How Mari Yamamoto Found Healing in Hikari’s New Film ‘Rental Family’

Rental Family” is one of 2025’s most tender surprises, led by a deeply felt performance from Mari Yamamoto. In conversation with Awards Focus, Yamamoto discusses grief, cultural nuance, and the quiet strength of Aiko—revealing how compassion, identity, and connection shape Hikari’s moving new drama.

Min-ha Kim on Carrying the Heart of Apple TV’s “Pachinko” Season 2

Pachinko's Min-ha Kim spoke with the United By Rice podcast and Awards Focus about the emotional challenges of Season Two, her evolving connection to the character of Sunja, the responsibility of portraying a woman who must constantly fight for her family, and the personal growth that has come from being at the center of such an important and underrepresented story.

Soo Hugh Reflects On Apple TV+’s Pachinko Season 2 And The Road Ahead

Soo Hugh has established herself as a skilled storyteller, transitioning from the suspenseful worlds of The Terror and Under the Dome to the deeply personal, multi-generational drama of Pachinko. Soo Hugh recently spoke with Awards Focus about her approach to casting the multi-generational characters, the challenges of adapting Min Jin Lee’s expansive novel, and the significance of particular scenes that deeply resonated with her during production. 

Production Designer Ruth Ammon Talks Cultural Accuracy in ‘Pachinko’ Season 2

In her latest endeavor, production designer Ruth Ammon brings a vivid authenticity to Pachinko Season 2 (both seasons streaming on Apple TV+), transforming historical settings into immersive storytelling. Based on Min Jin Lee's novel, the series explores intertwined Korean and Japanese histories, mostly through the lens of Koreans struggling to be seen as equals since World War II. Ammon, enlisted by showrunner Soo Hugh, embraced the complexity of designing for multiple eras, locations and socioeconomic status, crafting a world that feels both expansive and intimate. Despite the formidable challenges, Ammon describes the experience as one of the most creatively fulfilling of her career.