Nao, formerly known as Nao Honda, is an award-winning Japanese actress. She was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, on February 10, 1995, and made her acting debut in 2016. Since then, she has appeared in a variety of films and television dramas, including “Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” (2021).

Fuji TV

Construction company employee Michi Yoshino (Nao) is married to a shy and reticent man who loves her, but avoids her whenever she tries to get intimate with him – to the extent that it’s been two years since they last had sex. One evening, feeling particularly neglected and frustrated, she sits outside drinking a can of beer when she bumps into her successful and popular boss Makoto Niina (Takanori Iwata). Like her, Makoto is also feeling neglected by his spouse: his wife is a successful fashion editor who never “has time” for intimacy. But could this heart-to-heart lead them to a dangerous romantic encounter… and the potential end of both their marriages? This 2023 Japanese drama series was based on a manga series by Haru Haruno and was directed by Hiroshi Nishitani.

Even if You Don’t Do It

The Forbidden Couple

When they were young, Tomoyo Shiino (Nagano Mei) and Mariko Ikagawa (Nao) were best friends. Fully aware of the fact that Mariko’s home life was nothing short of awful, Tomoyo stuck by her friend through years of abuse, abandonment, and depression. The one reassuring constant in Mariko’s life, Tomoyo was Mariko’s one light in a world of overwhelming darkness.

Close friends that they were, Tomoyo and Mariko kept in touch over the years, but even staying in contact couldn’t spare Tomoyo the wave of shock that hit her when she learned of Mariko’s death. Seeing the news of her friend’s death make headlines, Tomoyo is completely blindsided by the information. Overwhelmed by guilt for not being able to help her friend more during her life, Tomoyo decides to do the only thing she can to make amends now.

Determined to liberate Mariko from the clutches of her cruel family Tomoyo steals her friend’s remains. Taking Mariko on one final journey, Tomoyo recalls the memories she shared with her friend, hoping that doing so will free her friend’s tortured soul. Will this final trip together bring them both the peace they so desperately need?

Adapted from the manga series of the same name by Hirako Waka, “My Broken Mariko” is a 2022 Japanese psychological drama film directed by Tanada Yuki.

My Broken Mariko

As a pair of married manga writers, Sawako Hayakawa (Haru Kuroki) and her husband Toshio (Tasuku Emoto) have a keen understanding of and appreciation for each other’s work. But just because they can respect each other professionally, doesn’t necessarily mean that respect carries over into their married life. Having been married for the past five years now, whatever passion once burned between them has since cooled; so much so that lately, Sawako has started suspecting Toshio might be having an affair.

Though she may not have proof of Toshio’s infidelity, just the thought of him cheating on her is enough to both hurt and enrage Sawako. Fully aware of the fact that if things continue the way they are, between herself and Toshio, she’s going to need to start being more self-sufficient, Sawako begins to take steps to ensure she’ll be alright on her own. To that end, she takes Toshio’s advice and begins taking driving lessons. Inspired and enamored by her handsome driving instructor, Ayumi Shintani (Daichi Kaneko), Sawako begins work on a new manga series; a series in which the heroine begins having an affair with her handsome driving instructor.

Suddenly suspicious of Sawako, Toshio begins to dig through her work and is horrified when he learns what her new series is about. Consumed by fear and jealousy, Toshio becomes desperate to know whether Sawako’s work is based on real-life events. Could this be the end of Sawako and Toshio’s “happily ever after” or the catalyst they need to get their marriage back on track?

A delightful mix of spirit and sentimentality, “Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” is a thrilling 2021 Japanese romantic comedy film directed by Takahiro Horie.

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