The first installment of Toei's new special effects series, "PROJECT RED," is "Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity" (TV Asahi, Sunday 9:30 AM). We spoke to Sumi Kokona, who plays Gavan Luminous/Iwai Kiki, one of the Space Sheriff Gavans, about her audition memories and special skills.
Kado is 19 years old, born on May 4, 2006. He started working as a model at the age of five and began acting at the age of 14. He has appeared in films such as " Oishi Kyushoku Sotsugyo" (2022) and "Until the Day I Can Laugh at Blue" (2023), as well as the drama "Alice's Hearth" (BS-TBS, 2025).
This is her first time appearing in a special effects film. "I've tried out for special effects auditions before, but this was the first time I was invited to an in-person audition. I really wanted to make an impression, so I gave it my all so I wouldn't have any regrets."
He put his skills to the test in karate, a skill he holds a black belt in. "At the end of the test, I asked, 'Can I just do a kick?' and did a roundhouse kick on the spot (laughs)," he recalls.
He has been practicing karate for about six years. "My father told me not to stop until I got my black belt, so I practiced every day. Looking back, I'm glad I did it, but at the time it was painful and so difficult that I didn't want to go... (laughs). But I knew that if I slacked off, I'd be further away from my black belt, so I continued practicing. It also taught me perseverance."
The character he plays is a space detective from "Multiverse Earth I5109," a different dimension from the universe in which the main character, Gavan Infinity/Doki Reiji (played by Kohei Nagata), lives. He has an otaku-like personality and is straightforward about what he is interested in, and he is vaporized onto Gavan Luminous, who wears a golden combat suit.
"The character is not only cool, but also has a cute and innocent side, and I was conscious of the way he gets excited when he sees something he likes when I played him. I speak quickly and in a high-pitched voice, so I watched videos of other people who played otaku to study how I should speak."
Because he plays an intellectual hero, there aren't many action scenes yet, but he says enthusiastically, "I like to show that I can do action scenes! (laughs) I hope that one day I can do some action scenes sober."
There were many first-time challenges on set, including dubbing. "I want to discover a new side of myself through this work. I want to do my best so that people will say they were glad to see Kakushinna play Gavan Luminous!" she said enthusiastically.
