Ryoko Yonekura: From Bewitched to The Da Vinci Code
By Chris Betros and Chie Masuda
TOKYO — Actress Ryoko Yonekura often gets fan letters from young women who wish they could be a strong woman like the characters she plays. The 29-year-old star of many TV dramas says you have to be strong to work in the entertainment industry "because there are always going to be paparazzi and people talking behind your back."
One of the busiest celebrities around, Yonekura does dramas and variety shows, TV commercials (currently for Nissin Asian noodles) and promotional appearances. She also spent a year from July 2003 as goodwill ambassador between Japan and South Korea. Cheerful and confident for her first interview with English media, Yonekura speaks and understands more English than she lets on.
Having studied ballet from the age of four, Yonekura seemed destined for a dance career. However, in 1992, she won a special prize in the Bishojo Club (a contest whose winners go into the modeling and celebrity worlds). "I had to give up ballet because I had to go to many places in Japan for a campaign for Kirin beer."
In recent years, Yonekura has concentrated on TV rather than movies. "I have to be a little pickier about taking a role in movies than soap operas because movies are either hit or miss," she says. Last year she scored two successes with the Japanese version of the popular 1960s-70s U.S. comedy series Bewitched and Kurokawa no Techo (in which she played a Ginza hostess bar owner).
"For Bewitched, I watched the whole American series. I tried not to imitate Elizabeth Montgomery because we are different in race, culture and character and there is no way I can be like her. For Kurokawa, there was a lot to learn. I met many 'mama-sans' in Ginza. I also learned how to wear traditional kimono."
Interested in Da Vinci Code
In addition to her TV work, Yonekura has become interested in The Da Vinci Code and recently hosted a special on it for Fuji TV. She has a big picture of the Last Supper hanging in her bedroom, and as a true Da Vinci Code fan, she has been looking more closely at it to see if there is a woman hidden in the scene. Although she is not religious, Yonekura said: "I recently went to a church in New York, and was impressed that lots of people were so devoted in their prayers. Christ is dead now, so how do people know he is God?"
Beyond showbiz, Yonekura has a particular concern for social issues such as Japan-Korean relations. "When I was a goodwill ambassador, I met the South Korean president. There are many issues between the two countries. Although I cannot do anything about politics, maybe I can do something to make the relationship better at a grassroots level. When I talk to Korean people, I feel we are communicating, so I wonder why we can't do the same thing at the governmental level."
One of Yonekura's future goals is to do musicals and resume her dancing because "I feel alive when I dance," she says. Yonekura usually begins her day quite early. If she is shooting a drama, she has to be at the studio as early as 5 some mornings. When she is not filming, she goes to the gym, enjoys the theater and playing with her puppy at home.
She also likes cooking and loves sweets. "But I've been trying not to eat any chocolate and it's been more than a month. I love 'anko' (sweet beans). If I get to heaven, the first thing I'm going to ask God is: 'Do you serve good food here?'" she jokes.
Nice dress. I like the tweet jacket a lot :mrgreen: More, more more fashion pictures..
Having studied ballet from the age of four, Yonekura seemed destined for a dance career. However, in 1992, she won a special prize in the Bishojo Club (a contest whose winners go into the modeling and celebrity worlds). "I had to give up ballet because I had to go to many places in Japan for a campaign for Kirin beer."
hahaha..thanks for correcting it...typo sucks!! :beaten:
Hikon Kazoku? So I've heard about it. I keep on procrastinating to buy that drama :sweat: She should've done some stage performance where she can dance too. That would be great wouldn't it.