Nao on Turning 30 Choosing What Inspires Her

The most popular actress who starred in four serial dramas and a movie in 2024 is looking ahead.

“Looking back on 2024, I feel that I was involved in some really memorable dramas from the start. The set of ‘Haru ni Nattara’ (produced by Kansai TV) in the January season was exactly what I had imagined, with both the cast and staff all facing the same direction.

Later, ‘Ano Kuzu wo Nagutte Yaritain Da’ (TBS) and ‘Tokyo Salad Bowl’ (NHK) were both projects where the producers, after seeing my portrayal of the daughter of a father (played by Noritake Kinashi, 62) who was given a terminal diagnosis in ‘Haru ni Nattara,’ offered me the roles. I was able to connect with wonderful projects and new opportunities right from the start of the year.”

For Nao (29), 2024 was a year of significant growth. She starred in a total of four projects, including TV dramas and films, her highest number yet, while also being cast in two new commercials. When asked why she was so active, she bashfully replied, “I’m not sure why, to be honest.”

“I’m still really surprised. Since acting is an unstable job where I never know when the offers might stop coming, I feel both happy and uncertain at the same time. My manager and I might not have fully analyzed why this happened yet.

However, the experience I had with the play ‘Medicine’ in May to June 2024 was a major turning point. The story was complex, and even just a week before the performance, I couldn’t perform the way the director wanted. I remember crying in the car after rehearsals.

But the opportunity to really struggle alongside such a fantastic cast was a very lucky experience, and my acting has changed after that play. Looking back, I think it’s great that I had a set where I could properly struggle during the final year of my 20s (laughs).”

Things that have changed a lot this year.

Because she’s a rising star, new jobs keep coming her way, and with each one, she faces new challenges. Her approach to handling these has also evolved.

“I used to be the type to keep my troubles to myself, but now I’ve started to consult others. That’s one of the biggest changes I’ve had this year. For example, during ‘When Spring Comes,’ I talked to Gaku Hamada (36), my co-star, about the new projects I was taking on.”

“Hamada-san encouraged me, saying, ‘I think you just need to be confident in yourself on set,’ and that gave me the courage to start shooting. In the past, I wasn’t good at relying on others, but now I have people I can reach out to when I feel like I’m about to break. That has become my support.”

In 2025, she is set to star in a drama, “Tokyo Salad Bowl,” alongside Ryuhei Matsuda (41). Her experience with international communities, which she had when living in a shared house with many foreigners in her twenties, played a role in this opportunity.

“Tokyo Salad Bowl” centers around the lives and perspectives of foreign residents, and it reminded me of the time when I lived in a house where people from different countries shared their thoughts and opinions. 

When I read the original, I felt a strong connection to it, and I thought my experience living with people from all over the world when I was twenty could help me portray the character of Konda. When the producer asked me to play Konda, I felt like they saw something in me.”

 

“An unexpected way to refresh myself.”

Amid her busy days, Nao has found a good way to refresh herself.

“Recently, I’ve started waking up early. On the earliest days, I go to bed by 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. at the latest, and wake up at 5 a.m. The early mornings are very quiet, and my mind is clear, so I can face my worries and organize various thoughts. I also go to cooking classes with Reina Takeda (27), who I’m working with at Tokyo Salad Bowl, or have big parties with the staff, which are good ways to refresh myself.”

For her milestone year of 2025, as she turns 30, Nao says her goal is selection.

“In life, I believe it’s good to have more opportunities to choose and make decisions. But to make good choices, you need to know yourself. So, my goal in my 20s was to know myself. By knowing myself, I was able to accept that both my good and bad sides are part of who I am now. With that in mind, for my 30s, I want to make the next 10 years a time when I can choose and decide things that I love and that excite my heart.

Speaking of which, I actually chose this year’s New Year’s osechi! I really love Sakaba Hourouki with Rui Yoshida (75), and I found an osechi he supervised at Daimaru Matsuzakaya. My mom had already bought another osechi, but she said, ‘Wouldn’t it be fine to have two?’ Just thinking about sharing both my mom’s choice and mine together made me happy.”

In order to soar higher, Nao will continue to choose the path that excites her heart.

 “I’ve started to consult with others about my troubles.”

From the “FRIDAY” January 24-31, 2025 combined issue.