Report on the "Bvlgari Aurora Awards 2021" ceremony, featuring representative women of today, including Kyoka Suzuki, Yuko Oshima, and Nanao

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2021.12.19

Bvlgari

The Bvlgari Aurora Awards are a tribute to women who are active in society. The awards, which spotlight "Inspiring Women" (women who are full of creativity, intelligence, and talent and inspire many people) who shine with talent and creativity, and celebrate their way of life, have now spread not only in Japan but also around the world.
The fifth awards ceremony was held on December 15, 2021. We bring you a report on this spectacular ceremony, which was open only to those involved and a limited number of spectators selected from the general public.

From left: Luca Fantin, Natsuko Shoji, Yuko Ando, Kaori Sasaki, Shiori Ito, Yuko Oshima, Yoko Narahashi, Kazumi Kurigami, Kyoka Suzuki, Walter Bolognino, CEO of Bvlgari Japan, Akiko Wada, VERBAL, Nanao, Akiko Higashimura, Mami Kataoka, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Ringo Hiheel, Naomi Kawase, Mone Hattori, Kanji Ishimaru (titles omitted).

Masamasa Hirota (Kronos Japan): Text
Text by Masayuki Hirota (Chronos-Japan)
Article published on December 19, 2021

Bvlgari Aurora Awards 2021 to be held

　The Bvlgari Aurora Awards 2021 marked their fifth anniversary. The Golden Carpet Ceremony and Awards Ceremony were held at the Maihama Amphitheater on December 15th. Participants included selected members of the general public and people involved in the watch and jewelry industry. With a dress code of black tie and dress, the Bvlgari Aurora Awards is likely one of the most glamorous events held in Japan.

Walter Bolognino, President and CEO of Bvlgari Japan (left), and Kōki, (right), a Bvlgari ambassador, model and actress. "I think 2021 was a year filled with many new experiences and new challenges. Among them, I was given the opportunity to appear in a film, which was a treasured experience for me, as I was blessed with a wonderful staff and a talented team," Kōki said, looking back on 2021. "I would like to cherish these new experiences and work even harder," she said of her aspirations for 2022.

Participants include Kōki, Nanao, Nishiyama Maki, Mori Hikari, Hirahara Ayaka and others

　The reason this event has attracted attention is not only because of the lineup of award winners, but also because of the impressive lineup of guests. Appearing on stage with Walter Bolognino, President and CEO of Bvlgari Japan, was Bvlgari ambassador, model and actress Kōki, followed by guest celebrities including Tae Ashida, AMIAYA, Anmika, Elena Alesi Goto, KAEDE, Koyuki, Dori Sakurada, SWAY, Shuzo Ohira, Sumire, Maria Tani, Maki Nishiyama, Imoe Nonaka, Yoko Hayashi, Ayaka Hirahara, Karen Fujii, Maggy, MIYAVI, Mai Miyake, Kaori Muraji, Yuko Mori, Hikari Mori, and Reiko Yukawa.

Guest celebrities invited to the 5th Bvlgari Aurora Awards 2021. From top to bottom: Koyuki, Mori Hikari, and Sumire.

Kyoka Suzuki, Yuko Oshima, Akiko Wada and others receive the Bvlgari Aurora Award

　Next came the entrance of the Bvlgari Aurora Award nominators and the women who were nominated and received the award. What makes the Bvlgari Aurora Award so interesting is that the nominators choose the women who will receive the award. It is not a popularity contest, but rather active people choose women who shine in society. The diverse lineup shows that this award is not just a popularity contest. The women who received the award and their nominators are as follows (winners/nominators):

