Karen Otomo: Doing my best in the present, not in the unknown future

2020.04.20

Karen Otomo

Born October 9, 1999. An exclusive model for the magazine "Seventeen." In 2016, she was appointed the 12th cheering manager for the "95th All Japan High School Soccer Championship," a tournament considered a stepping stone for young actresses. She has appeared in a number of popular productions, including the film "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas" (2017), the dramas "Cheer☆Dance" (2018, TBS) and "Your Turn to Kill" (2019, NTV), and played the lead role in "Newbie Sisters' Meals" (2019, TV Tokyo). She is also active in a variety of fields, appearing on "King's Brunch" (TBS) and as a radio personality on "My Classmate is Otomo Karen!" (Cultural Broadcasting).

Instagram account @karen_otomo

After making her debut in the entertainment industry as a junior high school student, Otomo Karen spent her student days balancing her studies with her work as an actress and model. What kind of youth did she have, what do she value, and how does she approach her work? We asked her about her thoughts and what she would like to say to university students of her age.

I dreamed of joining a club... but work was my youth

When I was in elementary school, I was a very active person. My school had a lot of events, such as rope skipping competitions, marathons, and sports days, so I always put my all into preparing and practicing for them. There weren't many students, so it was a great environment where all my friends and teachers were friendly with each other, and I loved school.

　I started my entertainment career when I entered junior high school, and the way I spent my time at school changed. There were times when I had to miss school because of work, so I spent my junior high and high school years focusing on balancing work and studies, thinking about how I could avoid causing trouble for the people around me and keep up with my studies without being left behind.

　I wasn't able to join any club activities, so I had aspirations, but I loved filming more than anything. The time I spent working on set was truly the best part of my youth.

I want to wear cute clothes!

　My first desire to enter the entertainment industry was when I saw celebrities on TV wearing cute clothes and thought, "I want to wear clothes like that too!"

　Then, when I was in sixth grade, I happened to come across a magazine in a bookstore and learned about reader models, so I applied. I started out with acting, and then I tried my hand at modeling, variety shows, radio, and many other genres.

　When I receive kind comments from people who have seen them, it makes my work feel worthwhile and motivates me. It's a job I love, but I think it's amazing that it has reached someone's heart and encouraged them, and it actually helps me. I want to work even harder for everyone.

　I'm often asked what I think as a 20-year-old girl, so I'm thinking about how to properly promote great places and things, including trends.

Everyone who works here is a teacher

　The environment has changed since I started working, but I don't think I've changed that much.

　I feel like I've gotten to where I am today by working hard every day, trying not to be left behind in a new environment. I started this job when I was in the first year of junior high school, and have had the opportunity to work with many professionals. In each place, working with people who have mastered their field, I often feel that my abilities are lacking. I really still have a long way to go. The seniors I work with are all truly amazing, so I always feel like I'm chasing after their backs.

Cherish the encounters you never know what might happen

　Surprisingly, I don't really have a specific goal that I want to do. The reason I started my modeling career was because there was an audition and I thought I should take it. By being given the opportunity and taking on the challenge, I have had many unexpected encounters and discoveries. There are many things that I am glad I did, so I would like to continue to cherish each and every encounter, as you never know what will happen.

　I don't know what the future holds, and there are times when I feel anxious and wonder, "Can I continue working like this?" But at times like that, I try to focus on the present. "I'll do this for tomorrow's work," or "I'll prepare like this for next week's shoot." Since I can't see the future, I just do my best in what I can see in the present.

Spending time with friends who are like family

　I appear regularly once every three weeks on the Saturday afternoon program "King's Brunch" (TBS and some affiliates). This year marks my fourth year. I've been on the show since I was in my third year of high school, so Brunch has always been there for me at important moments in my life, like graduating and turning 1. I call the regular cast members the Brunch Family, and as the name suggests, they're truly like family. They recently threw me a birthday dinner, and I'm incredibly happy to have built such a relationship with them. I believe it's because of this relationship that I'm able to deliver a warm and inviting experience to everyone from Saturday morning through lunch. I hope that even though it's your day off, you'll feel inspired to try your best and not slack off too much.

　The main MC, Watanabe Ken, is someone who takes the initiative to speak to not only the regular cast members but also the staff, and helps to adjust the atmosphere in the studio. Sato Shiori is a wonderful person who always cheers up those around her with her smile. I hope to be like Shiori as a person. She is my ideal image of a woman.

"Thoughts" To all university students of the same generation

Seeing you all working hard at your studies and job hunting is very inspiring to me. Personally, there's so much I don't know about the world of university. I really can't imagine what kind of classes you're taking or what kind of future you're preparing for, but seeing people my age battling it out there often inspires me to do my best in my own place. I hope to fight together with you all in the Reiwa era.

I have many outlets where I would like to share my message, such as social media and television, so I hope to be able to deliver something that will make everyone feel wonderful.

