Meisa Kuroki Spotted on a Drama Set Sipping Water Under a Parasol

She had been worried about her time away from the spotlight

Dressed in a vivid blue blouse and black pants, a woman stood gracefully under a large parasol — it was actress Meisa Kuroki (37).

On a morning in mid-May, a drama shoot was underway at a shopping street inside a massive housing complex in the suburbs of Tokyo.

“It’s a TBS drama originally scheduled for the July season, starring Ryohei Suzuki (42). Although the broadcast was postponed to the October season or later, it seems filming is proceeding as planned since the schedule couldn’t be changed.” (commercial TV drama production insider)

It’s already known that Ren Nagase (26) from King & Prince and Erika Toda (36) are also part of the cast, and the star-studded lineup is generating buzz even before the show’s title and storyline have been announced. Kuroki’s role remains unknown, but on this day, she was seen shooting scenes where she wandered alone through a shuttered shopping street, lost in thought — creating a lonely, introspective atmosphere.

Between takes, perhaps to shield herself from the harsh sun, she sat in a director’s chair under a large parasol, taking bold gulps from a bottle of water and breaking into a natural smile. She also chatted casually with staff, suggesting filming was progressing smoothly.

“In 2012, Kuroki married former KAT-TUN member Jin Akanishi (40). The couple had two children and moved to Hawaii in 2019. In April 2023, she left the talent agency she’d belonged to for many years and went independent. At the end of that year, she announced her divorce from Akanishi and returned to Japan with her children.

Last July, she made her return to terrestrial drama after seven years with Furisumore Kodoku na Shi yo (Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV), playing a cool, junior-minded detective — a role that made excellent use of her striking looks and was well received. This new project marks her first drama series appearance in a year.” (TV magazine writer)

Last July, on the talk show Oshare Clip (Nippon TV, aired July 7, 2024), Kuroki spoke about her comeback and her 20-year career:

“I had hoped to be a much more capable woman by now, but from here on out, I’ll continue at my own pace, always believing that now is my best.”

She also mentioned that her time away from acting had inevitably affected her performance — but a year has passed since then. What kind of acting will she deliver this time? Expectations are high.

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