Rising Stars of 2026! Art School Idol and Osaka Comedian Set to Break Out This Year

Nanoka Hara (22), who gained attention playing the younger sister of the heroine Mio Imada (28) in Anpan, and Akari Takaishi (23), who was selected as the heroine in Bakebake, lead the NHK Asadora cohort, with new talents continuing to emerge in 2025.

Who will be the pre-breakout stars following Hara and Takaishi, who are in high demand for dramas, films, and commercials? Experts including former TV producers and columnists highlight the rising talents in the entertainment world.

Part 1 — 2026: Stars Certain to Break Out! “New Year Special” NHK Asadora Actresses to Watch in the Industry

 

Young actors praised by Sho Sakurai

Alongside Asadora, NHK Taiga dramas serve as a gateway for young actresses. The broadcast of Toyotomi Kyodai! has already started, and the heroine Sei Shiraishi (27) is quickly attracting attention.

“Originally, the role was supposed to go to Mei Nagano (26), but she stepped down due to an alleged affair with Kei Tanaka (41). Shiraishi was chosen as her replacement. She plays a tragic heroine who is devoted to the protagonist, Toyotomi Hidenaga, while being swept up in the turbulent Sengoku era. In 2024’s Shinkūkō Senkyo (Nippon TV), she played a difficult role as a Kanagawa Prefectural police information analyst who is later revealed to be a spy for an armed group occupying the airport, completely deceiving viewers. Even lead actor Sho Sakurai (43) reportedly said, ‘She’s amazing,’ praising her performance. Shiraishi could see a breakout similar to Haruna Kawaguchi (30), who substituted for Erika Sawajiri (39) in the 2020 Taiga drama Kirin ga Kuru” (Professor Gotonobu Okada, Sociology, Yamato University).

The year looks abundant for actresses, but among men, Hayato Sano (27) is highly regarded. Last year, he made his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a member of the dance-vocal unit M!LK, while also working as an actor.

“In 2024, he made his Asadora debut in Omusubi. Last year, he appeared in three serialized dramas, including starring in ESCAPE: Sore wa Yūkai no Hazu Datta (Nippon TV). This year, in the January drama Okome no Onna — Kokuzeichō Shiryō Chōsa-ka Zakkokushitsu (TV Asahi), he was cast as a supporting lead, playing a national tax investigator supporting lead Nanako Matsushima (52). TV Asahi is investing in this as a flagship series to succeed Kasōken no Onnaand Doctor-X, and casting Sano in the second spot reflects the high evaluation of his acting skills. Combined with his looks, the industry sees him as a post-Yokohama Ryusei” (Professor Okada).

In the talent category, Noa (18), who began full-fledged entertainment activities in 2024, is rapidly rising. She is the eldest daughter of actor Taiyo Sugiura (44) and former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji (38), a true thoroughbred.

“She gained instant recognition through the reality show Kyou, Suki ni Narimashita. Graduation Edition 2025 in Seoul(ABEMA). The Kyou Suki series consistently ranks first in ABEMA viewership, especially among female viewers of all ages, gaining overwhelming support from middle and high school girls. Noa dramatically rejected a high school boy’s confession of affection while crying, and continued to express gratitude to him, moving viewers to tears. Her Instagram followers have already exceeded 2 million, and after graduating high school in March, she can focus fully on her entertainment career, so her exposure will increase rapidly” (Shizume).

A multilingual-speaking idol

Noel Hayase (22) of the female idol group FRUITS ZIPPER is expected to break out as a solo act.

“The group is already very popular, but Hayase’s personal recognition hasn’t reached that level yet. However, she is from Germany and is a talented multilingual: she speaks Japanese, German, English, and even basic French. During her student days, she also produced music on her own using a computer. When invited as a guest on a show, an idol with special skills tends to leave a strong impression. Moreover, Hayase has strong visual impact in her face, so her expressions really stand out when she appears in a picture-in-picture frame. Many TV producers will probably want to use Hayase.” (Shizume)

Among Nogizaka46, which has produced Mai Shiraishi (33) and Erika Ikuta (28), there is a standout current member. Teresa Ikeda (23) served as center for the first time on the 2023 song Kokoro ni mo Nai Koto.

“She entered Tokyo University of the Arts after repeating two years of high school. She is still enrolled and majors in oil painting. Highly educated idols aren’t uncommon, but Geidai is very rare. Last year, she co-starred with Masato Sakai (52) in a McDonald’s commercial, where Sakai advised her, ‘The one who chases two rabbits gets neither? Break that rule yourself!’ – something only possible for Ikeda, with her unique background. Since 2022, she has also been MC of the variety show Kotoge Eiji no Nante Bi da! (TOKYO MX), so her talk skills are solid. We can expect her to succeed as an idol, artist, and variety talent alike.” (Kageyama)

There are other golden eggs on the verge of breaking out.

“Tamaki Shiratori, who played the heroine in last year’s drama Bokutachinchi (NTV), shows acting skill and transparency beyond her 15 years, reminiscent of Mana Ashida (21). Reika Horikoshi ( Ichikawa Botan, 14), eldest daughter of the 13th Ichikawa Danjūrō (48), appeared last year in the Sunday theater drama Caster (TBS). With both bloodline and publicity potential, she is expected to become a new star from the Kabuki world. Rina Matsuda (26) of Sakurazaka46performed admirably on THE TIME‘ (TBS), handling Shinchirō Azumi’s (52) unexpected challenges with ease. She seems likely to succeed as an assistant MC.” (Key station programming staff)

Comedians Poised to Take the Spotlight Next

There are also two hopeful acts in the comedy world. Comedy critic Asahi Suzuki highlights Gokai Captain, who advanced to the finals of last year’s M-1 Grand Prix (TV Asahi) for the first time.

“They’re a duo that has been described as being in an unmatched state in Osaka theaters. Last year, they won the Newcomer Award at the Kamigata Manzai Awards, a stepping stone for young manzai comedians, beating out the ’24 M-1 runner-up duo Batteries. Beyond their comedic skills, the tsukkomi, Mr. Yamashita ‘Gamble Gorilla’ (37), has a striking appearance and unforgettable stories—like when a pork bowl supposedly fell from the sky while riding his bicycle in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward. They’re strong both in their acts and in casual banter.”

The other duo Suzuki recommends is the six-year-old young act Sentinel.

“Last year, they reached the semi-finals of the M-1 for the first time. The boke, Mr. Tomisat (32), has a Ugandan father, but they don’t overly emphasize that; their humor comes from purely ridiculous behavior. Even when they occasionally go off track, the tsukkomi, Mr. Taisei (32), reliably picks it up. As a duo, their balance is excellent. I think if they gain more variety show experience, they have the potential for a major breakthrough.”

From the 16 rising stars introduced this time, the next big star of 2026 is sure to emerge.

From the January 23, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”