Model and talent Kanon　

His motto is "Believe in yourself and spare no effort"

Model and talent Kanon

■ Profile
He grew up in Los Angeles until the second year of junior high school and moved to Japan in 2013.
She won the runner-up prize in the model division of TOKYO GIRLS AUDITON 2015 and began working as a regular model for NYLON. She subsequently appeared on NHK Educational TV's "R no Housoku" as a member of the 7th generation of R's, and was a member of CX's "Mezamashi TV" as a modern girl. She is currently active in a wide range of fields, including being the main personality on AbemaTV's "Love Drama na Koi ga Shitai 2" and NHK Radio's "Shogakusei no Kisoki English," as well as a regular model for ELLEgirl UNI.

Dramas currently airing on Kansai TV and Fuji TV from April"MADDER: I am the culprit in this case"Kanon plays the role of Ono Yuka, a classmate of the protagonist in the series who has perfect pitch and aspires to attend Tokyo University of the Arts. With such high expectations, we spoke to her about her role in this drama, highlights of the show, and her enthusiasm for joining the newly launched Nippon Television show "ZIP!" as a reporter.

I've always been interested in the entertainment industry. I was once scouted on Takeshita Street, but I couldn't muster up the courage to join. However, when I was scouted by my current agency, Avex, at a shopping mall, my mother encouraged me and I decided to join the agency.
I started working seriously when I was in high school. I used to go to lessons after school, and I was surprised by the aura of the other members who were taking lessons with me. I was amazed at the difference between me and them, thinking, "We're the same age, but they're so radiant...!" I think I'm where I am today thanks to the inspiration I received from the other members.

■Rewarding in the midst of difficulties

One of the rewarding things about this job is being able to appear on TV. That makes me very happy. People of my grandfather's generation watch a lot of TV, so when I appear on TV, my grandfather takes pictures of me. I would like to continue to show my grandfather what I am like through TV.
I've had many opportunities to work as a model, but from now on, I want to focus on acting. Models show off their clothes based on who they are. Actresses live their roles based on who they are. I think there's a difference between the two. My appearance on AbemaTV's "Love Drama na Koi ga Shitai" has made me want to pursue acting more seriously.
The appeal of acting is that it's so interesting. It's rewarding to play someone else's life, and creating a character is a lot of fun. In my case, I first memorize my lines, then try speaking them, and then create my own role. There's no right answer, so the more I think about it, the more confused I become, and the preparation is hard, but I find that part rewarding as well.

■First appearance in a TV drama series"MADDER I am the culprit in that incident"　　

When I was chosen to appear in the drama, I was very happy because it had been my dream to appear in a drama as a regular. Last year, a casting person came to see my play and asked me to appear in the drama. When I heard the news, I felt like "maybe all the hard work I've put in up until now is finally paying off."
The character I play, Ono Yuka, is the type who prefers art to studying. I think we have that in common. Also, she expresses her emotions when she plays the piano, so I had to act while playing the piano. It had been 10 years since I last played the piano, so I started from scratch and practicing was difficult. Even when I finally got it right, I would often find myself dejected and say "Ahh" if I made even one wrong note. Despite all that, I approached the role with the desire to "deliver this role" and "touch the hearts of the audience."
During filming, I had many conversations with people of my generation about filming and personal matters. Also, seeing people of my generation struggling made me want to work hard too.
One of the highlights of the work is the hunt for the culprit. It's a mystery, so please enjoy speculating about who the culprit is. There are also comedy elements, and personally, I would like you to pay attention to my piano scene.

■Enthusiasm for Nippon Television's "ZIP! Family," which began in April

From this April"ZIP!"I've become a reporter for . I'll be in charge of the special feature corner. When I heard I'd be a reporter, I was really happy because I thought I'd get to spend the morning with everyone. I'll also be eating delicious food, so rather than feeling anxious, I'm more excited about what kind of shoot it will be. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how to deliver food reports to everyone. I'll study a lot of different things and do my best to communicate details in an easy-to-understand way! I'd also be happy if there were people who saw me and thought, "I'll do my best today too."

■ Believe in yourself and spare no effort

My dream for the future is to try playing a role that uses English. I would like to appear as a Japanese person in a production that can be seen overseas. I would also like to become a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, and help people overseas learn about Japan.
I would also like to appear on stage. I took on the challenge last year and felt that I had grown as a person, and I was able to absorb a lot from the people around me. I have played a lot of slightly edgy characters, so I would like to take this to the next level and play a villain as well.
I am able to continue this job thanks to the support of everyone around me. I have been working since I was 15, and I think it would have been difficult without the support of my staff and family. I have heard stories of people who have experienced family opposition to this job, but in my case, my family's encouragement, telling me, "You're suited to entertainment!", was a big factor. It is because I have people supporting me that I always feel motivated and know I cannot give up or become depressed.
And I have an English motto that I have kept dear since I was a child.
That motto is "Believe in yourself and spare no effort." This means "Believe in yourself and spare no effort." I will continue to move forward with these words in mind.

■Message to university students

I used to go to university too. I wasn't in any clubs or anything, but I really enjoyed attending classes and hanging out with the friends I made at university. I cherished those ordinary everyday experiences. I think many university students worry about what they'll do in the future. But even if you fail or don't get good results, the hard work you put in will pay off later. Don't be discouraged, just enjoy your university life.

Student Newspaper Online March 25, 2025 Interview: Showa Women's University, 1st year student, Abe Rurika

Photographer: Ryugo Kaga