Suzu Hirose’s Evolution: From Adorable “Suzu-chan” to Versatile Actress

Hirose also takes on an intense love scene

The Netflix drama “Ashura no Gotoku”, which began streaming in January, has been well received.

The drama is a remake of the 1979 NHK production based on Kuniko Mukoda’s work of the same name, which has previously been adapted into films and stage plays with different casts. This time, Hirokazu Kore-eda (62) directed the remake. The star-studded cast includes Rie Miyazawa (51) as the eldest daughter Tsunako, Machiko Ono (43) as the second daughter Makiko, Yu Aoi (39) as the third daughter Takiko, and Suzu Hirose (26) as the youngest daughter Sakiko. Among them, Hirose’s performance has drawn particular attention.

“The three actresses—Miyazawa, Ono, and Aoi—are all renowned for their ability to portray the dark, complex depths of human nature. The fact that Hirose is joining them speaks volumes about her recognition as a skilled actress,” said a TV magazine writer.

According to NHK’s official website, Ashura no Gotoku is described as follows:

“A strict father had a mistress. When the four sisters gather to discuss the matter, their candid exchanges as women reveal their true feelings. As the story unfolds, each sister’s hidden struggles come to light—jealousy, ego, obsession. The facade of an ordinary family gathering crumbles, exposing the darkness within their hearts, and they reveal their ‘Ashura’ faces.”

The drama is a family story told with a comedic touch, depicting the entanglements and secrets that surface among the four sisters after discovering their aging father has a mistress.

Hirose plays the youngest sister, Sakiko, a café waitress who secretly lives with an aspiring boxer. Although her scenes appear only briefly in the drama’s commercial, glimpses of Sakiko’s rebellious nature and an intense love scene suggest a different side of Hirose—one that contrasts with her usual cute image.

Now 26 years old, Hirose is still often associated with the image of a cute girl. She debuted in the entertainment industry at 14 as a magazine model before venturing into acting. Her performance in the 2015 film “Our Little Sister” earned her widespread acclaim, sweeping multiple newcomer awards, including the 39th Japan Academy Prize.

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The following year, she landed her first solo lead role in the film Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku, released in 2016, and won the Best Leading Actress Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize. That same year, she also won the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in Ikari, achieving a rare double win. Additionally, she received the Élan d’Or Award for Newcomer of the Year, given to the most outstanding and promising actor of the year, demonstrating her talent as an actress early on.

In 2018, she served as the host for the Red Team in the “69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen,” and in the first half of 2019, she was cast as the lead in NHK’s morning drama series “Natsuzora.” As her popularity grew, she received more commercial offers, earning the title of “CM Queen” in both 2015 and 2020. Her transformation can also be observed through her commercials.

“The ‘Mitsui no Suzu-chan’ commercial, which has been airing since 2022, deliberately highlighted the ‘cute Suzu Hirose’ image. However, in the ‘Money Doctor’ commercial that started airing last year, she plays the role of a high school coach with a self-deprecating touch, which has been well received. Hirose is now entering her late twenties and is gradually shedding her cute image,” said a broadcast writer.

This year, Hirose is starring in three films, including “Kataomoi Sekai,” and in the TBS drama “Kujaku no Dance, Dare ga Mita?,” which began airing on January 24. She plays the protagonist, Kokomugi, who seeks the truth behind her father’s murder. After watching the first episode, viewers praised her performance, saying, “Hirose fits the role perfectly. Her acting range is truly impressive,” and “Her vitality and skill as an actress are astonishing.” She has taken on serious roles, leaving no trace of the ‘cute Suzu-chan’ image.

In an interview with Real Sound (published on March 31, 2023), when asked, “You often play characters who carry some kind of burden, don’t you?” she responded:

“I even wonder myself, ‘Why do I get these roles so often?’ (laughs). When I was in my teens, I played a lot of energetic roles, but those actually took more physical effort.”

 

I’m hungry as an actress.

Hungry as an actress

“If I’m told to smile when I don’t actually feel that way, it’s difficult, isn’t it? Maintaining that expression can be surprisingly hard, too. I think it’s probably easier for me to portray someone falling into despair. In fact, I’m more drawn to those kinds of roles and feel like I want to play them. I don’t really know why myself (laughs). But if a work has even one such theme, I find it interesting to perform, so I enjoy it.”

A veteran film journalist comments:

“There’s a perception that she has recently started taking on serious roles, but that’s not the case. In the 2016 film ‘Ikari’ (‘Rage’), she played a character who was raped by an American soldier. In the 2017 film ‘Sandome no Satsujin’ (‘The Third Murder’), she portrayed a daughter who suffered sexual abuse from her biological father. In the 2022 film ‘Rurou no Tsuki’ (‘The Wandering Moon’), she played a woman who had been kidnapped as a child at the age of ten, with scenes depicting her suffering domestic violence from her boyfriend. These were all incredibly challenging roles, but her performances were outstanding. When I learned that she had taken on a role involving rape, I realized she was fully committed to being an actress. She had truly steeled herself.

When it comes to acting, it’s no coincidence that she has won numerous film awards. However, lately, perhaps out of a stronger desire not to be seen only as cute, she has been taking on mostly serious roles. That said, I’m sure many fans still want to see the cute Hirose. In that regard, director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who is working with her for the third time in ‘Ashura no Gotoku,’ brings out her full potential. We may see yet another side of Suzu Hirose.”

With the day she is recognized as a true powerhouse actress fast approaching, we cannot take our eyes off her.