Matsui Rena is a Japanese singer and actress who was born in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on July 27, 1991. She was selected as a member of the all-female pop group SKE48 in 2008 after a successful audition, later going on to join the group AKB48 and then Nogizaka46. She left SKE48 in 2015 and has since gone on to make a name for herself in the world of acting, appearing in dramas such as “Tokyo Vampire Hotel” (2017), “Princess Jellyfish” (2018), and “Yell” (2020).

Matsui Rena

Miri Kono (Mayu Hotta), a piano instructor haunted by her unfulfilled musical dreams, finds solace in melon juice from Sora Aoki's (Riku Hagiwara) food truck. Sora, battling dissociative amnesia, connects with Miri over their shared experiences of disappointment and loss. As they grow closer, Sora struggles with revealing his memory disorder, wondering if a genuine connection is possible between them. Their delicate relationship teeters on the edge of uncertainty, with Sora hoping to build a future despite his challenging condition. This 2023 Japanese romance drama was directed by Kentaro Otani and Akihiko Takaishi.

Every Precious Moment

🍉 Melon Memento🍉

Ayumi Mori

Aiko Maeda (Rena Matsui), a graduate student with a prominent facial birthmark, has long struggled with low self-esteem and social isolation. When she agrees to an interview for a book about facial scars, the unexpected success leads to a film adaptation by director Shota Tobisaka (Ayumu Nakajima). As they work together, Aiko discovers Shota's genuine acceptance of her, sparking her first experience with romantic feelings. Navigating uncharted emotional territory, Aiko must confront her insecurities and determine whether her budding feelings for Shota will be reciprocated. Adapted from Naoki Prize-winning author Rio Shimamoto's romantic novel, this is a 2022 Japanese film directed by Yuka Yasukawa that explores self-acceptance and unexpected love.

The Nighthawk’s First Love

Reiji Kurose (Towa Araki) lives a bleak life in a small rural town with his struggling family, finding solace only in the idol group Acrylic and its member Nagi Aoe (Hinako Kitano). His childhood friend Sakuko Akiyama (Miyu Honda) tries to inspire hope in Reiji, but his depression seems insurmountable. Everything changes when Reiji unexpectedly discovers Nagi working at a local convenience store, which sets off a chain of events that pulls him into a dark world of scandals, lies, and obsession. As his life spirals into increasingly complex and dangerous territory, Reiji must confront whether he can escape the psychological abyss threatening to consume him. Adapted from Ryou Minenami's manga, this is a 2022 Japanese psychological thriller drama directed by Hiroaki Yuasa.

Boy's Abyss

🌞 Light or Darkness 🌚

Hayame Katsuragi (Fumi Nikaido), a housewife, has her mundane life shattered when her husband announces he wants a divorce. Suddenly homeless and penniless after being robbed, she encounters Issei Kataoka (Gordon Maeda), a high school student she once humiliated. Issei offers her shelter in exchange for playing a game, leading to a complex relationship as their personalities clash. Despite their initial tension, Issei becomes increasingly drawn to Hayame – but soon finds that he is not the only one vying for her heart! This is a 2021 Japanese drama series directed by Shosuke Murakami, Junichi Tsuzuki, and Shinichi Kitabo.

Promise Cinderella

Fuji TV

Tsukimi Kurashita (Kyoko Yoshine) lost her mother to illness while she was still a young girl. Her enduring memory of her mother is jellyfish – after an emotional visit to an aquarium with her mother. Ever since, she has been completely obsessed with these aquatic creatures.

She lives in a Tokyo apartment with a group of young women on the fringes of society, most of whom have little or no romantic experience, shun outsiders, and are unemployed.

Tsukimi Kurashita dreams of escaping this dreary apartment and her housemates. She wants to retreat into her own world and become an illustrator.

But her life is sent on a brand new course on the fateful day when she quarrels with an uppity pet store clerk about a jellyfish, which she believes may be on the verge of death.

A remarkable looking stranger intervenes: a stunning beauty queen (who later turns out to be a cross-dressing man): Kuranosuke Koibuchi (Koji Seto). The stranger buys the jellyfish for Tsukimi Kurashita, who repays the favor by letting this exotic beauty stay with her at the apartment – much to the disdain of her housemates.

But the chaos has only just begun, as both Koibuchi Kuronosuke and his brother Koibuchi Shu (Asuka Kudo) slowly begin to fall for Tsukimi Kurashita…

This drama was based on a hit manga series of the same name, and also spawned an animated series and a 2014 live-action film.

“Princess Jellyfish” is a 2018 Japanese drama series that was directed by Ishikawa Junichi.

Films/séries

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