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

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?