Kansai TV drama series “Elpis” was awarded Grand Prize in the TV category of the 60th (2022) Galaxy Awards. The presentation ceremony was held on 31 May by the non-profit organisation Association of Broadcast Critics. This is the first time in 30 years that a Kansai TV drama has won the Grand Prize since the Autumn Drama Special "The Naked Tree" was awarded in 1992 (the 30th edition). Also, the Outstanding Work Galaxy Award was presented to Masami Nagasawa, the female lead in the drama.

“Elpis“ is a socially conscious entertainment series inspired by several real-life incidents. The story follows Ena Asakawa (played by Masami Nagasawa), a once-prominent television anchor whose career was destroyed by scandal, and her colleagues, who work together to pursue the possibility that a notorious serial killer on death row may have been falsely convicted. The drama depicts how they gradually recover their sense of self-worth. Gordon Maeda stars as Takuro Kishimoto, a young director down on his luck career-wise who works alongside Ena. Ryohei Suzuki stars as Shoichi Saito, Ena and Takuro's senior and an ace news reporter.

Comments from the jury
The film was highly acclaimed for its message that piercingly questioned the state of police, politics and television in Japan, and for its total effectiveness of sublimating the scriptwriting, directing and acting into a powerful drama. The drama boldly tackled the difficult theme of false accusations and drove a wedge into the state of television reporting today. The courage and ambition of the work offer a glimmer of hope for the future of television.
We proudly present the Grand Prize to this masterpiece.

Cast: Masami Nagasawa, Gordon Maeda, Toko Miura, Takashi Okabe, Ryohei Suzuki
Staff
Screenplay: Aya Watanabe
Director: Hitoshi One
Music: Yoshihide Otomo
Producer: Ayumi Sano (KansaiTV) Mamoru Inagaki (Geek Pictures)
Production cooperation: Geek Pictures, Geek Sight
Produced and Copyrighted: Kansai TV