Chikako Fukuyama Talks “Juror #2” and Her Winding Journey to Hollywood
“I always tell myself to study hard… and try to adjust. Do everything that I can do,” Chikako Fukuyama stated as motivation to herself. “I am not the only one trying to pursue a part in this film, so I just do whatever I can. It doesn’t matter how small or big, but do something every day.”
Fukuyama, who has been recognized for her participation in the Japanese reality series Terrace House: Aloha State in 2016 — where she worked as a spa receptionist at the time — made an unanticipated career switch after the show’s conclusion. Transitioning from taking calls to taking roles, the rising Japanese actress is currently forging a path in Hollywood. Even across time zones and through a screen, the impassioned energy was palpable as Chikako connected with EnVi via Zoom to discuss her winding career path, experience working with an esteemed director, and her take on justice.
Called in for Jury Duty
In December 2023, it was announced that Chikako Fukuyama would star in Clint Eastwood’s presumed final film Juror #2, alongside other prominent actors, like Nicholas Hoult, Zoey Deutch, and Toni Collette. The thriller-drama follows journalist and father-to-be, Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult), who finds himself on the jury for a high-profile murder case. As the details of the case come to light, suppressed memories bubble to the surface, and he realizes that he should be the one on trial instead. With the evidence pointing heavily towards another suspect, Kemp must navigate a crash course in ethics with a teetering moral compass. Will he let an innocent man pay the price or will he atone for his mistakes?
Fukuyama plays Keiko, a medical student who makes an observation that marks a turning point in the trial. Keiko’s revelation, guided by impartiality, contrasts with not only Kemp’s scattered mindset but also other members of the jury, who are either biased or easily swayed. Giving further insight into the role, Fukuyama emphasized her character’s attentiveness, “Keiko is someone who… follows what she thinks, not what everyone else thinks is right and wrong,” she explained. “She’s a smart woman and…it was her first trial, and it was my first jury duty, so I was experiencing [it] as Keiko was experiencing [it]. She was taking a lot of notes, learning the American justice system and how the trial works. She was experiencing the moment and learning at the same time.”
The path to acquiring the role of the resolute character was not easy as there was a mixture of self-doubt and anxiety when filming the audition tape. “…I thought I was not the right [fit] for this role but, I did it anyway, and I was not happy [with] what I did, but I needed to leave the town [I was in]…and it was already after the deadline,” she revealed. “I just used my [remaining] time and submitted what I liked, then a few weeks later, I heard from my manager that I was still in the running, and I was like, ‘Oh that’s great!’ I never thought the casting directors would see my tapes,” she expressed with a laugh.
A big part of being an actor is playing the waiting game. Within the fast-paced industry, it is seldom that those vying for a spot in a film receive advice, leaving them no choice but to continue forward without a clear idea of how to improve. “We always have to pursue them to get feedback, but this time feedback came to me, so it was so different [than] before, and I was happy to know that I’m still in the crowd.” As the weeks went by, tension was high, but the strained atmosphere dissipated when news of Fukuyama’s casting finally arrived. It was revealed that she not only impressed the casting directors, but she also managed to grab the attention of the big boss himself. “I had a phone call from my manager that Clint actually wanted me to be a part of it, and I was like ‘Ah?!’ I just couldn’t believe it,” Fukuyama exclaimed, disbelief still looming.
The experience on the set of Juror #2 was transformative for Fukuyama as she received lots of inspiration from her fellow castmates. “Just going to the set every day was like a dream for me. All the actors are such amazing actors and it was like I joined a high actors workshop,” she explained. “I was so happy to see how they work, and how they create their characters. They’ve just been so grounded, just living in the moment. I was just so surprised they were just so natural, how they delivered their lines, how they moved.”
Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional in any industry, a sense of uneasiness is likely to linger, and it may be difficult to combat for some. As she further recalled her time on set Fukuyama revealed a piece of advice she received regarding nerves and how to utilize them: “I was feeling like ‘Oh, I have to do well.’ So that made me nervous, but I talked about it — the nervousness — with other casts and they told me ‘Maybe [put] that energy into your character.’ So that’s a good point, working with amazing actors, they always give me advice so I can create my character in a better way.”
Speaking of nerves, working with an esteemed director like Clint Eastwood sounds like it would be daunting for most, but Fukuyama, expressed gratitude when explaining the dynamic on set — noting how freeing the atmosphere was. “[H]e didn’t ask you to prepare too much, like rehearse yourself too much. He made it important to have our natural reaction on the set and he didn’t say too much else. We could deliver our lines in the way we felt best — in a natural way.” With authenticity being a recurring theme on the set of Juror #2, it is no surprise that Fukuyama was able to deliver an unapologetic performance as Keiko. Everything down to the costume design was made to be able to bring her closer to her character, “[T]he wardrobe [department], they let me use my grandma’s necklace…so I [felt] close to my character, Keiko…and that made me [feel] special.”
