Juri Kosaka is currently drawing major attention after being selected as the lead in NHK’s serial drama “The Scent of the Wind,” set to premiere in spring 2026. Taking over the baton from Akari Takaishi, who starred in the previous series “The Ghost Writer’s Wife,” this marks the remarkable achievement of Avex-affiliated actors leading two consecutive NHK serial dramas. For Kosaka, appearing in an NHK serial drama has long been a dream. As the broadcast approaches, we spoke with her—still in the midst of daily filming—about her journey to this point and the path she has walked alongside Avex.
Stepping Onto the Stage of Her Dreams —
Carrying the Baton Forward
“The Scent of the Wind” tells the story of two women who pioneered the path of nursing in the Meiji era, a time when female nurses were still rare. Their determination to carve out their own lives with conviction amid a turbulent age resonates deeply even today, as we ourselves live in a time of constant change."More than anything, I hope people will see the strength of these two women as they search for what nursing should be," Kosaka says. In her composed gaze, one can sense the same resolve—someone moving forward toward her goals, even through adversity.
"Ever since I started acting, whenever I was asked about my dreams or goals, I always answered, ‘to become the lead in an NHK serial drama.’ When that dream finally came true, I was so overwhelmed that my mind went completely blank."
Kosaka has spoken of becoming a lead in an NHK serial drama time and again, almost as if reaffirming that dream to herself. About six months have passed since filming began on the stage she had long envisioned. When asked how she feels now, she smiles and says, "Honestly, I still don’t know."
"Filming is progressing, but the show hasn’t aired yet. I believe the true beginning of this work is the moment it reaches viewers. I feel excited, but at the same time, watching “The Ghost Writer’s Wife,” which is currently on air, I also feel a sense of pressure, thinking, ‘Next, it will be me on that screen.’"
Akari Takaishi, who stars in “The Ghost Writer’s Wife,” is not only a senior colleague at Avex but also someone Kosaka has long admired and followed throughout her career. It is from Takaishi that she has now received the baton to stand on her dream stage.
"I sometimes wonder if it’s really okay to be this happy. Akari has always been ahead of me, and I’ve been chasing after her with everything I had. To finally stand on the stage I’ve dreamed of, and to receive the baton from her—it truly fills my heart."
Having someone to continue looking up to is a source of strength for Kosaka. As she grows step by step as an actor, the footsteps of those she trusts remain close beside her. And perhaps one day, someone will follow in her footsteps as well. The baton passed from Akari Takaishi to Juri Kosaka can be seen as a symbol of a new chapter beginning within Avex.
Avex Opens the Door
to Possibilities
Kosaka’s career traces back to the Avex-hosted audition “KIRA CHALLE 2017,” where she received the Special Jury Award, marking the beginning of her career in entertainment.
"Looking back, being able to join Avex was a huge first step for me. I originally auditioned because I wanted to become a model, but I was given many opportunities—including acting, as well as singing and dance lessons—that helped expand my potential."
Kosaka decided to pursue acting after discovering its appeal through those lessons. As she reflects, she might never have taken this path if not for Avex. It was here that she encountered acting, immersed herself in it, and came to believe it was something she wanted to dedicate her life to.
"The people at Avex have always supported me from the closest place. I can honestly share what I want to challenge myself with and how I feel, and they face me sincerely in return. I feel that they guide me toward the direction I should take. That’s why I hope I can give something back, even little by little. The only way I can do that is by continuing to appear in various works and grow as an actor, so I want to keep striving."
Kosaka describes her managers—those who support her most closely—as "the people who stand by her side and create dreams together with her."
"Of course, it’s not something that can be fully expressed in just one phrase. They’re always by my side, but they also see me objectively as Juri Kosaka, and at times they offer tough words with care. It feels like they can see right through me, no matter what I do (laughs)… We understand each other deeply, but they’re not quite like family or friends. They’re people who believe in my potential and keep running alongside me."
