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‘Alice in Borderland’ Star Isomura Hayato on the Role He Was Warned Off, Judging Tokyo’s Ethical Film Award and Why Japanese Cinema Needs Government Backing
Isomura Hayato says he accepted a challenging role in the drama “The Moon” despite warnings that its subject, a real incident at a facility for people with disabilities, could harm his career. The performance won him a Japan Academy Film Prize, and his interest in socially difficult material also shaped his work as a juror for the Ethical Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The jury chose “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming”, a German drama linking gender with Russia’s war in Ukraine, after close deliberations with the Brazilian animation “Amadeo”. Isomura says the film introduced him to perspectives on war that feel distant in Japan, and that student jurors also considered whether a film offered hope. He argues Japanese cinema could make more room for political satire and black humour, and says the industry needs government backing.
In short
- Isomura took a role others warned could hurt his career.
- His festival jury chose a drama set against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- He says Japanese cinema needs more political satire and government support.
Explained simply
The Moon is a Japanese drama based on a real incident at a facility for people with disabilities. Isomura Hayato, also known internationally for Alice in Borderland, took on a difficult role in the film despite warnings that it might affect his career; his performance later won a Japan Academy Film Prize.
The Tokyo International Film Festival is a major film event in Japan, where awards recognise films from different countries and backgrounds. Its Ethical Film Award focuses on films that engage with social issues, and its jury includes people from the film industry and students.
Japanese cinema operates within a wider film industry shaped by funding, audiences and cultural expectations. Debate about government support, and about how freely films can explore politics or use satire and black humour, helps explain why Isomura’s comments on the industry matter.
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