Actress Rikka Ihara　

What's important is believing that the future is bright, thinking for yourself, and making your own choices.

Actress Rikka Ihara

◆Profile
Born on June 2, 1999, in Osaka Prefecture. She gained attention for her "bubbly dance" performed while she was the captain of the dance club at Tomioka High School in Osaka Prefecture, and made her acting debut in 2018.
October drama"Sanada Ten Braves: Shadows of the Ten Ninja"(Appeared on TV Asahi)"Wheat, Butter, and Revenge"She will be starring in the drama series (Kansai TV).

◆Please tell us what made you enter the entertainment industry.

I started ballet at the age of three or four, influenced by my older sister, and the experience of discovering musicals in the second grade of elementary school, which deeply moved me, led to my current activities. After that, I entered Tomioka High School, a school renowned for its dance program. The training was tough, but I persevered with the determination to see things through to the end, whatever I set my mind to.
In my third year of high school, I became captain of the club, and a video of the "bubbly dance" that we produced went viral on social media, attracting nationwide attention. That led to me entering the entertainment industry.

◆What I value most when it comes to work

What surprised me most when I started working as an actor was the profound depth of acting. With dance, you can feel yourself improving with practice, but acting is a world where you have to express everything from your gaze and breathing to the subtleties of your emotions. That's why I value daily input, such as watching movies and plays, actively talking to people, and traveling abroad.
Because my job involves playing characters, I believe it's important to meet people and have various experiences. In the future, I'd like to try appearing in a musical film.

◆Please give us a message for the students.

University students have many choices, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed. However, there's nothing wrong with feeling troubled. What's important is thinking for yourself and making your own choices. Even if others say negative things, if it's something you truly want to do, I hope you won't give up and will continue. Even if you fail, that experience will definitely lead to something better next time. Believe in the bright future and keep challenging yourself to expand your possibilities.

■After the interview　
I witnessed the kindness with which each member of the interview team treated us, and I truly understood the reason for their bright and charming personalities. I learned a great deal from their attitude of continuing to take on challenges while steadily building upon their efforts. I had a very valuable experience through this interview.

Student Newspaper, October 2026 Issue, by Seisei Ishii, 2nd year student at Musashino Art University

Risa Ukita (3rd year, Tokyo Woman's Christian University) / Ayami Matsuyama (2nd year, Aoyama Gakuin University) / Karin Ishimatsu (4th year, Tsuda University) / Yurie Watanabe (3rd year, Josai International University) / Kisei Ishii (2nd year, Musashino Art University)

Photography: Kosuke Shimoda