Days of Filming —
Cherishing Each and Every Moment
Now, on the set of the NHK serial drama she has long dreamed of, roughly half of the year-long filming schedule has already passed.
"I spend every day with the cast and crew, and so much happens each day that I’m so immersed in the work it doesn’t even feel like six months have passed. Now that my dream is becoming a reality, I’ve been asked more often about what comes next. But honestly, there’s nothing I can clearly point to yet. What comes after “The Scent of the Wind” still feels a bit undefined to me, but more than anything, I want to cherish each and every moment of the months ahead and carry that forward into my future."
Surely, when she looks back on it someday, this set will have become an irreplaceable time in her life. Day by day, scene by scene, she continues to build the work with care. Inevitably, there are moments when the tension grows. When asked how the Avex staff support her during such times, Kosaka responds with a gentle smile.
"Most of the filming takes place in the studio, but when we’re on location and staying at hotels, my manager and I sometimes go to a nearby hot spring together."
"It’s what you’d call bonding in the bath," her manager adds with a laugh—someone close to her in age, almost like an older sister. Kosaka’s eyes light up as she continues—
"We soak in the warm water together and relax, and then afterward we grab some ice cream before heading back (laughs)."
Actor and manager—neither quite family nor friends, but companions pursuing the same dream. Perhaps that is why they share a relationship where they can speak openly about anything.
"I’m not really the type to put my thoughts or feelings into words and share them with others, but with my manager, we talk about everything—even the small moments of happiness from the day. Filming can be intense, so those casual conversations help me switch on and off. It’s a really important time for me."
Becoming Part of a Work Growing Alongside It
Supported by her managers, production staff, and many others, Kosaka has built her career step by step as an actor. As she continues to pursue growth each day, she has gradually begun to see what kind of actor she aspires to be.
"One of the works that became a major turning point for me in thinking about what it means to be an actor was the 2023 drama “Seiri no Ojisan to Sono Musume” It was my first terrestrial TV drama, and because it had a strong theme, after it aired I received many comments from people—not about my performance, but about the work itself. They told me about conversations they had with their families after watching it, and I could really feel that what the story was trying to convey had reached them.Until then, I think I had been approaching acting in a very self-centered way. But I came to realize that an actor’s job is to use their own body to deliver the message of the work. I truly felt that this is the role I’m meant to fulfill as an actor."
"Even as I have continued appearing in dramas since then, that thought has always stayed with me on set. I strive to be a part of the whole work and convey its appeal. I continue to hold that sincere feeling close to my heart. Especially on the set of an NHK serial drama, where I spend almost every day for a year working alongside the staff to weave the story together, my feelings toward the team naturally run even deeper."
"I want to become an actor who can exist within the world of the work not as Juri Kosaka, but as one of the characters—a person who truly belongs in that universe."
"In her words, there is a quiet determination as an actor—a resolve to continually reflect on herself while sincerely engaging with the work."
"Through the work of “The Scent of the Wind,” one wonders what new growth awaits her. After completing this project, that experience will undoubtedly expand Juri Kosaka’s capacity and potential as an actor, perhaps two or even threefold."
"At the first press conference after being cast as the lead in this work, I said that I wanted to grow together with the character Naomi Ooya whom I would be playing. I hope that when I look back after the broadcast of “The Scent of the Wind,” I will be able to clearly feel my own growth."
"Since discovering the appeal of acting and diving into the world of being an actor through Avex, I have steadily grown while never forgetting my gratitude toward all the people who have supported me along the way."
"The dream baton that Juri Kosaka has grasped. The set where she stands as the NHK serial drama heroine she has long admired."
"There, she shapes that dream through her own acting. She says she hasn’t yet found her next dream, but what kind of horizons will open before Juri Kosaka, the actor, from here on?"
"Like a gracefully sailing ship filled with the fragrant wind, before her lies a vast sea of possibilities, waiting to be explored."
Juri kosaka