Nine Years After Her Comeback, Non Opens Up About Her Evolving Rook’s Journey

The Team Non That Became Her Greatest Support

“It’s been a while!”

It’s been nine years since Non (32) declared her fresh start under her new name in this magazine. When she greeted the staff again, her smile was exactly the same sparkling one she showed nine years ago, when she said after a photoshoot and in-depth interview, “Filming is so much fun!”

Since her restart, Non has steadily expanded her career — as a singer, picture book author, voice actor, and film director — and last year, she received the Itami Juzo Award.

This year, her performances as an actor — her original calling — have especially stood out.

In Shiawase Kanako no Koroshiya Seikatsu (DMM TV), she played an office worker who becomes a hitwoman. Her return to a major network drama after 11 years, Caster (TBS), where she portrayed a young university researcher, became a major talking point. And The Bullet Train Explosion (Netflix), in which she played a train operator, ranked No.1 in Japan and No.2 worldwide.

Starting September 29, she stars in MISS KING (ABEMA), playing Asuka — a woman who seeks revenge through shogi against her genius father who abandoned his family. Betrayal, revenge, tragic fate — the role is the complete opposite of her iconic Amachan (NHK) character, and one of the most challenging of her career.

“I’ve played unhappy roles in live-action before, but they were usually more comedic or didn’t look that tragic. Asuka is definitely the most miserable I’ve ever been,” she laughs. “I saw some of the rough cuts recently — she’s really pitiful.”

When the interviewer pulled out a piece of paper from nine years ago — on which she’d written her motto for her new start, “Straight ahead! A fun, straightforward path!” — Non gasped, “Whoa! That’s hilarious — it’s the rook! (hisha, the same piece from shogi).” Then, smiling softly, she added, “You guys really don’t throw things away.”

“The members of Team Non who have stuck with me all this time are my greatest support,” she says. “Yukihiro Takahashi invited me to a festival, and that became my music debut. I’ll never forget how he opened that door for me. Beyond music, so many people have been curious about me and decided to get involved — that’s been a huge source of strength.”

At the end of the interview, when asked to share advice for readers who may struggle to find their own path, she laughed: “For FRIDAY readers!? Are they all people having a hard time in life?” Then she answered sincerely:

“When you keep pushing straight ahead, it’s like you’re polishing yourself against the headwinds. Back in my 20s, I used to think my way was always right, but I’ve learned to listen — to seek out and accept other opinions.

And, you know, once a rook (hisha) promotes, it can move in more directions than straight ahead!” (laughs) “So yes, life can be hard, but let’s not lose heart — let’s keep going together!”

Non’s rook life has entered its next stage.

The FRIDAY October 3–10 double issue (on sale September 19) and FRIDAY GOLD (premium edition) feature more candid stories — about her branding as an actor and artist, her experiences with Yutaka Mizutani and Tokuma Nishioka, her mentors, and even her secret pachipachin technique.

For full content and more exclusive photos, see here ↓

From the October 3 and 10, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”