Takako Matsu’s Romance Film a Surprise Hit! Her Cute Persona Wins Fans

Laughing hard with Kazuya Ninomiya

Actress Takako Matsu (47) has been making frequent appearances on variety shows since the beginning of the year.

In January, she appeared on three programs, including the New Year’s special of Banana Man’s Sekkaku Gourmet!! (TBS). In February, she has already been on two shows. On the February 7 episode of Nino-san (NTV), she shared behind-the-scenes stories from the drama Long Vacation (Fuji TV). This drama, which aired in 1996, marked Matsu’s first appearance in a TV series and achieved a peak viewership rating of 36.7%. It is widely known as the drama that catapulted Takuya Kimura (52) to stardom.

“At the time, 18-year-old Matsu played the role of a junior colleague who had feelings for Kimura’s character. When asked about filming episodes, she revealed for the first time that Kimura once gave her a ride home from the set, a story that surprised both MC Kazunari Ninomiya (41) and the other guests. Later in the show, she played the ‘Acchi Muite Hoi’ game against Ninomiya.

Her determination to win and her bursts of laughter at Ninomiya’s expressions showcased a playful side of Matsu rarely seen by the public. Many viewers were surprised by this unexpected charm, with social media buzzing with comments like, ‘Was she always this cute?’ and ‘She’s so funny on variety shows,’” said a TV magazine writer.

All of these appearances are part of the promotional campaign for her latest film, First Kiss 1ST KISS, which has turned into a major hit. The movie is now set for release in South Korea as well.

According to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, domestic films saw a remarkable surge in 2023. While foreign films struggled, Japanese films recorded a total box office revenue of 155.8 billion yen, reaching 105% of the previous year’s total. This figure surpassed the record set in 2016, making it the highest-grossing year for Japanese films in history.

A legendary duo with Yuji Sakamoto

“The hit films were primarily anime, such as Detective Conan and Mobile Suit Gundam, with anime accounting for 57% of films that grossed over 1 billion yen. In live-action, adaptations of manga like Kingdom and Golden Kamuy were successful. However, romance films haven’t been performing as well as they once did. While it’s unlikely that Matsutaka was lamenting this trend, perhaps she simply couldn’t sit still.

In the past, even when promoting a film, Matsutaka would typically appear only on talk shows, sharing stories about the movie or her family. Her recent surge in variety show appearances suggests a much stronger commitment to supporting this film.” (Film distribution company employee)

Now at 47, Matsutaka has only grown in presence as an actress, solidifying her status as one of Japan’s top stars. A veteran film writer had this to say about her appeal:

“Her acting skills have always been well regarded, so there’s nothing more to add in that respect. However, if she has evolved over the years, it’s likely due to her decision to leave her long-time talent agency in 2011 and become independent. She now only takes on roles in projects she genuinely likes, which deepens her attachment to her work and ultimately results in better films.”

Since going independent, Matsutaka’s collaborations with screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto (57) have consistently made headlines. Both Quartet (2017, TBS) and Ōmameda Towako and Her Three Ex-Husbands (2021, TBS) won multiple drama awards and are considered masterpieces. The film First Kiss 1ST KISS is also written by Sakamoto.

“At first glance, the movie may seem like a romance film designed to showcase Hokuto Matsumura (29) of SixTONES as Matsutaka’s co-star. And indeed, Matsumura’s fans have undoubtedly contributed to its success. However, Matsutaka, who rarely takes on romance-themed roles in films or dramas, likely chose this project because it was written by Sakamoto.

She plays a woman who time-travels 15 years into the past to reunite with her late husband. The CGI de-aging used for her younger self is remarkably well done, and her youthful appearance in those scenes is simply stunning. It’s precisely because Sakamoto understands her appeal so well that the film has turned out to be such a great piece of work.” (Film magazine editor)

What are the differences between Haruka Ayase and Masami Nagasawa?

Sakamoto’s works are known for their distinctive atmosphere, often conveying a sense of distortion through unique dialogue and subtle exchanges of words, or embedding deep, key meanings. The characters tend to be highly individualistic as well.

“Matsu-san has a strong ability to thoroughly read and understand scripts. Her compatibility with Sakamoto-san is likely exceptional, which allows her to always bring out the best in his work. Of course, Masami Nagasawa (37) and Haruka Ayase (39) are also outstanding actresses, but since they don’t have the freedom to choose their own projects, they often end up playing roles that align with what the public—especially men—desire. That’s where Matsu-san differs. She is not exactly the kind of actress people typically envision as a top star, but she is likely to have a long and enduring career.” (Film writer)

While anime and comic-based films dominate the Japanese film industry, Matsu’s perseverance may bring a shift in the direction of Japanese romance films.