Model and actor Arashi Rina is a voice actor in the animated film "Paris ni Saku Etoile," which will be released on March 13th. In 2025, she also drew attention for her role as Murata Chieri, a member of the Umezono High School competitive karuta club, in the TV drama "Chihayafuru: Meguri" (Nippon TV, Wednesdays at 10pm). We asked her about her memories of "Chihayafuru: Meguri," which she said "gave her great inspiration," and her ideals and dreams as an actor and model. <New Year's Interview>
◇My goals and ideals as an actor have become clearer
Arashi is 21 years old and was born on May 3, 2004 in Saitama Prefecture. He has roots in five countries and will be starring in his first film, "My Small Land" (directed by Kawawada Keima), which will be released in 2022. The film was the first Japanese film to receive the Amnesty International Film Award Special Mention at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival.
So what kind of work was "Chihayafuru: Meguri" for Arashi?
"Above all, it was almost my first time acting with actors my own age. Up until now, I've been the youngest, or rather, I've often been the youngest on set, but being in an environment where I could exchange opinions with people my own age and easily ask for advice was a big help. Everyone has a different way of acting, so I discovered and learned a lot. In that sense, we were able to inspire each other, and it was a set that made me really think that I definitely want to work with them again, and that I have to work even harder to make that happen."
Arashi feels that "it is a work that was truly created by everyone working together," and that he feels more and more each day that "I have come across a very important work that will be important for my future."
"I realized once again that I have to show not only those who knew me before 'Chihayafuru: Meguri', but also those who got to know me through this production, the kind of actor I will become. I am still a newcomer, but it feels like I have returned to my roots. I am looking forward to showing these people my acting skills from now on."
My goals and ideals as an actor have also become clearer.
"There are still viewers who call me 'Chieri-chan' by my character's name, and it gave me confidence that I was able to fully live up to the role. Ideally, I would like my impression to be different for each production, and for each viewer to remember me as a completely different person. As an actor, I would be very happy if people thought that way about me when I play a role."
◇I want to be the opening act at TGC someday
Meanwhile, Arashi, who is also active as an exclusive model for the women's fashion magazine "ViVi" (Kodansha), believes, "Because I have experience in acting, I've been able to discover the different good points of modeling. Ideally, I'd like to be able to improve both jobs, which I love equally."
"After a period of acting, I did some modeling work for the first time in a while, and the photographer told me, 'You've gotten better.' I think he was probably referring to facial expressions, and although they may seem different at first glance, they are very connected. I believe that if one improves, the other will also improve, so I don't neglect either one, and I hope to be able to work on both with care."
Arashi, who often has the opportunity to appear at fashion events, revealed, "My dream of being the opening act at TGC (Tokyo Girls Collection) has always remained the same."
"I've seen up close how the audience erupted when Ayami Nakajo and other seniors appeared on stage as the opening act, so I still have a strong admiration for them. I definitely want to make it happen. Being the opening act is cool, and it's a completely different experience. To that end, I want to continue to hone my skills as a model."
In 2026, she will be releasing the animated film "Paris ni Saku Etoile," in which she will be trying her hand at voice acting for the first time, but through the recording that has already been completed, she says, "I have come to realize that my worldview is still very narrow."
"It was completely different from my usual acting, so I realized there's still a lot I don't know, and I really wanted to experience more and more things and increase my experience. In that sense, 2025 was a year full of stimulation. I hope to make good use of this stimulation and continue working as both an actor and a model so that I can feel that I've grown even further in 2026 and beyond."