Kyoka Suzuki (actress) / Kazumi Kurigami (photographer)
Akiko Higashimura (manga artist) / Nanao (actress)
High Heel Ringo (comedian) / Naomi Kawase (film director)
Natsuko Shoji (Chef) / Luca Fantin (Chef)
Akiko Wada (singer) / YOON (designer, creative director), recommended by VERBAL (artist/AMBUSH CEO)
Mone Hattori (violinist) / Kanji Ishimaru (actor and singer)
Kaori Sasaki (CEO of eWoman, CEO of Unical International) / Yuko Ando (Caster, journalist)
Kataoka Mami (Director of Mori Art Museum) / Sugimoto Hiroshi (Contemporary artist)
Yuko Oshima (actress) / Yoko Narahashi (casting director, director)
Shiori Ito (journalist) / Ryuichi Sakamoto (musician)

Kyoka Suzuki

Actress Suzuki Kyoka was recommended by photographer Kurigami Kazumi. "It's been over 30 years since I started working, and I'm very happy and touched that there are people who have noticed what I've been working on, just by being passionate about it. I especially respect Kurigami-san, both as a professional and as a person, and being recommended this time will continue to encourage me. Thank you very much," she said of her feelings on receiving the award.

Actress Nanao (left) recommended manga artist Akiko Higashimura (right). Nanao, who recommended her, said, "My first acting opportunity was through Akiko Higashimura's manga 'I'm Crying Mostly.' It was also the reason I was cast as an actress. She dyed her hair black, which became her trademark, and it's no exaggeration to say that she was someone who greatly changed my life. I'm very happy that I was able to recommend her." Akiko Higashimura responded, "At the time of casting, I made a big choice for Nanao, who hadn't acted before, but she quickly became a big actress, and a few years later, we were able to stand together in such a glamorous place. It may be presumptuous, but I feel like she's my older sister."

　What was interesting was the award to manga artist Akiko Higashimura. She was recommended by actress Nanao. It was a bit unexpected that an actress would recommend a manga artist. Also, the up-and-coming designer YOON recommended Akiko Wada. Akiko Wada commented on stage that she "was late in receiving the award," but seeing her say on stage that she "wants to keep singing even when I'm 80" made her a fitting recipient of the Bvlgari Aurora Award. Contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto recommended Mami Kataoka, director of the Mori Art Museum. This award is unique in that it focuses on and properly evaluates museum directors who are often out of the spotlight. Luca Fantin, head chef at Bvlgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, also shared the stage with up-and-coming pastry chef Natsuko Shoji. What I found most fitting for the Bvlgari Aurora Award was film director Naomi Kawase's recommendation of High Heel Ringo. After getting the crowd excited by saying, "I'm the first manzai comedian to win this award," she added, "Male manzai comedians have become more successful, but female manzai comedians still have a long way to go. I want to work hard to help the next generation of comedians become even more successful."

Akiko Wada was recommended by designer and creative director YOON. Upon receiving the award, she commented, "I'm honestly happy. I've been using Bvlgari for decades, both in my personal life and abroad, so I feel incredibly happy, like I've been praised by my family." She also spoke about her idea of a "shining woman," saying, "I think it's not just her appearance, but a woman who shines from within. This year was an unforgettable year for me, as my song "YONA YONA DANCE" was played 430 million times on TikTok. It was a completely new song, and I'm glad I took on the challenge. I would like to take on new challenges again next year and become a woman who shines from within."

　The Bvlgari Aurora Awards brought together some of today's most representative women. After the ceremony, many people posted on social media saying, "We want to be women like that." By supporting these brilliant women, we inspire the women who follow in their footsteps. Now in its fifth year in 2021, Bvlgari's ambitious endeavor finally feels like it has taken root in Japan.

Actress Oshima Yuko was recommended by casting director and stage director Narahashi Yoko. "I can only say I'm honored to have been selected as one of the 10," she said of her feelings upon receiving the award. "I've taken on many challenges in my life and had many different encounters, and that's when I met Narahashi-san. I believe it was because of this encounter that I was able to receive the Aurora Award, so it was a truly important one. I'm very happy that one encounter, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has become something so significant in my life," she said, emphasizing the importance of each and every encounter.

　What kind of women will represent Japan in 2022 next year?

(Honorific title omitted in the text)

Visuals and videos of Yamashita Tomohisa wearing Bvlgari have been released