As she took the stage with her hands pressed against her chest…! Kaho: “Ramen to Wrap Things Up”—The Radiance and Playfulness She Showed at the Premiere of Her New Movie

A “Beauty and the Beast” Duo

The moment she appeared on stage, all eyes in the audience were on her. Everyone was instantly captivated by her ethereal, fairy-like presence. She is actress Kaho (34).

On June 8, a premiere stage greeting was held at Shinjuku Piccadilly (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo) for the film *April’s Blank Space*, set for nationwide release on June 26. Kaho, who plays the heroine, took the stage alongside lead actor Wataru Ichinose (40).

“This film is a human drama directed by Keisuke Yoshida (51)—who previously helmed *Blank* (2021) and *Missing* (2024)—that depicts the suffering and struggles of delinquent youths, modeled after the troubled teenagers and their communities he encountered during his own formative years.Lead actor Wataru Ichinose plays Kengo Nishi, the dorm supervisor at “Mirai no Sato,” a rehabilitation facility for troubled youths, while Natsuko plays the role of Fuyuko Kusano, the homeroom teacher of To Sawami(played by Hayato Uesaka, 19), who is admitted to the facility. (Film magazine reporter)

As mentioned at the beginning, Kaho made her entrance wearing an oversized white dress. As she walked onto the stage, leaning forward slightly, she seemed conscious of her slightly exposed décolletage—or perhaps just feeling self-conscious—and held her dress firmly in place with one hand while flashing a shy smile.Her gesture drew cries of “So cute!” from the audience, and standing next to Ichinose, she looked just like a scene from “Beauty and the Beast.” When asked about co-starring with Ichinose, Kaho said,

“His smile is really wonderful, isn’t it? He has this friendly, charming quality, but at the same time, there’s a certain melancholy—or perhaps a sense of sadness—that I found very appealing. (Mid-sentence ellipsis) Even at the wrap party, he was running around more than anyone else, and it really made an impression on me how he spoke to every single member of the staff,”

she gushed. Ichinose, bowing repeatedly and saying, “Oh, really… I’m so happy,” was utterly humbled. Fuyuko, played by Kaho, is a schoolteacher who feels the limits of an educational philosophy centered on dialogue and is worn down by a toxic work environment. Kaho portrays this character with great sensitivity.

“Fuyuko is a character close to the audience, and in a way, she serves as a voice for today’s teachers and the issues facing education, so I was on set thinking I had to deliver a performance that was truly convincing,”

When asked recently about what’s been troubling her in her daily life, Natsuko replied,

“Late-night ramen. I’m thinking it’s about time I quit. The hangover the next day is pretty rough,”

she said with a playful smile, bringing laughter to the venue. The film was screened afterward, and the audience seemed to fully savor Kaho’s charm on the big screen as well.