Kami Shiraishi Sisters, Minami Hamabe, Riko Fukumoto — The Four Toho Ace Infinite Beauties

“From the day I decided to apply to today, I have experienced many things, and I have come to this day with many different feelings. First of all, please be proud from the bottom of your heart that you are standing here now.”

Mone Kamihiraishi paid warm tribute to the finalists at the “TOHO CINDERELLA” audition and the “TOHO NEW FACE” audition’s 2022 Grand Prix presentation held in Tokyo on March 6.

The presenters that day were Moka Kamihiraishi (22), winner of the 7th “TOHO CINDERELLA” Grand Prix, Mone Kamihiraishi (24), winner of the 7th Special Jury Prize, Minami Hamabe (22), winner of the 7th New Generation Prize, and Riko Fukumoto (21), winner of the 8th Grand Prix. The stage was taken by popular actresses of the moment. It was a dream come true for the popular actresses of today and the next generation of star.

The four presenters were all dressed in black, perhaps to complement the finalists, as they were the stars of the evening. Mone in a cute one-piece dress, Moka in a cool and cute pants style, Hamabe in a gorgeous transparent material and lace, and Fukumoto in an elegant skin-showing design, each of the four radiated the radiance of an adult woman.

“Toho Cinderella” auditions began in 1984. This year was the ninth time in six years that the audition was held as part of Toho’s 90th anniversary project, and the return of the “TOHO NEW FACE” male category for the first time in 54 years also attracted attention.

Fukumoto, who won the grand prix in the previous audition, beamed onstage and commented, “Six years ago I was just a high school girl, and now, after all this time, I am so honored to be here as a presenter.” The grand prize winner of the TOHO NEW FACE competition, 11-year-old Koe Odani, was presented with a crimson cape, the symbol of the grand prize, with a smile on her face.

Hamabe took the stage as the presenter of the TOHO CINDERELLA Special Jury Prize. She said, “One of the words that left an impression on me when I joined the office was, ‘When you are trying your best at something, please be the kind of person who can push me to do my best. I hope that all of you will become such a person. I support you from the bottom of my heart!” She gave a strong encouragement to the winners.

The presenter of the Grand Prix was Moeka Kamihiraishi. Moka, who won the 7th Grand Prix at the youngest age of 10 at the time, praised the finalists on stage , saying, “I hope I was not so imposing when I was watching everyone standing on stage.” The 9th Grand Prix winner, Noai Shirayama (age 10), was handed a pair of glass slipper and showed a big smile.

Actresses from Toho Cinderella are very active in movies and TV dramas, including Hamabe, who will be the heroine in NHK’s first season morning drama “Ranman” in 2023. Fans can’t take their eyes off of their beauties!