Let’s decide who is the “No.1” veteran actress in Reiwa! Three experts thoroughly discussed the issue.

Three experts in the field discuss the issue at great length.

Actresses who have transcended the times and added color to their works. The overwhelming presence they exude can even change the evaluation of a work. The heroines of Reiwa’s TV dramas are all in their 20s and 30s, but have you ever thought to yourself, “If only that talented actress had played the lead role in this film, I would have seen it on ……”? Who among the leading actresses in their 40s and 50s who have built up their careers is shining brightest today, while also being supported by young people? Three drama watchers who have been following the transition from their debut to the present day discussed the issues in depth.

Yuichi Maeda (film critic): In my opinion, the top actress is Yuki Amami (57). I am fascinated by her charisma and her wide range of acting skills, which can be flexible and versatile.

Masako Hasegawa (entertainment reporter): I was also smitten by Amami’s stage presence when I saw her on stage. As is often the case in the last scene of “Gekidan Shinkansen,” her backside projects the life of the character, and that alone makes me cry. I really regretted that I had not seen her on stage during her Takarazuka days.

Mai Imai (Writer): When she plays the role of a career woman, she is the best in the world. On the other hand, she has such a strong image that I can’t imagine her as a housewife who is drowning in adultery, or in a story involving a sordid love affair.

Hasegawa: It’s true that I can’t imagine you as a housewife indulging in adultery, but recently you have been playing the role of an ordinary housewife. There is also a familiarity to her, such as when she shows herself crying because she laughs too much on variety shows. Such human qualities also make her attractive.

Maeda It is genuinely cool that she is taking on various roles even though she has had such a long career and is at the forefront of her field. Recently, the number of women who work hard and show leadership has been increasing, which has led to an increase in the number of such types of works. It is no exaggeration to say that Amami is still the first name that comes to mind when it comes to work-related dramas.

Hasegawa: In terms of work-related, Yonekura Ryoko (49) may be similar.’ She became famous with the drama “Seicho Matsumoto: Black Leather Handbook” (TV Asahi) broadcast in 2004, but before that she was an actress who had had a difficult time. There was a time when she didn’t have a manager and had to carry her trunk to the set by herself.

Imai: She originally debuted as a model, and then used her physical abilities cultivated through ballet to perform on Broadway. She is a successful actress in a different vein from other actresses.

Maeda: She is the pride of Japan’s leading actresses. Many Hollywood actresses have less and less work after 40 years old, but Yonekura is always in her prime! She is always active to the extent that she is “in her prime!

Hasegawa: I heard that she does the surgery scenes in “Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko” herself, without using a substitute. Usually, they have a real surgeon do it, but she practices and accomplishes it herself. She knows how to shoot for the camera, so she was able to produce a scene that was overwhelmingly cooler than if she had used an understudy. She says that on stage and other occasions, she researches and files information from the performers to the staff in advance, memorizes it, and communicates with them.

Imai: After more than 12 years of playing the leading role, you have gained a lot of dignity, haven’t you?

Maeda I was surprised that Yonekura appeared in the Netflix-distributed film “Newspaper Reporter. This drama is a criticism of the government of the time. It was an epoch-making event for a top actress to appear in such a sensitive work. And yet, it is truly amazing that she still maintains a neutral image and is not tinged with politics.

Hasegawa: It is because of her sense of responsibility to deliver a message to society through her works. I feel that she is proud to be one of Japan’s leading actresses.

Imai: The latest movie in the “Bayside Shakedown” series was released last year, and I was disappointed that Eri Fukatsu (52) did not appear in it. Although she has recently been cutting back on her media exposure, she is one of the outstanding actresses who can play comedy as well as mysterious atmosphere. I could not forget her comedic performance in “Suteki na Kinbaku” (’11), a film directed by Koki Mitani (’63), in which she starred. There is no doubt that she is a talented performer.

Maeda: In this day and age, it is commonplace to send out messages on social networking services, but she has not done so, so she has been able to keep that image in a good way. An actress who is widely supported without making enemies is very rare, and she may fit the needs of today’s TV industry.

Hasegawa: Conversely, if we look at an image that is making a splash in the public, we can look at Yuki Saito (58), whose role as a snack bar mom in the drama “I Want to Hit That Scum” (TBS) broadcast last year was very impressive. There were reports of infidelity both before and after her marriage, but I am simply impressed that she can devote so much passion to her love life while working so many jobs. His acting has become more polished every time he falls in love, and although he now stars in fewer films, if he were in one, I would be hooked.

Imai: In today’s TV industry, people with a clean image are valued, but judging from her numerous appearances in terrestrial productions, including those in which she plays mothers, I think her reputation as an actress is as high as ever.

