The 67th Blue Ribbon Awards were announced in Tokyo, in late January 2025 by the Association of Tokyo Film Journalists, recognizing outstanding achievements in Japanese cinema released during 2024.
The major winner was A Samurai in Time, which won Best Film and also earned its lead actor, Makiya Yamaguchi, recognition in the acting categories.
Another major highlight of the ceremony was A Girl Named Ann, which achieved significant recognition through Yu Irie’s Best Director win and Yuumi Kawai’s Best Actress award.
Major Winners
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | A Samurai in Time | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Director | Junichi Yasuda | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Actor | Makiya Yamaguchi | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Actress | Yuumi Kawai | A Girl Named Ann / Desert of Namibia |
| Best Supporting Actor | Taiga Nakano | 11 Rebels |
| Best Supporting Actress | Akiko Oshidari | Living in Two Worlds |
| Best Newcomer | Ikoi Hayase | Worlds Apart and Sana: Let Me Hear |
| Best Screenplay | Michito Fujii | Faceless |
| Best Animation Film | Look Back | Look Back |
Obs: Yuumi Kawai was honored for her combined performances in A Girl Named Ann and Desert of Namibia, meaning she received a single award covering multiple roles.
A Samurai in Time Dominates the Awards
Japanese film critics widely described A Samurai in Time as one of the most remarkable “indie breakthrough” success stories in recent years. Genuine critical consensus built from word-of-mouth.
Critics also highlighted the supporting cast’s contribution to the film’s tone, especially how performances worked collectively rather than individually.
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | A Samurai in Time | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Director | Junichi Yasuda | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Actor | Makiya Yamaguchi | A Samurai in Time |
Newcomer Award of the Year Winner
Actors and actresses at the beginning of their careers or who had a breakthrough role during 2025. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the person’s first film.
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Newcomer | Ikoi Hayase | Worlds Apart and Sana: Let Me Hear |
Films Reviewed here That Won Japan Academy Awards
Here you will find reviews of award-winning Japanese films and my impressions of Japanese culture as portrayed in these films.
Ann is a drug-addicted call girl who heroically tries to get back on her feet with the help of a journalist and a police officer.
Kana Miyama lives without great aspirations for the future, but is very well treated by her boyfriend. Even so, she falls in love and leaves everything behind.
Faceless (Drama/Mistery/Thriller)
Keiichi was on death row for triple homicide, but he managed to escape detention and was going to do everything to prove his innocence.
Fujino was an aspiring manga artist who produced comic strips for the school newspaper. Full of herself, she is confronted with the reality that Kyomoto is on another artistic level.
Actors Featured here Who Won Awards
Here you will find other reviewed Japanese films that the winning actors of The 67th Blue Ribbon Awards participated in.
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Actor | Makiya Yamaguchi | A Samurai in Time |
| Best Actress | Yuumi Kawai | A Girl Named Ann / Desert of Namibia |
| Best Supporting Actor | Taiga Nakano | 11 Rebels |
| Best Supporting Actress | Akiko Oshidari | Living in Two Worlds |
| Best Newcomer | Ikoi Hayase | Worlds Apart and Sana: Let Me Hear |
A significant point highlighted by the press was the implementation of gender-neutral acting categories, replacing the traditional separation between actor and actress awards.