The BS period drama "Haguregumo" will start on January 4th (NHK BS/BS Premium 4K, Sundays at 6:45pm *first episode at 7pm). It is a period drama family drama based on the manga of the same name by George Akiyama, and Kurashina Kana plays Kame, the wife who supports the elusive protagonist, Haguregumo (Sasaki Kuranosuke). This year marks the 20th anniversary of her debut, and looking back on her acting career so far, Kurashina says, "It feels like I've been crawling forward on a thorny path." We spoke to Kurashina about her "past" and "future."
◇Looking back on the 20 years since their debut
Kurashina began her entertainment career in earnest in 2006, winning the grand prize at Miss Magazine 2006 that same year. After an audition in which 1,775 people participated, she landed the role of the heroine in the NHK morning drama series "Asadora" in the second half of 2009. Since then, she has been active in a wide range of roles, mainly in dramas and stage plays, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of her debut.
Looking back on the past 20 years, Kurashina says, "It felt like I was crawling forward on a thorny path." She was selected as the heroine of a Asadora three years after her debut, and it seems she has continued to appear in a constant stream of works since then, but behind the scenes of her seemingly glamorous activities, there have been many hidden hardships.
"There were many actresses of my generation who were already successful, so when I made my debut, there were very few opportunities to audition. I was desperate to grab a chance, and because there were so few roles, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to respond to each and every one. Regardless of the size of the role or the position, I have always pushed forward with the determination to take on any role that is offered to me. I think that's why I have gained the confidence to believe that I can play any role. I feel that my range of roles has expanded because I have taken on so many different roles."
The fact that I have always given my all to each role has led me to my current job.
"Thankfully, I've been able to keep making connections, and producers I've worked with before have often called me back to work on their projects. I'm truly happy to still be given roles like this. In 2025, I had many opportunities to be approached by people who said, 'Let's work together again,' and this was a year in which I felt that especially strongly. I'm very grateful to be thought of in this way, and I think that all the hard work I've put in up until now has led to where I am today. It makes me think, 'I'm glad I worked hard,' and 'Well done to my past self!'"
◇Is 38 a "transitional period"? "I think a lot about the future"
Kurashina is currently 38 years old. When asked about her future prospects, she replied, "I'm in my 30s and about to enter my 40s, so I'm in a transitional period, and I think a lot about the future."
"I think about my future, not only as an actor, but also as a woman. But no matter how much I think about it, I just can't find the answer. For example, even if I were to start a family, I wouldn't be able to do it on my own. There are so many milestones to go through in your 30s and 40s, so I feel a sense of urgency... I'm trying to figure out what kind of person I should be."
Despite these thoughts, he expressed his enthusiasm for 2026, saying, "I want to take on a new challenge."
"I would like to take on a new role that I have never played before and discover a new side of myself. Until now, I have mostly appeared in dramas and stage plays, but I would like to boldly take on a film role as well."
When asked what kind of roles she would like to play, she said, "I'd like to play a relaxed and easy-going role that's like an extension of everyday life, to the point that it makes you wonder, 'Am I really acting?' I'd also like to play a villain for the first time in a while, and a doctor, which I've never played before..." It seems like the list of roles she would like to play just keeps on coming to mind.
Kurashina laughed and said, "I guess I really love acting," and added with a sparkle in her eyes, "When I think back, there are still so many roles I haven't played, so I feel like I want to try this and that. Even 20 years after my debut, my dreams are still expanding."
