work. 

Based on Shion MIURA's bestselling novel, this TV series adapted it in the form of changing the  protagonist to Midori whereas the original novel focuses on Majime.  

Winner of Excellent Award for Series Drama 
Winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role (Shizuka ISHIBASHI) Swallows (10x 45 min., Aired on NHK General TV on April 30) Temp staff worker Riki is torn. A colleague at work invited  her to become an "egg donor" and earn some money. She  goes to the reproductive medicine agency Plante for an  
interview. What was offered to her there was not an egg  donation but to be a surrogate mother.  
Former ballet dancer Motoi KUSAOKE and his wife Yuko are looking for a surrogate mother who would give birth to their  
two children in exchange for a large fee… 

Based on Natsuo KIRINO’s award-winning novel of the same title. 
Shizuka ISHIBASHI who played the role of Riki was awarded the “Best Actress in a Leading  Role.” And Yuki UCHIDA who played the drole of Yuko was awarded the “Best Actress in a  Supporting Role.” Winner of Excellent Award for Single Drama 

Mikaiketsu Jiken (Cold Case) – File 10: Shimoyama Case 
In July 1949, the run-over body of Japanese National Railways president Shimoyama Sadanori  was found. Was it suicide or murder? The investigation goes astray, drawing public opinion into  the matter. The “Mikaiketsu Jiken” series features cold cases in modern Japan and examines the  truth in the form of a high-production drama, which is then followed by an in-depth  documentary. 

LC