The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is pleased to announce that the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the film industry both in Japan and internationally, will be presented to Yoshinaga Sayuri at the 38th edition of the festival.
 

 
Since making her official film debut in Asa o yobu kuchibue in 1959, Yoshinaga has remained at the forefront of the Japanese film industry, appearing in more than 120 films over her illustrious career and winning the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Leading Actress a record four times — for Ohan, Station to Heaven, Crane, A Chaos of Flowers, Nagasaki Bura Bura, and Year One in the North. She has starred in numerous works that combine both artistic excellence and popular appeal, and earned her an enormous following. Her achievements have also been recognized at the highest levels: Japan has named Yoshinaga Sayuri a Person of Cultural Merit and bestowed on her the Medal with Purple Ribbon.
 
She produced as well as starred in Cape Nostalgia, which won both the Jury Grand Prix and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Montreal World Film Festival. In recent years, Yoshinaga has taken on powerful roles in films exploring themes such as the lingering effects of war and the dignity of life, including Nagasaki: Memories of My Son and Mom, Is That You?! In Climbing for Life, this year’s TIFF Opening Film, she portrays the first woman ever to climb Mount Everest.
 
Throughout her career, Yoshinaga has contributed immensely to the advancement of Japanese cinema, always taking on new challenges while maintaining the grace and dignity of a true actress. In recognition of her extraordinary achievements and lasting impact, TIFF is honored to present her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
 

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Comment from Ando Hiroyasu, 38th TIFF Chairman
Ms. Yoshinaga has risen to the pinnacle of Japanese cinema over many years, overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Her remarkable journey mirrors that of the indomitable female mountaineer she portrays in Climbing for Life, who became the first woman ever to conquer Mount Everest. It is a great honor to present her with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition and appreciation of her outstanding contributions to cinema, on the occasion of the film’s screening as the Opening Film of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival.
 
Yoshinaga Sayuri Profile
Born in Tokyo. She made her screen debut in 1959 in Asa o yobu kuchibue. Since then, she has appeared in numerous acclaimed films, including Foundry Town, Gazing at Love and Death, Doran, The Makioka Sisters, Year One in the North, Kabei: Our Mother, A Chorus of Angels, and Mom, Is That You?! She produced as well as starred in Cape Nostalgia, which won both the Jury Grand Prix and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Montreal World Film Festival. Her latest film, Climbing for Life, marks her 124th screen appearance.