Kaya Kiyohara

1.1. Childhood and education

Kiyohara was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. Inspired by her family's passion for the musical trio Perfume, she began attending singing and dance schools from a young age. She started classical ballet in her first year of elementary school. From her fifth year of elementary school through her first year of junior high, she attended the Youth Theatre Japan (YTJ) in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. There, she received comprehensive training in various disciplines including dance, singing, musical theater, and ballet, which provided her with a strong foundation in performance. During her middle school years, she also participated in the tea ceremony club, demonstrating an interest in traditional Japanese culture.

1.2. Entry into entertainment

At the age of 12, while in her first year of junior high school, Kiyohara entered the entertainment industry through a serendipitous opportunity. Her mother, driven by curiosity, submitted her application to the "Amuse Audition Festival 2014," a new talent discovery event organized by Amuse, the agency to which Perfume belonged. On October 13, 2014, Kiyohara participated in the final selection round held at Yamano Hall. Among 32,214 applicants, she received unanimous acclaim from the judges, winning both the Grand Prix and the Point Award (sponsored by an apparel company). During the audition, she impressed the judges by singing Carly Rae Jepsen's "Good Time" in English while also performing a self-choreographed dance, leading judges to praise her "expressive power" and "visible future."

Following her audition success, Kiyohara made her first television appearance on the variety show Nino-san on February 1, 2015, where she showcased her singing talent by performing "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie. In January 2015, she began her professional career as a model for television commercials, appearing in advertisements for Mitsui Fudosan Reform and Astellas Pharma, quickly garnering attention as "that beautiful girl." Her acting debut came in October 2015, when she was cast as Fuyu in the NHK Asadora (morning drama) Here Comes Asa!, a role she secured after producers, impressed by her talent during a separate audition, decided to create a role for her. She later reprised a role as Natsu, Fuyu's daughter, in the final episode, demonstrating her early versatility.

2.1. Acting career

Kiyohara quickly established herself as a notable presence in both television and film. In March 2016, she portrayed the younger version of Balsa, the heroine played by Haruka Ayase, in NHK's 90th anniversary fantasy drama Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. That same year, she made her debut in commercial television dramas, appearing in Busujima Yuriko no Sekirara Nikki on TBS and securing her first regular role in a commercial series as the younger sister of the protagonist, played by Jurina Matsui, in TBS's Death Cash. Over the next few years, she frequently portrayed the younger versions of prominent actresses such as Nana Komatsu, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Yūko Takeuchi, and Shizuka Ishibashi in various projects.

A significant turning point came in March 2017 with the film adaptation of March Comes in Like a Lion, where she was selected as one of the three heroines after an audition involving approximately 500 hopefuls. Her powerful "crying acting" in the film earned widespread praise, solidifying her reputation.

In July 2018, Kiyohara landed her first lead role in a television drama, starring in NHK's An Invisible Cradle. Her portrayal of a sensitive and honest character dealing with profound themes earned critical acclaim for its transparent and impactful performance. For this role, she received the Newcomer Award at the Confidence Award Drama Prize Annual Grand Prix 2018 and the Best Actress Award at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2019.

The period from 2019 marked a string of leading roles in films. In January 2019, she starred as Nagi Ito, the heroine of the film Aiuta: My Promise to Nakuhito, and was cast as Nana Ohno, the heroine of Day and Night, selected from approximately 500 candidates in an audition. For her performances in these two films and Strawberry Song, she received the Newcomer Award at the 32nd Nikkan Sports Film Awards. In July 2019, she made her second appearance in an Asadora, Natsuzora: Natsu's Sky, playing Chiharu Okuhara, the younger sister of the protagonist. Her portrayal of a mother in her 30s in the latter part of the series, at just 17 years old, showcased her remarkable acting depth.

After graduating from high school in March 2020, Kiyohara chose to focus solely on her acting career, moving from Osaka to Tokyo. She took on her first lead film role in The Brightest Roof in the Universe, released on September 4, 2020. This film kicked off a productive year where she starred in seven films.

