34th Japan Academy Prize - winners led by Confessions

The Nippon Academy-shō Association for Excellence in Japanese Film held its 34th Japan Academy Prize ceremony today at New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. The big prizes of the night went to Kokuhaku (Confessions), which captured the awards for Picture, Director, Screenplay and Editing.

Sang-il Lee’s Akunin (Villain) had led with 15 nominations and actually emerged with the most wins, winning five awards. It won all four acting categories as well as the award for Music.

Takashi Miike's Jûsan-nin no Shikaku (13 Assassins) also captured four awards. It won for Cinematography, Lighting, Art Direction and Sound Recording.

The Foreign Film prize went to Avatar, which beat out The Hurt Locker, Inception, Toy Story 3 and Invictus.
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Complete list of 34th Japan Academy Prize winners

Picture of the Year
Kokuhaku (Confessions)

Animation of the Year
Kari-gurashi no Arietti (The Borrowers)

Director of the Year
Tetsuya Nakashima, Kokuhaku (Confessions)

Screenplay of the Year
Tetsuya Nakashima, Kokuhaku (Confessions)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Satoshi Tsumabuki, Akunin (Villain)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Eri Fukatsu, Akunin (Villain)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Akira Emoto, Akunin (Villain)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Kirin Kiki, Akunin (Villain)

Outstanding Achievement in Music
Joe Hisaishi, Akunin (Villain)

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
Nobuyasu Kita, Jûsan-nin no Shikaku (13 Assassins)

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction
Yoshiya Watanabe, Jûsan-nin no Shikaku (13 Assassins)

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Yuji Hayashida, Jûsan-nin no Shikaku (13 Assassins)

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording
Jun Nakamura, Jûsan-nin no Shikaku (13 Assassins)

Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing
Yoshiyuki Koike, Kokuhaku (Confessions)

Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Avatar

Rookie Awards
Mana Ashida, Ghost: Mou Ichido Dakishimetai
Momoka Ono, Kinako: Minarai Keisatsuken no Monogatari (Police Dog Dream)
Riisa Naka, Zeburâman: Zebura Shiti no Gyakushû (Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City), Toki o kakeru shôjo (Time Traveller)
Kento Nagayama, Sofutoboi (Softball Boys)
Shohei Miura, Za Rasuto Messêji: Umizaru (Umizaru 3: The Last Message)
Takahiro Miura, Railways

Special Award from the Chairman
Umetsugu Inoue (director, died February 11 at the age of 86)
Tanie Kitabayashi (actress, died April 27 at the age of 98)
Takeo Kimura (art director, died March 21 at the age of 91)
Keiju Kobayashi (actor, died September 16 at the age of 86)
Katsumi Nishikawa (director, died April 6 at the age of 91)

Special Award from the Association
Ryuzo Ueno (sword fights)
Hiroshi Kuze (sword fights)
Ryoji Matsumoto (decoration)
Nobuo Yajima (special effects)
Teruyo Nogami (Kurosawa-gumi production manager)