Kazuya Konomoto (P.I.C.S. management) Wins the 44th (FY2025) Kuniko Mukoda Award

The selection committee for the 44th (FY2025) Kuniko Mukoda Award, organized by the Kuniko Mukoda Award Committee and Tokyo News Service Co., Ltd., met on April 21 (Tuesday) and decided to grant the award to Kazuya Konomoto (P.I.C.S. management). The winning work is the drama "Synanthrope" (broadcast Oct 6 – Dec 22, 2025; produced by TV Tokyo and P.I.C.S., with production assistance from Asmik Ace). The reason for the award states: "Despite being a late-night show, the work is like a restaurant with a wide, bright entrance and a rich menu of creative dishes. The way the story leaps forward through human conversation alone, like falling dominoes, is an action sequence of words and represents the ideal of dialogue-driven drama. The writing style, which embraces the charm of foolish outsiders from their own perspective, is fitting for the Kuniko Mukoda Award." "Thank you very much for this prestigious award. I believe I was able to win thanks to the support of the staff and cast, so I am grateful to everyone." ■Sumio Omori (19th winner) "It was a very unique and mysterious work. Not only are the dialogue and unpredictable story interesting, but it also captures the vibe of modern, floating youth who are clumsy yet strangely serious. It's a coming-of-age ensemble drama with mystery and noir elements. It's packed with various elements, yet beautifully unified in its unique worldview. I felt his ambition and level as a writer are very high." ■Mika Omori (23rd winner) "I enjoyed watching it since the first broadcast, wondering what would happen next. Reading the script during the selection, I felt the depth and charm of each character. I could see how the actors were inspired by this text. I want to see more works like this." ■Yumiko Inoue (25th winner) "As Mr. and Ms. Omori mentioned, it was a wonderful and unique work. I especially liked how the mysteries were handled—not just for deduction, but in a way that allowed the audience to enjoy the conversation. Unlike many dramas that put everything into the first episode, 'Synanthrope' became more interesting as it progressed." ■Yuji Sakamoto (26th winner) "Konomoto-san has created many masterpieces like 'Setoutsumi' and 'Odd Taxi.' He consistently depicts young people near convenience stores or family restaurants, not as 'trivial' stories, but standing on their level and leaping into suspense and mystery from everyday life. His way of spinning stories is superb and shows a very strong, modern authorship. He is perfectly suited for this award." *Yoshikazu Okada (20th winner) was absent due to health issues. Established in 1982 to honor the achievements of the late Kuniko Mukoda as a screenwriter. It is awarded to outstanding scriptwriters supporting today's TV world. Organized by Tokyo News Service, publishers of 'TV Guide.'