In 2021, her "dignified demeanor" and "straightforward gaze conveying strength of thought" led to her selection as the protagonist for the 104th NHK Asadora, Welcome Home, Monet, making her the first Asadora heroine born in the 21st century and her third appearance in the series. In October 2021, she starred alongside Takeru Satoh and Hiroshi Abe in the film In The Wake, for which she received the Best Supporting Actress award at the 45th Japan Academy Film Prize.

In January 2022, she took on her first lead role in a commercial television drama, starring in TBS's Fight Song. In November and December 2023, Kiyohara made her stage debut and first stage lead role in Jeanne d'Arc in Tokyo and Osaka, earning the Excellent Actress Award and Haruko Sugimura Award at the 31st Yomiuri Theater Awards for her performance.

2.2. Modeling activities

Kiyohara began her modeling career by appearing in television commercials for Mitsui Fudosan Reform and Astellas Pharma in January 2015. In March 2015, she became an exclusive model for the fashion magazine nicola, featuring in the April issue. She graced her first solo cover for the magazine in January 2018 and officially graduated as an exclusive model in March of the same year at the "nicola Tokyo Open Day 2018" event, concluding a three-year tenure. Just three days later, she made her debut at the "26th Tokyo Girls Collection 2018 SPRING/SUMMER" fashion show.

During her time with nicola, Kiyohara also served as the 6th image model for the apparel brand Repipi Armario, a position she held from May 2017 to May 2018. In August 2018, she joined Seventeen magazine as an exclusive model, with her first solo cover for the magazine appearing in the May 2019 issue, which was notably released on the same day the new Japanese imperial era name was announced. She also began a column titled "Kaya no Nanyakanaya" in the same issue. She concluded her role as an exclusive model for Seventeen on October 31, 2021.

Kiyohara has also served as an image model and spokesperson for various other brands and campaigns. These include the Fall 2015 National Fire Prevention Movement poster for the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the 2016 station-front abandoned bicycle clean-up campaign for the Japan Bicycle Parking Development Center, and the 2017 National Unified Fire Prevention Slogan poster for the General Insurance Association of Japan. From March 2023, she became a brand ambassador for niko and..., co-starring with Takumi Kitamura. Her commercial work also includes campaigns for P&G Japan's Lenor Happiness (April 2017), NTT Docomo's 25th anniversary movie (July 2017), Digital Hollywood University (September 2017), Aeon Mall (September 2018), Otsuka Pharmaceutical's Oronamin C Drink (October 2018), Nippon Life Insurance Company (October 2018, with a sequel in October 2022), SoftBank (January 2019), KOSE's Sekkisei Clear Wellness (July 2019), Keio Corporation (January 2020), Kirin Gogo no Kocha (March 2021), Recruit Holdings' Rikunabi (March 2022), and INPEX (January 2023). In February 2025, she became the muse for Fine Today's SENKA skincare brand. Additionally, in August 2024, Kiyohara was appointed as a Taipei City promotion ambassador, sharing her travel memories including trying stinky tofu and playing shooting games during filming.

2.3. Music and dance activities

Kiyohara's passion for music and dance, ignited by her childhood admiration for Perfume, has been a consistent thread throughout her career. While primarily known for her acting, she has actively pursued opportunities in both fields, expressing a desire to perform as a singer whenever possible.

In December 2018, she was appointed as the 14th support manager for the 97th National High School Soccer Championship, becoming the first support manager in the competition's history to perform a dance. She showcased her jazz dance experience by performing a cheerleading routine with students from the Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Hiranuma High School dance club before the semi-final match at Saitama Stadium 2002. An accompanying cheer video was also released, featuring Mrs. Green Apple's song "Boku no Koto".

In January 2019, Kiyohara contributed vocals to the insertion song "Aiuta" by GReeeeN for the film Aiuta: My Promise to Nakuhito, where she shared a special performance video with Ryusei Yokohama and Hiroki Iijima. Also in January 2019, she made her debut as a singer, releasing the digital single "Kimagure Gumo" under the name of her character Nana Ohno from the film Day and Night. The song was written, composed, and produced by Yōjirō Noda of Radwimps. In July 2019, she provided humming vocals for "Nana's Lullaby," the ending song of her lead historical drama Hotarugusa: Nana no Ken, which was included on the drama's official soundtrack.

In January 2020, she sang B. J. Thomas's "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" for a Keio Corporation commercial. On September 2, 2020, Kiyohara made her official CD debut with the single "Ima to Ano Koro no Bokura," the theme song for her first lead film The Brightest Roof in the Universe. The song was written, composed, and produced by Cocco. The music video for its B-side track, "Kimi ni Miseru Keshiki," featured her performing contemporary dance, which was highly praised by the director as "the best dance music video." On May 7, 2024, she performed "Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara" on the NHK special program "Ghibli no Uta," showcasing her impressive vocal abilities.

4.1. Film

4.2. Television

4.3. Web series and stage

5.1. Variety and documentary

• Nino-san (NTV, February 1, 2015, October 16, 2022) - Guest
• Asaichi (NHK General, January 4, 2016, July 30, 2019, October 19, 2021) - Guest
• Doyou Studio Park (NHK General, January 9, 2016, July 21, 2018, May 22, 2021, June 19, 2021) - Guest
• Solving the Mystery of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit! An Introduction to Taiga Fantasy for the Uninitiated (NHK General, March 14, 2016) - Reporter
• Document: An Invisible Cradle (NHK General, July 16, 2018) - Narration
• 2020 Cheer Song Project "Minna no Yume" / "Paprika" (NHK E TV / NHK General, October 23, 2018 - May 19, 2020) - Narration
• Mokugeki! Nippon: Facing Memories ~Writer Miri Yu and High School Students~ (NHK General, November 4, 2018) - Narration
• Kaya Kiyohara's High School Soccer Spirit (NTV, January 1-14, 2019) - Host
• Seishun wa Harmony da! ~N-Con Full Power Chorus 2019~ (NHK General, December 29, 2019) - Narration
• NHK Special 2020 Introduction: "10 years after - A Turning Point for the Future" (NHK General, January 1, 2020) - Co-host with Shinichi Takeda
• 72nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK General / Radio 1, December 31, 2021) - Guest Judge / Special Project Participant
• Sayonara Daisuki na Basho (TV Asahi, April 5, 2024) - Narration
• Lala LIFE (TBS, April 26, 2024) - Guest
• Ghibli no Uta (NHK General, May 7, 2024) - Singer of "Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara"
• The Nonfiction: My Mom's Decision ~A Family's Record Facing Life~ (Fuji Television, June 2, 2024) - Narration
• NHK Special: Tokyo University at a Crossroads ~Challenge to Japan-born Innovation~ (NHK General, January 18, 2025) - Narration

