Kawaei Rina: The feeling of hard work is important to make the right decision

Actor Rina Kawaei

■ Profile
Actor. Born February 12, 1995, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Appears in films such as "Strange House" and "Dear Family," and the TV drama "Nurse Aid Next Door." In the second half of 2021, she will play the triple lead role in the NHK morning drama "Come Come Everybody." She will also play the lead role of Chihiro in the stage production of "Spirited Away."

Kawaei Rina has transitioned from idol to actor. She has played a wide range of roles and is a talented actor. In the second half of 2021, she played the role of Hinata, one of the first three-generation heroines in the history of morning dramas, in the NHK morning drama series "Kumkum Everybody," which caused a big stir. We spoke to Kawaei about her thoughts as she aims to reach even greater heights as an actor, while cherishing the bonds with her colleagues, luck, and hard work.

■ High school years supported by the bonds I built with my friends

I joined AKB48 at the end of my first year of high school, so I didn't have much of a sparkling school life, but I think I gained something irreplaceable in return: friendship. I auditioned for AKB48 after being invited by a friend, and she's still an important person who pushes me forward to this day.
I am still truly grateful that I was able to jump into a new world with the support of my friends and those around me.
My time with AKB was truly like "school" to me. I spent more time with the other members than with my family, and we shared the worries of people our age and supported each other. The deep bonds I built with the friends I had during this time continue to be a great source of strength to me to this day. What's more, the things I learned during this time, such as the importance of hierarchical relationships and etiquette, are still useful in my work today. The experiences I had back then helped me grow significantly and are an important foundation that has shaped who I am today.

■ Fascinated by acting, he decided on his path

I wasn't very good at singing or dancing, I had a hard time taking time off, and I was constantly busy with work, so before I knew it, I started to feel like I was just doing my job in a bureaucratic manner.
At that time, I came across a job where I could "act," which I found to be really fun, and I was drawn more and more into the charm of acting, and I began to think from the bottom of my heart, "This is what I want to do." My desire to pursue something that I found truly enjoyable grew, and after graduating from AKB, I embarked on the path of acting.
When I decided to make the transition from idol to actor, I set myself three dreams: to become the heroine of a morning drama, to appear in a historical drama, and to win a Japan Academy Award. Two of those dreams have come true, but I still want to make my last dream of winning an Academy Award come true.

■ Always take on challenges with a positive attitude

I feel that my life is driven by luck and connections, but in order to make the most of it, daily effort is essential. In particular, I think it's most important to be prepared to take advantage of good luck when it comes your way. When it comes to auditions, I view them positively as a valuable opportunity to show off, and even if I fail, I accept it as just not being meant to be this time and move forward without dwelling on failure. I think this positive way of thinking gives me the strength to keep trying and not give up.
When I act, I value the flexibility to fully accept the intentions of the director and producer. My experience working with members with diverse personalities during my time in AKB taught me the importance of acting according to the situation. I think that is one of my strengths today. Also, when I'm working, I clearly separate my work life from my private life, read the script thoroughly, and then create my role on set. This helps me avoid getting too absorbed in the role, and is also useful when working on multiple projects at the same time. Above all, I value having fun, and always try to maintain a positive mindset.

■ Connections with people are more important than anything else

In my work as an actor, I place great importance on connections with people. Furthermore, I am also mindful of my health on a daily basis, as I cannot continue filming or performing on stage without physical strength. Last year, I was extremely busy juggling dramas and stage productions, and there were times when it was physically and mentally tough, but it was a great learning experience that made me realize my own limits. My co-stars supported me at the time, and I was reminded that connections with people are more important than anything else when it comes to work.
When I made the transition from idol to actor, I was motivated by the desire to avoid people thinking, "Once I graduate, you won't see me on TV anymore," and I was conscious of approaching my work in a planned manner. I also decided to return to work after giving birth in just two or three months because I had a strong desire to avoid people saying, "They stopped watching after my maternity leave." Of course, not all work is fun. Sometimes you have to be motivated to take on a challenge. Even in those situations, I try to switch my mindset to a positive one by thinking, "If I'm going to do it, I might as well have fun." I encourage myself by saying, "Once I've finished this, I'll do something fun," and try to overcome the challenges with a positive attitude.
What I want to tell everyone is that there is no right answer to any decision. What's important is your willingness to put in the effort to make that decision the right one.

Junior and Senior High School Newspaper April 2025 Edition Mai Wakao, 4nd year student at International Christian University

<Student Newspaper April 2025 Issue Entertainment Section Interview>

If you're going to take on a challenge, do something that's truly enjoyable

◆Please tell us what made you enter the entertainment industry.
It was towards the end of my first year of high school. A friend invited me to audition for AKB48, and I passed. This experience changed my life dramatically. I was originally a shy person and didn't like being in front of people. However, after joining AKB, I learned the importance of etiquette and greetings, and it became like a "school" for me. I believe that my experiences there built the foundation for my life.
In the early days of my career, I was not good at singing or dancing, so there were some difficult times. However, when I discovered acting, I had a moment when I felt that "it was fun from the bottom of my heart." Since then, I have cherished the lifestyle of "doing things that are fun."

◆Please tell us about your challenges and dreams as an actor.

After graduating from AKB48, I started my career as an actress. I set three goals for myself when I graduated: to become the heroine of a morning drama, to appear in a historical drama, and to win a Japan Academy Award. I have achieved two of these, but I still have one last dream left. I will continue to challenge myself to make this dream a reality. I also believe that luck and connections are important in life, and I want to keep working hard to seize them.

◆Please give us a message for the students.

To all students, I hope you will find what you enjoy while having lots of fun and learning lots of things. I also hope you will believe in the path you have chosen and forge ahead. No one knows if your decision will be the right one, but I hope you will make the right choice through your own efforts. Enjoy failure, and use those experiences as a springboard for growth.

Student Newspaper April 2025 Issue Tsuda University 4nd Year Student Ishimatsu Karin

N High school sophomore Masamasa Hattori / Josai International University freshman Yurie Watanabe / Toyo University junior Fuuka Ota / International Christian University sophomore Mai Wakao / Tsuda University sophomore Karin Ishimatsu

<Chinese article>

Kawahara Rina
It is a definite decision that you will make an effort to come out.

Actress Kawaei Rina

■ Introduction
Actress. Born February 12, 1995. From Kanagawa Prefecture. She has appeared in films such as "Strange House" and "Dear Family", as well as the TV drama "Nurse Aid Next Door". In the second half of 2021, she will play the main role of the homeroom teacher, Mie, in the NHK morning drama "Come Come Everybody". In the stage drama "Spirited Away", she plays the main role of Chihiro.

The idols of the performers. Rina Kawaei is the number one performer with a wide variety of talents. In the second half of 2021, Ikkaku Hinata, the third female lead of the NHK TV series ``Come Come Everybody'', will perform in the show's history. I will give you a different way of thinking, and I will work with you to reach a higher level, and at the same time, I will give careful consideration to your friends, and I will make a concerted effort.

■ My high school and junior high school time benefits and my friendships are established by friends.

I joined AKB48 at the end of my first year of high school, and since then my school life has passed away. However, I have shared my thoughts with you, and I have been in the East and West of my school: "Friends." I am a friend of mine who participated in the AKB48 review, and is currently an important promoter of my future.
I am extremely grateful for the support of my friends and people around me, and as I leave the opportunity to explore this new world.
When I came here, I was at AKB's "School". We and other members of the same generation can spend more time in one life than others in one life, and the same people can enjoy the same amount of time, and we can support each other. From time to time, we have established deep friendships with each other, and now we have a huge source of support. In addition to this, the importance of traditional Japanese etiquette, such as the example of how time has come to study East and West, is also useful for modern work. At that time, I was able to help build the building, and it was my foundation to build up.

■ Lost love performance, determined running self path

I sing the song, jump, and dance, but it's time to rest, and I'm busy with the work, and I don't know why, but I'm starting to see myself, and I'm going to have a bureaucratic method, and I'm going to do my own work.
At some point, I would like to come into contact with you and perform the work, and I will be very happy to work with you. I was drawn to the attractions of the past and present, and from the beginning I felt a deep feeling in my heart, ``This is what I thought of.'' Pursuing genuine joyful things, the desire to come and go is strong, so this is where AKB's work comes back, and the road is full of excitement.
When I decided to perform as an idol, I decided to self-define the three-part dream: "The main character of the show in Chengdu" and "The history of the performance" ``Get Japan Television Academy Book'' My two dreams are shown in real life, but the last one in my mind is the last one I dream of.

■ From the beginning to the end, the challenge of meeting

I see that the way I live my life is to be dynamic, but to make full use of it, and to make every effort every day is indispensable. In particular, I know that when you come to your destination, it is most important to use it as soon as possible. Please take a look at the review, we will wait for you to check the status, we will not be able to proceed with the first exhibition, and the opportunity to purchase the treasure will be lost immediately. My belief is that I have various kinds of mind, my ability to predict myself, my constant challenge to myself, and my eternal freedom.
At the time of my performance, I will be able to see how active I am, and I will be able to fully receive the guidance and perform the individual's will. While I am in the AKB group, and I am in the process of starting a new team with different personalities, I have learned the importance of establishing the foundation of the situation and taking action. What I think is my heavenly ability. In addition, when we are working together, we will make sure that the general public works and develops our personal life, and after reading the book, we will be working on a piece of paper. However, if I were to avoid this, I would have to pay attention to one color, but also if I would be able to manage multiple items at the same time. The most important thing is, ``I think carefully'' from the beginning to the end, and maintain an aggressive attitude.

■ It is important to compare the relationship between people and people.

The author is a well-known actor, and I am a close observer. However, if I have no physical strength, I will not be able to perform or perform on stage, so I am very careful about my own health condition every time. Last year was a very busy year, as we worked on the stage at the same time, and at times faced physical and mental hardships. At that time, I received the support of a large number of collaborative actors, so I realized that it was important for me to understand that it was important for the cooperation between the actors and the people involved in the work.
When I work as an idol, my moving machine is what I imagine people will recognize. ``Once I am in my own business, I will never be able to see it on the phone again.'' Therefore, I have a meaningful place to calculate the method that I am working on. After three months, I decided that my child was still alive, and after three months, I completed my work to stop my work. Naturally, non-ownership work is interesting. From time to time I must encourage myself and challenge myself. Under the circumstances of the current envoy, I will also try my best to maintain my position, and report to myself: ``What should I do, what should I do? ``Heart'' I encourage myself: ``Once I complete this matter, I meet a trivial interesting situation.''
My opinion is that the master's opinion is correct, and the answer is clear. It is important that you make the right decision to make an effort to come out.

Translated by: Mio Nakayama