Actor Ryuya Wakaba was selected as the winner of the Newcomer Award at the 2025 Elan d'or Awards, which recognizes actors and producers who have been active in movies and TV dramas, and attended the awards ceremony held in Tokyo on February 6th. Wakaba said, "I've been doing only what I love since I had absolutely no work, and I've come this far by doing only what I love, so I think I've caused a lot of worry to the staff who have been supporting me, but now that I can report that I've received this award, I feel more relieved than happy."
The Elan d'or Award for Newcomer is given to an actor who is "prominently active and expected to make a great leap in the future." Wakaba was recognized for her performances in last year's films "Ichiko," "Penalty Loop," and "My Sun," as well as the TV drama "Unmet: The Diary of a Brain Surgeon" (Kantele/Fuji TV).
Wakaba offered some encouragement, saying, "I'm not a saint, and I'm not a person who likes to be the center of attention, so I don't think I'm suited to being an actor. But if there is anyone watching me talk now and thinking, 'I'm not cut out for this' or 'I don't think I can do it,' then try starting something, even if it's today or tomorrow. Even if it's just starting by cleaning your room. If you do that, I think you'll be rewarded like I was."
On this day, Yudai Chiba, who co-starred with Wakaba in "Unmet: The Diary of a Brain Surgeon," rushed over to congratulate him. Chiba made the audience laugh by saying, "I'd also like to start by cleaning my room," and commented, "Wakaba-kun's attitude of doing what he loves is incredible, and seeing that up close, I really respect him as a spectator." He went on to say, "I thought he was even more charming than me during breaks in filming, so I hope he'll show that side of him when he wants to."
The Elan d'or Awards are an award system that began in 1956. This year, the Newcomer Award winners were Wakaba, Takahashi Fumiya, Yuumi Kawai, Mizukami Koji, Shuri, and Wakana Matsumoto.
