Maho Horiguchi plays the heroine Nemu in the latest installment of the special effects drama "Kamen Rider" series, " Kamen Rider Zeztz " (TV Asahi, Sunday 9:00 AM). We spoke to the 16-year-old who landed the big role on her first audition for a Kamen Rider production.
Horiguchi was born on October 10, 2008 in Tokyo. In addition to working as a model and actor, she also serves as a reporter for the Fuji TV morning information program "Mezamashi TV," known as "ImaDoki Girl."
She made her debut as a model in 2021 and began her entertainment career. "I've been tall since I was in elementary school, and I was interested in it myself, so I started my entertainment career when I was in the first year of junior high school," she recalls.
The Kamen Rider series is known as "the gateway to success for young actors." There are many audition participants, and it is not uncommon for some to try multiple times, but Horiguchi grabbed his dream ticket on his first try. "To be honest, I didn't think I would get in, so when I heard I had, I was shocked and said, 'What!?' I was curious as to why I was chosen, so I asked the staff, and they said, 'You looked like you were having the most fun, and we could see you growing (even during the audition process), so we think you'll continue to grow.' I want to work hard so I can live up to the expectations that have been placed on me," he said with determination.
She is currently a second-year high school student. When asked about balancing her studies with acting, she said, "Honestly, it's difficult. Right now I want to focus on acting, so it may not be a 50:50 ratio, but I'm a student, so I want to work hard at my studies too." She has a calm demeanor, and her co-stars were surprised, asking, "Are you still in high school?" However, she also revealed a side of her typical high school girl side, saying, "After the press conference announcing the role of the heroine, I received a lot of messages from my school friends saying, 'The heroine of Kamen Rider?!' I was so happy that I could finally announce it, as I had kept it a secret until now!"
The character he plays, Nemu, is an extremely popular talent known to the entire nation. The main character, Kamen Rider Zeztz/Yorozu Baku Yorozu(played by Ryutaro Imai ), is also a fan of Nemu, and she appears in every dream where the agent Baku goes "infiltrating." Regarding Nemu, he said with a smile, "She's a mystery (laughs). I can't say much, but her personality will become clear as you watch the story, so please look forward to it."
She shared a commonality with Nemu, saying, "We're both cheerful and fearless." "But Nemu has more energy, and during filming she tells me, 'Raise your energy!' (laughs)."
One of her seniors at the agency is Mio Imada , who starred in the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " and has also appeared in numerous commercials. She is just as popular as Nemu. "Facial expressions, posing... there's a lot I can learn from her. She's very kind and teaches me, so when I meet her I ask her all sorts of questions about acting," she says.
She has taken to heart the advice she received from such a senior, "It's important to never forget to be grateful to those around you." She said enthusiastically, "He told me not to forget that I'm able to do my job not just because of my own strength, but also because of the fans who support me, my family and friends who support me, the agency staff, and the staff. I want to do my best this year, never forgetting my gratitude for being chosen to play the role of Nemu."
She is also taking part in Shueisha's model audition "Miss Seventeen 2025." She was selected as one of the 10 finalists out of 2,783 applicants. "I enjoy both acting and modeling, so I would like to continue working in both roles!" she said enthusiastically.
