Actor Oji Suzuka: "I'll keep working hard until I can say to myself, 'Everything will be alright.'"

Actor Oji Suzuka

■ Profile
Born on January 11, 2000, in Okayama Prefecture. In 2018, he won the grand prize at the audition for the fashion magazine "Men's Non-No" and became an exclusive model for the magazine. He won the Newcomer of the Year award at the 43rd Japan Academy Awards for his role in the film "Listen to the Bees and Distant Thunder" (2019).

The movie "Beasts Clinging to Straws"We spoke with actor Oji Suzuka, who played a struggling college student and YouTuber in the film, about the film's appeal and his own values. Suzuka, who once lacked a clear dream and was searching for a career path, shared how he chose acting, and what his current feelings are towards his work, recounting the trajectory of his transformation.

■ Stepping into the entertainment world without feeling pressured

During my school years, I didn't have a dream for the future that I could proudly say, "This is what I want to do." I just went through the motions of doing my homework, and when it came to high school entrance exams, I chose a school simply because it was close to home and my older brother went there. Because I had almost no experience making big decisions on my own, when I became a high school student and the reality of choosing my future path began to sink in, I was suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety.
Even when we had to write down our future dreams at school, I couldn't bring myself to write anything because I was convinced that if I wrote it down, I would absolutely have to pursue that path. Without a firm goal, I was lost and thought I'd use my English skills to go abroad, experience different worlds, and find what I truly wanted to do.
Amidst all this, in the fall of my second year of high school, I was scouted by the entertainment industry, and my parents suggested I "give it a try on the condition that I go to university." So, I decided to go to university first, and then decide on my career path when my classmates started job hunting. If I enjoyed working in the entertainment industry, I would continue with it. Conversely, if I didn't enjoy it or felt I had reached my limit, I would switch to job hunting without hesitation. I jumped into the world of acting with the attitude of "let's just give it a try."

■ The work of an actor can be a source of support for someone's daily life.

Currently, I work as an actor, and the appeal of acting is that the number of people who watch the works I appear in gradually increases, and I can move their hearts. When I appear in dramas, I sometimes receive warm messages such as, "I really look forward to this hour," or "I can work hard at school and at work because there's an episode airing next week."
Every time I hear such words, I realize that my acting is becoming a source of energy in someone's daily life. I feel happy when I think that I'm having a positive impact on someone's life, even just a little, and bringing them a richer experience.

■The highlight of the film is the tension of money survival.

"Beasts that cling to straws"The film's main appeal lies in the intense sense of survival fueled by a massive sum of money. The action scenes are breathtaking, and the way human desires are laid bare in the face of such wealth is almost comical. Another highlight is the astonishing visual experience, such as the scene where a movie theater is spectacularly destroyed, which was filmed by actually demolishing a Ginza movie theater (Marunouchi TOEI) that was scheduled for reconstruction.
The story unfolds with a brisk pace and meticulous structure, and the way the seemingly disparate timelines of the characters cleverly intersect is fascinating. While it includes some intense scenes, it is undoubtedly a superb piece of entertainment. With its overwhelming sound and visuals that can only be experienced on the big screen, it's a film that truly makes you appreciate the joy of watching a movie in a theater.
The character I played, Kanji Sato, is practically the only "ordinary young man" among a cast of intense characters. He's a struggling YouTuber and a university student living with his grandmother. He's never been involved in any wrongdoing, and his warmth, in stark contrast to the greedy people around him, is clearly evident in the scenes with his grandmother. The kindness he shows in his earnest actions for his grandmother is, I think, one of his greatest charms.
The director told me, "Kanji is an ordinary college student who is kind to his grandmother. However, don't take that too seriously." Even when he finds the 1 million yen that is key to the story, it's not just for his own selfish desires, but also because he's motivated by the thought of doing it "for someone important to him." I tried to portray that kindness carefully, while also making sure not to let the emotions get too heavy in my performance so as not to disrupt the thrilling pace of the film as a whole.

■It's important to keep going at your own pace.

What I value most in life is the attitude of believing "things will work out" and persevering until I'm truly satisfied with the outcome. Of course, when things get too difficult or I feel like something isn't right for me, changing my environment or giving up are also important options. If I talk to someone and they agree with me, I think it's perfectly reasonable to take a different path.
However, even when I hit a wall and felt discouraged, thinking "it's not working" or "this role is too difficult," I've had many experiences where relentlessly continuing to challenge myself has led to results or opened up new paths. I rely on the idea that "no matter how tough things get, if I can just get through today, something might change tomorrow."
During your teens and twenties, it feels like each day flies by in an instant. Even if you have a down day, if you keep going, telling yourself to just try one more day tomorrow, you'll find yourself achieving good results or reaching places you never imagined. I believe that continuing at your own pace, even if you stop along the way, is a very important attitude.

Elementary School Newspaper, October 2026 issue: Ayatsuki Sakakura, 4th year student at Tokyo Metropolitan University

Student newspaper October 2026 issue

◆Please tell us what inspired you to become an actor.

I was scouted when I was in my second year of high school, but before that I didn't have any particular dreams for the future. When I talked to my parents about it, they said, "Go to university, and when it comes time to look for a job, if you find entertainment work enjoyable, you can continue with it, and if you find it difficult, you can get a regular job," and I agreed with their words.

◆Please tell us about the highlights of this work.

"Beasts that cling to straws"The character Kanji Sato, whom I played, is a very ordinary college student, a little different from the other characters. Although he runs off with a bag containing 100 million yen, his "lack of excitement" is, in a way, part of his charm. The kindness and warmth he experiences living alone with his grandmother are also important elements that make up Kanji's character.
The director told me, "Don't take the grandmother's presence too seriously, and be mindful of the overall pace of the film." The film itself is an entertaining work filled with action and new visual expressions, while depicting human desires in the face of great wealth.

◆Please give us a message for the students.

What I value most is the belief that "things will work out." However, this doesn't mean that things will work out even if you do nothing; it means "working hard until you can say that things will work out." Lately, I've been thinking that changing my environment or giving up are also options. But by trying things that I thought I couldn't do, I've been able to reach places I never even imagined.

Student Newspaper, October 2026 Issue: Yurie Watanabe, 3rd Year Student, Josai International University

■After the interview　
His natural and approachable personality gave all the students a sense of security, as if they were being embraced by him. The way he carefully chose each word he spoke exuded humility, and just listening to him made us feel a warmth in our hearts from his kindness.
(Emari Oike, 1st year student at Japan Women's University)

Emari Oike (1st year, Japan Women's University) / Haruna Shoji (4th year, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences) / Ayatsuki Sakakura (4th year, Tokyo Metropolitan University) / Mayuna Yoshimatsu (4th year, Musashino University) / Yurie Watanabe (3rd year, Josai International University) / Natsune Koga (1st year, Keio University)

Photography: Kosuke Shimoda