TBS Television’s special drama “A School Behind Bars” which aired on October 11th 2010, won three awards at the 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival including “Best TV Film Award”, “Best Actor Award” for Ken Watanabe, and the “Monaco Red Cross Award”.

Winning three awards simultaneously is extremely rare.

“A School Behind Bars” is a story about Junpei Ishikawa, a teacher who has come to teach at Kiri Junior High School, the only public school in Japan to be located in the premises of a prison. Although he has strong doubts about taxes being used for the education of criminals, he and the students grow together and learn the importance of life and education.

The drama was chosen from the ten entries that were nominated in the pre-selection. Ken Watanabe’s acting was highly acclaimed by the jury, giving him the “Best Actor Award”. This is the second time TBS has won the “Best Actor Award” in the TV Film category. In 2009, Masakazu Tamura won the award for his role in “Ah, You’re Really Gone Now.” This was the first time this award was given to a Japanese commercial television.

In addition to the two Golden Nymph awards, “A School Behind Bars” was awarded the “Monaco Red Cross Award”, an award that is given to a fiction or a news program that demonstrates at least one of the ideals of the Red Cross (humanity, impartiality, independence, neutrality, charity, unity, universality). This was the first time this award was given to a Japanese broadcaster.

■ About Monte Carlo Television Festival

Monte Carlo Television Festival was created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1961, with the purpose of encouraging a new art form, in the service of peace and understanding between men.

Past winners include popular American series such as “24” and “Lost”. Kiefer Sutherland won the “Best Actor Award” for his role in “24” in 2006.

In 2004, Japanese drama “Semi Shigure” by NHK won the Golden Nymph for “Best Mini-Series Drama”, and its main actor Masaaki Uchino won the “Best Actor Award”.

■ Producer Masakazu Kitagawa’s comment

“Thank you very much for this wonderful award.

In this drama, I wanted to convey the importance of life and learning.

However, as you know, on March 11th, many people in Japan lost their lives from the earthquake.

Homes and schools were swept away by the tsunami.

Many people have lost the opportunity to receive an education.

However, we will not give up. We WILL get back on our feet.

I believe that it is my responsibility as a producer, to continue producing dramas that reflect upon the importance of life, education, and family.”

■ Ken Watanabe’s comment

“I am extremely grateful to receive this award because dramas tend to be forgotten after being broadcast.

Although the characters are criminals, they are also the weaker people in society.

I hope to continue being involved in such dramas that depict various perspectives.

I would like to congratulate everyone who took part in this drama. Thank you very much.”