is a Japanese actress.
Career In 2019, Kawai made her acting debut in the short film Yodominaku, Yamanai. In 2022, she was given the Best Newcomer award at the 43rd Yokohama Film Festival for her roles in A Balance and It's a Summer Film. She continued her success by winning Best Supporting Actress at the 44th Yokohama Film Festival for her roles in various other films, including Plan 75, which earned her a nomination of Best Supporting Actress at the 16th Asian Film Awards.
She has also been active in television drama acting, with roles in Extremely Inappropriate! and The Child Of God Murmurs earning her two acting awards in 2024. In particular, audience of Extremely Inappropriate! (where Kawai plays a high-school student in the 1980s) noticed her resemblance to Momoe Yamaguchi when in-character, and proceeded to name Kawai "Momoe-chan from the Reiwa era". This TV series had a significant impact, and after its broadcast ended, she was cast in commercials for well-known companies such as Shiseido, Uniqlo, and Suntory. According to Oricon's survey, she ranked as the No. 1 breakout actress of the first half of 2024. Kawai was chosen as one of the 15 individuals (or groups) for "This Year's Face" by Model Press, and 2024 became a breakthrough year for her.
In March 2026, she served as the ambassador for the 33rd French Film Festival in Japan (Festival du film français au Japon), where she welcomed guests from France, including Sophie Marceau. In June of that year, she was announced as the lead actress in NHK's spring 2028 Asadora (morning drama) Honno Mokichi and attended a press conference alongside the series' writer, Kankuro Kudo.
Personal life Her hobbies are dancing, singing, drawing and playing basketball. When she was in the third grade, she started to attend dance studio with her younger sister. Although she went on hiatus in dancing during middle school, Kawai joined her high school dance club. As she continued dancing, she realized the joy of "expressing" and decided to become an actress.
Kawai is good friends with fellow actress Ai Mikami, as both of them attended Nihon University College of Art together.
She respects Mirai Moriyama as both an actor and a dancer.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2019Yodominaku, YamanaiLead role; short film2020Rolling MarblesMoekoA Beloved WifeHigh school girl who makes UdonSasaki in My MindNaemura2021It's a Summer FilmBeat-ban (Kickboard)A BalanceMeiUnfeigned Happy EndingYū2022Just RememberingIzumiLove NonethelessMisakiTo Be Killed by a High School GirlAoi SugiPlan 75Yōko NarimiyaA ManAkaneA Winter RoseTomoka MisakiThe Lines That Define MeKawagishiA Hundred FlowersMisaki2023Sayonara, Girls.Manami YamashiroLead roleIn Her RoomYōkoHeartlessHana2024A Girl Named AnnAnnLead roleApril Come She WillJun SakamotoLook BackFujino (voice)Lead roleDesert of NamibiaKanaLead roleHakkenden: Fiction and RealityHamaji2025Teki ComethAyumi SugaiShe Taught Me SerendipityHana SakuradaA Bad SummerAimi HayashinoRenoirKuriko KitaTwo Seasons, Two StrangersNagisa
Television drama Year Title RoleNotes2019In HandKaori KikuchiEpisode 42021NemesisRena NatsumotoEpisode 42022Teen RegimeSuguri SaigaMiniseriesOne Night MorningTamakoLead role; episode 4First LoveNanako KimitsuEpisode 32023My FamilyNami KishimotoLead roleThe Child of God MurmursHaruka KinoshitaLead role; television film2024Extremely Inappropriate!Junko OgawaRoOT/Route of Odd TaxiRenaLead roleLike a Dragon: YakuzaYumi Sawamura2025AnpanRanko AsadaAsadora2026Extremely Inappropriate! SpecialJunko OgawaTelevision filmDid Someone Happen to Mention Me?Emma NonomuraPolitica LupinMiyabi Kobayakawa2028Honno MokichiTerukoLead role; Asadora
Other television Year Title Notes 202475th NHK Kōhaku Uta GassenAs a judge202576th NHK Kōhaku Uta GassenShe sang several songs with her co-stars from the TV series Anpan.2026The ProfessionalsAs a narrator
Japanese dub Year Title RoleNotes2026The Adventures of Curious George's CreatorsNarrator
Music video appearances Year Song Artist 2021DuetsMaaya Sakamoto2022Ame San SanKing Gnu
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work(s) Result 202241st Zenkoku Eiren AwardsBest Supporting ActressA Balance43rd Yokohama Film FestivalBest NewcomerA Balance and It's a Summer Film76th Mainichi Film AwardsBest New ActressA Balance95th Kinema Junpo AwardsBest New ActressA Balance, It's a Summer Film and Unfeigned Happy Ending64th Blue Ribbon AwardsBest NewcomerA Balance and It's a Summer FilmElle Cinema Awards 2022ElleGirl Rising StarLove Nonetheless and Plan 7535th Nikkan Sports Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressPlan 75, A Winter Rose, A Man, and othersBest Newcomer47th Hochi Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressPlan 75, A Winter Rose and Just Remembering202344th Yokohama Film FestivalBest Supporting ActressPlan 75, A Winter Rose, A Man, and others16th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressPlan 75202450th Hoso Bunka Foundation PrizeActing Skill AwardNHK Special "Shūkyō nisei" series The Child of God MurmursElle Cinema Awards 2024Elle Best ActressDesert of Namibia37th Nikkan Sports Film AwardsBest ActressA Girl Named Ann, Desert of Namibia and Look Back202579th Mainichi Film AwardsBest Lead PerformanceA Girl Named Ann and Desert of Namibia67th Blue Ribbon AwardsBest Actress98th Kinema Junpo AwardsBest Actress49th Elan d'or AwardsNewcomer of the YearHerself48th Japan Academy Film PrizeBest ActressA Girl Named Ann18th Asian Film AwardsBest ActressDesert of Namibia202647th Yokohama Film FestivalBest Supporting ActressShe Taught Me Serendipity, Two Seasons, Two Strangers, and others
References
External links Official profile at Dongyu Club