<figure id="attachment_413689" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1982px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413689"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b5b898af"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/575f79b197bc05a01e10c82b89ff6fa9.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413689" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hosts Sayuri Yoshinaga and Ryunosuke Kamiki, along with award recipients Yumi Kawai, Kyoko Koizumi, and 17-year-old Ikoi Hayase (back row, right).</span></figcaption></figure>
<h2><b>Kawai appeared tense, with an expression lacking composure</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It may have been unexpected for Yumi Kawai (24) to stand on stage alongside legendary actress Sayuri Yoshinaga (79) and Kyoko Koizumi (59). That was how strongly her nervousness came across.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On February 12, the 67th Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony was held in Tokyo, with Yoshinaga, last year&#8217;s Best Actress winner, and Ryunosuke Kamiki (31) serving as hosts.</span></p>
<p><b>&#8220;Last September, Yoshinaga lost her husband, Taro Okada, former president and chairman of Kyodo Television, with whom she had been together for about 50 years. However, just three days later, she appeared on the set of her upcoming film Beyond the Summit, scheduled for release this fall, as reported by Shukan Josei PRIME (December 29, 2024).</b></p>
<p><b>Even in taking on the role of host this time, she carefully reviewed all the award-winning works and provided thoughtful commentary. At 79 years old, her passion for film and her presence as an actress remain unparalleled,&#8221; </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">said a sports newspaper reporter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the ceremony, Kawai, who won Best Actress for her performances in An no Koto and Namibia no Sabaku, appeared in an elegant black dress.</span></p>
<p><b>&#8220;Both of these films were created with great dedication by everyone involved. They continue to give me courage even now,&#8221; </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">she said, looking deeply moved yet visibly nervous.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Koizumi, who won Best Supporting Actress for Umi no Chinmoku and Goban Giri, also appeared in a chic black outfit. Interestingly, both she and Kawai had appeared in last year&#8217;s much-talked-about drama Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru! (TBS).</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="A dream come true for the three top actresses!"></div>
<h2><b>Koizumi reached out her arm to Kawai</b></h2>
<p><b>&#8220;Although they hadn’t co-starred, Kawai had sung Koizumi’s Nantettatte Idol in a Suntory commercial, creating a unique connection between them. When host Kamiki mentioned this and suggested, ‘Since we have the chance, how about a two-shot?’ Koizumi stood up, extended her arm toward Kawai, and gestured, ‘Come here.’ Kawai looked a bit bewildered by the sudden request but still responded properly, posing for the two-shot,&#8221;</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> said the aforementioned reporter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the awards ceremony, Kawai approached Koizumi, shook her hand, and thanked her, saying, &#8220;Thank you very much.&#8221; For Kawai, the ceremony, standing before two legendary actresses, must have been a truly special experience.</span><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5958fc9c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/b543bf1f5a2f3c6d0b06f59422650fd4.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<figure id="attachment_413690" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 5106px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413690"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413690" class="wp-caption-text">Yumi Kawai moving from place to place at the urging of Kyoko Koizumi.</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<figure id="attachment_413693" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3440px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413693"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6cab739d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/c19126e99203268e03fecfd37e5e5146.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413693" class="wp-caption-text">Yumi Kawai always looked nervous.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_413696" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3356px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413696"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d9382a0c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/816bfa2261a370c26c8718e03fc4bd59.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413696" class="wp-caption-text">Yumi Kawai looked good in a chic black dress.</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="The youthful appearance of Sayuri Yoshinaga"></div>
<figure id="attachment_413694" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3007px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413694"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1a5c95cb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/9ae3a296e8e4a031798f3472585e1ea3.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413694" class="wp-caption-text">Sayuri Yoshinaga&#8217;s youthful appearance, hard to believe she is 79 years old.</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<figure id="attachment_413695" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4869px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413695"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a60c9a85"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/9025ee17d997527d4a95391b0ff65207.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413695" class="wp-caption-text">Hostess Sayuri Yoshinaga, Ryunosuke Kamiki, and the award winners.</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>


 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 On February 12, "Blue Ribbon Award" ceremony was held, where Sayuri Yoshinaga, Kyoko Koizumi, and Yumi Kawai "co-starred". Kawai looked nervous throughout the award ceremony. She was even asked by Koizumi to speak up. ......

Sayuri Yoshinaga, Kyoko Koizumi, and Yumi Kawai Shine at the Blue Ribbon Awards

Access Ranking