Actress Minami Hamabe received the Audi Special Award at the Forbes JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 2025 awards, which are run by business magazine Forbes JAPAN (Link Ties) and select "30 people under the age of 30 who will change the world," and attended the ceremony held in Tokyo on August 25th. Upon receiving the commemorative trophy, Hamabe vowed to "evolve," saying, "I want to continue to face this challenge so that I can create something beyond imagination."
Hamabe has established himself as one of the leading actors in the Japanese film industry with his rich acting ability and clarity of character. He is also set to appear in his first taiga drama, "Toyotomi Brothers!" next year, and is attracting even more attention. His stoic pursuit of new expressions for each role resonates deeply with Audi's "spirit of innovation that never stops evolving," which is why he was selected for the special award.
Hamabe revealed, "The word 'evolution' that you mentioned earlier is a big word for me, and when I do this job, there are many times when I hope to be able to express things that go beyond my own expectations."
"I would like to continue to value the changes in my emotions that occur in response to each environment, and to continue to approach my work in a rich manner, without trying to mold myself too much, so that I can create something beyond imagination.I would like to continue to work with sincerity so as not to bring shame to this award," she said, reaffirming her determination.
In addition to Hamabe, other recipients of the award include breakdancer Ami Yuasa and Kodai Kato, CEO of amu Inc.
Appearing at the ceremony were seven-member girl group HANA, who were selected for the "30 Under 30" awards; creator, dancer, and choreographer JESSICA, a member of the four-member YouTube group "Princess at Midnight," shogi player Takumi Ito, and YouTuber ISSEI. The MCs were comedian Kuruma Takahira of the comedy duo "Reiwa Roman" and freelance announcer Noriko Fukuda.
