Non Is Back on Fuji TV After 14 Years—Inside Her High-Energy Role as a 35-Year-Old With No Plan

Her first Fuji TV drama series appearance in 14 years

A young woman wearing a flashy orange jacket over a printed T-shirt is hurrying toward a subway station, repeatedly checking her wristwatch as she runs. It is actress Non (33).

In mid-June, filming for the drama “Tokyo middle 30” (Fuji TV) was taking place in a shopping district in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward.

“The series is a Japanese original remake based on the hugely popular Chinese drama ‘Nothing But Thirty (Thirty-Year-Old Women’s Thoughts: Shanghai Women’s Story),’ which recorded 5.5 billion views in China. It was also broadcast in Japan on LaLa TV in 2021, where it attracted considerable attention. The story follows three women who were high school classmates from regional cities who come to Tokyo seeking glamorous lives. As they confront a reality that does not go as planned, they continue supporting one another and, at the turning point of their lives at age 35, discover a positive sense of self. Friendship is the central theme of the drama,” said a television magazine writer.

The lead role is played by Riisa Naka (36), who portrays Maki Sakura, a full-time housewife and mother of a five-year-old boy. Her co-star Mai Fukagawa (35) plays Kaoruko Nagano, a teacher at a public elementary school. Non plays Haruka Yamaji, a woman with zero planning for the future who once dreamed of becoming a musician but ended up working in apparel almost by chance. She is struggling to save money while remaining uncertain about her future.

Returning to the scene described at the beginning:

Non was dressed exactly like an apparel shop employee, with slightly reddish, wavy hair that suited her jacket perfectly. Before filming, she appeared focused on her performance even while waiting under a parasol held by a staff member. When the director called “Action,” she began running in a panic. Her destination was a subway station several dozen meters away.

About a month later, Non was spotted filming again. This time, she was running at full speed through a downtown office district in pumps.

“Non made her return to commercial television dramas with a guest appearance in the third episode of TBS’s Sunday Theater series ‘Caster’ during the April season last year, marking her first commercial TV drama appearance in 11 years. She also had a regular role in the Nippon TV drama ‘Kochira Yobi Jieitai Eiyu?!’ during the January season this year, attracting attention for what was seen as her full-fledged return to terrestrial television dramas. This time, her appearance in a Fuji TV drama series marks her first in 14 years, since ‘Kagi no Kakatta Heya (The Locked Room)’ during the April 2012 season,” the writer mentioned above said.

On July 18, a press conference announcing the production was held at Fuji TV headquarters in Minato Ward. When Non was asked what aspects of her character she could relate to, she said:

“I have a line where I say, ‘Inevitable solitary death’ (laughs). I thought there are moments when you suddenly feel that way too, and I found that amusing.”

Her comment, quoted from Fuji TV’s official website, drew laughter from the room. The three actresses also appeared to have excellent chemistry. Expectations are growing for Non’s performance.

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