5.2. Commercials and advertisements

• Mitsui Fudosan Reform: "Mitsui Reform" (January 2015 -)
• Astellas Pharma: "To You Who Underwent Organ Transplant" (January 2015 -)
• Seven & I Holdings: Seven Gold Kin no Jikabiyaki Wafū Hamburg "Because We Go This Far" (November 2015 -)
• ANA: ANA Prepaid Card "The Adult Me" (February 2016 -)
• P&G Lenor Happiness: "30cm Radius Happiness: Classmate" (April 2017 -)
• NTT Docomo: Docomo 25th Anniversary Movie "Someday, It Will Be Taken for Granted." (July 2017 -); docomo dHits "Daughter's Return" (August 2017 -)
• Digital Hollywood University: "Live Your Own Life" (September 2017 -)
• Aeon Mall: "Happiness Mall" (September 2018 -); "Christmas is with Feelings." (December 2018 -); "Let's Do Spring Story." (March 2019 -); "Mother's Day is with Feelings." (May 2019 -); "Happiness Mall's Summer. HapiNatsu" (July 2019 -); "Aeon Mall Christmas" (December 2019 -); "Heartful Sustainable: People and Society" (April 2020 -); "With Gentleness. With Fun. Summer" (July 2020 -)
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Oronamin C Drink "Everyone's Energetic! Kaya Kiyohara" (October 2018 -); "Shupon! Energetic Girls" (March 2019 -); "Shupon! Energetic Girls: River Play" (July 2019 -); "Shupon! Energetic Girls: Departure" (October 2019 -)
• Nippon Life Insurance Company: "The Act of Watching Over." (October 2018 -); "The Life You Gave Me" (October 2022 -)
• SoftBank: "Don't Be Bound" (January 2019 -); "Graduation," "Mentor" (March 2019 -)
• KOSE Sekkisei Clear Wellness: "Skin Without Trouble" (July 2019 -); "Skincare for Transparent Skin (White)" (September 2020 -); "To Skin That Doesn't Lose to Trouble" (June 2021 -)
• Keio Corporation: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (January 2020 -); "Best Season is Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Mount Takao" (April 2021 -); "Beginning is Always from the Station. City Center" (July 2023 -); "There's a Place to Aim For. Suburbs" (December 2023 -)
• Kirin Beverage: Gogo no Kocha "Best Ever Delicious Gogo Tea" (March 2021 -)
• Recruit Holdings Rikunabi: "This Online is Maybe Good" (March 2022 -); "Tell Me," "Busy Now" (March 2023 -)
• INPEX: "New Wind in Energy: Enlightenment" (January 2023 -); "Life Needs Energy" (June 2024 -)
• Fine Today SENKA Beauty Clear Oil, Premium Perfect Whip Clear (February 2025 -)

5.3. Music video appearances

• [Alexandros]]: "Wataridori" (March 2015)
• Rihwa: "Michishirube" (September 2017) - Theme song for the film Yurigokoro

5.4. Events

• Imamiya Ebisu Tōka Ebisu Hoe Kago Procession (January 9, 2016)
• Empress's Cup National Women's Ekiden Championship (January 17, 2016)
• Mynavi presents 26th Tokyo Girls Collection 2018 SPRING/SUMMER (March 31, 2018)
• Seventeen Summer School Festival (August 23, 2018, and later years)
• 97th National High School Soccer Championship 14th Support Manager (December 2018 - January 2019)
• Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Opening Game First Pitch (March 26, 2021)
• 35th Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2022 AUTUMN/WINTER (September 3, 2022)
• Dior 2024 Spring/Summer Collection (September 25, 2023)

6.1. Singles

• "Ima to Ano Koro no Bokura" (今とあの頃の僕ら_{Us Now and Then}^Japanese) (Released: September 2, 2020, Colourful Records, VIZL-1789/VICL-37556)
  • The title track was pre-released digitally on August 4, 2020. This single served as the theme song for her first lead film, The Brightest Roof in the Universe.

6.2. Digital singles

• "Kimagure Gumo" (気まぐれ雲_{Whimsical Cloud}^Japanese) (Released: January 25, 2019, voque ting / "Day and Night" production committee)
  • Released under the name of her character, Nana Ohno, from the film Day and Night.

6.3. Participated songs

• "Aiuta" (愛唄_{Love Song}^Japanese)
  • (January 16, 2019) A special video featuring Kiyohara, Ryusei Yokohama, and Hiroki Iijima singing GReeeeN's "Aiuta" was released on YouTube. Their voices were also featured in the film Aiuta: My Promise to Nakuhito.
• "Nana's Lullaby" (Vocal: Kaya Kiyohara)
  • (Released on Evan Call's album: NHK BS Jidaigeki "Hotarugusa Nana no Ken" Original Soundtrack, September 4, 2019, Ideal Music, NGCS-1100)
  • Featured on the original soundtrack for the NHK BS historical drama Hotarugusa: Nana no Ken, in which Kiyohara starred.