All eyes were on Japanese actress Tao Okamoto as she received The Hollywood Reporter ‘s Trailblazer Award at a glitzy black tie gala event in the cavernous ballroom of the Tokyo American Club on Tuesday night.

The 2026 edition of American Film Night, a collaboration between THR Japan and the Motion Picture Association , took place during the Tokyo International Film Festival and saw top executives from the Japanese film industry, senior government ministers and leading local filmmakers and actors mingle with visiting Hollywood powerbrokers.

The evening kicked off with a special message from Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who extolled the cultural and political relationship between Japan and the U.S. — a running theme throughout the night with many references to America’s 250th anniversary.

“The close partnership between Japan and the United States in the film and media industry not only supports cultural exchange between our two countries.…