Karin Ono’s Breakthrough: First Solo Lead and Escape from Next Hana Kuroki Label

When she was in middle school, she auditioned for.

Karina Ono (26) will make her solo debut as the lead in the drama “Watashi no Shiranai Watashi” (My Unknown Self), which will air in January 2025 on Nippon TV. She will portray Mei Haneda, a wedding planner who wakes up with no memory of the past year and is suspected of murder. Additionally, she has been cast in an important role as an oiran (courtesan) in next year’s NHK Taiga drama “Berabou.”

“There are actors who, without having a particularly impactful character, end up appearing in drama and movies regularly, becoming a familiar face in every season. I think Ono is one of those types,” said a television magazine writer.

Ono’s career dates back to 2006, when, at the age of eight, she made her debut as a child actor in the drama “Kiraware Matsuko no Issho” (TBS). Two years later, in 2008, she made her film debut in “Team Batista no Eiko” and also appeared in a minor role in the May broadcast of the drama “CHANGE,” starring Takuya Kimura (52) on Fuji TV. A casting director from the movie company that cast her during her child acting days shared:

“I believe she was a middle school student at the time, and in the audition, everyone immediately agreed to cast her. She had something special, and I was certain she would succeed.”

Their prediction came true, and Ono’s career continued to rise. In 2016, she made her stage debut in “August: Osage County,” and in October 2021, she played her first lead role in the feature film “Pretenders.”

“In this year’s Taiga drama ‘Hikaru Kimi e, she co-starred with Ai Miya (24), playing a 17-year-old girl living in isolation. She cried out loudly in front of a crowd, even going fully naked in front of a man. While she had a straightforward heart with a childlike smile, her character was twisted in some ways, and she portrayed her growth into adulthood. Her performance was highly praised,” said a film magazine journalist.

Is she related to Hana Kuroki as sisters?

In the latter half of the same year, Karin Ono made her first appearance in a NHK morning drama Come Come Everybody, which quickly garnered public attention. At the 2023 Japan Academy Awards, she received high praise for her role as a young genius animator in the 2022 film Haken Anime and won the Newcomer of the Year award. Her career is undoubtedly shining, but as mentioned in the opening comments, it still seems that she hasn’t left a lasting impression in the public’s memory.

On social media, comments like “Who is that actress who looks like Hana Kuroki?” and “Are Karin Ono and Hana Kuroki sisters?” are occasionally seen, and some have even called her the next Hana Kuroki. Despite that, she has yet to land a leading role in a drama. Indeed, her roles have varied, and she has been able to play each one without any sense of awkwardness, showing her versatility in acting, similar to Hana Kuroki. The reason why she’s been so frequently cast in dramas may lie in her appeal as an actress.

“Her acting skills have long been well-regarded. While it’s true that she’s somewhat of an understated actress, that’s actually a good thing. This is especially common in idol-type roles, where Japanese men tend to prefer women who are flirtatious or play up to them. But Karin doesn’t do that. Recently, actresses like Sayuri Ito (30) and Yumi Kawai (23) have also shown that they can shine in supporting roles without losing their integrity. Looking back, big-name actresses like Yuko Tanaka (69), Kumiko Akiyoshi (70), and Kaori Momoi (73) never resorted to flattery. In fact, they were often confrontational.

The fact that her appearances are increasing shows that more people are recognizing her strengths. In dramas, producers often cast popular idols or those who appear frequently in commercials, but that doesn’t always lead to great productions. In the end, if you don’t cast the actor who truly fits the role, the project won’t succeed.” (Film critic)

On the other hand, it may be that Ono’s ability has changed the perceptions of drama producers. With her growing number of appearances on NHK and her roles in both morning dramas and Taiga dramas, there’s a real possibility that she could soon become a asadora heroine. Karin Ono’s rise shows no signs of slowing down in 2025.