Main Actress of Alice in Borderland Tsuchiya Tao Praises Co-Star Yamazaki Kento: “He’s a Smart, Polite Guy” – Revealing Unknown Facts About Their 10+ Year Friendship and Unbelievable First Impressions of Japan’s TV Heartthrob
The friendship between Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento, two of the biggest stars in Alice in Borderland, has spanned over a decade. Recently, in the show Nichiyobi no Hatsumimi Gaku, Tsuchiya Tao shared heartfelt insights about her long-time friend Yamazaki Kento. Her constant praise of him shed light on many fascinating truths that few people know about this Japanese TV heartthrob, as well as some “unbelievable” first impressions that Tao had when she first met him.
According to Tao, she and Kento first met while working together on the TV drama Kuro no Onna Kyōshi in 2012, when Kento was just 17 years old. Tao recalled that her initial impression of him was that he slept a lot – probably because he was at the stage of adolescence. She laughed remembering how Kento would often worry about not being able to grow facial hair. However, years later, Kento now has to shave frequently as his facial hair grows quickly, and Tao realized how much he had matured from that shy teenager to a fully-grown man.
Their friendship only deepened after that initial project. The two continued collaborating on major projects, including the Asadora “Mare” on NHK and the Netflix hit Alice in Borderland. Recently, Tao shared a special memory from the Alice in Borderland set, where she and Kento noticed some awkward lines in the script. Tao, who is not particularly good at expressing her opinions, saw Kento proactively approach the director to discuss the issue.
What impressed Tao the most about Kento was his communication style. Kento is always direct and not afraid to express his views. More importantly, he respects others, never interrupts when someone else is speaking, and always listens, taking in diverse perspectives. Tao admired Kento’s politeness and intelligence, seeing him as the ideal co-star and a trustworthy friend over their 10-year friendship.
Through these stories, Tsuchiya Tao not only reaffirmed her respect and admiration for Kento, but also highlighted the strong friendship between them – a bond built on understanding, respect, and unforgettable first impressions. This special relationship further endears fans to the perfect on-screen chemistry of the Arisu-Usagi duo, as well as their enduring friendship in real life.
