As the mother of a toddler, Aya Ueto said she pays particular attention to news reports on child abuse, because she "has a clear idea of what 2- to 3-year-olds are like." For her latest drama, the 32-year-old actress channeled her maternal instincts for the role of a newspaper reporter who covers a story about kidnappings of young girls.
In the TV special "Midnight Journal," which will be broadcast on the TV Tokyo network at 9 p.m. tonight, Ueto portrays Yuri Fujise, a younger colleague to Gotaro Sekiguchi -- the lead character, played by Yutaka Takenouchi.
The reporters were demoted at work seven years earlier after they made a false report on a series of kidnappings involving young girls. The case seemed to have been solved, with the alleged kidnapper arrested -- that is, until a series of similar incidents start occurring. Sekiguchi suspects the two cases could somehow be connected.
Ueto, a Tokyo native, made her debut after winning a prize at an all-Japan beauty contest for girls. She has developed her career not just as an actress, but also as a singer and TV personality.
Ueto won the Japan Academy Film Prize for her acting skills in portraying the title character, an assassin, in "Azumi" (2003), and the wife of a samurai chef in "Bushi no Kondate" (A Tale of Samurai Cooking -- A True Love Story; 2013). Among her more recent works is the serial TV drama "Hirugao," in which she played a passionate heroine involved in an affair.
Ueto's natural charm was on full display at a recent press conference she attended with the other main cast members of "Midnight Journal." The actors spoke with dozens of IC recorders placed in front of them by reporters. But as soon as Ueto saw that some of them were too far away from Takenouchi, she moved them closer while flashing a mischievous smile. "Mr. Takenouchi speaks very quietly, so let me move [these recorders] closer to him."
Ueto instantly made the atmosphere at the venue more relaxed. She seems to have a knack for winning people's hearts.
"Be just the way you are when playing Yuri" was a request from Kiyoshi Sasabe, the director of the drama. Ueto said she initially wondered what exactly that meant.
"For one thing, I won't overreach myself in doing things," she said. "Yuri is probably the same as me in this respect.
"But Yuri works hard, and I'm carefree and laid-back," the humble Ueto added.
But if Ueto worked as a journalist in real life, she would probably show outstanding prowess: "I always want to make things clear, in black and white," she said. "I can't overlook evil."
Sasabe's comments on Ueto's performances will likely serve as great inspiration for her. "I thought you were just a TV personality, but I've discovered you're a true actress."
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