The NHK evening drama "Kaedama Bravo!" (General TV, Monday to Thursday, 10:45 p.m.) will begin airing on January 5th. It is a slightly dark comedy for adults that combines friendship, ramen, and classical ballet. Actor Kana Kita plays the protagonist, Senbon Karina, a ramen-loving woman who works at an advertising agency. 2025 will be a breakthrough year for Kita, who will also be appearing in the Asadora drama series "Bakebake." Although she is now 28 years old, she has already been in the entertainment industry for 16 years, and says that she is still "crazy about acting" since her debut. We spoke to Kita about her thoughts on appearing in her first Asadora and her future prospects.
◇ Appearing in a Asadora"led to my ambition"
Kita, 28, was born on August 23, 1997, in Tokyo. She made her acting debut at the age of 13, and in 2017, after auditioning, she was selected from 350 candidates to play the role of Jasmine, a Chinese woman in the "Byplayers" series (TV Tokyo). In 2018, she made her voice acting debut in the animated feature film "Penguin Highway." She has since appeared in numerous popular works, including the NHK Taiga dramas "Idaten" (2019), "The 13 Lords of the Shogun" (2022), and "What Will Ieyasu Do?" (2023). She also made waves with her performance as Rio, the beautiful and intelligent daughter of the Shimane Prefecture governor and the heroine's "love rival" in the 2025 morning Asadora"Bakebake."
"Appearing in a Asadora was one of my goals," says Kita. She was surprised by the huge response from those around her, and says with a smile, "The feeling that I had appeared in a Asadora slowly began to sink in, along with a feeling of happiness."
"My grandparents looked forward to watching the Asadora every morning, and they were very happy that their grandson was appearing in it, so I feel like I was able to show my filial piety to my grandparents. Also, I watched the scene where he made his debut with my mother, and surprisingly, she started crying next to me. She asked me if she could watch it again, and she watched it over and over again, and she was so happy. I was so happy that the Asadora that I had always admired became a bridge between me and my family."
The character she plays, Rio, is a unique character who speaks a mixture of English and can sometimes appear arrogant, but Kita reflected, "I wanted to make Rio lovable. I was very conscious of that when I played the role."
"The role of Rio was a first for me in many ways. It was my first time speaking lines in English and playing the koto. Of course I was nervous at times, but this production taught me once again to 'enjoy everything.' Even difficult things aren't so hard if you enjoy them, and they can turn into learning experiences... I was reminded of this through ' Bakebake,' and being able to appear in a Asadora, which was my goal, has given me the desire to 'do my best as an actor.'"
◇ "I don't really know who I really am (laughs)"
Kita often plays quirky characters, such as Jasmine in "Byplayers," Lady Orio in "Bakebake," and now Karina in "Kaedama Bravo!" Kita's impression changes drastically with each role she plays, but what kind of person does she perceive her "true self" to be?
"I don't really understand it myself (laughs). When I asked a friend who knows me well, he said I was 'headstrong'. That may be a link to Naorio-sama, who is straightforward in love, and Karina, who quickly goes off the rails. But I also have a sensitive side, and recently I've become better at switching my mindset depending on the situation. I thought, 'So this is what it means to become an adult!'"
This change in mindset has led to the acting ability to portray a wide range of roles.
"Maybe my way of expressing myself doesn't have much of a formula. I'm like I'm nothing. Sometimes I think that being able to switch gears and take on a variety of roles could be seen as a strength."
◇What are your future prospects?
Looking back on 2025, which was a year of great success for her, including her long-awaited appearance in a morning Asadora, Kita said, "It went by so quickly. It went by so quickly."
"Controlling my emotions and tension. Being able to take charge of my own mood was my theme for 2025. Recently, when something happens and I have to hold back, I cheerfully say out loud, 'Hold on! Hold on!' and make it 'pop' and change my way of thinking. Doing this naturally puts my mind at ease, and I feel like I don't have to brood so much."
After a year of reflecting on herself in this way, she emphasizes that in 2026 she wants to "cherish the connections I have."
"2025 was filled with experiences I'd never had before, including appearing in a Asadora, and I also had many first-time encounters. I hope this year will be one in which I can continue to connect those connections. Last year I spent a lot of time reflecting on myself, so I hope this year I can reflect on others."
Kita has been building his career as an actor for 16 years since his debut in 2010. When asked about his future goals, his eyes sparkled as he said, "When I'm working and acting, that's the most fun time for me. So I want to keep doing that forever."
"Acting is both a job and a hobby, and it's something that's really important to me, so I have the ambition to continue doing it forever... I get to meet new productions and staff members, and create something new. I think it's a really fun and fascinating job. I've been working as an actor for about 16 years, but that feeling hasn't changed since my debut, and I'm crazy about acting, so I want to continue to cherish that feeling in the future."
