Fourteen-year-old Yuya Yagira, the surprise winner of the best actor award at the 57th Cannes Film Festival, was able to take possession Wednesday of what he called his "first ever" trophy.
"There is nothing happier than this as I have never received a trophy until now," Yagira said after being handed the golden trophy by director Hirokazu Koreeda, who received the prize on the boy's behalf during Saturday's awards ceremony in Cannes.
Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, the young and relatively unknown actor who only entered show business in July 2002, said, "It now seems real to me." He added that he aims to become a fine actor.