Yuno Nagao Speaks About Her Dreams and Future in 10 Years with the Power of Kotodama

A “child prodigy” with overwhelming expressive power and a professional spirit that belies her age has been born.

Yuzuno Nagao, 7, made her debut in the entertainment world at the age of one and a half, and in the six years since, she has quickly risen through the ranks to become a “very popular child actor. As an actor, she has appeared in such high-profile dramas as “Brush Up Your Life” (NTV), “Black Jack” (TV Asahi), and “Forensic Woman” (TV Asahi). Because of his acting ability, it is not unusual for him to be asked to play a role directly by the director. On the other hand, he has also appeared in his favorite TV programs such as “Aiseki Shokudo” (ABC TV) and “24 Hours TV” (Nippon Television Network Corporation), and he is unafraid to make his presence felt even against big-name comedians.

According to her mother, she started her career in show business with the sense of “if it would be a memorial ……. How did she establish herself in the highly competitive world of child actors? The child actor, who is said to be a genius, reveals her true face with a carefree expression on her face.

I went to more than 100 auditions.

-So you are now performing while attending elementary school?

Yuzuno Nagao (Nagao): “Yes!　I am in the second grade of elementary school. I love school, and I enjoy running around the park with my friends. I also like picture books, and lately I’ve been enjoying reading science and detective books!　I have always liked having a camera pointed at me, and I feel very happy when my friends say, “Yuzuno-chan, I saw you on TV. I enjoy everything about school and performing arts now.

-Nagao: “Do you have any memorable jobs since you started performing at the age of 1.5 years old?

Nagao: “When I was 2 years old, I worked on a DVD for Kodomo Challenge. There were many children who applied for the audition. There were many children who applied for the audition, and I came in third in the final ranking. But the staff was in trouble because the main child couldn’t do it. I told her, “I can do it!” and she said, “Well, let’s give it a try. I can definitely do it! I told my mom that I really wanted to do show business after this job.

-That’s quite a story for a 2-year-old (laughs). How many auditions have you attended so far?

Nagao: “Probably about 100. It is frustrating when I fail, but I wake up the next morning and say to the sun, “Today will be another good day! (*Editor’s note: In the world of child actors, most of them are screened through the application process, and there can be hundreds or thousands of applications for a single role.) I spend my days just thinking about what would make me happy,” he said.

-I heard that you have never taken any acting lessons or received any acting instruction. How do you get into the role?

Nagao: “I take my mind out of the role and put my heart into it with a “bang. When I read the script and think that I am going to play the role, the ‘heart’ of the role comes out. All I have to do is put it in. I tell them to wait here for a minute and let my heart out (laughs). I would love to play any role, but right now I can’t wait to play the lead!　So for variety shows, I try to put my ‘funny heart’ in there (laughs). Also, I love The Drifters, so I talk about them all the time with my school friends. I always think, “I definitely want to be funny in the future! I always think to myself, ‘I definitely want to be funny in the future!

Do you watch on-air programs and movies in which you have appeared?

Nagao: “I watch a lot. I try to watch and reflect on the bad parts and the good parts. But it’s no use thinking only about the bad parts, so I try not to think too much about the bad parts.

-Nagao: “Yes, probably.

Nagao: “Yes, probably. My mother and father let me do whatever I wanted to do, so I think I became able to think about all the good things cheerfully.

I try to say out loud the dreams I want to achieve!”

-Nagao: “Everyone is amazing!

Nagao: “They are all amazing people!　They are all really great people, but I was surprised by the aura of Yasuko Sawaguchi (59), who I worked with in “Forensic Woman”. The moment Ms. Sawaguchi stood up to greet the audience, the whole place around her suddenly became beautiful and there was a halo around her (laughs). When I was feeling anxious, Ms. Sawaguchi would compliment me by saying, “You’re doing a great job,” or “It’s amazing that you can say such lines,” which made me feel relieved when we talked. In the future, I want to be an adult who is kind and has a halo like Sawaguchi-san.

-Yuzuno’s vocabulary is amazing. Yuzuno also likes to write screenplays.

Nagao: “I love it!　It’s called the ‘Mysterious Series,’ and I’ve written about 20 scripts just for this series: Mysterious Tunnel, Mysterious Curtain, and Mysterious Hotel……. I enjoy the process of creating plots and fleshing out the characters, such as who to cast. I also like writing lyrics!　I like making up stories, acting, and comedy, and I get to do all the things I really want to do. I hope that when I grow up, I can do it all: acting, comedy, and writing.”

-Do you care about the child actors who are your rivals?

Nagao: “I don’t care at all. I am who I am, so I don’t compare myself with others. Because if there is a child who is a very good actor and I try to imitate him or her, I think I would lose sight of myself. I have learned that it is best to do things the way I first imagined them.”

-How do you imagine yourself as a high school student 10 years from now?

Nagao: “I don’t know yet (laughs). But I would be happy if I had a regular role in a variety show, playing a lead role with lots of lines. I’d also like to write a script and be a director…. If I can continue to do what I value right now, which is not saying anything negative and not forgetting to be thankful, I will probably be able to make my dream come true.

-Finally, is there anything you would like to emphasize in your future entertainment activities?

Nagao: “Not to be negative. I like the word “spirit of speech,” and I believe that what you say out loud will come true. I believe that by saying it out loud, it can come true. I once wrote in a notebook, “I want to be in this program,” and when I acted on it, it really came true. I would be happy if I could do entertainment that would convey that kind of positive thinking to all kinds of people!”

While she exudes the charm of a 7-year-old, she also has a core way of thinking and expressing herself that sometimes surprises us. The positive words of this child prodigy are sure to touch the hearts of many.