Actress Reia Yonekura: “I was a wild child drinking river water in my hometown (laughs)”

One day five years ago, I took a video on TikTok with a friend just for the heck of it. It all started when a TikTok video I shot with a friend “on the spur of the moment” unexpectedly became a hit. When I realized it, it had about 1 million views. Soon after, someone from Tokyo came to Wakayama Prefecture, where I live, and scouted me. In no time at all, my debut was set, and here I am today (laughs). I still think it’s a miracle that I was able to get such a job.

In 2008, she began appearing regularly on the popular “Seisei no Bella Bella English” corner of the information program “ZIP! (Nippon Television Network Corporation), and became popular as the face of the morning show. She says that the reason she came to Tokyo from her hometown and jumped into the entertainment industry was “just a hunch.

After being scouted, I had the opportunity to observe a stage performance starring Satomi Ishihara. I had never thought about becoming an entertainer, but I thought it looked so sparkling and interesting that I decided to give it a try. I am the type of person who, when I think, “I want to do something,” or “This looks like fun,” I just stick with it until the end. I didn’t really feel like I had made my debut at first, but when I started appearing on “ZIP!” my friends in my hometown started telling me, “I watch it all the time. I began to think that it was a very valuable experience for me.

Although she regrettably graduated from “ZIP!” in March of this year, she has recently been developing her talent as an actress as well. Last year, she appeared in a number of high-profile dramas, including “Blue SP: Ryuhei Shimada, School Police” (Fuji TV) and “Contrast Begins” (NTV). In the drama series W “Ame ni nano mukohaioi” (WOWOW), which will be broadcast and distributed from July 24, she will co-star with Muro Tsuyoshi, Ryuta Sato and other splendid actors. I was very nervous at first,” he said.

I was very nervous at first, but the atmosphere on the set was great, so I was able to concentrate on my acting without being rushed. I was very nervous at first, but the atmosphere on set was great, and I was able to concentrate on my acting without being rushed. There was a scene where I was alone with Murotsuyoshi and he had quite a long speech, but I was able to do that too!　I played Saki Ishioka, a serious woman with a strong sense of justice. My character, Saki Ishioka, is a serious woman with a strong sense of justice.

Yonekura happily talks about her episodes with big names with a carefree smile. However, when asked what kind of work she would like to try in the future, she gave a surprising answer.

I would like to play an insane character like Yumeko Jabakuro, who was played by Minami Hamabe in the movie “Gaket Kegurui-Gurui-“. I think the charm of being an actress is that you can do things that you cannot experience in the real world. So, I’d like to take on those kinds of roles as much as I can.

Despite her cute appearance, what are her dreams in her private life?

I would like to go to Hokkaido by myself and lie down on a grassy plain. In my hometown in Wakayama Prefecture, I was the kind of “wild child” who would get thirsty on the way to school on my bicycle and drink river water, so I miss nature when I’m in Tokyo. Actually, I eat a lot of raw meat when I go to yakiniku restaurants, but I have never had a stomach ache. I think my stomach is strong because I grew up drinking river water (laughs). Also, I don’t make up a motto or a person I admire!　I think it is my own life to be like a wild child, moving my hands and feet, learning, inventing, and expressing myself. Please keep your eyes on me!