JO1's Junki Kono to appear in drama "That Child" starring Hiyori Sakurada! "I'll do my best!"

■ “I practiced while getting advice from (JO1) members who have acting experience” (Kawano Junki)

JO1 member Kono Junki has been confirmed to appear as a regular in the drama “Anoko no Kodomo” starring Sakurada Hiyori, which will air on KTV/Fuji TV’s “Kadora★Eleven” slot.

“Anoko no Kodomo” is based on the eponymous shojo manga by Mamoru Aoi, which won the 47th Kodansha Manga Award in the shojo category (2023). The story revolves around the theme of “high school pregnancy,” and follows a high school sophomore couple whose daily lives change drastically when the couple discovers that the other is pregnant.

■Kano Junki plays Iida Tomohiro, a classmate of Fuku (Sakurada Hiyori) who has a crush on Yazawa (Kayashima Mizuki)!
Kono plays Iida Tomohiro (Iida Tomohiro), a second-year high school student and classmate of the main character Kawakami (played by Sakurada Hiyori). He is a bright, positive, and mood-maker in class. He is in love with his classmate Yazawa Nozomi (Kayashima Mizuki), and no matter how many times she rejects him, he continues to confess his feelings to her. He himself doesn’t really know why he likes Yazawa so much. He is a kind man who stays with Yazawa even though she tells him she is annoying when he doesn’t want to go home after school. His role is to understand that Yazawa’s true feelings are not what she really thinks when she is called annoying, and to continue to accept the feelings that Yazawa has hidden in her heart.

Since releasing their debut single in March 2020, JO1, the group Kono belongs to, has released eight singles that have all reached number one on major music charts. Their latest single, “HITCHHIKER,” sold over 700,000 copies in its first week, their highest sales to date. They have also appeared in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen for two consecutive years. In 2023, they completed a nationwide tour that attracted a total of 200,000 people, and the group’s first two-day concert at the Kyocera Dome was a huge success. They are also attracting a lot of attention both at home and abroad, including holding an Asia tour that will visit four cities.

Kono leads the group as the main vocalist, and captivated the audience with her excellent singing ability at the “Mezamashi TV 30th Anniversary Festival”. She has appeared in many variety shows such as “Chidori no Kusesugo” (CX), “Tuesday is full power! Hanadai-san and Chidori-kun” (Kantele), and “What will you do on Saturday?!” (Kantele), but this will be her first appearance in a serial drama.

Comment from Junki Kono
Q: How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in the drama?
Kono:I was very happy that they found me and chose me for a role that suited me. I still have little acting experience, so I was a little worried, but everyone on set was full of motivation and I really felt that they were doing their best to deliver this drama, so I hope I can convey that by playing the role of Iida in my own way.
Q: Have you talked to the members of JO1 about appearing in a drama? What was their reaction?
Kono:When all the members were there, my manager told me in secret, “You’ve been cast in a drama,” and I was so happy that I spread the word to all the members. Everyone was happy, and I practiced with advice from members with acting experience, such as (Kimata) Shoya, (Kawanishi) Takumi, (Mamehara), and (Yonajo) Sho-kun.
Q: How did you feel once filming began?
Kono:At first I was a little stiff, but thanks to Director Abela creating a relaxed atmosphere, I was able to act in a good atmosphere. I think I was able to gradually open up to the other co-stars, including Sakurada-san and Kayashima-san, by riding the wave of that atmosphere.
Q: What do you think about the role of Iida Tomohiro?
Kono:The director told me, “Just like when we’re talking off camera.” Rather than thinking about the role, I’m acting with a new feeling without thinking about the role. Iida is a positive mood maker and the role is perfect for me, so I hope I can give energy to the viewers.
Q: How was it working with Sakurada-san?
Kono:I was nervous at first, but I shot the scene with Sakurada-san and Kayashima-san on the first day, and they were very friendly from the beginning, so we were able to shoot in a really good atmosphere. I was very grateful.
Q: Please give a message to our viewers.
Kono:I am playing the role of Iida in my own way. I will do my best, so I hope everyone will enjoy it until the end. I will do my best!

Program Information

Kansai TV/Fuji TVFire Drama Eleven “That Child’s Child”
Starts 06/25 (Tue)
Every Tuesday from 23:00

Cast: Hiyori Sakurada, Kaito Hosoda, Mizuki Kayashima, Junki Kono (JO1), Kota Nomura, Oshiro Maeda, Jun Hashimoto, Toru Nomaguchi, Rie Miura, Hikari Ishida and others
Original work: “That Child’s Child” by Mamoru Aoi (published by Kodansha in “Bessatsu Friend KC”)
Screenplay: Naomi Hiruta
Theme song: THE BEAT GARDEN “Watashi” (UNIVERSAL SIGMA)
Directed by: Hidenobu Abera, Miharu Yamaura, Takeshi Matsuura

“That Child” program site
https://www.ktv.jp/anokonokodomo/

JO1 OFFICIAL SITE
https://jo1.jp/