Akiho Sendō / Born in April 1969 in Hyōgo Prefecture. She rose to fame in July 1990 after being selected as a host of “All Night Fuji.” Her many drama appearances include “Tokyo Love Story and Furikaereba Yatsu ga Iru (If I Look Back, He’s There)” (Fuji TV). Her hobbies include fishing and gardening. “It has been 15 years since I moved to Hokkaido. I’ve been captivated by its vast natural beauty and fresh food ingredients.” These are the reflective words of actress Akiho Sendō (57). Sendō permanently relocated to Sapporo, Hokkaido, the hometown of her husband, a scuba diving instructor, in the spring of 2011. The birth of their second child was the catalyst for the move (all quotes below are from Sendō). “Until just before that, we were living in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture, near my parents’ home. Then an acquaintance introduced us to an obstetrician in Hokkaido. At first, I only intended to stay temporarily and give birth near my mother-in-law, who lives in Hokkaido. But I completely put down roots there because of the rich natural environment, delicious food, and overall comfort of life.” Known as the “Queen of School Festivals” and a “Trendy Actress,” Sendō originally had little interest in the entertainment industry. “I’ve been very athletic since elementary school. I loved running. In junior high, I was on the track-and-field team and was busy with practices and competitions, so I hardly watched television.” The turning point came during high school. “I entered the acting department of a newly established public high school in Hyōgo Prefecture. I was interested in health and physical education and wanted to become a kindergarten teacher, so I thought learning acting would help me play and communicate with children more effectively. But everyone around me was seriously aiming for a career in show business. During the summer vacation of my third year, I casually entered an audition called ‘Lotte: You Could Be the Next Commercial Idol!’ Somehow, I passed the document screening.” Although she did not win the grand prize in the final round, the president of a talent agency repeatedly visited her family home and persistently recruited her. “My father encouraged me by saying, ‘Why don’t you try it for two years as a learning experience? You can still attend junior college afterward as originally planned.’ However, life right after moving to Tokyo was quite plain. My duties mainly consisted of answering phones at the agency and serving tea to visitors. Occasionally, I would take singing lessons.” In January 1991, Sendō was cast in the work that would cement her image as a trendy actress: the smash-hit drama Tokyo Love Story, which achieved ratings exceeding 32%. “My role was the daughter of a major hospital family who ends up with an outstanding medical student played by Yosuke Eguchi. After the drama ended, the director told me that the script originally included a kissing scene between Eguchi-san and me. However, because my agency was marketing me as an idol at the time, it was rejected. The director was disappointed and said, ‘The agency wouldn’t allow it.'” Sendō went on to work extensively in both dramas and variety shows. At the same time, she began to feel exhausted. “Whenever I had a rare day off, I would drive alone late at night to the beaches of Kamakura or Shōnan and simply sit there doing nothing. Perhaps I wanted to draw a clear line between my work in the city and my private life.” Sendō married in December 2000. As mentioned earlier, the birth of her second child led her to relocate to Hokkaido. “I can’t go back to being a ‘trendy actress’ anymore. I think those roles were possible because of the energetic atmosphere of the 1990s and because I was in my twenties, full of power and vitality. From now on, I’ll become a trendy auntie who shares the appeal of Hokkaido with people all across Japan!” While continuing her acting career, Sendō also serves as an ambassador supporting women’s divisions of Hokkaido fishing cooperatives. The June 19 issue of “FRIDAY” (released June 4) and the paid edition “FRIDAY GOLD” feature her reflections on her hectic days of surviving on just two hours of sleep, behind-the-scenes stories from her twenties, and anecdotes involving Honami Suzuki. The publication also includes numerous photos showcasing her youthful appearance at debut and scenes from her home vegetable garden in Hokkaido.