Fuji TV's FOD SHORT Series 'BACK TO THE STORIES' Star Mizusawa Rintaro Wins Best Actor at Asia Short Drama Awards, Topping 900 Entries Across Asia

Rintaro Mizusawa, who stars in the original vertical short drama 'BACK TO THE STORIES' currently streaming on FOD SHORT — a short-form drama app operated by Fuji Television — has won the 'Best Actor Award (Best Actor Award)' at the '2nd Asia Short Drama Awards,' held in Busan, South Korea.

'BACK TO THE STORIES' (C) Fuji Television

The 'Asia Short Drama Awards' is an international award co-organized by countries across Asia, including Japan, China, and South Korea, to recognize outstanding works, actors, and distribution platforms in the short-form drama field. Entries are evaluated from multiple perspectives, including view counts, distribution power, and acting quality, with a focus on series that have gained popularity on social media or achieved international acclaim.

The second edition of the awards was held on June 10, 2026, with approximately 900 entries from five countries: Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and Thailand. Amid a rapidly expanding Asian short-form drama market and increasingly fierce competition among streaming platforms, Mizusawa's performance in the FOD SHORT series received high praise for its emotional depth and authenticity.

The 'Best Actor Award (Best Actor Award)' honors actors who demonstrate exceptional acting skill and presence in short-form dramas. Mizusawa's delicate and translucent performance harmonized perfectly with the atmosphere of 'BACK TO THE STORIES,' significantly contributing to the series' popularity on FOD SHORT, which was cited as a key reason for his win.

FOD SHORT Comment

"This award reflects the high recognition of Rintaro Mizusawa's performance in 'BACK TO THE STORIES' within the rapidly growing Asian short-form drama market. FOD SHORT began service in the North American market in April 2026 and aims to accelerate its global expansion to over 100 countries. As a platform to deliver Japanese IP and creativity to the world, FOD SHORT will continue to provide high-quality short-form dramas and innovative viewing experiences to audiences both domestically and internationally."

Rintaro Mizusawa's Comment

"I am truly honored to have been selected for the Best Actor Award. I never imagined I would receive such an award in this way. It has been about a year since the series was released, and to win an award for this project now brings me immense joy.

We often discussed with the director and the wonderful staff that the key to vertical short-form dramas is how deeply you can leave an impression within a short time. To see that effort bear fruit is especially rewarding. As this is my first acting award, I feel it will give me confidence for my future career.

In 'BACK TO THE STORIES,' I played a very sincere and pure-hearted young man. The character struggles internally between good and evil, and I tried to portray him authentically, working closely with the rest of the cast to bring the story to life.

The Asia Short Drama Awards is an international event involving Japan, China, South Korea, and other countries. Knowing that 'BACK TO THE STORIES' has reached audiences beyond Japan is incredibly meaningful to me, and I would be grateful if viewers continue to watch the series.

For now, I aim to become an actor who can set new records in Japan. If opportunities arise, I hope to take on challenges on the global stage. Thank you for your continued support."

['BACK TO THE STORIES' Story]

"To save my first love, I'll time leap over and over again...!" In 2019, high school student Miko Watanase (Riko) falls in love with her classmate Rikito Kanno (Rintaro Mizusawa). But on New Year's Eve, Rikito is murdered by an unknown assailant, ending Miko's youth. Six years later, Miko, now a working adult, attends Rikito's 7th memorial with her current boyfriend and high school classmate, Natsuki Kinoshita (Hiroto Honda). As memories resurface, she opens a social media story — and suddenly finds herself transported back to her student days when she first posted it! She can stay in the past for only 24 hours — until the story disappears. Now, Miko must act to save Rikito...

◇ Drama Overview

Title: 'BACK TO THE STORIES' (88 episodes total)

Distribution: Currently streaming on FOD SHORT

Cast: Riko / Rintaro Mizusawa

Hiroto Honda / Yurina Kawaguchi / Runa Nakashima / Honomi Nase / Raizo Ishikawa / Momoka / Tatsuya Yamawaki / Michiko Yamamoto

Staff: Screenplay: Junshun Nakamura

Director: Masato Kimura

Producers: Toshio Arai / Mukou Tanoue / Kaoru Kuniyasu

Producer: Yuichi Kanamaru / Seiya Sato

Production: N.D. Promotion

Cooperation: Kyodo Television

Production & Copyright: Fuji Television

URL: https://short.fod.fujitv.co.jp/suabf/ (Program Page)

◇ FOD SHORT Overview

'FOD SHORT' is a vertical short-form drama app developed by Fuji Television. It offers high-quality, approximately one-minute episodes, with five new episodes available for free every day. Optimized for smartphone viewing, it's perfect for commutes, study breaks, or spare moments. The platform features original series starring top-tier talent and exclusive international hits not available elsewhere. FOD SHORT delivers a fresh, impactful drama experience — short in length, long in memory.

URL: https://short.fod.fujitv.co.jp

◇ FOD Overview

FOD (https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/) is Fuji Television's official video and e-book streaming service. The 'FOD Premium Standard Course' (¥1,320/month, tax included) offers unlimited access to over 100,000 videos, including dramas and movies, and over 200 magazines. Users can also enjoy more than 700,000 e-books. Additionally, every Friday, subscribers can watch movies at TOHO Cinemas for just ¥1,200 (tax included) through the 'FOD Friday' benefit.

For details on the 'FOD F1™ Plan,' which includes Formula 1® streaming:

https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/f1/register