At 82, Maki Carrousel has made history by winning Best Supporting Performance at the 79th Mainichi Film Awards for her role in Voice. Her win is not only a personal achievement but also a milestone for inclusivity in Japanese cinema.
This year’s Mainichi Film Awards in February came with a big change. The traditional male and female acting categories were merged into one. Instead of separate awards, all actors competed together in gender-neutral categories. Carrousel shared the award with actor Sosuke Ikematsu under this new format.
Her performance in Voice was praised for its emotional depth and quiet power. But what makes the win even more significant is that Carrousel is one of the few transgender actresses in Japan to receive a major film award. At 82, she’s also showing that age is no barrier to strong performances.
“I’m glad to have lived a long life!” she said during her acceptance speech, a moment that drew warm reactions from the crowd.
Carrousel was born in 1942 in Kushiro, Hokkaido. She started her entertainment career in the 1960s and has remained a familiar face in Japanese media. Over the years, she has become known not just for her talent, but also for being open about her life and identity.
Other winners at the ceremony included Yuumi Kawai and Ryusei Yokohama, who received Best Actor awards. The Best Japanese Film award went to All the Long Nights by director Shō Miyake.
Carrousel’s win is more than a personal moment. It’s a sign of change in Japanese film, with more space being made for different kinds of voices and stories.
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