Surprised by Her “Baptism” on Kore-eda’s Set, Rising Actress Maru Nouchi Aims to Be Recognized Through Her Work
“Baptism” on Kore-eda’s Set
Sunday Theater, Netflix, and then a morning drama—
Last year, there was one actress who breezed through the “royal road” that young performers aspire to follow. She is the rising actress Maru Nouchi (23), currently appearing in the ongoing morning drama “Bakebake” (NHK). In the new January-season drama “Fuyu no Nanka sa, Haru no Nanka ne” (Nippon TV), she plays a longtime friend of the lead character—portrayed by Hana Sugisaki (28)—from their university days, further asserting her presence this year.
She began her entertainment career at 18, and in just the past year alone appeared in a string of high-profile works, including director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Netflix series “Like Asura,” the film “Under Ninja,” and the Sunday Theater drama “Mikami Sensei” (TBS). On screen, she always carries herself with poise, wrapped in a newcomer-defying stillness. Yet in person, she is surprisingly down-to-earth and charming.
In this interview, she opens up about everything from the shock she experienced on director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s set to the kind of actress she aspires to become—revealing the candid thoughts of a 23-year-old still largely unknown to the public.
“Actually, I get really nervous. When I first step onto a set, I’m completely stiff. People often tell me, ‘You’re so cool,’ but that might just be because I’m so nervous that my expression freezes (laughs). When I’m with friends, I’m always smiling and getting excited with everyone. I’m definitely not the quiet type.”
Contrary to her mysterious image, her bright smile leaves a strong impression. Does she consciously switch between her on- and off-screen personas?
“I’m not really aware of it myself. Maybe it’s the moment I get home, change into comfy clothes, and just slump down… or when I’m laughing hysterically with friends over something totally meaningless. Before I know it, the tension in my shoulders just melts away.”
One major turning point in her career came with her appearance in the Netflix series “Like Asura.” Working under world-renowned director Hirokazu Kore-eda was a series of surprises for the still relatively inexperienced actress.
“Until I arrived on set, I didn’t know that Director Kore-eda had a style of not giving young actors the script. On the day of the costume fitting, he asked me, ‘Do you need the script?’ I was like, ‘Wait—are there times when you don’t need a script?’ (laughs). I didn’t have much experience back then, so I panicked, thinking, ‘Is this the standard for actors!?’ But the senior cast members told me, ‘No, Maru-chan, this isn’t everything,’ and ‘This set is special.’”
Actors normally memorize their lines perfectly before heading to set. That common assumption was suddenly overturned.
“But the free atmosphere on that set, and the way they valued conversations that were born in the moment—it was such a precious experience. It allowed me to truly feel the appeal of acting that isn’t pre-arranged, something raw and alive.”
I want to be an actress that people notice through my work.”
During the interview, an unexpectedly lively topic emerged: food. When asked about her favorite dish, Nouchi answered immediately, “Curry.”
“I love what you’d call ‘home-style curry’ the most. Spiced curry is delicious too, but what really gets me excited is school lunch curry or the kind you’d get at home. Even when I cook for myself, I deliberately use store-bought roux. That thick, comforting flavor—that’s what curry is to me (laughs).”
While she shows a domestic side, there are also moments when a strong will can be sensed in her words. She reveals that she has long loved films like the American hit “Ghost World”—stories about breaking free from a suffocating environment to search for one’s own path.
“I’m drawn to works that portray something like growing pains—feeling out of place in your current environment, struggling, and then leaping into somewhere new. Maybe it’s because I’ve had times when I was unsure about my future and wondered if I truly belonged where I was.”
Perhaps because of that, she tends to act on intuition. Before filming the morning drama “Bakebake,” she flew alone to Shimane, where the story is set.
“Before starting the drama, I really wanted to experience the local atmosphere for myself. So I went to Shimane on my own, privately. I’m not exactly used to solo travel—in fact, I’m pretty anxious and easily scared (laughs). But once I went, it was so much fun! Walking around alone helped me find many hints for building my character, and more than anything, it strengthened my resolve—I felt ready to give it my all.
Lately, my friends keep telling me, ‘If you go to India, your perspective on life will change.’ As someone who loves curry, I feel like I have to visit its birthplace at some point (laughs). I’m still a little scared to go alone… but someday I’d like to take on the challenge.”
A curry lover who gets excited about solo travel, Nouchi also holds onto certain personal mottos.
“One is, ‘Don’t expect too much, but always hold onto hope.’ If you expect too much, you’ll only be disappointed when things don’t go as planned. But as long as you keep hope, you can keep moving forward. Another is, ‘It’s fine to be inferior to others, but it’s shameful to be inferior to your past self.’ As long as I’m growing compared to who I was yesterday, that’s enough—I remind myself of that.”
Though she is often described as “the next big breakout,” she deliberately refrains from loudly promoting her own appearances. In this age dominated by social media, her stance feels almost artisanal.
“I do post announcements on social media, but I try not to verbally tell people, ‘I’m in this.’ Even if I don’t say anything, someone might watch it and think, ‘Oh, she was in this!’ When people notice on their own, that makes me happiest—it’s when I truly feel that my work has reached them. Without putting it into words, I want to be an actress people recognize through my performances. It’s an incredibly big goal, but someday I’d love to play the heroine in a morning drama or appear in a historical taiga drama.”
“In any project, I want it to look as though I naturally exist as part of a world that has always continued on its own. I’ll keep facing each work seriously so that one day I can deliver that kind of performance.”
Her gaze as she says this is utterly sincere.
Photo provided / Currently appearing in the January-season drama “Fuyu no Nanka sa, Haru no Nanka ne”
From her official Instagram / Currently appearing in “Bakebake”PHOTO： Shu Nishihara Hair and makeup： Yoko Fuseya (ESPER) Stylist： Anna Yamamoto