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.