Mariko Shinoda: Behind the scenes of her breakthrough…Conflicts from her days as a member of the “God 7

Ideal and Reality

During my time at “AKB48,” being called “Mariko-sama” was complicated. I really wanted to be a royal idol, and I wanted to be called something cute like ″Mayuyu″. For better or worse, ″Mariko-sama″ became so pervasive that I would say things like, “My favorite food is yakiniku (grilled meat),” which was more in line with my character. At first, I always felt uncomfortable with myself like that (laughs).

In 2006, she joined AKB48. Mariko Shinoda (40), one of the “God 7,” who placed third in the first general election and remained a central member of the group until her graduation in 2001, had her own struggles behind the scenes of her glamorous career.

I was older than the other members, so I played the role of a teacher in many of the music videos. I really wanted to play the role of a student with everyone else. I was wondering, ‘Why just me? I was worried about it. Now I would think it’s rather nice, but when I was younger, the gap between me and the people around me was painful.

After graduating from the national idol group where she played the role of “Mariko-sama,” Shinoda took a leap forward as an actress. In the ongoing drama series “Sareta no Sareta no Henka – Allied Wives” (TV Tokyo), she gives a monstrous performance as an oblivious woman who is driven to take revenge on her unfaithful husband.

In the July drama “Ochitara Owari” (Chukyo TV/NTV), she plays a heel celebrity wife who lives on the top floor of a townhouse.

In the drama, she plays the role of a heeled celebrity wife who lives on the top floor of a tower mansion. Ochitara wa Owari” is also a rather heavy role, so I am half excited and half anxious until it starts airing. I have worked with Ms. Ugaki (Misato Ugaki, 35), who plays the lead role, on a radio program. At the time, she was an announcer for TBS, but I never thought I would see her again in a serial drama (laughs). I knew Uga-chan’s personality well, so it was very easy for me to get into the scene.

Shinoda has changed from being a member of a popular idol group to an actress who has been offered a succession of unique “villainous” roles. The turning point for her was the “burnout syndrome” she experienced after graduating from the group at the age of 27.

When I was in AKB48, my schedule was booked solid for the next two years. But after graduation, I had no schedule, not even for the next week. I had no idea what to do. I was physically strong and wanted to work, but I wondered what my dreams were from here on out.　One day, I thought, ‘Let’s go abroad.

One day, I decided to go abroad, and I went to New York for about two weeks. While watching a play on Broadway, I was impressed by the tremendous effort of the people standing on this stage. Finally, I was able to stand up and say, ‘Let’s try again.

Although Shinoda had made a fresh start as an actress, she actually had a complex about this job.

In the June 19 issue of “FRIDAY” and the June 4 issue of “FRIDAY GOLD,” Shinoda talks candidly about the drama “Kairanai Nai Otoko – Sare Husband and Wife’s Deceitful Love” (TV Asahi), in which she grabbed the role of Atari, and her busy days as an AKB. The article includes a detailed account of what Shinoda had to say about her busy life as an AKB.

For more details and multiple photos, click here.

From the June 19, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY