Her Dream: Balancing Acting and Humanitarian Work

KikiSince it was promoted so widely in Japan, I’ve had more people approach me. But when I’m in Japan, it’s usually foreigners who speak to me.

SukezaneIn how many countries was it broadcast?

KikiAbout 100 countries. Asia, Europe, Africa, South America… I went to France for promotions, and I was surprised to see a large poster of myself at the airport in Spain. For some reason, I’m often featured in Europe.

SukezanePerhaps your Asian features were well-received?

KikiWe were filming in Toronto, Canada, and it felt strange because my billboards started appearing while we were still shooting.

SukezaneI think I saw you near Madison Square Garden when I was in New York. I thought, "Ah, there she is" (laughs). Was that around January or February of this year?




KikiFilming finished last November, so it must have been around then. I was cast in the spring of last year, finished filming seven months later, went to France for promotions, then the show was decided for Hulu distribution in Japan, and I appeared on a NTV variety show… The year flew by.

SukezaneDo you feel like you’ve really grown or changed?

KikiMy workload has increased, but I don’t really feel that way. It’s more like I haven’t changed much myself.

SukezaneWere there any particularly memorable experiences during filming?

KikiI was constantly amazed by the scale of it all. In Hollywood, they spend hundreds of millions of yen on a single episode of a drama. Our dressing rooms were trailers. The size of the room varied depending on the role. I had a trailer with two rooms, but famous actors had entire trailers dedicated solely to them. During location shoots, all the trailers would move together. There was even a trailer dedicated to catering.

SukezaneThat sounds fun. Did you visit other actors' trailers?

KikiYes. It was incredibly fun. About ten of us regulars were all good friends, and we went out drinking almost every night. Americans are so energetic. After finishing 10+ hours of filming, we’d go out drinking, and then somehow end up going bowling, playing billiards, hopping from one place to another (laughs).

SukezaneYou also appeared in a Nissan Juke commercial. You mentioned it was filmed in Mexico, and you seemed to be having a great time. I saw it on Instagram.

KikiThe hair and makeup artists were friends, and initially, we were scheduled to stay for a week, but the car itself didn't arrive, so the stay was extended by another week. That extra time became free for me. I went to see the pyramids and went on a safari, so it was like a vacation (laughs).

SukezaneI thought, "She's really enjoying herself, maybe she shouldn't go out too much."

KikiI tried not to go out at night, but it wasn't as scary as I expected. The food was delicious, and I had a good time.

SukezaneYou tend to enjoy yourself wherever you go, don't you?

KikiIt's a win-win if you have fun.

SukezaneIs there a win or loss? (laughs) And you appeared on American TV without me even knowing. When did you first decide you wanted to be an actress?

KikiSince a long time ago.

SukezaneIs that right? I had no idea.

KikiOnce, I mentioned it to you as if seeking advice, and you told me, "Quit being an actress." As a child, I realized then that I couldn't rely on you (laughs). I wanted to be on "Tensai Terebi-kun," but when I asked my mother how to do that, she just said, "Who knows, try your best." So I couldn't rely on my mother either (laughs). I guess I was hoping my mother would find some auditions for me. But since there was nothing like that, I quickly understood, "Ah, this isn't the way" (laughs).

SukezaneWell, given our family's nature, it's more of a "do your own thing" kind of environment. That's why we have few relatives (laughs).

KikiHow many people with the surname Sukezane are there in Japan now?

SukezaneApparently, there are about 20 now. Just a few months ago, there were 19. Recently, if you search for "Sukezane," your name comes up first. Even on iPhone, it converts to the kanji in one go.







Kiki(Laughs) That was also around the time I got hooked on American dramas and started studying English. I really wanted to be able to converse in English, and I thought it would be cool to speak like a native, so I had friends who were half-Japanese teach me pronunciation. I studied abroad in South Dakota, USA, for a year starting the summer of my second year of high school. After graduating, I worked various part-time jobs in Kyoto for a while.

SukezaneWeren't you traveling to places like Africa and Thailand around then?

KikiI was traveling. Around that time, I also started thinking about wanting to do humanitarian work internationally. My dream is to do humanitarian activities while being an actress, like Angelina Jolie or George Clooney.

