After listening to the speech of Kurokawa Soya at the 47th Japan Academy Awards

Last night, I happened to come across a video on social media that deeply moved me, so I wanted to share a few thoughts.
 
The video attached below is the acceptance speech of Kurokawa Soya, who won the Newcomer Award at the Japan Academy Awards for his lead role in the 2023 Japanese film Monster. Personally, I found Monster incredibly striking, as it beautifully captured both the tender love between two boys and the monstrous gaze of the adults around them.

https://youtu.be/VcgxQ8cLfz4?si=gs2Jbm-EeAA564KI

 

After filming the movie, Kurokawa already seemed to be grappling with the tension between causal/structural determinism and the concept of free will. Are the things that happen around me the result of the environment I grew up in and the structure of this society? Or are they the result of my own efforts? Even the "fate" that Kurokawa mentioned may function more effectively in certain types of societies, and at times, it can be seen as nothing more than a component or outcome of a larger system. In a society dominated by a certain "ism," those who fit that ideology are naturally chosen, while those who hold less socially favored values may see this as sheer luck—or lack thereof. Similarly, when too many people put in the same level of effort under a particular system to fit themselves into what the "ism" call for, the competition get heated, making this "fate" something shaped by societal structure.
 
But why is it so important to argue over which of these perspectives is correct? Is it because choosing one over the other makes our lives more logically consistent? What truly resonated with me was Kurokawa’s conclusion after wrestling with this dilemma—a resolution that mirrored my own childhood struggles: "I want to always be a kind person." That, more than anything, compelled me to write this.
 
If we place too much emphasis on free will, we end up constantly pushing both ourselves and others to the limit. "Why didn’t I work harder?" "I made it despite my circumstances—so why can’t you?" If effort doesn’t lead to success, the person is seen as someone who simply "didn’t try hard enough" and gets labeled a loser.
 
On the other hand, determinism doesn’t push anyone too harshly, but it also doesn’t seem to help us grow in meaningful ways. It can trap us in our past struggles, making us feel powerless. "The system is rigged, so what’s the point of trying?" "No matter how hard I work, nothing will change." "It’s all Trump’s fault," and so on...
 
When it comes to living our own lives and changing the systems we want to improve, we need to believe in our own and our collective free will. But when we look at others’ lives, we must remember the forces of causality and structural determinism.

"I may have grown up in difficult circumstances, but I can still push forward and give back to others."
"There are aspects of this society that make life harder for the majority (*even minorities are, in absolute numbers, many), and we need to fight for change through civic action."
"If this person is acting out in a certain way, there must be a structural reason behind it."
 
Maybe this kind of inconsistency—being a little harsher on ourselves while being more understanding toward others—could actually make the world a warmer and healthier place.
 
Passionate and kind people like that have always been my personal ideal. But as I continue my career, I feel like I’m experiencing more and more moments where I fall short. Listening to Kurokawa’s incredible acceptance speech reminded me of that ideal once again.
 
For those who haven’t seen Monster, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, who consistently explores new forms of family, I highly recommend it. Below is a translation of Kurokawa’s acceptance speech from the video. While I needed all these words to explain my thoughts, he managed to express it in just three sentences:

"Right now, I’m fighting between two  myselves. One that believes landing the role of Minato in Monster was pure luck, and the other that mistakenly thinks I achieved it through my own strength. I want to win this battle every time and always be a kind person."