Airu Ikumi & Hiccorohee: “Empathy” common to female celebrities who have “made great strides in the acting business”.
Every year at the end of the year, there is a lot of talk about who was active this year and what was popular. I, as usual, receive questions such as, “Which drama was the best?
Looking back on the year 2023, two actresses made a leap forward that (in my opinion) is rare in recent years. They are Meruru Ikumi (21) and Hiccorohee (34).
The two have one thing in common: they are both good actors. The gap between their public image and their acting skills is a surprise to many. Both have secured their positions on variety shows. Hiccorohee is a natural as the host of a show. One would have thought that they would continue to stroll through the entertainment world without losing their good positions, but they have both jumped into the world of acting. Even though the roles they play are completely different, they have succeeded in winning the sympathetic votes of women. Let us consider the details of their success.
While retaining her existing image…Meruru’s stable performance
In 2023, Meruru, a.k.a. Meruru Ikumi, appeared in a number of major dramas. She appeared as a guest in the fourth episode of “Kazama Kochin – Kyobo 0” (Fuji Television Network). She played the role of a college student who almost loses the child she is carrying to her selfish father and kills him. I had the feeling that “suspense and Meruru ……? I had the feeling that he was in a bit of suspense, but his performance was perfect as he tried to protect his child. Even in this day and age, it is still easy to sympathize with a woman who is at the mercy of a scumbag.
And then, “Meruru …… for these men?” Doubts broke out again with “At least on Sunday nights…” (TV Asahi). The drama series broadcast in the prime time slot (between 19:00 and 23:00) co-stars Nana Seino (29) and Yukino Kishii (31) as the heroines. Both actresses were honored at the Japan Academy Prize. Surrounded by these two actresses, I wondered if she would be intimidated, but there was not the slightest sign of that, and she played the role of Wakaba Higuchi well. Moreover, I was amazed to see that she retained the smiling face of Meruru that I always see on TV. The role of Wakaba, who is not blessed with a mother and lives with her grandmother while being misunderstood by those around her, suited her well.
She continued to appear in “Sexy Tanaka-san” (NTV). At first glance, this drama appears to be a comedy, but behind it are hidden keywords such as self-esteem and self-affirmation, keywords that everyone is struggling with today. Shuri Kurahashi, who played the role here, became so popular that her lines became a hot topic on SNS!
One would think that she would no longer appear on variety shows after her acting career has gone so well, but that is not the case. Her natural character is still there, and she still enjoys being surrounded by older celebrities at variety shows. I think it would be nice to see her in this dual role, but I also expect that she will be starring in a TV Tokyo show in 2024. I expect that in 2024, I will be starring in a TV Tokyo production.
