Erika Karata Wows Fans with Cute Makeover—Soft Hair and Mini Dress at Movie Premiere

Still Absolutely Adorable

“I’m really happy to see so many of you here today. Please enjoy the movie until the very end. Thank you!”

Speaking calmly in front of a large audience gathered at the cinema was actress Erika Karata (28).

On January 23, the opening day stage greeting for the film Love Trial was held at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, with Karata appearing alongside lead Kyoko Saito (28), Kenjiro Tsuda (54), and director Koji Fukada.

“This film is an original work inspired by a 2015 lawsuit involving a female idol and a no dating contract violation. It depicts the story of Mai Yamaoka (played by Saito), the center of the idol group ‘Happy☆Fanfare’ (aka Hapi☆Fan), being harshly questioned in court after breaking the no dating rule. Karata plays Saya Yabuki, the agency manager who files a civil lawsuit against the idol involved in a romance scandal.

Karata reportedly auditioned for the role and was cast, but because she herself had been involved in a romance scandal in the past, the announcement of her casting immediately drew attention,” said a movie magazine journalist.

On the day of the greeting, Karata appeared in a mini dress with uniquely styled, softly curled black hair, exuding the charm of a current idol. When asked about memories from filming, Saito said:

“We even created a LINE group called ‘Hapi☆Fan’ with six of us, including Karata, and became really close. (Omitted) Karata shared the same spirit of being part of ‘Hapi☆Fan.’”

Karata blushed genuinely and said, “I’m so happy.” When asked by the MC which scenes viewers should pay attention to, she replied:

“There’s a cut that really left an impression on me. When I saw it, I felt my own emotions, the depth of it, this irresistible connection to something natural. It was a unique and beautiful cut.”

She spoke while visualizing a scene near the end of the movie.

“After her romance scandal in 2020, Karata took a break from acting for a while. However, her performance as pro wrestler Chigusa Nagayo in The Ruthless Queen, released on Netflix in September 2024, greatly elevated her reputation as an actress. She also made a brief return to terrestrial TV in Fuji TV’s Usotoki Rhetoric and stars in the drama 102nd Proposal, streaming on Fuji TV’s FOD, with terrestrial broadcast confirmed,” said an entertainment industry source.

Karata’s acting in this film has also been highly praised. While some social media users commented, “Having her talk about idol dating bans is intense,” many more praised her, saying, “Her acting is next-level” and “She’s still so cute.”

It may not be long before Karata plays the heroine in a terrestrial TV drama.