On a late September evening when the heat had eased a bit, actress Fuka Koshiba (28) emerged from an underground bar in Tokyo to the downtown area. Koshiba Fuka was wearing a pure white shirt with the sleeves pulled up, a long black skirt, and a black mask over her mouth. Walking next to her were Shigeaki Kato (38) of the idol group NEWS and actor Rei Matsumoto (25). On the day in question, the bar was hosting a gathering for the drama “Akinai seiden kin to gin 3” (NHK BS), which is scheduled to air next spring, along with dozens of related parties and staff. After dispersing, the three entered a building that housed restaurants and other businesses, chatting and laughing in an intimate manner. In the “Akinai seiden” series, Koshiba plays the role of Sachi, the heroine of a kimono shop who becomes the mistress of the house. In the same drama, Kato plays Sachi’s second husband, and Matsumoto plays her third husband. In the drama, they are divorced and bereaved, respectively, but it seems that the “after-party” on this day was also a friendship meeting between the two husbands. Koshiba has appeared in a succession of high-profile dramas this year, including the NHK historical drama “Belabo: Tsutaje Eika No Yume Banashi” and “Marry My Husband” (Amazon Prime Video), in which she starred opposite Takeru Sato (36). Her performance as an oiran (courtesan) in “Bebo” was particularly popular, and her sexy acting was praised as a “new frontier” for her. Ms. Koshiba has long been known as a “serious and professional actress. She is stoic, but at the same time, she is very attentive to details, which has earned her a good reputation among the staff. Currently, the TV and advertising industries are looking for an actress who can fill the void left by Meiku Nagano (25), who has retired from the industry due to allegations of infidelity. Koshiba is a strong candidate for the “post-Nagano Meiku” position. “Until I was in my early twenties, I was a pretty good judge of character,” he says. He says, “Until my early twenties, I was quite shy and had a hard time expressing my own opinions on set. However, he gradually came to realize that “the atmosphere on the set and the distance with other actors were more important than himself” for the sake of the work. Koshiba himself says that he “wants to be an actor who can create a fun scene,” and he is conscious of “daring not to read the atmosphere” when on set. The only thing I am conscious of is to be a bit foolish. (Abbreviation) I dared to pretend not to notice the tense atmosphere and talked to them aggressively.
