Takehiro Hira Receives Trailblazer Award at Tokyo Gala
Takehiro Hira was honored with The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award on March 5, 2024, during a prestigious gala at the Roppongi Hills Club in Tokyo. The award recognizes artists whose careers highlight marginalized stories and characters, and Hira’s journey makes him a fitting recipient. The event coincided with the Tokyo International Film Festival and occurred amidst heightened security due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit.
Guests at the gala, which took place on the 51st floor of the Roppongi Hills Club, enjoyed stunning views of Tokyo despite the city’s traffic disruptions. Attendees included Hollywood talent, local industry leaders, and political figures, all gathered to celebrate Hira’s achievements. He received the award from Patrick Brzeski, Asia bureau chief of The Hollywood Reporter, and Urmila Venugopalan, president and managing director of the Motion Picture Association’s Asia-Pacific division.
Hira’s recognition follows that of his Shogun co-star Tadanobu Asano, making him the second Japanese actor to receive this accolade. His career has been marked by an unconventional path, with Hira drawing on his experiences in both Japan and the United States. Raised in the U.S. from his teenage years, he began his acting career by following in the footsteps of his father, Mikijirō Hira.
In recent years, Hira has gained prominence through roles in significant Hollywood productions, including Giri/Haji, The Swarm, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. His recent work in FX’s critically acclaimed series Shogun earned him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 2024 Emmy Awards. Currently, he stars in Hikari’s feature film Rental Family, which features Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser and is generating buzz for awards consideration.
Reflecting on the significance of the award, Hira shared, “I made a decision to sort of quit Japan a few years ago and make a full commitment to working in Hollywood. Back then, people weren’t very supportive, but I believed in my choices. So it really means a lot to me to get this recognition, as it wasn’t always easy.”
He continued, “When I made that transition to Hollywood, we had COVID and the strikes, so just getting a job or an audition in Hollywood was not easy. I never really imagined how this would snowball into something like this. I feel very lucky.”
Among the notable attendees at the event were producer Schuyler Weiss, renowned filmmaker Paul Schrader, and producer Alan Poul. Emerging filmmaker and model Hailey Gates was also present, promoting her film Atropia, which is part of the Tokyo festival’s main competition.
The event also featured prominent figures from the Japanese entertainment industry, including actors Hideaki Itō and Sho Kasamatsu. Various entertainment executives were in attendance, including Tamotsu Hiiro, managing director of Disney Japan, and Gaku Narita, executive director of original content for Disney Japan.
Japanese Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshimasa Hayashi and former Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita represented the local political landscape. In his remarks, Hayashi noted the significant growth of the Japanese content industry, stating, “The Japanese content business has been growing robustly and has now overtaken the semiconductor industry.”
Takehiro Hira’s Trailblazer Award serves as a testament to his dedication and unique contributions to the film industry, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives and the recognition of talent from underrepresented backgrounds.