An Actress Supported by Generation Z

Maeda Ishida Yuriko (55) is both cute and beautiful, and fits the description of an actress who attracts the support of the younger generation. I feel that there are many women who would like to age like her, and while many people on social networking services are self-promotional, Ishida’s daily life with her pets, for example, is very natural and she does not seem to be overdoing it. I think this is one of the reasons for her popularity.

Imai: She is single, but I think it is easy to imagine her as a cute mother. If she had a family, she would say, ‘Mom, the glasses you’re looking for are on your forehead! Oh, really. I did it again! I’m sure they would be laughing all the time at such a goofy screw-up.

Hasegawa Ishida is good, but I also like Kyoko Koizumi (59). Some of the older actresses look young and uncomfortable, but she is just as she is. She does not try to look young and natural. I think Koizumi is the only actress who can play the role of an ordinary old lady while maintaining her charisma.

Imai I also think Koizumi maintains the image of a cool adult woman. Her mentality of not giving in to external pressure, her sincere attitude toward theater, and her high level of professionalism are also highly regarded, and she enjoys overwhelming support from people in the industry. Most Japanese actors are defending their created image to the death and live their lives without being able to say what they really think. However, she is not concerned about her negative image and speaks out on social issues.

Maeda Koizumi is refreshing in a good way. She seems to say with pride, “Wrinkles, spots, and sagging skin are just part of age” (laughs).

Imai: When she was an idol in the past, she had an air of rebelliousness and would never do the bidding of adults, but now I feel that she is free and uninhibited, but also has the wisdom of an adult who has bitten off both sweet and sour.

Maeda: Speaking of feeling the presence of an adult, the movie “Go-ban-kiri,” released last year, is just like that. She played the role of a bubbly brothel madam, which was the very image of an idol who has grown old in a cool way.

Imai: Maybe she is aiming for the position of Ki-Kirin Kiki (75 years old). I don’t think there are many actors who can express themselves so wonderfully. There are some similarities, such as the unique atmosphere that only she can create, and her willingness to appear on camera as she is, even though she has aged.

Hasegawa: Nanako Matsushima (51) also seems to have many young fans. I think that her “married couple image” with Takashi Sorimachi (51) is one of the factors that young girls admire, so they may think that she is in love with her handsome husband and wish she were their mother.

Imai: There is also Rie Miyazawa (51), a beautiful girl who once made all of Japan crazy about her.’ She starred in the movie “Moon,” released in 2011, in which she played a staff member working at a facility for the handicapped. This year, too, she was one of the main cast members in Mitani’s stage play “Showa Kara no Kaiyaku,” and her activities are as wide-ranging as ever.

Maeda I have mentioned many people, but when it comes to “talented actresses” based on their activities in recent years, I would have to say Amami.

Hasegawa Yonekura is also hard to dismiss, but …… Amami is one rank higher since she is scheduled to appear in multiple genres this year as well, including movies and stage productions.

Imai: With the release of the popular series “Emergency Room THE FINAL” coming up, she is riding the wave the most right now.

Will the success of these top actresses, who are highly praised by drama watchers, be able to stop young people from turning away from TV?

Special Column by Takashi Saito, Professor at Meiji University
Legendary actresses in their 60s and older are these people!

There are many “legendary actresses” in Japan whose careers and experience are even more extensive than those of veteran actresses. Who exactly does Takashi Saito, 64, a professor at Meiji University who says that watching TV dramas is his hobby, consider to be the greatest actresses of all time?

The legend in my opinion is Mari Natsuki (72), a one-of-a-kind expressive actress. She has become one of my role models because of her overwhelming presence and lifestyle. She played difficult roles such as Yubaba in the stage play “Spirited Away,” which was also performed in London last year, and Obaba in the movie “Ping Pong,” released in 2002, and performed them with great skill.

He also praises the actress who launched her own theater company.

She plays a wide range of roles, from comical to serious, and she has the ability to make any role her own. She also directs and has the leadership skills to lead her troupe members. She is also a leader who directs and leads the members of the theater company. In addition, she has energetically appeared in many films and sometimes takes on the role of a tease in variety shows because of her friendly character. I have the impression that she is a multi-talented actress, not only as an actress but also as a playwright and director.

The last name mentioned is a person who has achieved worldwide fame.

Yuko Tanaka (69) is the most deserving of the name “Great Actress of Our Time. She starred in the 1983 drama “Oshin” (NHK), which was a huge hit and was broadcast in more than 60 countries around the world. She is one of those rare actresses who can make you imagine the backbone of a role with just a short line or a slight eye movement. She is one of those rare actresses who can make you imagine the backbone of a role with just a short line or a slight movement of the eyes. Her presence in the film tightens it up and adds depth to the overall content. I think it is fair to say that her acting ability has definitely raised the level of Japanese entertainment.

From the March 14/21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY