Model and actress Arashi Rina: I want to make the most of my roots and pursue the work I love.

■ Profile

Born May 3, 2004 in Saitama Prefecture. Winner of both the Grand Prix and the ViVi Award at Miss iD 2020. Has been working as an exclusive model for ViVi since 2020. Her mother has Japanese and German roots, and her father is of mixed Iranian, Iraqi, and Russian descent, and holds Japanese citizenship. This is her first film appearance and first leading role.

Actress Arashi Rina, who started out as a model, took on her first serious acting role in the film "My Small Land." This was her first leading role, and she says the character had many similarities to her own feelings. We spoke to her about her impressions of appearing in this film, which depicts the delicate movements of the heart, and her career up to the present.

■ Opportunities to become a model

I worked as a child model from a young age, and have appeared in drama reenactments and the like. Since I was a child, I loved being photographed in cute clothes, so I had always dreamed of becoming a model. I actually started working as a model when I was in the second year of junior high school, and a TikTok video of mine was viewed about 5 million times and went viral. My current manager saw that video and discovered me, and contacted my current agency. I had a strong desire to be a model, so I started working full-time from then on.

One of my seniors at the agency is Nakajo Ayami, someone I admire, so I'm filled with interest in my work every day. I'm currently an exclusive model for "ViVi," so I watch the work of professionals and study every day, motivating me to "try harder."

■ The appeal of modeling is that it can only be done with the support of staff

The biggest motivation for me as a model is when people tell me I'm cute, and also my gratitude to the staff who support me.
Many different people are involved in the shoot, including my manager, photographers, makeup artists, etc. My desire to one day repay the kindness of everyone who has helped me is what motivates me to continue my modeling career and gives me a reason to live.
However, when I'm not able to pull off the clothes well during a photo shoot, I feel frustrated and my thoughts turn negative. At times like that, my family and music help me out. My family is my home, a comfortable space where I can forget about the things I don't like. They are truly important people. Also, when I'm sad, listening to music makes me feel like someone is there for me. When I listen to music, I use that time to think about what I should do in the future about the things I regret. But because this job is filled with things I love, I can overcome it.

■ Her first starring role in the film "My Small Land"

I felt a lot of pressure when I played the main character, Tharya. When I auditioned, I thought, "I absolutely want to play this role," and when I actually passed, I was happy, but also worried. However, I focused on giving it my all and tackled filming with all I had at the time.
There were many things I was conscious of when preparing for the role of Saria. The first was to avoid showing facial expressions in order to hide my roots. The second was to make sure that Saria showed facial expressions when interacting with Sota, to whom she opens up. This was completely different from preparing for a role as a model, so I took part in workshops a month beforehand. I spoke to Kurdish families and learned Turkish. I spoke with the director many times to deepen my understanding before starting filming.
It was my first time to fully immerse myself in a character, so it was only after I saw the finished film that I felt I had fully become Tharja. When filming wrapped up, I received a bouquet of flowers and couldn't stop crying. They were tears for the end of acting and the time I spent with everyone who worked on the project, who were like family to me.

■ "Saria" and "I" were in conflict

The film "My Small Land" deals with the complex contradictions of modern society. While the tone is generally serious, there are also heartwarming scenes depicting love and family. It's a film that will make you feel a variety of emotions throughout the film. It's a common issue for everyone, regardless of nationality, so I think everyone can relate to it.
The protagonist, Tharya, and I have something in common that we struggle with: wanting to say "I'm Japanese." I also had the experience of being judged by my appearance and finding it difficult to say it when I was a child.
Although I'm in a different position than Tharja, I have roots in five countries. Even though I was born and raised in Japan, people still ask me, "Where are you from?" But that casual question might trouble some people. There is no one alike in this world, and there are many different ways of looking at things. So I think it's important to think about the other person when speaking to them.
During the filming period, I was able to interact with many senior actors, including those I spoke to myself. The gap between their normal and on-stage behavior was huge, which was a great learning experience for me, and it made me strongly feel that I had to "not hold them back." Also, while I was waiting for my turn, a staff member brought me an umbrella, and I think filming was only possible thanks to everyone's kind support.
I want to continue to evolve in the future. I want to open up new paths, even by playing roles that are the complete opposite of my real self. I want to take on many different challenges, leveraging my strengths, including my roots in five countries.

■Message to university students

I work in the entertainment industry while studying, and I'm sure you all are juggling part-time jobs and your studies at the same time. You may hit a wall in the process. When that happens, find at least one place where you belong, whether it's anime, music, or anything else. I hope you don't think, "I have to study," but rather, "I need to take a break so I can work hard." When I want to take a break, I play fighting games (laughs).
Make sure to cherish your time away from reality and have fun doing the things you love!

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on March 23, 2022 by Mari Okabe, a first-year student at the Kunitachi College of Music

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