Woke up this morning to find that amazing actress Yumi Kawai picked up the “Best Supporting Actress” award at the Japan Drama Award this past day, a feat that I'm not surprised at all to hear as I LOVE Yumi and she's been steadily becoming one of my BIG new faves!
While still very young and diminutive in stature and a distinct mumbly demeanor, there is something about this girl that just radiates charisma, a warm feeling of someone you like instantly and want to be around! I've only seen her in a handful of dramas but she's charmed me in every one!
below: wi Rio Teramoto
I remember talking to a friend and likening Yumi to actress Aya Ueto in her early days, Ayame Gouriki, or even a young Momoe Yamaguchi, but make no mistake, Yumi's grown into an entity all of her own with her eccentric and interesting takes!
The “Best Supporting Actress” prize at the Japan Drama was awarded Yumi for her take as the sassy and unstoppable Junko in the time-jumpin’ “Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru” this past season- As Abe Sadao’s loud-mouthed yankee daughter, she was easily the BEST part of that show, stealing every scene she was in! 
From there she immediately went on to “RoOT” as the determined detective Rena investigating a murder case of a former childhood colleague, a show that is JUST about to wrap up and shows no signs of slowing down!
Though I’d apparently seen Yumi in earlier dramas like Nemesis and Samayou Yabai, it wasn’t until her part on the anthology series “Isu (chair)” that I really took notice of her- There was something so melancholy about her looks, a perfect fit for the role, where she played a girl dealing with a recently departed loved one.
A Quirky student in "Nemesis" (wi Suzu Hirose)
As daughter Ema in "Samayou Yabai" (wi Yutaka Takenouchi)
in "Isu" with Serena Motola and Mayu Hotta
Then came “Kazoku Dakara Aishitan Janakute, Aishita no ga Kazoku Datta”, the wonderful story of a quirky girl with the world on her shoulders as she deals with a deceased Father, handicapped Mother, a Granny with early dementia, AND a little brother with Down’s Syndrome. REALLY captivating and at at times achingly heartbreaking, this is the one which made Yumi a star in MY eyes and one to keep an eye out for!in First Love Hatsukoi
And now with both Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru and RoOT winning her much-deserved attention, it’s clear that she’s earning the anticipation that me and so many others have placed upon her!! Such a treat to see Yumi scooping up the supporting actress prize, and as my friend pointed out looking over the polls, Yumi was voted highly in both the popular AND critic choices, truly showing that she has the will of the entire J-drama watching collective behind her!
From the official site, Yumi was queried:
Q: You played Junko, a high school student and daughter of the main character Ichiro (Abe Sadao) in "Too Much Inappropriate" (TBS), and won your first Best Supporting Actress award.
A: Thank you! I never expected to receive such an award, so I'm very happy. When I heard that it also won many other awards, including Best Picture (it won six awards), I realized that "Too Much Inappropriate" had once again caught the attention of many people and become something that will be remembered!
Don't slow down yet, Yumi! You've got lots MORE to accomplish!!!
