J1 Season Kicks Off with Hiyori Sakurada’s Cute and Nervous Pitch

Miraculous Loop Shot

With her arms straightened and pressed neatly against her waist, Hiyori Sakurada (22) bowed deeply. Raising her face, she stepped onto the field of “Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu” in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, filled with a cheering crowd, her expression a mix of nerves and excitement.

“A child actor from an early age, Sakurada gained recognition at 11 for her role as Pia in the 2014 drama Ashita, Mama ga Inai (NTV), where she portrayed a girl living in a child welfare facility, matching the performance of lead Mana Ashida. In 2018, she became an exclusive model for Seventeen magazine and was selected as Miss Seventeen 2018, earning immense support from teenage girls.

In 2023, she starred in the movie Koukan Uso Nikki, playing a heroine who secretly exchanges diaries to impersonate the girl a boy likes, earning her the New Actor Award at the 47th Japan Academy Awards.” (TV magazine writer)

This season, she co-stars with Hayato Sano (27) in the popular drama ESCAPE Sore wa Yūkai no Hazu Datta (NTV), portraying a woman with the ability to read people’s minds.

Now a top-tier rising star, Sakurada appeared on November 30 as a guest at the J1 match between Kawasaki Frontaleand Sanfrecce Hiroshima, invited through her connection to Ebara Foods, a sponsor of the team, which also features her in commercials.

When her name was called, she stepped up to the microphone and said energetically:

“This is my first time doing a soccer kickoff ceremony, so please watch warmly! And let’s cheer for the players with all our energy until the end!”

During the penalty-style kickoff, she kicked the ball toward the goal with full force, but it floated in a loop and didn’t reach the net—a humorous mishap that drew loud cheers from the crowd. Comments like miraculous loop! and actually amazing! filled the stadium, making the moment a huge hit.

As Sakurada ran off the field, prompted by staff, she repeatedly bowed apologetically to the spectators—a humility that adds to her charm. With this spirit, she is sure to shine even more in the coming year!