Ryoko Hirosue Prepares for Acting Comeback Amid Offers, Facing Major Issues Besides Affair

“It seems that CX (Fuji TV) offered her a role in a new drama last month. However, it appears she declined. Rumor has it that it was a role of a woman involved in an affair.

Surely, she herself hasn’t fully moved on from that yet. I also heard that she’s been offered a role in a movie starting filming in autumn. Nevertheless, the Hirosue brand seems to be alive and well.” (Key station producer)

It appears that the rumors of her return as an actress are indeed true. However, on the other hand, a female film writer suggests that even if she returns, she might not be able to maintain her popularity as before.

“The ‘Hirosue myth’ is undoubtedly strong. But I think it’s because she happened to be in good works so far. There were many voices saying, ‘It doesn’t have to be her’ rather than ‘It must be her’ regarding the roles she played.

We often hear ‘Hirosue is good,’ but it doesn’t seem to be referring to her acting skills, nor does it seem to be talking about her charm as an actress. In the past, there were big actresses like Yoko Yamamoto, Keiko Takahashi, and Yoko Shimada who had a scandalous reputation, but they were also talented actresses and exuded charm as actresses. It’s questionable whether Hirosue has reached that level.”

If the influential industry male fans leave the scene, there’s a considerable risk of the myth or brand collapsing. To prevent this, what should Hirosue do to revive herself as a talented actress in the future?

“The viewers who enjoy watching dramas are generally female. That’s why drama production sides tend to cast male actors or idol group members who are popular among women. So, conversely, there might be people who say, ‘I won’t watch that drama because Hirosue is in it.’

If they really want to cast Hirosue, it would be impossible for her to play innocent roles, so it might be better to have her play a thorough ‘hated character.’ If she can make drama fans really dislike her character, that could lead to popularity.” (Same key station producer)

Perhaps the role she declined was perfect for her current situation. Sometimes, the fish you let go might have been a big one.