Actor/Talent Sugiura Taiyo

The view you see changes when you believe in yourself.

Actor/Talent: Taiyo Sugiura

■ Profile
In 2001, he starred in "Ultraman Cosmos." Since then, he has been active in a wide range of fields as an actor and talent. He has appeared in NHK's serial dramas "Teru Teru Kazoku" and "Gegege no Nyobo," among others. He is currently a regular on NHK E Tele's "Yasai no Jikan," TBS's "Hirubi," TOKYO FM's "Sugiura Taiyo & Matsui Rena Nichiyo Manabiyori" and "Shukan Kodomo TIMES," and KBS Kyoto's "SUNNY TIME."

◆Please tell us what made you want to become an actor.

Because my parents worked in the architecture field, I intended to become an architect until high school. But then, in my second year of high school, I was scouted by an entertainment agency. At first, I refused, thinking it was impossible, but you only live once. To avoid regrets, I decided to step into the unknown, and my days of lessons and auditions began. After graduating from high school, I said goodbye to my family and friends in Osaka and moved to Tokyo to seriously pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
After that, I didn't get many opportunities to appear on TV, and at my coming-of-age ceremony, my friends said to me, "You haven't been on TV in ages," and I was thinking that if I didn't get the next audition, I would go back to Osaka. It was at this time that my mother took me to visit my grandfather's grave. That's when I changed my mind. I went to an audition with a smile, and I landed the role of Ultraman.

◆What kind of efforts do you usually make?

In the past, I was chubby, very shy, and tended to think "I'm not good enough." However, in middle school, I grew taller, switched from glasses to contact lenses, and the moment I received chocolate for the first time, I started to believe in myself a little. As I took better care of my appearance and led the class as class president, my self-esteem grew steadily. As an adult, when my child told me I was "skinny," I made a firm resolution and started working on my physique. As I gained muscle, I became more confident. Effort can change not only your appearance but also your inner self.

◆Please give us a message for the students.

I want you to think about why you chose to attend that particular university and what you want to learn, rather than making university acceptance your goal. Then, gain lots of experience, and if something doesn't work out, it's okay to quit. Quitting isn't a failure; it just means it wasn't the right fit. Even quitting leaves you with valuable experience, and that's what's important.
I've been writing a blog for 20 years because it's something I enjoy. I believe that if you keep planting seeds, you'll eventually find something that suits you.

■After the interview
From the way Ms. Sugiura maintained a smile throughout the interview, I could feel her warm personality, which I had only sensed through the screen. I was impressed by how she carefully chose her words to answer questions, incorporating her own experiences in a way that would be helpful for the students' learning.

Published in the April 2026 issue of the student newspaper: Karin Ishimatsu, 4rd year student at Tsuda University

Yurie Watanabe (2nd year, Josai International University) / Karin Ishimatsu (3rd year, Tsuda University) / Ayami Matsuyama (1st year, Aoyama Gakuin University) / Fuka Ota (4th year, Toyo University) / Satsuki Sakakura (3rd year, Tokyo Metropolitan University)