Miki Yagi is currently appearing as Baku Yorozu Minami Yorozu , the younger sister of the main character Manzu Baku (played by Ryutaro Imai ) in the latest installment of the special effects drama "Kamen Rider" series, " Kamen Rider Zeztz " (TV Asahi, Sunday 9am). We spoke to this 18-year-old, who has made the transition from being a member of a group to acting, and is now powerfully playing the reliable younger sister.
Yagi is from Osaka Prefecture, born on December 11, 2006. From 2017 to 2021, she was a member of the "growth period limited unit!!" Sakura Gakuin, and is currently appearing as an actor in the NHK morning drama " Omusubi " in the second Asadora of 2024, and the movie "Karaoke Iko!" (2024).
The Kamen Rider series is known as a "stepping stone for young actors." He says he has auditioned for the role several times, including for guest appearances. "I don't have any siblings, so I didn't grow up watching Kamen Rider, but I thought that being involved in the same role for a year and receiving guidance from various directors would be a turning point as an actor, so I decided to take on the challenge. However, up until now, I hadn't been able to make it to the final round. This time, I made it to the final round for the first time, and I was even happier that I passed!"
She revealed that when she auditioned, she was cast in the role of an older sister, not a younger sister. "I think I got the role of the younger sister because I was younger than the other guys. (Perhaps that's why) Minami is the younger sister, but she's a reliable person. Her older brother (Mo) can be a bit sloppy, so she's in a supporting role (laughs)."
She is an only child. In order to get a grasp on the "sense of distance between siblings," she has been following advice from those around her. "I want to deepen our relationship, so I'm in regular contact with Imai-san (who plays Moko). We send each other what we're having for dinner, and I think that's helped us become much closer."
Minami also has a side to her as an entertainment manager, but this has not yet been depicted in the main story. "We'll be able to touch on this in the future, but I can't say much about it yet... (laughs). She's usually a reliable person, but there are also scenes where she lets loose, so please look forward to that as well!"
For the sake of the fans who have supported her since her days as a group, she is enthusiastic, saying, "I think I'm able to show my growth, even if it's little by little. I want to work hard so that they'll think, 'Miki-chan has grown up.'"
She is also inspired by the presence of former members who worked with her in Sakura Gakuin and are still active in the entertainment industry. "There were some girls I kept in contact with during the audition period, and they asked me, 'What are you going to be in?' so I was really happy to be able to give them good news. We are still inspiring each other," she said with a smile.
