"Tears of 'It Doesn't Feel Real'... Shim Eun-kyung Wins Best Actress at Japan Academy Awards"

Actress Shim Eun-kyung, who won the Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Awards
Photo by Japan Academy Prize Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] Actress Shim Eun-kyung won the Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Awards.

On the 6th, Shim Eun-kyung received the Best Actress award for the film Shinmungi-ja (The Journalist) at the 43rd Japan Academy Awards held at the Shin Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. She triumphed over strong contenders such as Fumi Nikaido from Fly, Saitama, Mayu Matsuoka from Honeybee and Thunder, Rie Miyazawa from No Longer Human: Osamu Dazai and the Three Women, and Sayuri Yoshinaga from How to Find the Best Life. This is the first time a Korean actor has received this award since the ceremony's inception in 1978.

When her name was announced, Shim Eun-kyung blinked in disbelief. With a flushed face, she accepted the trophy. During her acceptance speech, she burst into tears. Speaking in Japanese, she said, "I'm sorry. I did not expect to win, so I was not prepared for a speech," and sobbed. She then expressed gratitude to Tori Matsuzaka, with whom she worked closely, and vowed, "I will continue to work hard."

In a backstage interview, she also said, "It still doesn't feel real." "I am very happy to receive such a prestigious award from the Japan Academy. My heart is still pounding," she added, expressing her sincere thanks.

Actress Shim Eun-kyung, who won the Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Awards
[Photo by Japan Academy Prize Association]

The film Shinmungi-ja (The Journalist), which brought honor to Shim Eun-kyung, deals with a political scandal involving the current Japanese government. It is about the Kake Gakuen incident that shook Japan in 2017. The Abe administration was embroiled in controversy for granting special favors related to the establishment of a veterinary school to a specific private educational foundation.

Director Michihito Fujii persistently delves into the secrets of the Japanese government, including political scandals, public opinion manipulation, and the suicide of a high-ranking official. With realistic depictions and a tense narrative, the film criticizes the state and journalism, sweeping the awards for Best Actress, Best Picture, and Best Actor (Tori Matsuzaka) on that day.

Shim Eun-kyung portrayed Erika Yoshioka, a journalist born to a Japanese father and Korean mother and raised in the United States, speaking Japanese. She had previously been recognized for her high-level performance by winning the Best Actress awards at the Mainichi Film Awards, Takasaki Film Festival, and the Best New Actress award at the Tama Cinema Forum.