Actress Kiki Kirin and actor Nishida Toshiyuki attended the press conference for 'The 37th Japan Academy Prize' (aka Japan Academy Awards) as main MCs for the ceremony on January 16. 

The movies "The Devil's Path", "A Boy Called H", "Like Father, Like Son", "Tokyo Family", "The Great Passage", and "Ask This of Rikyu" have been nominated for the Picture of the Year. 

The Awards include any paid admission film over 40 minutes that has been screened in Tokyo area between December 16, 2012 and December 14, 2013. The members of the Japan Academy Prize Association vote on the award winners and the results will be announced on March 7, 2014. 

Traditionally only 5 works are nominated for Picture of the Year. However, 6 have been nominated this year, as there were works scored even.

Actor Lily Franky has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for both "The Devil's Path" and "Like Father, Like Son", while Studio Ghibli's "The Wind Rises" and "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" have both been nominated for Animation of the Year. Talent and actress Dan Mitsu, who had her big break last year, has been nominated for Newcomer of the Year with "Amai Muchi" (Sweet Whip).

The nominees for major categories are as follows. 

Picture of the Year:

• The Devil's Path
• Like Father, Like Son
• A Boy Called H
• Tokyo Family
• The Great Passage
• Ask This of Rikyu

Animation of the Year:

• The Tale of Princess Kaguya
• The Wind Rises
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica New Feature: Rebellion
• Lupin the Third vs Detective Conan THE MOVIE

Director of the Year:

• Ishii Yuya (The Great Passage)
• Koreeda Hirokazu (Like Father, Like Son)
• Shiraishi Kazuya (The Devil's Path)
• Mitani Koki (The Kiyosu Conference)
• Yamada Yoji (Tokyo Family)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

• Ichikawa Ebizo (Ask This of Rikyu)
• Hashidume Isao (Tokyo Family)
• Fukuyama Masaharu (Like Father, Like Son)
• Matsuda Ryuhei (The Great Passage)
• Watanabe Ken (Unforgiven)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

• Ueto Aya (A Tale Of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story)
• Ono Machiko (Like Father, Like Son)
• Maki Yoko (The Ravine of Goodbye)
• Miyazaki Aoi (The Great Passage)
• Yoshiyuki Kazuko (Tokyo Family)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

• Odagiri Joe (The Great Passage)
• Tsumabuki Satoshi (Tokyo Family)
• Pierre Taki (The Devil's Path)
• Matsuda Ryuhei (The Detective is in the Bar 2)
• Lily Franky (The Devil's Path, Like Father, Like Son)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

• Aoi Yu (Tokyo Family)
• Ono Machiko (The Detective is in the Bar 2)
• Nakatani Miki (Ask This of Rikyu)
• Maki Yoko (Like Father, Like Son)
• Yo Kimiko (A Tale Of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story)
  

Newcomer of the Year: 

• Kutsuna Shiori (Unforgiven, Before the Vigil)
• Kuroki Haru (The Great Passage, A Chair on the Plains)
• Dan Mitsu (Sweet Whip)
• Hamada Kokone (Oshin)
• Ayano Go (A Story of Yonosuke, The End of Summer)
• Suda Masaki (The Backwater)
• Hoshino Gen (Blindly in Love, Why Don't You Play in Hell?)
• Yoshioka Tatsuki (The Boy Called H)

Source & Image: Crank-In