Nana Mori Shines in Bold Love Scene for Hit Film, Leaving Agency Scandal Behind

A Sense of Responsibility as the Lead

“Yatta—!!”

One afternoon in late June, cheerful laughter rang out from a long-established fishing pond in Asagaya, Tokyo. Jumping up and down in excitement, expressing her joy with her whole body, was actress Nana Mori (23).

It might’ve seemed like she had a great catch, but in fact, she was filming a new NHK drama set to air in November.

“She’s co-starring with Riho Yoshioka (32), and on this day, they were shooting a scene where a giant goldfish sculpture is completed, and the characters celebrate together. Between takes, Mori eagerly helped with painting the prop, showing a real sense of leadership as the lead actor,” said a production staff member.

Mori’s career once faced a setback due to a well-publicized agency transfer dispute in 2021, which led to her having no drama appearances that year. However, she’s been regaining momentum with increasingly notable roles.

The major turning point is said to be the current box-office hit Kokuhou (National Treasure), which surpassed 5 billion yen in ticket sales within just over a month of release.

“She gave a passionate performance in intimate scenes, including an intense kissing scene. The role marked her transition from a pure image to a more mature actress. With the success of Kokuhou, she’s likely to land more lead roles. Her path mirrors that of Fumi Nikaido (30), a senior at her agency, who also took on a bold role at age 23 in River’s Edge. Having a close, successful example to look up to will surely help Mori’s growth,” said film critic Tetsuji Akimoto.

With her radiant smile, Mori continues to rise on her path to becoming a national treasure–level actress.

From the August 1, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”