Mizuki Yamashita:After graduating from Nogizaka46, she has been active as a solo artist for a year now. "I've become able to show my true self." Her ideal relationship is "one that doesn't cause any trouble"

Since her days as a member of the idol group Nogizaka46, Yamashita Mizuki has appeared in numerous productions, including the NHK Asadora drama "Maiagare!", and has continued to expand her horizons as an actor even after graduating from Nogizaka46 last year. She will play the heroine in the drama series "Onzoshi ni Koi wa Muzusugiru" (Kantele/Fuji TV, Tuesdays at 11pm), which starts on January 7th. We spoke to Yamashita, who has been busy with her activities since the beginning of the new year, about this latest production, as well as looking back on the past year since she graduated from Nogizaka46.

◇What she has in common with the thrifty heroine: "I go to the clearance section"

The drama stars King & Prince's Ren Nagase and is an original work by screenwriter Haruka Okita. Subaru (Nagase), the grandson of the president of a major apparel manufacturer, is a spoiled and free-spirited heir to the company. He and his colleague Madoka Hanakura (Yamashita), a "commoner girl" born and raised in the exact opposite environment, work on making children's clothes, and experience their first setbacks and true love in this romantic comedy.

Yamashita-san introduced the film as "a classic, pure and cute love story about Subaru and Madoka, who are mismatched at first, but gradually grow closer." At the time of the interview, filming had yet to begin, and she said with amusement, "I don't have much experience playing the heroine of a classic romantic comedy, so when I read the script, I think about what kind of face I would make when I'm excited (laughs)."

She has a special attachment to romance dramas. "I'm an only child and both my parents worked, so I grew up watching TV dramas at home when I was little. I was fascinated by the sparkling worldviews of dramas like 'The Reason I Can't Fall in Love' and 'Shitsuren Chocolatier.' It made me think, 'I want to become an adult too!' And it's amazing that entertainment can make even a child like me excited! It was also the trigger that made me want to work hard in the entertainment industry, and to be on the production side too."

Now it's her turn to make people's hearts flutter. "It's not that I've never done a romance before, but I have to do my best (as the heroine)!" she says with a laugh, but also reveals her passion. The character she plays, Madoka, is a realist who doesn't trust uncertain things like romance or love. "She may seem cool at first glance, but she's a girl who acts for 'others' rather than 'for herself'. I want to portray her in a way that exudes that kindness, and I hope she comes across as a girl that (the viewers) want to root for."

Madoka is a frugal person who tries not to spend money as much as possible so that she can send money home to her parents, and she says she is similar. "I always go to the clearance section at the supermarket, and I always buy things like bean sprouts," she says with a laugh. "It's also to get a sense of accomplishment, like, I was able to make such a delicious dish with this amount of money! (laughs) Cooking is a way for me to relax, so I go to the supermarket almost every day (to buy groceries)."

◇ "I was thinking about taking a break for a while after graduation, but..."

Last year, Yamashita graduated from Nogizaka46, bringing an end to her eight years of idol activities. "Honestly, before I left Nogizaka46, I was worried about whether I would have work after I left. I have work because I'm Yamashita Mizuki of Nogizaka46, but I had a really negative feeling that I might not be in demand if I went solo..." she said, revealing her feelings at the time.

However, such worries were nothing. After graduating, she continued to appear in dramas and movies, and this year, in addition to this work, the movie "My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999", in which she co-stars, is scheduled to be released in March. "I thought I'd take a break after graduating, but a lot of people told me, 'now's the time to work hard'. I was really grateful to hear that, so I decided to work hard! In the end, my break was two weeks (laughs)."

"I feel like I've been given the opportunity to live in a truly blessed environment. I'm filled with gratitude every day," she said. "I always wanted to be an idol, and that dream came true, and then I was able to achieve my dream of appearing in a drama. I've been able to continue doing this to this day thanks to the support of so many people, so I feel like I'm living a life blessed with everyone around me."

She approaches her work every day without forgetting to be grateful to those around her. She also has a relaxed attitude. "(In the past) I was often featured as a 'cunning character', and that character wasn't lying or trying hard at all, but I was deliberately giving off that vibe. I was wearing this 'armor' to protect myself. But deep down I'm a very straightforward person. Recently I've been able to show that side of myself at work, and I've been able to work with a relaxed attitude, in a good way."

Finally, in reference to the film being billed as a "romantic comedy full of twists and turns," she was asked about her ideal romance now that she has graduated from being an idol. She smiled and said, "I'd prefer a peaceful one (rather than a turbulent one). I'd like my romance to be as calm as possible, rather than something dramatic."