BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated Japanese actor Takehiro Hira, one of the unforgettable leads of FXs hit historical epic Shogun and Searchlights Brendan Fraser-starring drama Rental Family, will receive The Hollywood Reporters Trailblazer Award at the upcoming 38th Tokyo International Film Festival.

The honor, presented by THR in partnership with the Motion Picture Association, will be given to Hira during a glitzy American Film Night celebration at the Roppongi Hills Club on Oct. 28, attended by top executives, filmmakers and stars from both the U.S. and Japanese screen industries. Hira will be just the second Japanese talent ever to receive the distinction, following veteran actor Tadanobu Asano, who was honored at last years festival. THRs Trailblazer Award is given to artists whose careers and creative choices illuminate complex, boundary-crossing stories and help expand representation in global entertainment. Previous international recipients include Jean Smart, David Oyelowo, Eva Longoria, Matt Bomer and America Ferrera. Related Video

Hira earned widespread international acclaim last year for his layered performance as the ambitious warlord Ishido Kazunari in Shogun, opposite Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, receiving an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

The Tokyo-born actor next stars opposite Fraser in Searchlights Japan-set drama Rental Family, directed by Hikari. The film premiered to warm reviews in Toronto and will receive a gala screening at this years Tokyo festival. Hira also recently wrapped production on Lionsgates Karoshi, co-starring Cynthia Erivo, Teo Yoo and Isabel May, and appeared last year in Guy Maddins Rumours alongside Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander which debuted in Cannes.

A familiar face across Japanese film and television, Hira has built a truly global career over the past two decades, moving fluidly between Hollywood, European and Asian projects. His earlier breakthrough came with the Netflix/BBC series Giri/Haji (2020), in which he portrayed detective Kenzo Mori, earning a BAFTA TV Award nomination for best lead actor. He will soon reprise his role as Hiroshi Randa in Season 2 of Apple TV+s popular action series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Other titles from Hiras deep and varied rsum include Japanese prestige films, such as Masato Haradas Criminal on the Prosecutors Side, Takashi Miikes Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, and Yasuo Mikamis Bushido, as well as big-budget Western titles like Neill Blomkamps Gran Turismo, Robert Schwentkes Snake Eyes and Marvels Captain America: Brave New World.

The Tokyo International Film Festival, Japans largest annual celebration of cinema, will kick off in the citys upscale Ginza district next week, with the MPA and THRs award party set to be one of the events marquee cross-industry occasions.

Takehiro Hira attends the London Film Festival screening of Rental Family at the Royal Festival Hall on Oct. 16, 2025. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images for The Walt Disney Company Limited) Getty On Oct. 29, in partnership with TIFF, the MPA will host its annual policy program on enhancing Japans production ecosystem, with guest speakers including producers Schuyler Weis (Elvis), Eriko Miyagawa (Shogun), Obb Siricharoenji (Alien: Earth) and Junko Kusunoki (Tokyo Vice). The session will be moderated by THRs Asia bureau chief Patrick Brzeski. On Oct. 31, Schuyler Weiss will also present a master class at TIFFCOM.