Page02.December 28th (Wed), her Japanese drama debut at last!

December 28th (Wed), her Japanese drama debut at last!

KikiYes. I decided that while I was working part-time jobs. In Tokyo, I juggled multiple part-time jobs while studying the fundamentals of acting three times a week.

SukezaneI watched thinking it was tough, but you went to LA as planned.

KikiIn America, student films are very active, so I started by appearing in those to build my profile and upload footage. I also did small jobs like web commercials and newspaper advertisements.

SukezaneAnd that's how you landed "HEROES," right?

KikiThanks to that, yes. Getting the role felt somewhat miraculous. At the time, I didn't have a manager or an agent, but the mother of a junior high school classmate was connected to someone casting for the role of the "Katana Girl." So, I was approached and went to the audition, and apparently, I was a perfect fit for their image. They were looking for someone who looked young and had a bit of an anime-like quality.

SukezaneYour luck has come around. That's great.

KikiThank you. I've now been cast in a regular role for a new drama, and we've filmed the first episode. Whether it becomes a series will be decided after the New Year, so I'm a bit nervous.

SukezaneI hope it gets picked up.

KikiYes. If it doesn't, I'll be back to auditioning.

SukezaneThat's tough. Is it like a world selection process?





KikiPeople come from all over the world. There are also few roles specifically for Asians to begin with. Asian Americans are quite strong; they are good actors and fluent in English, so it's difficult to compete with them. It helps if I fit the role perfectly.

SukezanePerhaps your Japanese background is interesting. It's a connected society, and realism is also in demand.

KikiFor film casting, they sometimes come directly to Japan to find Japanese actors. So, I have to come back for that. But now, it's an era where you can audition from anywhere in the world.

SukezaneCan you just go to auditions even if you're not called?

KikiNow my agent schedules them for me, but before "HEROES" was decided, I used to go without an appointment quite often. It's called "crashing," and if you do it too much, it can leave a bad impression.

SukezaneWell, if you show up uninvited, that's bound to happen. But, doesn't it ever happen that they think, "Oh, you've got guts"?

KikiNo (laughs). It's more like, "You're not on the list, sorry." Even if they see you, you almost never get the part.

SukezaneSo, it doesn't really unfold like a typical success story. Do you have any news?

KikiI'm finally making my Japanese drama debut on TV Asahi this month, the 28th (Wednesday), starting at 0:20 AM!

SukezaneI thought you might end up becoming a variety show personality, so as your uncle, I was a bit worried (laughs). I'm glad.

KikiIt was fun. It's a one-hour special, and I play the role opposite the main character, Ken Yasuda. There's also some action involved.

SukezaneAre you kicking again? Why is kicking becoming your specialty?

KikiIt's a bit of a predicament (laughs).

SukezaneSo, the story involves that kind of anger?

KikiYes, it's about revenge. But the story is entirely a comedy. It's full of topical references, and since it's basically a drama centered around the interactions of two people, I think viewers will enjoy it.

SukezaneDo you plan to be active in Japan from now on as well?

KikiYes, the range of roles is wider in Japan, so I definitely want to continue working here. In America, my roles are often non-human (laughs), like anime characters or cyborgs. This is the first time I'll be playing a human in Japan (laughs).

SukezaneI'm looking forward to it. Lastly, could you tell us about your future goals?



KikiTo get the name "Sukezane" recognized in America. People know "Katana Girl," but they don't connect it to Kiki Sugino.

SukezanePlease support the Sukezane name, which is on the verge of extinction.

"Kinkyu Kyu-fujin Sokuhou"
Starring: Ken Yasuda, Kiki Sugino, Junko Abe, Koji Yamamoto, Chiyoshi Tsumura, Keisuke Yamamoto, Nana Seino, Yoshiki Yamamoto, and others
Script: Keisuke Uyamada, Direction: Keita Motohashi, Music: Junichi Matsuda
Theme Song: "Amai Yuuwaku" by GIRLFRIEND (avex trax)
Broadcast: December 28, 2016 (Wed) from 0:20 AM (excluding some areas) on TV Asahi

• To the "Tomoki Sukezane - Editor Great Demon King Talk" Series