OVERLAY REPORT

At the time of its release in June 2023, the most famous and critically acclaimed actor in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s *Monster* (*Kaibutsu*) was **Sakura Ando**. While the film features an ensemble of high-profile Japanese stars, Ando held the most significant international and domestic profile due to her previous collaboration with Kore-eda and her reputation as one of Japan's most decorated contemporary actresses. ### **Sakura Ando (Role: Saori Mugino)** At the time of *Monster*'s release, Ando was already a household name in Japan and a favorite of international film festivals. She plays the mother, Saori, who first notices her son's troubling behavior. **Why she was the most famous:** * **Kore-eda Regular:** She was the breakout star of Kore-eda's 2018 masterpiece ***Shoplifters***, which won the **Palme d'Or** at the Cannes Film Festival. Her performance in that film was globally praised, notably by Cate Blanchett (the jury president that year), who called Ando's crying scene one of the greatest she had ever seen. * **Awards Sweep:** Before *Monster*, Ando had already won the **Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actress** multiple times (for *100 Yen Love* and *Shoplifters*). * **Concurrent Blockbuster:** Around the time of *Monster*'s release, she was also part of the cast for the massive hit ***Godzilla Minus One*** (2023), which went on to win an Academy Award. **Other Notable Films:** * ***Shoplifters*** **(2018):** Played Nobuyo Shibata, the matriarch of a family of petty thieves. * ***Love Exposure*** **(2008):** A cult classic directed by Sion Sono that initially put her on the map. * ***100 Yen Love*** **(2014):** Played a reclusive woman who transforms her life through boxing. * ***A Man*** **(2022):** A mystery-drama for which she won another Best Supporting Actress award right before *Monster* was released. --- ### **Other Notable Famous Actors in the Cast** While Sakura Ando was the "prestige" lead, the film featured other major Japanese stars: * **Eita Nagayama (Role: Michitoshi Hori):** Often known mononymously as **Eita**, he is a massive star in Japan with a career spanning over 20 years in television and film. * **Notable Works:** *Water Boys* (TV), *Summer Time Machine Blues* (2005), and Takashi Miike’s *Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai* (2011). * **Mitsuki Takahata (Role: Hirona Suzumura):** A highly popular actress and singer known for her leading roles in "Asadora" (NHK morning dramas) and mainstream romantic comedies. * **Notable Works:** *Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura* (2017) and the live-action *Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku* (2020). * **Yuko Tanaka (Role: Makiko Fushimi):** A legendary veteran actress who gained worldwide fame in the 1980s for the series ***Oshin***. * **Notable Works:** *Princess Mononoke* (voice of Lady Eboshi) and *The Amagi Pass* (1983). * **Shido Nakamura (Role: Kiyotaka Hoshikawa):** A famous Kabuki actor who has crossed over into Hollywood. * **Notable Works:** *Letters from Iwo Jima* (2006) and the live-action *Death Note* (as the voice of Ryuk).