Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" Wins Oscar for Best Animation

LOS ANGELES, Mar 11 (News On Japan) - At the 96th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday night, Director Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" won the award for Best Animated Feature Film, his second Oscar following "Spirited Away" in 2003.

"The Boy and the Heron" is Miyazaki's first feature film in about ten years since the release of "The Wind Rises" in 2013.

The title is taken from a children's book by Genzaburo Yoshino, but the film tells an original story. It depicts the tale of a boy named Junto who loses his mother to an air raid by American planes during wartime in Japan. As he searches for his father's missing new wife, he is led by a mysterious heron into a strange world.

The film had already won the Best Animated Feature Film award at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, considered a precursor to the Academy Awards.

Source: MDPR

Japan's Academics Demand Independence

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Inside Japan’s Failing Sewers

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two Men Arrested for Breaking Into Tokyo School

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry Blossoms Reach Final Stage, Six Days Earlier Than Average

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

Lack of Sleep After Golden Week May Signal Sleep Disorder, Experts Warn

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

BADBOYS Movie Highlights Fierce Clash in Biker Underworld

A new team promotional video has been released for BADBOYS -THE MOVIE-, hitting theaters on May 30th. The spotlight is on the "Gokurakucho Edition," a fiery and dazzling story of a small, unknown biker gang aiming to rise to the top of the delinquent world.