Art Encouragement Newcomer Award of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
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Edition 42 (1992) award
Naoto Takenaka
たけなか なおと
Takenaka Naoto
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1956-03-20 （Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan → Tokyo, Japan
Career
- Occupations
- Actor, Film director, Voice actor, Comedian, Singer, TV personality
- Active Years
- 1983-
- Affiliations
- Seinenza Theater Company, From First Production (Ladybird)
- Influenced By
- Yoshiharu Tsuge, Bruce Lee, Shin'ichi Chiba (Sonny Chiba)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama Art University | Faculty of Art | Department of Graphic Design | 学士 | 1976-1980 | Japan |
Tama Art University
Faculty of Art
/ Department of Graphic Design
Degree:
学士
Period:
1976-1980
Year of Graduation:
1980
Country:
Japan
Involved in student film production; later served as a visiting professor.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Venice International Film Festival — FIPRESCI Prize | The Helpless Man (Munou no Hito) | — | Venice International Film Festival | winner |
| 1993 | Japan Academy Prize — Best Supporting Actor | Sumo Do, Sumo Don't | — | Japan Academy Prize | winner |
| 1997 | Japan Academy Prize — Best Supporting Actor | Shall We Dance? | — | Japan Academy Prize | winner |
| 1992 | Blue Ribbon Award — Best Actor | The Helpless Man (Munou no Hito) | — | Blue Ribbon Awards | winner |
| 1992 | Kinema Junpo Readers' Award | Slightly Peevish Appearance (essay) | — | Kinema Junpo | winner |
Venice International Film Festival — FIPRESCI Prize
1991
Work:
The Helpless Man (Munou no Hito)
Organization:
Venice International Film Festival
Result:
winner
Japan Academy Prize — Best Supporting Actor
1993
Work:
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize
Result:
winner
Japan Academy Prize — Best Supporting Actor
1997
Work:
Shall We Dance?
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize
Result:
winner
Blue Ribbon Award — Best Actor
1992
Work:
The Helpless Man (Munou no Hito)
Organization:
Blue Ribbon Awards
Result:
winner
Kinema Junpo Readers' Award
1992
Work:
Slightly Peevish Appearance (essay)
Organization:
Kinema Junpo
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Munou no Hito (The Helpless Man)
1991 Film (director & lead actor)Film adaptation of Yoshiharu Tsuge's work; Takenaka's directorial debut in which he also starred; critically acclaimed domestically and internationally.
alienationmarginalized characters
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
1992 Film (supporting role)A coming-of-age ensemble comedy featuring Takenaka in a memorable supporting role; widely appreciated in Japan.
youthhumor
A Sunny Tokyo (Tokyo Biyori)
1997 Film (lead & director)One of Takenaka's films where he served as both lead actor and director; portrays urban scenes and human relationships.
urban dramahuman relationships
Bibliography
- Slightly Peevish Appearance
- Moonlit Crab / Naoto's Lovely Box
- It's Better for Actors to Be Unskillful
Adaptations
- Munou no Hito (film; directed by Takenaka)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Wry and humorous prose (essays)Cinematic work: cynical yet delicate depiction
- Recurring Motifs
- outsiders / marginal charactersdualities of laughter and anger
Legacy
Active as actor, director and comedian across many genres; recipient of numerous acting and directing awards. Recognized as a distinctive figure in Japanese cinema.
In Popular Culture
- Notable portrayals of historical figures such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Long-running appearances in commercials (e.g., SMBC Mobit)
Quotes
-
He does not refuse work except for scheduling conflicts.
Source: Interviews (AERA, others) (2018)
Trivia
- Gained attention in student days for impersonations, later rose as a comedian.
- Directorial debut with 'Munou no Hito', winning the FIPRESCI Prize at Venice.