From the April 20, 2020 issue of the Student Newspaper (Naoto Kajima, third-year student at Chukyo University)

Shohei Kajita, third year at Nihon University / Reon Kitajima, first year at Bunkyo University / Anna Yamamoto, fourth year at Keio University / Naoto Kajima, third year at Chukyo University / Hideki Anzai, third year at Komazawa University

Photo by professional photographer Seita Hirota

Karen Ootomo

■Profile:

Born 9 October 1999. Exclusive model for Seventeen magazine. In 2016, she was selected as the 12th cheering manager for the 95th National High School Football Championship, considered a gateway to success for young actresses. She has appeared in numerous popular films, including the film 'Let Me Eat Your Pancreas' (”17), the dramas 'Cheer☆Dan' ('18, TBS) and 'Your Turn to Kill' ('19, NTV), and 'Let's Have a meal together' ('19, TV Tokyo), in which she played the lead role. She has also appeared on 'King's Brunch' (TBS) and on the radio show 'My Classmate is Hanakoi Otomo! (Bunka Hoso) as a radio personality.

Instagram account @karen_otomo

After debuting in the entertainment industry as a junior high school student, Hanako Otomo spent her school years both managing her acting and modeling careers and her studies. What kind of youth she had, what she values, and what she thinks about her work. We also interviewed her about her thoughts on university students of her generation and what she would like to say to them.

I longed to be involved in club activities… but working was my youth.

When I was in elementary school, I was a very active person. There were many events at school, such as jump rope competitions, marathons, and sports festivals, so I always put all my energy into preparing and practicing for these events. I loved school because there weren't many students, so it was a lovely environment where all my friends and teachers were good friends.

 I started entertainment work at the same time as a junior high school student, which changed how I spent my time at school. There were times when I had to be absent from school because of my job, so I spent junior and senior high school focusing on my work and my studies without causing trouble for everyone around me or falling behind in my studies.

 I couldn't participate in club activities, so I had a longing for it, but I liked filming more than that. The time I spent working on sites was the best time of my youth.

■I want to wear pretty clothes!

 I first became attracted to the entertainment world when I saw celebrities on TV wearing cute clothes and thought, “I wish I could wear those clothes too!” 

Then, when I was in the sixth year of elementary school, I found a magazine by chance in a bookshop and applied to be a reader's model. I started with acting at first. After that, I challenged various genres, such as modeling, TV, and radio.

 I feel rewarded and motivated when I receive grateful comments from people who have seen them. I think it's fantastic that my work, which I love doing, reaches someone's heart and encourages them, and it saves me as well. Therefore, I want to do more for everyone.

 Now, I am often asked what I think as a 20-year-old girl, so I am thinking a lot about how I can properly introduce lovely places and things, including trends.

■Everyone who works is a teacher.

 The environment has changed since I started working, but I don't think I have changed that much. I feel like I've reached this point in my life as I'm trying hard every day not to get shaken by the new environment. I started this job in my first year of junior high school and have worked with many professionals. As I work with everyone who has mastered their field in different places, I often feel that I am not strong enough. I haven't got there yet. The senior people(Senpai) I work with are all really great people, so I always feel like I'm following their backs.

■Cherish each unexpected encounter.

 I actually don't have a specific thing that I want to do. I started my modeling career because there was an audition like this. I have encountered many unexpected encounters and discoveries by challenging opportunities I have been given. I'm glad often I did it, so I want to continue to cherish each and every unexpected encounter.

 I don't know what the future will be like, and I often wonder if I can continue working like this. But when that happens, I try to look at it now. I think, “I'll do this for tomorrow's work” or “I'll prepare for next week's shoot.” I can't see the future, so I do my best only where I can see it now.

■Time with family-like colleagues

 I appear regularly once every three weeks on a noon-time program called King's Brunch (TBS and some affiliate stations), which is broadcast on Saturdays. This year will be my fourth year doing it. Since I was in my third year of high school, the Branch has always been by my side at important moments in my life, such as when I graduated from high school and when I turned 20. We call the regular members the Branch Family, and as the name suggests, they are like a real family. The other day, they hosted a dinner party to celebrate my birthday, and I was very happy to have that kind of relationship with them. And because of that relationship, I think I can bring everyone a comfortable and warm time from Saturday morning to lunchtime. I would be happy if this could be a chance for people to think about doing their best on their day off without being too lazy.

 The main MC, Ken Watanabe, is a person who talks to the staff as well as the regular performers and adjusts the atmosphere in the studio. Ms Shiori Sato is a wonderful person who makes everyone around her happy with her smile. I wish I could be like Shiori-san as a person. She is my ideal image of a woman.

■'Thoughts' to university students of my generation

I find it very stimulating to see you working hard in your studies and job-hunting activities. I don't know much about the university world personally. I can't imagine what kind of classes they are taking and what kind of preparation they are doing for the future, but seeing people of my age struggling in that environment often inspires me to do my best in my place. I hope to join you all in fighting together in the Reiwa era.

I have many places where I can broadcast my messages, such as social networking and television, so I hope I can make you feel fantastic.

In charge of translation：INTERNATIONAL CHISTIAN UNAIVERSITY Mai Wako

Translated by Mai Wakao, a first-year student at International Christian University