<figure id="attachment_408736" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1798px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408736"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="fa077a20"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/573e5c78c558cce6015b9e8a4eaf650c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408736" class="wp-caption-text">Itou Ao (19) made her debut as a child actor at the age of 6. She won the &#8220;Sports Nippon Grand Prix&#8221; Newcomer Award at 12, known for her acting talent.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The next generation of talented actresses. Key figures to watch in 2025</h2>
When talking about breakout acting talents of 2024, the name of Yumi Kawai (24) quickly comes to mind. Her role as a Showa-era yankee high school girl in the popular TV drama Futekisetsu ni Hodo ga Aru! (TBS) was praised for her impeccable fit for the part, which rapidly boosted her popularity. Following her rise, the next big star is on the horizon. Let&#8217;s introduce the key figures to watch in 2025.
First, we have Aoi Ito (19), who made waves in the July 2024 TV drama Shinjuku Yosen Byouin (Fuji TV). Aoi has already starred in two films, proving her impressive acting chops. Columnist Wakako Takou, who is well-versed in TV dramas, shares her thoughts:
&#8220;In Shinjuku Yosen Byouin, Aoi made her regular appearance in a golden prime-time drama for the first time, gaining recognition from the general public. But what truly impressed me was her performance in the subsequent drama Sora Wataru Kyoushitsu (NHK). In it, she beautifully portrayed the lack of confidence and intense determination of a girl with orthostatic dysregulation. Among many young actors of her generation, she supported them with an overwhelming presence. The production team praised Aoi, saying that she&#8217;s &#8216;usually a cheerful girl eating snacks but transforms completely when the camera starts rolling.&#8217; If she gets cast in a hit show, she is sure to break out.&#8221;
Another promising talent is Rin Kataoka (21), who performed brilliantly as the mysterious student Misae in the NHK morning drama Tora ni Tsubasa:
&#8220;Kataoka made her acting debut in 2022, but in her scenes opposite the heroine, Sairi Ito (30), she delivered an intense performance, even overshadowing Ito at times. The unsettling atmosphere created by her occasional defiant smile drew in viewers. Beyond her acting skills, Kataoka has a unique personality. She was scouted as an influencer with 300,000 followers on social media, and when facing anti-comments, she boldly responded by calling such people boneless chicken. Her acting and personality are truly exceptional, and I&#8217;m very excited to see what the future holds for her.&#8221;
Another gem in Tora ni Tsubasa was Wan Marui (27), who played Ayako Otowa, an investigator at the family court where the heroine, Torako, works:
&#8220;Marui&#8217;s sullen eyes have an enigmatic charm. In 2022, she starred in the film MONDAYS/ Kono Time Loop, Joushi ni Kizukanai to Owaranai, a comedy about a week-long time loop. Initially screened in only three theaters, the movie expanded to 42 theaters after Marui&#8217;s performance became a word-of-mouth hit. The movie achieved an unusual success with full house screenings on weekends. 
In Futekisetsu ni Hodo ga Aru!, Marui played the role of a troublesome, malicious junior to Reiko Nakama’s character, with many viewers voicing their frustration online at her portrayal. This is just the beginning of Marui&#8217;s rise as an actress.&#8221; (Takasaki)
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Rising star at the Cannes Film Festival in her debut film"></div>
<h2>A traditional-style actress who evokes thoughts of Mei Nagano</h2>
Kagami praises Rui Tsukishima (16), saying, &#8220;Though still in the process of growing, her overwhelming glamour catches the eye.&#8221;
&#8220;She’s a pure and beautiful girl, a true classic beauty, likely to appeal to people of all ages. In 2024, she starred in &#8216;Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san&#8217; (TBS), and her transparent presence stood out. Whether acting or being interviewed, she doesn’t put on any pretenses and isn’t easily intimidated. She’s always natural. In 2024, she was selected as the cheering manager for the &#8216;National High School Soccer Championship,&#8217; a stepping stone for young actresses. Watching Tsukishima reminds me of Mei Nagano (25), who was the cheering manager for this event,&#8221; says Kageyama.
A new star made her debut by attending the Cannes Film Festival right away. In September 2024, she played a lead role in the film Boku no Ohi-sama, which was officially selected for the 77th Cannes Film Festival&#8217;s Un Certain Regard section. This is Kiara Nakanishi (13).
&#8220;She started figure skating at four and participated in national competitions in ice dancing. Encouraged by her skating teacher, she auditioned and successfully entered the entertainment industry. In the film, she portrayed a middle school girl in the most delicate age, skillfully expressing the nuances of a young person caught between childhood and adulthood. Her performance in emotional scenes was spot-on. The film was selected for the Official Selection at Cannes, and Kiara won the Best Newcomer Award at the Hochi Film Awards in 2024. As a multilingual speaker of English and French, she’s a talent who can shine internationally, and I hope she’ll become an actress who can work worldwide,&#8221; says Takayuki.
<figure id="attachment_408737" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1357px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408737"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b7aafb4d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/57788c2d0e752f2c90cef59bceadc825.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408737" class="wp-caption-text">Kiara Nakanishi (13) is of Japanese and French descent. She aspires to become an actress like Ayami Nakajo (27) in the future.</figcaption></figure>
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Karin Ono (26), who showed her presence in the morning drama Come Come Everybody and Trap War (Fuji TV), is also expected to break out big this year, according to Takahiko Kageyama.
