Riko Fukumoto look.1

Riko Fukumoto debuted as an actor after winning the Grand Prix at the “8th Toho Cinderella Auditions” in 2016, and has since worked on a wide range of film gigs, TV dramas, and stage plays. I am inspired whenever I see her perform. This is perhaps because Fukamoto-san pours her heart into the act. For Look 1, dressed all in a fashionable black outfit, I asked her about work.

Look 1 has her dressed in a mode, all in black outfit. For the top, she wears a nylon blouse jacket which draws the eye for its unbalanced look – its roominess is out of balance with the compact height – and a long skirt creates a whippy silhouette. This style is easy but sexy and she wears it well.
“I often wear an all in black getup ordinarily, but this is the cutest blouson ever with its material feel and the silhouette. The roomy top is strung together with a drawstring cord and a rubber belt girds down the top to create a fresh silhouette that is stylish! I also prefer the feminine look by matching this with a long coat. I don’t have a pair of black sneakers but the white stitching makes for a nice accent, so I have learned something new!”

I asked her how she feels about this ensemble. She likes the mixed style which incorporates an active essence.
“When I go to the gym or sauna, or when I go to work everyday on a film set, I like to wear clothes I can move around in easily, so a cool sporty mix appeals to me. This ensemble is fashionable yet easy to throw on, so I would like to make it part of my attire!”
Wearing new items well and being agile enough to renew her sensibilities is right in line with her allure.

“By working on new gigs and meeting diverse people, I can broaden my potential,” Fukamoto-san says, her eyes shining in response to my question about what appeals to her about acting.
“In the act, I may play someone with a completely different way of thinking from me, which affords me the opportunity to think about everyday life from a completely different angle. When I encounter work like this, it makes me want to live each and every day well. There are moments when I am reminded of what is important that I have lost sight of because it is something obvious. There are people of diverse sensibilities that I could only have met through work, and it is fun and educational to hear their stories. Acting is a close part of me and important in my life.”

The act for her is more than just work, but sustenance to help her grow. She derives meaning and joy from it. She didn’t always feel this way, but came to this conclusion after undertaking major gigs and overcoming obstacles.
“An occasion when I felt that acting was fun was on the set of ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ which was my first stage show, my first musical, and my first lead. Everything I experienced was a first for me, and I was always pressed for time trying to get things of immediate importance done (laughing). While there were lots of things that were a hastle on hindsight, the half year I spent practicing how to sing and performing for the main shows is the period in my life when I feel I worked the hardest. Although there were other times when I made an effort such as studying for junior high school entrance examinations, these efforts were not memorable.”

“While the play was being performed, there would be matinees and soirees and we would repeat the same show everyday, but each showing would be different. The atmosphere on stage would be different depending on the viewers that day, the atmosphere and response from the crowd would be different depending on whether it was a matinee or soiree, and if my mood or feeling changed a little bit the performance of my co-actors would also change. There was an impromptu aspect to the craft which made me feel that stage acting is fun. Working on this musical and putting my best foot forward has made me a more confident actor and singer and introduced me to the allure of acting.”

She beams when talking about acting. There is something she always does when she takes on a role to make it sustenance for growth. This is to create a place to return.
“Before I embark on a gig, I prepare thoroughly. If there is an original, I read it over and over again. If there is none, I take down notes such as my character’s name, age, personality, family make-up and other information so that I can immediately look at it and know who I am. If I don’t do this I become anxious (laughs). It is like a good luck charm. There are things that I appreciate anew during the filming by re-reading and recalling my role. I also jot down my impressions on set or things that impressed me and re-read them for interviews or meet-and-greets. I have kept a diary since I was in senior high school when I first began acting. I just filled an entire notebook the other day!”
At times she has an adult-like serious gaze, and at others she acts innocently like a child. I can’t take my eyes off her!

→ For Look 2, I will ask her about her fashion sense!

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Direction: Shinsuke Nozaka
Photo, Movie: Masato Moriyama (TRIVAL)
Stylist: Itsuka Watanabe
Hair, MakeUp: Yoko Fuseya (ESPER)
Text: Hisamoto Chikaraishi (S/T/D/Y)