Haruna Kawaguchi Stuns on Set After 10kg Weight Loss for First Solo Lead Film in 13 Years

A woman wearing a tiara on her head

A woman standing on the terrace of a wedding venue in a sweatshirt, arms crossed, gazing at the distant sea. The figure wearing a tiara further highlighted her beauty──that woman is actress Haruna Kawaguchi (31).

In late August last year, Kawaguchi was filming the movie “Mama ga Mou Kono Sekai ni Inakutemo: Watashi no Inochi no Nikki,” which is scheduled for release this autumn.

Toei announced on April 17 that the film would be released on October 2, and it was also revealed that Kawaguchi would star in it. This marks her first solo lead role in a film in 13 years, since “Madame Marmalade no Ijou na Nazo” released in 2013.

“A couple featured in the ‘Wedding Journey’ segment of ‘1 Oku Nin no Daishitsumon!? Waratte Koraete!’ (Nippon TV) in February 2020 drew nationwide sympathy as a true story that wouldn’t stop the tears. The film is an adaptation of the best-selling memoir written by the bride at the time, the late Nozomi Endo, titled *‘Mama ga Mou Kono Sekai ni Inakutemo: Watashi no Inochi no Nikki.’ Kawaguchi plays Nozomi, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at 21, paused chemotherapy to give birth, and passed away at 24,” says a film magazine reporter.

According to Toei’s official website, Kawaguchi:

“Lost 10 kilograms over approximately two months of sequential filming in order to realistically portray the progression of cancer.”

Kawaguchi herself commented on the same site:

“I strongly felt that I wanted to leave Nozomi’s life through my own body, and I approached the role with the determination to devote everything physically and mentally.”

However, this sparked controversy on social media, with critical comments such as: “Rapid weight loss is dangerous and should be avoided,” and “This kind of physical strain is unhealthy and should be stopped.” Nevertheless, filming had already been completed in about two months from August to September last year. Since Kawaguchi has appeared healthy on social media, it is believed there were no health issues.

In fact, FRIDAY Digital had witnessed Kawaguchi during filming in August last year, as mentioned at the beginning. The location was a wedding venue in Chiba Prefecture. Also present at the shoot was actor Mahiro Takasugi (29), who plays her husband, Shoichi Endo. The two filmed wedding scenes at the venue and later shot a second-party scene in another room. In between takes, Kawaguchi, who had changed from a wedding dress into a sweatshirt, appeared on the terrace.

She looked noticeably slimmer, but as described at the beginning, her figure gazing at the distant sea was breathtakingly beautiful, and her smile appeared healthy. The two also chatted during breaks in filming like a real newlywed couple.

On the official website, Kawaguchi commented:

“During filming, I experienced confusion, worry, and suffering through many emotions, but Takasugi-san supported me as someone I could place absolute trust and comfort in, which was a great encouragement.”

This autumn, the real-life inspired story of a couple that moved all of Japan to tears will be brought to the screen.