&#8220;In 2023, she showcased her acting skills in Hatsukoi Zarari (TV Tokyo), where she co-starred with Shunsuke Kazama (41). She portrayed a woman with a mild intellectual disability who seems ordinary but cannot understand abstract content and struggles to read the room. Despite this, her acting had depth, with the ability to show both sadness and laughter simultaneously, reminiscent of Hikari Mitsushima (39).&#8221;
<figure id="attachment_408738" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1817px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408738"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5d01e5ea"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/0ac33fe56a9c571ff7096efa7e30fd80.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408738" class="wp-caption-text">Karin Ono (26) will star in the January 2025 drama Watashi no Shiranai Watashi and is also set to appear in the upcoming Taiga drama.</figcaption></figure>
In 2024, an extraordinary newcomer is gaining attention in the variety industry.
Mitsuho Fukutome (21), a former AKB48 member, is described as having an incredibly strong personality that defies her idol background. Her talent for comedy was discovered during an appearance on Nobuyuki Sakuma’s YouTube channel in March 2024. Additionally, her obsessive love for and vast knowledge of boat racing, influenced by her grandfather and father, have made her a precious gem in the boat racing industry. Her adorable looks × intense character contrast is perfect for television, according to Takahiko Kageyama.
Another unexpected name Takahiko Kageyama mentions as a breakout candidate in the variety world is actress and model Mayu Yokota (25).
&#8220;She has been a regular on Thursdays since the start of Ravit! (TBS), gaining popularity with her shy smile. Her reluctance to push herself into the spotlight has also made her well-liked. Shinichiro Azumi (51), the MC of THE TIME before Ravit!, is a big fan of Yokota. During their cross-talk segments, Azumi chats with her warmly, saying &#8216;I always watch,&#8217; to which the Ravit! MC, Akira Kawashima (45), jokes, &#8216;Please pay for the subscription!&#8217; The fun interactions continue. Just like Fukutome, who is flourishing after being discovered by Sakuma, Yokota’s future looks bright thanks to her connection with Azumi.&#8221;
<figure id="attachment_408739" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1992px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408739"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f4a3913f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/cdc68240fdabbd2da69b19a71878b13e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408739" class="wp-caption-text">Mayu Yokota (25) entered the entertainment industry in 2014 as a model for Seventeen. She made her acting debut in 2019 with the drama 3 Nen A Kumi (Class 3-A).</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="New Face of the Comedy World"></div>
<h2>The baby character became a huge hit</h2>
In the world of comedy, it seems that a lot of new faces will be stepping into the spotlight in 2025.
For example, Nekonisuzu, a duo that was named as a role model by the 2019 M-1 champion Milk Boy, consists of the rapper-turned-comedian Yamagen (37) and the comedian Tadateno Tadaomi (41), who unexpectedly adopted a baby character. Tateno&#8217;s ability to seamlessly switch between playing an older man and a baby character won him laughs, and he even clinched victory in the year-end comedy competition &#8220;Gurunai Toshikoshi OmoshiroSou! Kotoshi mo Doreka Urete Tadai Special&#8221; (Nippon TV) aired at the end of 2024.
Comedy critic Larry Enda commented on Tadateno&#8217;s performance, saying, &#8220;He has a new, unique character that hasn&#8217;t been seen before, with a strangely cute quality similar to that of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (67).&#8221;
&#8220;While Yamagen, the more grounded one, keeps an eye on things, Tateno&#8217;s baby persona is something that will resonate with younger women and children. Alongside the likes of &#8216;Bakusho Mondai&#8217; (Ohta Hikaru, 59) and &#8216;Westland&#8217; (Iguchi Hiroyuki, 41), this duo is likely to make their way into variety shows.&#8221;
<figure id="attachment_408740" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2306px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408740"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6beea9d0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/ed6aef0a89d82dfa13d338c9892a01dd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408740" class="wp-caption-text">Nekonisuzu: They were part of separate comedy duos but disbanded. In 2012, the two, who were friends, formed a new duo.</figcaption></figure>
The tightening of compliance standards at major networks has been narrowing the range of comedy. While there is growing scrutiny on gender discrimination, a duo consisting of both men and women can help balance this. &#8220;Jukyu-nin,&#8221; with Yutchan W (27) as the comic and Matsunaga Masatoshi (27) as the straight man, is gaining praise for their theatrical-style comedy in which Yucchan W’s outrageous remarks toss Matsunaga around. TV critic Makoto Tobita praises their dynamic:
&#8220;Yutchan W, with her carefree and naturally positive vibe, is sure to be loved on variety shows. When she appeared on &#8216;Godtan&#8217; (TV Tokyo), she was asked to take part in a spontaneous advice segment, where she turned the problems into laughter. Her partner, Matsunaga, while being spun around by her, has a great ability to articulate and they balance each other well.&#8221;
Columnist Mai Imai recommends Elegant Life:
&#8220;They make sketches about modern issues, such as the nuances of women falling for hosts or eccentric people lurking in dating apps. They focus their efforts on YouTube and live shows, choosing not to participate in competition shows. Their approach, which avoids the traditional success story of winning awards and moving into prime-time variety, and instead pursues laughter in their own unique way, feels fresh.&#8221;
Who will bring a new wind to the entertainment industry in 2025? The anticipation is only growing.
From “FRIDAY”, January 24-31, 2025 issue.

 Kyodo Images (Yokota) Jiji Press (Nakanishi) Kazuhiko Nakamura (Ito)

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