Actor Oji Suzuka appears in the Netflix series "Fighting for Yourself".

The sight of someone struggling to overcome adversity can give courage to others.

Actor Oji Suzuka

■ Profile
He began his entertainment career in 2018 after being scouted in 2016. In the fall of the same year, he won the Grand Prix at the 33rd "MEN'S NON-NO" exclusive model audition and started his modeling career. In 2019, he made his acting debut in the film "Honeybees and Distant Thunder," winning newcomer awards at a total of five film awards, including the 44th Hochi Film Awards and the 43rd Japan Academy Prize. In television dramas, he took on his first leading role in "Horimiya" (2021, MBS) and has appeared in numerous popular works such as "Dragon Zakura Season 2" (2021, TBS) and "silent" (2022, CX).

Netflix series "Fighting for Yourself." The original manga is a hugely popular webtoon with over 22.8 billion global views (as of January 2026). Suzuka says that the young cast has come together to create a passionate work. We also got a glimpse of his thoughts on his first attempt at action scenes and the meticulous effort he put into preparing for his role.

■ The feeling of caring for someone is at the root of the act of fighting.

The main character I play, Kota Shimura, is a young man who cares about others more than anything else. Fighting is a form of violence and is never a good thing. However, Shimura has to earn money by live-streaming fights in order to help his sick mother. After he makes friends, he fights for them, and after he falls in love, he fights for the person he loves. He's the kind of person who is always acting for the sake of others. I felt that his loving and kind nature was his charm, so I tried to portray that core aspect of him without forgetting it.
Some of Shimura's lines come from someone he's always thinking about. When he was acting, he was thinking about his friends and loved ones. Even in scenes where he was alone, he always had his friends Kanegon, Aki-chan, Asamiya-san, and his mother in mind.
On the other hand, I think one of Shimura's charms is that after becoming friends, he can joke around and tease others. I thought of him as someone who could have fun, so I made sure to give the character a range. I was particularly particular about expressing the feeling of excitement and nervousness. There's a scene where he feels like a "goddess has descended" in response to Asamiya's presence, and during filming, the director jokingly told me, "That's creepy" (laughs). I thought a lot about how much nervousness to show and how to express his unfamiliarity. Also, Shimura is someone who pursues "normalcy," such as new things and the school life he dreamed of. I valued the feeling of longing for "normalcy" that he might not be able to obtain when I was acting.
"Kenka Dokugaku" is not just an action film; it's also a story about friendship, love, and family, and it touches on social issues. In this era where social media has such a huge influence, it's a work that gives us a chance to reconsider how we should confront these issues.

■The raw energy of live action, where real people clash.

While "Kenka Dokugaku" is based on a manga, I believe there are things that can only be created through the performances of real people. Instead of still images, the characters are constantly moving within a single shot, and you can see the fluctuations of their emotions.
In one action scene, when a fist hits someone's face in slow motion, it looks like their lips are being torn off. I think this kind of unexpected, powerful scene, where things resonate with each other, is a unique charm of live-action. I found it interesting how things that weren't intentionally planned or aimed for naturally emerged.
Furthermore, through this work, I realized the importance of having genuine passion. No matter how far one is pushed into adversity, the sight of someone struggling to rise again can give courage to others, and at the same time, it is beautiful.
I think this film is a work that truly conveys the passion of the cast and staff, as well as their deep love for the project, through the screen.

■ You won't know how scary or embarrassing it is to jump into something new until you try it.

As an actor, you often encounter situations where you have to do all sorts of things, like singing or dancing.
While playing the role of Shimura, who keeps getting up no matter how many times he's beaten, I myself realized the importance of taking on challenges.
This was my first time appearing in a full-fledged action film, so it was a big challenge for me. When starting something new, there's always the fear and embarrassment of "what if I can't do it?" However, you never know until you try. I had never come across a project like this before, so I was a bit confused and unsure of what to do, but I faced it in my own way.
By the way, something I'd personally like to try right now is pottery (laughs). I'd really like to give it a go.

■Message to university students

Now that I'm 26, there are many moments when I realize how much fun studying actually was. If what you're learning is connected to your work, there's a continuous learning process. However, if you've gone down a different path like I did, and moved away from what you learned in high school and university, you've come to realize that the time you spent studying languages, law, and various other subjects was actually incredibly enjoyable and valuable.
I think it's important to study hard and gain knowledge, work part-time jobs, get licenses, and find friends. I hope all students will enjoy this time, which they only have now, to the fullest.

Interview with Risa Ukita, a second-year student at Tokyo Woman's Christian University, published on December 8, 2026 by Student Newspaper Online

■Netflix series "Fighting for Yourself" (streaming starts June 11th)

Sakura Yamashita (4th year, Tsuda University) / Rurika Abe (3rd year, Showa Women's University) / Reina Inomoto (1st year, Kyoto University of the Arts) / Risa Ukita (3rd year, Tokyo Women's University)