You’ve probably seen her face everywhere. Seriously, Mio Imada is kind of unavoidable if you’ve spent any time at all browsing Netflix or keeping up with Japanese pop culture lately. But honestly, most people just remember her as "the cute girl from Fukuoka" or that one intense girl with the pigtails from Boys Over Flowers Season 2. There is way more to her filmography than just being a "next-gen" star. She's actually built a surprisingly gritty and diverse portfolio that spans from high-stakes gambling dramas to voice acting in massive anime hits.
From the Prettiest Girl in Fukuoka to Global Screens
It’s a bit of a cliché, but Imada’s start really was that local-girl-makes-it-big story. She was scouted back in high school and labeled the "prettiest girl in Fukuoka," a title that stuck with her for years. But if you look at Mio Imada movies and tv shows from the early days, she wasn't just coasting on looks. She moved to Tokyo at 19 with a specific goal of becoming an actress, not just a model.
Her breakout role as Airi Maya in Hana Nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season (2018) changed everything. She played a character that was basically a "little devil"—beautiful but manipulative. It’s the role that made her Instagram following explode to over a million people almost overnight. People loved to hate her, and then they just loved her.
The Gritty Side: Tokyo Revengers and Trillion Game
If you’re into the live-action manga scene, you definitely know her as Hinata Tachibana in the Tokyo Revengers franchise. While the movies are mostly about guys hitting each other and time-traveling to save the future, Imada’s Hinata is the emotional anchor. She won the Newcomer of the Year award at the 45th Japan Academy Film Prize for this role in 2022. It wasn't just a "girlfriend" role; she had to carry the weight of being the person worth literally dying for, over and over again.
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Then there’s Trillion Game. This is where she really flexes. Playing Kirika Kokuryu (aka "Dragon Girl"), she is cold, calculating, and incredibly stylish. It’s a complete 180 from the sweet, supportive roles. She plays a corporate heiress who is basically the final boss for the protagonists. If you haven't watched it, the chemistry between her and Ren Meguro is one of the best parts of the show.
Why 2025 and 2026 Are Her Biggest Years Yet
Right now, Imada is in the middle of what actors call a "career-defining run." In early 2025, she took on the lead role in the NHK Asadora Anpan. For those who don't know, an Asadora is a morning drama in Japan that basically turns you into a household name for every generation, from kids to grandparents. She plays Nobu Asada, a character based on the wife of the creator of Anpanman. It’s a massive commitment—filming for months on end—and it has cemented her status as a top-tier lead actress.
But the project that has everyone talking in 2026 is Merry Berry Love. This is a huge deal because it's a cross-cultural collaboration between Japan's Nippon TV and Korea's CJ ENM, streaming globally on Disney+.
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- The Plot: She plays Karin Shirahama, a strawberry farmer on a remote Japanese island.
- The Co-star: Korean superstar Ji Chang-wook.
- The Vibe: A spatial designer from Korea meets a local farmer. It’s basically the ultimate "healing" rom-com setup.
A Quick Rundown of Must-Watch Projects
If you're trying to figure out where to start with her work, don't just pick the first thing on the list.
- For Drama Fans: Mr. Hiiragi's Room (3-nen A-gumi). She plays one of the "first-string" popular girls in a classroom held hostage. It’s intense and shows her ability to play characters with a dark side.
- For Romance Lovers: My Happy Marriage (As Long as We Both Shall Live). She plays Miyo Saimori, a girl from an abusive family who finds love in a supernatural version of historical Japan. Her performance here is very quiet and restrained, which is a big departure from her usual energetic energy.
- For Mystery Buffs: The Last Man: The Blind Profiler. She plays a technical analyst. It’s a more "adult" procedural role where she isn't the center of the drama but is essential to the team.
The Reality of Her "Visual" Brand
One thing that gets lost when people talk about Mio Imada is how hard she works to shed the "idol" image. In Japan, it’s very easy to get pigeonholed as a "cute face" who only does commercials. And yeah, she does a ton of commercials—Sedes, McDonald's, SoftBank—you name it. But her choice in roles, especially lately, shows a real effort to be taken seriously as a character actress.
She even did voice work for My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising as the villain Slice. It's subtle, but choosing to play a villain in an anime movie shows she's not afraid to mess with her "pretty girl" branding.
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What to Do Next
If you want to catch up on the best Mio Imada movies and tv shows, here is your game plan:
- Start with Trillion Game on Netflix. It’s the most accessible and shows her at her most charismatic.
- Watch My Happy Marriage if you want to see her range in a more emotional, period-piece setting.
- Keep an eye out for Merry Berry Love on Disney+. Since it’s a co-production with Korea, it’s likely going to be her biggest international break since Tokyo Revengers.
- Look for the Tokyo Revengers sequels. They are chaotic, but she is the heart of the story.
Honestly, the best way to appreciate what she’s doing is to watch her transition from the "supporting girl" in 2018 to the powerhouse lead she is today. She’s officially moved past the "pretty girl from Fukuoka" label and is now just one of the most reliable actors in the industry.