Isomura Hayato, known for roles in Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” and the “Tokyo Revengers” franchise, has built a career navigating between commercial and independent projects. His performance in “The Moon,” a drama adapted from a real incident at a disability facility, earned him the Japan Academy Film Prize for best supporting actor, despite concerns from those around him that the role could prove professionally damaging. Isomura stated that accepting challenging material aligned with his values and refusal to shy away from difficult subjects.
This year, Isomura served on the jury for the Ethical Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, which concluded Nov. 4. The jury, which included three student judges, selected “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming,” a German-directed drama examining gender against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Isomura noted that pairing gender themes with conflict presented a fresh perspective, particularly given that war feels distant to those living in contemporary Japan. He observed that the student jurors approached the films differently than he would have, often asking whether works left room for hope and offered audiences an uplifting experience.
Isomura emphasized that he selects film roles based on whether they engage with substantive social and political themes, sometimes accepting parts that challenge his existing worldview. He contrasted this with television work, which he views as less capable of exploring ethical complexity, prioritizing entertainment value in that medium. Isomura expressed a desire to see more Japanese entertainment incorporate political satire and black humor, noting that such content appears more frequently in American productions while remaining less common domestically.
Regarding the broader film industry, Isomura voiced optimism about Japanese cinema’s international reach and expanding talent pool, including directors competing at major festivals. He advocated for increased government funding and support for entertainment and film production, citing South Korea as an example of how policy shifts can reshape industry conditions. Currently, Isomura appears in Yoshida Keisuke’s “Mentor” and is producing the Shizuoka Film Festival in his home prefecture, initiatives aimed at expanding film viewership and nurturing regional culture.
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