Rising Fast! Ja Atsuku Stars Poised for 2026 Fame Explosion

Leading the NHK morning drama group are Nanoka Hara (22), who rose to fame playing the younger sister of the heroine Mio Imada (28) in Anpan, and Akari Takaishi (23), who was cast as the heroine in Bakebake. In 2025, new talents continued to blossom one after another.

So who will be the pre-breakout stars following Hara and Takaishi, who are now in high demand for dramas, movies, and commercials? Let’s introduce the promising talents in the entertainment world, endorsed by former TV producers and columnists.

Future Morning Drama Heroines

The first name that comes up is actress Yumia Fujisaki (17). In November 2025, she was cast as the heroine in the Netflix drama Ikusagami, which ranked #1 in the weekly global ranking (non-English series) and held the top spot domestically for four consecutive weeks—a feat still fresh in memory.

Hiro Michimune, a former TV Asahi producer, explains:

“Her strength is her eye power. In the Koikeya commercial, her mesmerized expression as she gazes at potato chips is shown in close-up, perfectly conveying the commercial’s theme of a girl dominated by appetite.

In Ikusagami, she teamed up with lead Junichi Okada (45) to play a heroine engaged in a life-or-death battle royale. Even there, she expresses the heroine’s growth through her eyes. At first, her eyes were full of fear, but by the end, they show a determined, powerful gaze. Even without dialogue, she can captivate viewers with her expressions and line of sight. That’s why there are so many close-up shots of her face. Her acting ability and presence are remarkable for a high school student. With Ikusagami as a springboard, she has the potential to blossom greatly.”

Another promising talent is Kyoka (26), who played Ami Minamikawa, a junior colleague to lead Ryoma Takeuchi (32), in last fall’s hit drama Jaa, Anta ga Tsukutte Miroyo (TBS).

“Her role involved constantly giving feedback to the protagonist Katsuo Ebihara, who holds Showa-era values, helping him gain new insights. Her timing in exchanges with Takeuchi was comfortable, and her sharp, pointed critiques of outdated remarks gave her a presence that could even overshadow the lead. While she had a blunt personality, she also conveyed a charming, endearing quality that perfectly represented the modern young adult of the Reiwa era. I expect she will be entrusted with lead or co-lead roles this year.” (Professor Takahiko Kageyama, Doshisha Women’s College)

All Skilled Actors

Another star candidate was hidden in Bakebake, which produced the new heroine Takaishi. It’s Maru Nonai (23), who played Ume, the maid at the inn where the protagonist Heaven stays. TV columnist Tamami Hiyama praised her, saying, “She could become an Asadora heroine in a few years.”

“She’s a rookie strongly recommended by the talent agency ‘Humanité,’ which has produced many accomplished actresses such as Sakura Ando (39) and Mugi Kadowaki (33). Her acting skills are therefore impeccable. Her look, which is glamorous yet exudes a mysterious aura, is reminiscent of Haru Kuroki (35) and Yumi Kawai (25). In Bakebake, she gives a compelling performance as the maid who attentively cares for Heaven, who is treated with caution because she’s a foreigner. Until now, she has often played enigmatic or shadowed characters, but in Bakebake, she fully transforms into a laid-back, gentle maid. I was impressed by the breadth of her acting range.”

Hiyama also focuses on Yui Narumi (27), who played a colleague of Mio Imada in Anpan.

“She portrayed a newspaper reporter who is usually demure but becomes talkative as if transformed when drinking alcohol. She seemed to struggle with the challenge of acting drunk, but the scene where she takes Nobu to a bar and sheds tears after Nobu’s husband, played by Imada, dies felt so real that I thought she might be genuinely crying.

In last October’s drama series Synanthrope (TV Tokyo), she showed mysterious acting as a part-timer at a hamburger shop who is secretly connected with a gang of robbers targeting the store. Many viewers were captivated by the contrast between this role and her newspaper reporter character in Anpan.”

Part 2 — [2026 Expert-Approved: Art University Idol! Unmatched Comedians in Osaka!]