Mizuki Yamashita performance in "The Boundary Between Sex Friends and Lovers" is highly praised by the MCs

Prime Video's new show, "The Line Between Friends with Benefits and Lovers" (Amazon MGM Studios), will be available exclusively to Prime members from September 3rd. This is a new romance variety show from Prime Video, the company behind many popular shows such as "Bachelor Japan" and the "Love Transit" series. MC YOU praised actress Mizuki Yamashita, who appears in a short film within the show, saying, "We've discovered a new side of her."

◇Yuda Chiba also said, "Thank you for the meal"

"The Line Between Sex Friends and Lovers" features a cast of MCs with different views on love - talent YOU, comedian Takahiku Kuruma from the comedy duo "Reiwa Roman," Saya from "Laland," and actor Chiba Yudai - who will have a frank discussion while watching three short films that realistically depict the emotions that waver in "ambiguous relationships." The three short films also feature Yamashita, Nakamura Yuri, and Kaneko Daichi.

Yamashita graduated from Nogizaka46 in May of last year. Even before her graduation, she had been steadily building her career as an actor, appearing in numerous dramas and films, including the NHK morning drama "Maiagare!" (2022 fall season) and "Eye Love You" (TBS, January 2024 season).

Yamashita plays the main character, Kawabata Tomoko, in her third short film, "A Special Person" (director and screenwriter: Imaizumi Rikiya). Tomoko has a boyfriend, but she troubles a younger man who has feelings for her.

At a drinking party with her university friends, Tomoko reunites with her junior colleague Fujiwara Kazuki (Yoshimura Sojiro). They spend the night together and enter into an "ambiguous relationship," but it is by no means a romantic one; they are "special people" who have feelings for each other but are not dating. As Tomoko enjoys this relationship, she shows off her mature charm by asking Fujiwara, "Shall we just kiss?" and asks for love advice, such as "Should I marry my boyfriend or break up?" The line between being lovers and friends with benefits becomes increasingly blurred...

The MCs watching the film in the studio were in awe of Yamashita's mature and seductive performance, which torments a younger man. YOU especially praised Yamashita's charm, saying, "Mizuki, who played Kawabata, was really good. I think she's capable of playing a happy office lady role, but seeing her portrayal of Kawabata, which was full of charm unlike anything she's done before, made me happy and think I'd found a really wonderful actress."

Kuruma said, "Yamashita-san has always been teased about having a strange sex appeal, even back when she was in Nogizaka46. In the studio, we were all as excited watching 'A Special Someone' as we were at an overseas soccer match," revealing that the audience was thrilled by the charms of Tomoko, played by Yamashita-san.

Chiba also commented, "There's the bargaining over whether to do it today or not, and the events that unfold after they first stay overnight, and there's also a line from Kawabata like, 'Shall we just kiss?' The final scene of the movie really does feel like 'Thank you for the meal,' so please look forward to it."

Director Imaizumi Rikiya, who directed the film, and Yamashita have previously worked together on Nogizaka46's personal music video "Wagamama" (2021), and this marks their third collaboration. Director Imaizumi, who has built a relationship of trust since her idol days, is said to have praised Yamashita's acting.

Yamashita commented, "I jumped in with a spirit of adventure, wanting to get on board the ship of Director Imaishi and Amazon's producer Ashida (Taro), two people I can absolutely trust when it comes to creating interesting things. The subject matter may seem a little deep, but the world view is so pop that when I read the script I couldn't help but burst out laughing. And when I saw the finished product, I found myself laughing my head off. I can't wait for it to reach everyone as a new form of entertainment."

◇Yuri Nakamura and Aoba Nakata are also the main characters

The first short film, "If We Could Be Lovers" (director: Yamanaka Yoko / scriptwriters: Imaizumi Kaori and Imaizumi Rikiya), depicts the feelings of love of a woman who is conflicted about her ambiguous relationship with the person she likes, which is "more than friends but less than lovers." Nakata Aoi plays the main character, Tanabe Tomoko, and Kaneko plays Matsuyama Satoshi, the man Tomoko has a crush on.

The second film, "Introduction to Marriage Studies" (director: Imaizumi Rikiya / scriptwriters: Imaizumi Kaori and Imaizumi Rikiya), tells the story of a popular magazine editor who prioritizes work over romance, who reunites with a middle school classmate and begins a relationship with the intention of getting married. Nakamura plays the main character, Ikegami Sana, Nagaoka Yu plays Sana's classmate, Takebayashi Keita, and Maehara Akira plays Kaneko Tatsuya, who is in a casual relationship with Sana.