Mei Nagano’s Acting Career Boosted by Kakukaku Shikajika’s 2 Billion Yen Box Office Hit

All Night Nippon and Taiga drama: one after another, stepping down

Actress Mei Nagano (25) has withdrawn from the NHK Taiga drama Toyotomi Kyodai! scheduled for next year. This was widely reported by the media on May 19. Nagano’s agency commented on the reason for her withdrawal:

“Considering the significant inconvenience and concern caused to all parties involved by the recent series of reports, we have decided to decline participation in the production.”

NHK also announced on their official website:

“After careful consideration, NHK has decided to accept this request.”

Filming for Taiga dramas is a year-long process. Although Nagano has completely denied the adultery allegations involving actor Kei Tanaka (40), the related reports have intensified, raising concerns about the impact on the drama. Additionally, the lead actor, Taiga Nakano, belongs to the same agency as Nagano, which seems to have factored into the decision due to possible negative effects.

A TV industry insider said:

“NHK operates on license fees. Unlike commercial networks, it isn’t affected by client pressure but must listen to viewers’ voices. Nagano has seen a surge in critics due to the scandal. If she were allowed to appear as if nothing happened, it would likely provoke public backlash. NHK tends to avoid situations that could lead to license fee non-payment.”

Nagano also stepped down from Nippon Broadcasting’s Mei Nagano’s All Night Nippon X (Cross).

Nine sponsors contracted with Nagano have already removed her commercials and banners. While contracts remain, renewal prospects are bleak, and by summer, her activities could effectively be on hold.

“Nagano’s commercial fees have soared in recent years, currently estimated at 30 to 40 million yen per spot. Due to the ongoing controversy, her value has plummeted. If all contracts end, she could lose over 300 million yen,” said an agency official.

Nagano’s future hinges on her starring movie Kakukaku Shikajika, released on May 16.

She tearfully apologized during the stage greeting

The film is a live-action adaptation of Akiko Higashimura’s autobiographical comic. It depicts the relationship between Akiko (played by Mei Nagano), a high school student aiming to enter art school, and her strict mentor, Mr. Hidaka (Yo Oizumi).

On the 16th, a stage greeting was held in Tokyo, where Nagano tearfully apologized for the recent scandal while on stage. The audience responded with applause as a show of support.

Despite concerns before the release due to the infidelity allegations, the screening was nearly full that day. The film staff expressed relief, saying, “For now, we feel reassured.” Many celebrities who saw the film shared their impressions. Former scriptwriter Osamu Suzuki praised it on social media:

“Honestly, when I started watching and saw Mei Nagano, many thoughts came to mind, but after 30 minutes, they completely vanished. I cried three times. It’s truly a masterpiece of a film.”

A reporter covering entertainment for a sports newspaper commented:

“Social media and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive from viewers. The original author Akiko Higashimura has called her a genius. Given this, they likely aim to surpass the usual major hit benchmark of 2 billion yen in box office revenue. Achieving this would open up new opportunities for Nagano.”

Another popular book-based film, “And the Baton Was Passed” (2021), co-starring Taiga Nakano—also involved in the current scandal—grossed 1.72 billion yen despite the pandemic. “Kakushika” has the same, if not greater, potential.

“If the movie becomes a hit, even if terrestrial TV roles become difficult, offers from paid movie platforms or streaming dramas like Netflix could come. Stage plays and musicals would also be possible. It could be said that Nagano’s acting career hinges on surpassing the 2 billion yen mark,” said the same reporter.

Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, former head of culture and society at Tokyo Sports Newspaper and a member of the Japan Film Pen Club, who writes about films and Hollywood, analyzed:

“According to the Motion Picture Producers Association, last year’s highest-grossing film was the anime ‘Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi’ with 15.8 billion yen, which is exceptional. For live-action films, the top was ‘Kingdom: The Return of the Great General’ at 8.03 billion yen, followed by ‘Last Mile’ at 5.96 billion yen, both big hits. Surpassing 1 billion yen in box office for live-action is considered a hit, so 2 billion yen is a very strong success.

Given the popularity of Higashimura’s autobiographical manga, Yo Oizumi’s stable popularity in film and drama, and despite the infidelity scandal, Mei Nagano’s passionate acting will likely contribute to the hit. Surpassing 2 billion yen shouldn’t be difficult.”

This is a rare case where a major scandal hit just before a film release. Nagano has faced backlash, and her previously pure image has been shattered. Many feared it might affect the audience’s immersion in the film, but depending on future attendance, the cultural acceptance that the real world and the screen are separate and the work itself is innocent could take root.

This series of events may also spark a shift in how entertainment scandals are handled moving forward.