Many people have surely seen her face at train stations and on street corners this fall. Actor Arisa Matsunaga has been chosen to appear in the National Police Agency's "Support for Crime Victims" publicity poster. She also makes a strong presence in a Nippon Life Insurance TV commercial, co-starring with Yuki Yamada. We spoke to the 27-year-old, who will also be appearing in the much-talked-about film "Kyoujo Reunion (Part 1) / Requiem (Part 2)" due for release next year.
◇Although he looks "soft," he's actually an athlete. "I'm confident in my physical strength and tenacity."
Matsunaga began her entertainment career when she was in her second year of junior high school. She was scouted, but she says, "I wasn't originally interested in entertainment." "I had been devoted to baton twirling since I was in kindergarten, so when I was scouted, I wanted to try something new."
She is a talented member of a baton twirling team that won a gold medal at a national competition. She practiced every day after school, and on holidays she practiced for 12 hours from morning to night. "The practice was tough, so many kids quit, but I hate to lose, so the tougher it is, the more motivated I get (laughs). I also loved the sense of accomplishment when I got results, so I persevered."
That experience is still useful in his current job. "People tend to say I'm airheaded because of my appearance and the way I talk, but they also often tell me I have stamina and guts. I'm confident in my stamina and guts. I'm very grateful to my teacher (at the time)," he says with a laugh.
She started her entertainment career as an idol, before expanding her horizons as a model and actor. Her turning point came in 2017 when she played the heroine in the stage production of "Your Lie in April." "I was acutely aware of my lack of talent, but seeing the audience's reaction made me want to act more." With a natural competitive spirit, she decided to focus solely on acting, and transferred to her current agency.
◇ Takuya Kimura's overwhelming presence: "Even the sound of his footsteps is different"
This will be his first time appearing in the popular "Kyojo" series starring Takuya Kimura. "Kyojo" is a drama that was broadcast on Fuji TV and became a hot topic. Set in a police academy, it depicts the growth of students through the tense confrontations between the strict instructor Kazama Kimichika, played by Kimura. The first part of the film sequel to the drama, "Kyojo Reunion," will be available on Netflix from January 1st, and the second part, "Kyojo Requiem," will be released in theaters on February 20th.
Matsunaga plays Iguchi Ai, a girl who enrolled in police academy with the goal of becoming a police officer who keeps the town safe. She won the audition and got the role. "It was my first time to go through an audition with about five rounds of auditions, but it was a show I loved and watched with my family, so I just had a strong desire to get in and be a part of it. I was so happy when I heard I'd passed!"
Because it was a training scene, there was a preparation period before filming began, and he recalls, "The training involved inspection work, where all the students had to move in perfect unison, which required a lot of concentration, and we also had to run while wearing equipment that weighed about 7 kilograms...it was a really intense period."
The most memorable scene was when he faced off against Kazama, played by Kimura. "I was so nervous that I couldn't afford to fail... but then Kimura said to me, 'You don't need to practice. It'll all work out, so it's okay.' It really helped me relax and it really saved me."
He was overwhelmed by Kimura's presence, with whom he was acting for the first time. "Even though we weren't facing each other, just being in the same space created a sense of tension. It was different even from the sound of his footsteps. It was a very resonant sound, like the "knock, knock, knock" sound you hear in manga. Just hearing his footsteps from the hallway made me immediately know, 'Kimura-san has arrived!'"
Iguchi sits in the front row of the classroom, so her role naturally catches the eye. "I haven't seen the finished version yet, so I'm excited, but I can't wait to see how it turns out," she said with anticipation.
Taking her appearance in "Kyojo" as an opportunity, she vows to make even greater strides next year. "I want to focus on each and every production to the best of my ability, contribute to the production while gaining experience, and become an actress who can stand firm." Her athletic ability, cultivated through baton twirling, is well-known, and she is also eager to take on action roles. "When people see footage of me moving, they're often surprised and say, 'Wow! You can move so much!' so I want this year to be a year where more people will discover that difference," she said emphatically. (MANTAN/Kanamaki Kenichiro)
◇Profile
Matsunaga Arisa Born August 8, 1998. Originally from Tokyo. Recent major appearances include the dramas "Billion x School" (2024), "Suspicious Partner" (2025), and V-Cinema Next's "Kamen Rider Geats Jamat Awakening" (2024). She is currently appearing as Ishikawa in the drama "Propaganda Game" (MBS/TBS), and will also appear in a drama scheduled to air next year. A calendar is scheduled to be released this spring. She also has an official fan club, "Matsunaga Arisa's As It Is."
