Talent Yuki Yoda , who graduated from the idol group " Nogizaka46 " in February, appeared in the new short drama app "BUMP" called " Azatoku, Kawaiku, Shitatakani". This is her first drama appearance since graduating from the group, and she plays an overwhelmingly beautiful girl, but a "cunning girl" with a hidden agenda. There were lines that she couldn't act out when she was an idol, and she looked back on the filming with a smile, saying, "It was the first time I made the gesture for 'XX guy' (laughs)."
The drama is a film adaptation of the manga of the same name (Bunkasha) by Maeda Alan, which has recorded a total of over 920,000 downloads in digital comics. Beautiful and well-natured, Noriko Enatsu (Asuka Kawazu), the "princess of the PR department," spares no effort or consideration to be liked. However, with the arrival of new employee Kurihara Sui (Yoda), she loses the popularity of the male employees, including the handsome section chief Kawaguchi Shunsuke (Wada Masanari), and out of anger and a sense of crisis, she reveals her competitive spirit. The cunning "sly girls" are on full display, and a dark and devious battle unfolds. All 20 episodes are currently streaming.
While a member of Nogizaka46, Yoda starred in TV Tokyo's "Ryosangata Riko" series, and has made her presence known as the heroine in the films "Grand Blue Dreaming" (directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa, 2020) and "OUT" (directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa, 2023). This will be her first time in a short drama.
"I had just graduated from Nogizaka46 and was thinking about taking on various challenges, with acting as the main focus, so I was happy to receive the offer. I had originally seen the short drama so I was interested, and when I heard the setting I thought it sounded really interesting. I thought, 'I can relate to a girl who's more than just cute (laughs). I thought to myself, I want to play this role!'"
Despite the short filming period, he developed a strong bond with his co-star Kawazu, and they now contact each other every day.
"I didn't have any friends that I could keep in touch with every day like this. I met Asuka-chan and I'm so glad I took the challenge!"
The character she plays, Sui, is a cute, cunning girl at work, but when she's alone she unleashes her sharp tongue, making her a two-sided character.
"It's completely different from the roles I've played so far. It's not a mass-produced character... it's a character I don't want to be mass-produced (laughs). I hope the fans will enjoy it, but I have a bad mouth and I even say the line, 'Go to hell, you bastard!'... I don't want people to be scared when they watch it. It was my first time making the 'bastard' gestures (laughs)."
Co-star Kawazu said of Yoda, "She was so cute, confused about what gestures to make. She was really worried about her movements." Yoda smiled and said, "I consulted with Kawazu and Wada (laughs). Was it okay? I'm looking forward to everyone's reactions."
