Kasumi Mori: “Aiming to Grow as an Actress and Challenge Musicals”

“I would be happy if people think, ‘I want Kasumi Mori to try playing various roles.'”

— Your starring drama, “Year Younger Cherry Boy-kun ni Honro Saretemasu” (MBS), recently aired its final episode. How do you feel now?

“The filming was really fun. Many of the staff were around my age, so we could all share ideas like, ‘Wouldn’t it be even more heart-fluttering if we did it this way?’ It became a work that I grew quite attached to myself.”

— How was the reaction from those around you?

“I received messages from various people. Some said, ‘I’m curious about how their romance will unfold!’ which made me happy. Many also said, ‘This role suited you perfectly.’”

— Next, in the July Friday Night Drama “Ubai Ai, Manatsu” (aired every Friday night from 11:15 pm to 12:15 am on TV Asahi), you play a troublemaker who stirs up the relationships around her.

“She’s a girl who enjoys disrupting the relationships around her. I’ve often played good girl roles, so I hope to broaden my acting range.”

— On the drama’s official site, you said you were determined to act in a way that viewers might dislike you. That must take some courage, right?

“I myself am a character who receives mixed reactions on variety shows. Sometimes I get disliked just for having a calculated, cute image, which can be sad. But if I get disliked because of my acting, it means I’ve really embodied the role, so I’m happy about that. This might be the first time I actually want to be disliked since entering this world (laughs).”

— Your acting career seems to be going well.

“I’d be happy if people thought, ‘I want Kasumi Mori to try playing various roles.’ Since I’m getting offers, I want to meet those expectations with my performances.”

— As an actress, is there anything you consciously focus on when preparing for roles?

“Perhaps because I was an announcer, I’m used to listening to people’s stories, so acquaintances often come to me with their worries. I’m the type who imagines the feelings of the person I’m talking to and gets angry with them, so I think that experience helps in my acting. I want to continue valuing opportunities to listen to various people’s stories moving forward.”

Thoughts on Leaving TV Tokyo

— It’s been two years since you left TV Tokyo. How do you feel about that decision now?

“At the time, I quit quite lightly (laughs). If I had thought about it too deeply, I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave. I turned 30 this year, and many announcers start thinking about their next steps around this age. But if I had left TV Tokyo at 30, I feel like it would have been harder to adopt the attitude of ‘Please teach me everything from scratch,’ which is easier in your 20s. I think quitting early and challenging myself was the right decision. I’m still very close with my同期 (colleagues who joined at the same time), and when we meet, it brings back nostalgic memories.”

— Is there a chance you’ll return to gravure modeling in the future?

“I do sometimes express that I want to do it, but basically, it depends on whether I get offers. Last time I was on the cover of FRIDAY magazine, it caused a big reaction. On another magazine shoot, someone told me, ‘After seeing that FRIDAY cover, we decided to hire the same photographer and stylist.’ I’m happy to contribute like that.”

— Are there any celebrities you spend time with privately?

“Recently, for my birthday, Ige-chan (Hiroe Igeta, 28) and Karma-san (28) celebrated with me. They even prepared balloons! We’re all around the same age and think alike, so we meet regularly. There are worries I can’t talk about with others, but I can share them with those two. I’m also close with Yui-chan (Yui Sakurai, 25) from FRUITS ZIPPER. She’s really busy, so I regularly check if she’s eating properly (laughs). If not, I take her out for meals as her older sister figure.”

— Speaking of sisters, your photo with your younger sister posted on social media has been a hot topic.

“I’m close with my sister and probably see her the most in my private life. She even has a spare key to my place and sometimes comes in without telling me.”

— Now that you’re 30, what are your future goals?

“I want to continue acting. Playing Hanabi-chan in Ubai Ai, Manatsu helps me grow as an actress. Also, performing in a musical has been a long-time goal, so I’d like to challenge myself with that someday!”

“I believe my decision to leave the company was the right one.” Recently, she has been focusing on body makeup from a female perspective. Thanks to that, her gravure work received positive responses even from women.

Kasumi Mori, 30 years old
Joined TV Tokyo in 2019. Left the company in March 2023 and is now working as a freelance announcer. Active in a wide range of fields from variety shows to acting. Her latest appearance is in the Friday night drama “Ubai Ai, Manatsu” (aired on TV Asahi), which started broadcasting on July 18.

Here’s the translation:

My Recent Favorites: MOVIE & TV DRAMA
National Treasure and Boys Over Flowers

I recently watched the movie National Treasure. The sheer intensity was amazing, and despite its three-hour length, it didn’t feel long at all. I was overwhelmed by the powerful presence of Ryō Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, which went beyond just their acting skills. Since June, the Japanese version of the Boys Over Flowers series has been streaming on U-NEXT. This was actually the very first drama I ever watched in my life when I was in elementary school. Lately, my younger sister and I have been regularly holding “Boys Over Flowers viewing parties” and having a great time!

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