On Wednesday, the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (also known as Eiren) announced its choice for Oscar candidacy. Ryoichi Kimizuka's "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai" ("Nobody to Watch Over Me") will represent Japan in the bid for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards next year.

"Daremo Mamotte Kurenai" tied for Best Screenplay at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival, but it didn't open in Japanese theaters until this past January. Koichi Sato stars as a police detective assigned to shield a young girl (Mirai Shida) from the public after her older brother is arrested for murder.

The Academy Award submissions will be narrowed down to five nominees in mid-January, and the awards ceremony is set for March 7, 2010. Japan is hoping for a repeat of last year, when Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") pulled off a surprising win in the foreign-language film category.