A Shift Even in Masami Nagasawa’s Signature Works! Gakki, Haruna Kawaguchi… “Family Comes Before Work”: The “Reiwa Career Vision”

It’s been more than four years since *Heroes*…

Actress Masami Nagasawa (39) appears set to prioritize her personal life for a while longer.

On January 1 of this year, Nagasawa announced her marriage to film director Takeshi Fukunaga (44). Subsequently, some media outlets reported that she would be taking an “extended break.”

Coinciding with her husband’s departure for Canada in January to film the U.S. drama *Shogun: Season 2*, Nagasawa also traveled there. It seems she wants to “cherish her time as a couple,” according to an entertainment industry source familiar with the situation.

“She hasn’t moved to Canada. Her primary residence is still in Japan, and it’s said that the couple sometimes goes out together. She’s reportedly avoiding taking on long-term work projects in order to prioritize her family.”

In fact, she has not been particularly active since her marriage. Her only public appearance in Japan was at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony in March.

Her starring film *Love in These Times* is set to be released on November 27, but it remains unclear to what extent she will participate in promotional activities. The film was screened at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, where its world premiere took place on October 11, but Nagasawa was absent due to the flu.

Some media outlets initially reported that her hiatus would last “about a year.” However, production on a sequel to the *Confidence Man JP* series—one of Nagasawa’s signature works—is reportedly still “on hold.”

The series aired as a TV drama on Fuji TV in April 2018, and the theatrical films—*Romance* in 2019, *PRINCESS PRINCESS* in 2020, and *Hero* in 2022—were released. In an interview with this site, a film industry insider familiar with the situation stated:

“Although we released three films in quick succession, it’s been more than four years since *Hero Chapter*. Initially, the sequel was supposed to start filming this year, but it was postponed due to Ms. Nagasawa’s situation.But that doesn’t mean it’s set for 2027… It’s currently on hold. It seems Ms. Nagasawa’s side wants to ‘consider her family’s future,’ but that doesn’t mean she’s opposed to the project at all,”

the source revealed.

In the past, she left everything to her agency, but

it has become a new trend in recent years for top actresses to prioritize their own future plans upon getting married. Actress Yui Aragaki (38) married artist Gen Hoshino (45) in May 2021. On October 13, she announced the birth of her first child on her official website,

stating, “As parents and as individuals, we intend to strive together to cherish and protect this new life and to lead peaceful and fulfilling lives.”

she reported. Since her marriage, Gakki has intentionally reduced her workload.

Actress Haruna Kawaguchi (31) also announced her marriage to Japanese national soccer team player Ko Itakura (29) and her pregnancy on August 2. In a joint statement, the couple said:

“We are also expecting our baby. We hope to spend each day peacefully, praying for a safe delivery. We want to support each other and build a home filled with constant smiles,”

they wrote.

“In the entertainment industry of a bygone era, romantic relationships, marriage, and pregnancy at the peak of one’s popularity tended to be frowned upon. Those values have changed with the times, and individuals have begun to chart their own career paths. In the past, people left everything to their agencies and simply followed the path laid out for them.

I think the recent increase in people going independent isn’t just about financial issues—it’s also partly about getting closer to the ‘person they want to become.’ Women, in particular, are increasingly taking a step back to think about children and family when they get married,” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the entertainment industry.

In the past, Momoe Yamaguchi (67) faded out of the entertainment industry following her marriage to actor Tomokazu Miura (74).Actress Maki Horikita (38) also retired from the entertainment industry at the end of February 2017 after marrying actor Koji Yamamoto (49) and becoming pregnant with her first child. She is now the mother of two children.

“I think Ms. Nagasawa is also thinking about her future as a woman. It seems those around her understand her wishes and are supporting her,” said the film industry source mentioned earlier.

We can only quietly wait for the day Nagasawa returns as an actress—