Fuji Television’s program, “The Nonfiction” receives double awards! – Silver World Medal and the Bronze “United Nations Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) awards” at the “2020 New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards.”

We at Fuji Television are greatly pleased and honored to announce that, “The Nonfiction: Monk and Vulnerable Souls,” has won a Silver World Medal in the Documentary/Religion & Philosophy category, and the Bronze “United Nations Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) awards” at the “2020 New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards.” This announcement was officially made on Wednesday, April 22nd (JST).

Inaugurated in 1957, the highly prestigious “New York Festivals TV & Film Awards” honor contents in various genres, including Television, Film, Radio and Advertising. Also, annually from 1990, New York Festivals, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, selects entries that exemplify the aims and ideas of the United Nations and honors them with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) awards. The UNDGC is determined by the United Nations Department of Global Communications jury panel (formerly called UN Department of Public Information) and is described in the rules under UNDPI.

And due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak around the world, this year’s winners were announced on the official website via online streaming. With entries from over 50 countries, the overall winners were awarded with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

The Nonfiction: Monk and Vulnerable Souls

There is a small temple located in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture. It used to be a refuge for children who could not live with their family, due to reasons such as delinquency, abuse, and drug dependency. Whilst hanging around with a gang, Shou repeatedly stole motorcycles to the point of almost being sent to a juvenile detention center at the age of 13. And, Takuma, used to be a bad guy often referred to as the student gangster. This is a documentary which follows the 11 long years of the two boys, who had spent their adolescent years, at the temple of the Chief Monk Kunimitsu Hironaka. At the temple, Monk Hironaka looked after children who were suffering from many kinds of issues, and helped them to rehabilitate for over 20 years. Children called him the ‘Uncle,’ and he was almost like their secondary father. However, the Monk was inflicted with stage 4 cancer. Until his last moments, he was completely dedicated to the children. This documentary is a long record of Shou, Takuma, and the children, who had spent time with the monk, developing strong and long-term ties as the years went by.

Comments from the honorees

Yojiro Nishimura – Chief Producer – Fuji Television (The Nonfiction: Monk and Vulnerable Souls)

Continuing on from last year’s Bronze award, I’m so greatly honored to have “The Nonfiction” being recognized for such a highly prestigious awards like the “2020 New York Festivals.“ After the “Monk and Vulnerable Souls,” we have continued to make further programs for “The Nonfiction,” including a documentary which puts the spotlight on a young girl, to even a 2-hour special. Both of these have received much appraisal, whilst also sweeping the viewer ratings. I’m so thankful, that this documentary has been globally recognized. I hope to continue making more programs like this in the future, which puts the spotlight on some of the universal themes which surrounds a person’s life.

Yagi Satomi Interview/Direction  (The Nonfiction: Monk and Vulnerable Souls)

We started off with our coverage in September, 2007, a time of the IT revolution. Back then, children lived in a dramatically changing society with cases such as online bullying. However, children who came to the temple were craving for a place where they could feel loved and secured, something which they were not receiving at their homes and schools. For the children, the Monk was someone who could embrace these gaps within their lives almost like a fully supportive parent. Even in this “Reiwa” era, abuse and suicide among children are still on the increase. From the early production stages of this documentary, we have consistently believed and hoped, that the ways in which the monk had risked himself to help the children, is being recognized as a sense of hope and enlightenment for children who are suffering from many kinds negative issues. I would like to thank everyone involved in the production of this documentary.

■Official Website – New York Festivals® https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/

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