Actress Fuka Koshiba: What I find enjoyable is my greatest motivation.

Actress Fuka Koshiba

■ Profile
Born on April 16, 1997, in Osaka Prefecture. She made her acting debut in 2012 in the drama "Iki mo Dekinai Natsu" (A Summer I Can't Breathe). In 2014, she played the lead role of Kiki in the film "Kiki's Delivery Service," winning the 57th Blue Ribbon Award for Best Newcomer and the 24th Japan Film Critics Award for Best Newcomer (Kazuko Komori Award). She has continued to be active in many dramas and films since then.

Since making her acting debut in 2012, Fuka Koshiba has been active in various fields including movies, dramas, and stage productions. Her always cheerful smile is impressive, and I felt that she is a very considerate person. The film will be released nationwide on March 27, 2026."Poupelle of Chimney Town: The Promised Clock Tower"Next, we asked her about her role as Nagi, a plant spirit disguised as a human, and her thoughts on creating the character and her work as a voice actress for this project.

■ Won the Grand Prix and entered the entertainment industry

I did figure skating from the third grade of elementary school to the second year of junior high school. Back then, my days consisted of going back and forth between school and the skating rink, and my life consisted of nothing but taking a bath and going to sleep. Amidst all that, I won the grand prize at an audition for an entertainment agency and entered the entertainment industry. I didn't watch much television, but after seeing Mao Asada appearing in a commercial while skating, I became aware of the entertainment industry. I thought, "If there are people who are seriously pursuing their dreams, then I want to work hard too."
The most rewarding aspect of being an actress is seeing the feedback and comments from people who have seen my work and feeling a genuine sense of satisfaction. Because it's a job with no right answers and no limits, I can constantly keep searching and never get bored. The support of those who cheer me on is a huge source of motivation for me.
Another enjoyable aspect of this job is discovering new emotions when you combine the feelings you had when reading the script with those of your co-stars. For example, the director might give you a direction for the emotion. A scene you thought was about "crying out of anger" might actually be about "crying out of frustration." Acting is a living thing, and the moments when you discover emotions you couldn't have developed on your own are incredibly exciting.
The appeal of this job is that each performance is unique, and there are always new challenges. It's both challenging and enjoyable to constantly explore what the character wants to convey, drawing on all my experience and skills. I believe the special appeal of this job lies in being able to experience various lives through the roles I play.

■ The joys and challenges of being a voice actor

"Poupelle of Chimney Town: The Promised Clock Tower"After reading the script, I thought Nagi was a cheerful and lively character. She has a strong interest in the human world, even to the point of disguising herself as a human, and a strong desire to sing. I continued to strive to portray that personality while receiving guidance from director Yusuke Hirota and original author Akihiro Nishino.
I sang a song in the scene where Nagi meets Gus, the man she falls in love with. It's the scene where Gus falls in love at first sight after hearing Nagi sing, so I felt a lot of pressure wondering if I could sing it well. The song I sang was "366 Days" by HY, and I was grateful that the meaning of the lyrics matched the story in the latter half.
Unlike acting, voice acting involves the animation itself having facial expressions and movements, so I focused on acting in a way that matched those. Since it was a process of recording the voice from scratch, there were no voice hints to refer to, and it was difficult to create everything myself. I feel that being able to do the voice recording together with Mitsuo Yoshihara, who played Gus, allowed for realistic dialogue and a nuanced exchange of emotions.
Gus has been waiting for Nagi for 100 years, and his strong feelings made me realize how difficult it is to wait while believing. It's not about waiting idly, but about waiting while believing in the other person. That belief brings about a miracle on Halloween night. "Cherish the people you want to believe in." It's a thought-provoking theme even for adults, and it truly lives up to its tagline as a "hit adventure fantasy that will make adults cry."

■Of all the different jobs, acting is my favorite.

In the movie "Kiki's Delivery Service," in which I previously appeared, there was a line spoken by the mother character: "Never forget to smile." I also try to always keep a smile on my face. It's hard to feel negative emotions towards someone who smiles. Although the drama set is long, I want to create an atmosphere where everyone, including the staff, can work while laughing. I want to communicate well with the staff and create a set where I can have fun and everyone I work with can enjoy themselves.
Of all the different jobs I have, acting is my favorite. Up until now, I've mainly focused on dramas, but in the future, I'd like to try many different things, such as movies and stage plays.

■ A future where you can turn your passions and enjoyment into work.

I want you to do as many things as you want to do while you're a student. When I was a student, I couldn't fully enjoy spending time with friends or participating in school events because of work. That's why I want you to enjoy your current environment. What you enjoy will be your greatest motivation. Even if you love your job, there will be difficult times, but I hope that your future will be one where your "likes" and "fun" lead to your work. Even if you have anxieties or worries, you can get help by relying on others. Don't try to bear everything alone; rely on those around you.

Student Newspaper, April 2026 Issue: Haruna Shoji, 3rd year student, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

"Poupelle of Chimney Town: The Clock Tower of Promise (Movie)"

Kyohei Nakazawa, 2nd year student at Waseda University / Haruna Shoji, 3rd year student at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

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