Actress Rina Asakawa

2025.08.01

Changing colors like a chameleon, living the role

Actress Nana Asakawa

Profile
Born April 3, 1999, in Saitama Prefecture. Her notable works include the film "Jinro Game: Madland" (her first leading role in a feature film), the film "Kaguya-sama: Love is War," CX's "With Murderous Intent for My Dearest Self," NTV's "Occupation of the Hospital," the film "Adult Friend," and YTV's "Please Do It When You Come Home." She co-starred in NTV's "Please Be More Unfortunate Than Me" which aired in July 2012, and played the heroine in the stage play "Kitayaji On the Road - Let's Go!!" which was performed in March of this year.
She also played the heroine in the film "Fake Out!" which was released in June, and her starring role in the film "49 Days' Truth" was released in July this year.

Asakawa Rina entered the entertainment industry in junior high school and has been active in a wide range of fields, including dramas and movies. In her starring role in "49 Days' Truth," she took on the challenge of long takes and expressing herself in a single situation. Asakawa says, "It's a job where I'm supported so I can work hard," so we spoke to her about her approach to work, her future prospects, and her message to university students.

When I was in middle school, I loved AKB48 and applied for auditions several times, but I was rejected every time because of the application process. Then I became obsessed with SUPER☆GiRLS and applied for an audition with my current agency, which is how I got into the entertainment industry. I never thought I would actually get in, so when I went for the second audition, I went to Harajuku with my mother, eating crepes and looking at accessories, and since I was still young, I was in a completely travel-like mood.
When I actually passed, I was more confused and wondered, "What should I do?" I had never had a strong desire to go into showbiz, and I hadn't decided what I wanted to do. When I emailed my mother after the results were announced, saying, "I got in," both my mother and I were wondering, "What should we do now?"
It was on the set where I was cast as the heroine in a drama that I started to seriously think of it as "work." Until then, I had mostly worked in groups and as a gravure model, in environments where there were many staff members I knew, but when I entered a set alone with people I was meeting for the first time, I felt like I didn't know what to do. I was particularly nervous on set with a lot of men, and I strongly felt like "Is this what it means to enter society?"
On the set of the movie I was starring in, I was shocked by the way actors of my generation were taking their acting so seriously. I remember thinking, "It would be rude to stay on set with this kind of attitude," and my own attitude changed dramatically.

■ Supported by the power of "support"

For me, the most rewarding part of this job is being supported. If you live a normal life, it's rare to receive support from someone. But when I go to an event, there are people who tell me with tears in their eyes, "This is my first time here," or "I've always supported you," and every time that happens, I feel truly glad that I do this job.
People who have supported me for many years have gotten married and brought their children with them, and during online events during the COVID-19 pandemic, they showed me their pets and their homes. I'm really happy to be able to share moments of my life with my fans.
Of course, there are difficult and tough times, but I'm the type of person who forgets about them when I sleep, so I'm generally able to stay positive. I've also received a lot of support from my manager, the staff I've met in the industry, and my friends. Having someone who really understands my work listen to me is a great support.

■映画"The Truth of 49 Days"The tension and sense of unity that

The film "49 Days' Truth," in which he played the lead role, is a human suspense film that unfolds in one situation, and he took on the challenge of a long take scene. In a scene where they act out a 27-page script, everyone had to perfectly match not only the lines, but also the movements, sounds, timing, and lighting changes.
Although there were only a few people on set, the cast and staff all worked together as one, and it really felt like we were "creating a miracle." Seeing the cameraman concentrate on filming for over 30 minutes with his arms around him made me think, "I can't be complacent either, I'll decide next time." I think the film is packed with everyone's concentration and passion.
My role this time is a calm person with leadership skills. I'm usually the "soft" type who follows someone around, so this was the complete opposite. However, when I was in elementary school, I was more of a leader, so maybe there were some parts of my past self that overlapped with this character.
When you're surrounded by characters with strong personalities in an original script like this one, you're expected to remain "normal." That's why I tried to act naturally.

■ A versatile actress

Up until now, I've played relatively "unconventional" roles, so I'd like to try my hand at straightforward love stories in the future. When I was a teenager, I was given many roles where I had to kill people (laughs), but recently I've been interested in roles where I'm the one who gets killed or someone with a dark side.
In particular, I have previously been on the "doing side" in adultery stories, but now that I'm older, I would like to face the feelings of the "done on the receiving end." I would like to delve deeper into the world that can only be seen from that perspective, and the emotions that arise.
I'm often told that my face changes no matter what role I play, and that makes me really happy. Because I don't have a particularly distinctive face, I can immerse myself in the role with just the right amount of makeup, facial expressions, or voice. I want to continue taking on a wide range of roles, aiming to become that kind of "versatile" actress.

■Message to university students

I didn't go to university, so I really respect university students. I've been active in the entertainment industry since I was in junior high school, so I had very little time to focus on my studies. That's why I feel that those of you who have passed the entrance exams and are studying hard at university are people who can really work hard. I think that hard work is a talent.
University life is a time of freedom and fun. It's when you start to drink alcohol and can make your own choices. That's why I want you to enjoy the things you love to the fullest, have lots of experiences, and enrich your life, without going overboard.
I'm sure each of you has your own goals and is working hard every day. I hope that your goals will come to fruition someday..

Student Newspaper Online July 11, 2025 Interview by Tsuda University 3rd year student Karin Ishimatsu

movies"The Truth of 49 Days"
Starring: Rina Asakawa and Momoko Tanabe
Nao Hoshino, Ami Tomite, Mitsuteru Kimijima, Riho Takada
Gaku Sano and Kensuke Takahashi
Hideto Suzuki, Rina Aoba, Haruka Ono, Masanori Honda, Junichi Kawamoto
Tetsu Funagayama Ryuji Harada
Director/Screenplay: Yuji Nakamae
Distributor: MF Pictures
https://49nichinoshinjitsu.com/
© K&N