Actor Karin Yamamoto

2025.11.23

Accumulating efforts to achieve solid skills! What image do you want to project and what stage do you aim for?

■ Profile
Born March 24, 2003, in Kumamoto Prefecture. In 2024, he won the Hiroki Ryuichi Award at the "bijoux AUDITION 2024." That same year, he made his TV debut in "Class 3-C is Having an Affair." He has also appeared in "Love Revolution," "Stingers," and "Mass-Produced Luka." He is currently appearing on "Naokiman's Urban Legends Variety Show Season 2" (ABEMA/broadcast on Tuesdays).

Karin Yamamoto is a promising newcomer who has been generating buzz for her role as the younger sister in the TV drama "Mass-Produced Luka." We spoke to her about the path she took to pass the audition, her dreams, and the role she aspires to play as an actor.

A random thought turns into a dream

My interest in the entertainment world began with the 2011 drama series "Marumo no Okite." Watching child actors like Mana Ashida and Fuku Suzuki, I thought, "I want to shine in the world of drama." At the time, it was simply just something I "admired." I tried to audition to enter the entertainment world, but my family was against it, so I didn't audition until I graduated from high school, and it just stayed at the thought, "I hope I can get into the entertainment industry someday."

After graduating from high school, I enrolled in a beauty school, but I couldn't let go of the feelings and excitement I had in my heart at that time, so I started auditioning. Before I found bijoux, I applied to auditions at over 100 companies in total. I was sometimes rejected at the document screening stage, which was a frustrating experience. However, as I went through numerous auditions, I strongly felt that my "I wish it would be like this" had changed to "I want to be like this." This was a major turning point for me, when the profession of "actor" went from "aspiration" to "dream."

Now that I'm in the entertainment industry, the person I want to thank the most is my cat, Sherry. Two days before my final audition to join an agency, I went back to my parents' house. At the time, Sherry was in critical condition, but I was determined to pass the final audition, both for myself and for Sherry's sake. When my name was called at the final audition, the first person I wanted to tell was Sherry. Of course, I was able to get through the nerve-wracking final audition thanks to the support of my family, but I think Sherry's support, waiting for me, was also a big factor. That's when my acting career began, and I was finally able to get on the starting line in the entertainment world that I had always dreamed of.

■ I'll take the plunge and give it a try! I want to be a main cast member someday too

When I first started acting, I received a lot of guidance from directors, but I couldn't move forward and time just passed by. I felt that there was no point in being frustrated with the work I was given. I had such a strong feeling that I desperately wanted to somehow improve myself.

The important thing for me to do in taking that step towards growth was to "try acting with all my might." When I heard advice from my director and manager saying, "I want you to do this a little more," at first I felt depressed, thinking, "I'm already doing it," and "Why can't I do it?" But once I acted with all my might, I felt like I had somehow broken out of my shell. After that, I started to hear more and more people say, "That's good acting."

I consider myself to be a very determined person. I intend to always approach any role faithfully and seriously, even if it's something I'm not good at. In order to play roles in many more productions in the future, I want to continue challenging myself and evolving, even in things close to me, and work hard to become an even better version of myself. Right now, I'm aiming to be the "main cast" of a production, and I want to continue to improve in all areas, including acting and talking, through daily workshops and lessons.

I will continue to pursue it from now on

This summer, I had the opportunity to seriously consider my future. During this time, I carefully considered for the first time what I really wanted to be, and realized that "the most important thing right now is to live life in my own way."

I want to continue to take on new challenges and grow. First of all, I want to work hard to make myself known as "Yamamoto Karin," and I would be happy if I could become an actor that people think of as "Yamamoto Karin when they think of younger sister or junior roles." What made me think of acting was seeing Ishihara Satomi in the drama "Rich Man, Poor Woman." I will continue to work hard so that one day I can act with someone I admire.

■Message to university students

Finally, there's one thing I want to say to all the students: "There's no need to rush!" Some of you may have dreams at the moment, and some may not. But you never know where an opportunity or chance will come from. I went to beauty school and am now able to pursue my dream of working in the entertainment industry as a reality, all thanks to the admiration and excitement I still have from back then. We never know when, where, or at what timing an opportunity or chance will come our way. Just as the door to a chance to achieve my dream opened for me by continuing to audition without giving up, sometimes dreams can be found in unexpected ways. So don't rush. From now on, cherish the many irreplaceable encounters and experiences you have and enjoy your youth to the fullest!

Student Newspaper Online, October 23, 2025 Interview by Sophia University sophomore Zhang Yina