On Thursday, September 23rd, the nominees for the “49th International Emmy® Awards” were announced in New York, USA.
Documentary program, “Kabuki Actors’ Anguish – Is Entertainment Nonessential?” which aired last December, has been nominated for the “Arts Programming” category of the “49th International Emmy® Awards,” the international version of the “Emmy Awards,” often recognized as the “Academy Awards” for the American TV industry. This is the only program selected from Japan among the excellent works from all over the world.
The documentary follows the story of the “Nakamuraya-ya,” which inherits the traditional Japanese culture of “Kabuki,” continuing to challenge through amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The program winning the award is eagerly being anticipated.
In the year 2020, when the infection of the new pandemic spread around the world, Kankuro Nakamura VI, who carries the legacy of the prestigious “Nakamura-ya” which inherits the tradition of Kabuki for more than 400 years, questions, “isn’t entertainment desired in this day and age?” This is a documentary that follows the depiction of creating performances almost like a miracle through the turbulent times.
Fuji Television’s close-up documentary on the “Nakamura-ya” kabuki guild has been following them for more than 30 years. Twenty special programs have been aired on terrestrial up until now, and in 2007, the program was awarded the “JBA Award” (“Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association”) in a category for television. It was even made into a movie in 2013. Moreover last year, when the entertainment industry was plunged into crisis due to the pandemic, with the help of the “Nakamura-ya” kabuki guild, filming continued whilst taking infection prevention measures which led to a long-running broadcast.
Filming is continuing in 2021 and Fuji Television will air the program at the end of this year. The broadcast revolves around the idea of inheritance and its power in the world of “Kabuki,” including the stage performance of “Renjishi” by the youngest family collaboration in history, with over 30 years of treasured footage that has been stored in the archives.
The “Arts Programming” category for the “International Emmy Awards” is awarded to programs that focus on the arts and artists. This year, a total of four contents have been nominated which also include,“Emicida – Amarelo: It’s All For Yesterday”（NETFLIX）from Brazil, “Kubrick By Kubrick”（Temps Noir/Telemark/ARTE） from France, and “Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words”（FOOTWORK FILMS） from the UK. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony to be held in New York on Monday, November 22nd (local time).
■About International Emmy Awards
As an international version of the “Emmy Awards,” it is recognized as the “Academy Awards” of the American TV industry. Established in 1973, this year marks its 49th anniversary.
Hosted by “The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences” (headquarters: New York), it is affiliated with more than 500 broadcasting and media organizations worldwide. In addition to the “Primetime Emmy Awards” (winners announced in September), which honors programs aired in the United States, the “International Emmy Awards” are handed out to outstanding television programs produced and broadcasted outside of the United States. Each year, the recipients are announced in November, at an awards ceremony held in New York. There are four main categories for programs, performances, digital and kids, with further categories based on the genre of the work.
■Akira Nishimura, Chief Producer, Documentary and Specials Production, Fuji Television Network, Inc. comments: “While all forms of entertainment around the world are on the verge of crisis, I am very happy to receive honors internationally, for a program which depicts the struggles of the Japanese Kabuki world and “Nakamura-ya.” With this opportunity, we hope that even more people will pay attention to the “Nakamuraya” family and this documentary series that follows them, as we move forward to the next broadcast in December”