The Definition of Justice
Juror #2 presents a window into the differing moral capacities that one may exhibit. When thinking about the impact of the film and the type of conversation it generates, Fukuyama explained that the discussion surrounding the concept of righteousness is not quite black-and-white. “In this unfair world, we must find our place and live our lives. Justice may seem like a simple thing at first, but in reality, no one may be able to define that,” she said. “We are always afraid of being judged and can’t escape that. [In life], I want to be as honest as possible about what I see and hear.” Since everyone possesses a unique worldview, it is important to establish connections with those who have a different perception from your own. In Juror #2, all participating jurors brought logical — and sometimes offbeat — information to the table, bringing them closer and further from the truth that only Kemp and the viewers are aware of.
Keeping to the theme of multiperspectivity, Fukuyama expressed appreciation for the inclusion of a minority character in the story for justice. “I was pleased that the writer put a Japanese American into the story. I think when we’re judging the truth, it’s better to have different people who have different backgrounds, and I was lucky that I could play one of them.” Even though Fukuyama shares some similarities with Keiko, she acknowledged that her minute thoughts regarding the case would’ve been different if she was a juror herself, “Keiko has a medical degree, [so] I personally would not have noticed that the case could be a hit-and-run,” she explained. “However I, like Keiko, would not give up until [I] felt confident with [my] decision.”
From Nagoya to Los Angeles
Before carving her path in Hollywood, Chikako was a young girl from Nagoya, who found joy in participating in her school’s theatre productions. Outside of that, Chikako appeared in NHK’s weekly drama series Meet Me After School, but that marks the extent of her career in the Japanese entertainment industry. When explaining why she didn’t pursue a career in Japan, Chikako noted her lack of assurance at the time. “After graduating high school, I really loved acting, but I didn’t think it would be my career. Where I live in Japan is like North Carolina in the United States so I didn’t think, ‘Well I’m going to go to Tokyo to become an actress,’” she said. “To me, it was like only beautiful people or [very] talented people can be in the industry and I didn’t think I was that confident in myself, and I didn’t think I would be able to survive in [that] world.”
Setting her sights elsewhere, Fukuyama — despite her looming hesitancy — took a leap of faith, landing in Hawaii where she studied Economics in college, “for my parents,” she expressed with a laugh. During her time in Hawaii, Fukuyama found herself being cast in the newest installment of the popular reality series, Terrace House: Aloha State. Being behind the camera again seemed to reignite the spark and passion she once had in her youth. After a whirlwind of romance and friendships, Fukuyama found herself in the entertainment capital of the world; where the fervent energy is immense. “[W]hen I moved to LA, I met so many actors and filmmakers. They looked so awake [and] so excited to be in the world and that made me go “Oh, I forgot about that feeling. How much I enjoyed acting.’ And I felt ‘If I don’t say that I want to do it…want to act as my career then I think I’m gonna regret [it],’” she explained. “That was six years ago! I would say I started chasing acting about six years ago but I started when I was a little girl.”
In her early career, Fukuyama primarily gained credits in commercials and various short films, with her favorite to date being 29 Palms, which highlights the invisible battles people may face in their daily life. Written and directed by Brandon Shypkowski, the Japanese-language short film follows an interior designer (Chikako Fukuyama) who moves to Joshua Tree, California with her boyfriend (Brandon Shypkowski). The change in environment is not the only thing she must cope with as her relationship is on the rocks along with her mental health.
Fukuyama’s first major project came in 2021 when she was cast in the Netflix original film Blade of the 47 Ronin. Through utilizing her sword fighting skills in her audition tape she landed the spot in the all-Asian cast playing Aya, a samurai.
Developing A Multicultural Mindset
Being on sets with varying levels of diversity, Fukuyama has experienced being both part of the majority, and the minority. Comparing and contrasting her time on her two major projects, she gave insight into the level of inclusion on each set, “When I [first] stepped into the set for Juror #2, I was actually so lonely,” she explained. “Maybe I saw one or two other Asian Americans on the set, including the crew, and I was so lonely, but you know [the cast and I] were able to spend a lot of time together, so I was able to feel like this was my family. For Blade of the 47 Ronin, we had a lot of great times because we had a lot in common, and it was easier to share some things I would say. But, for Juror #2, everyone was so nice, but I felt different.”
Although a sense of loneliness may be imminent at times, Fukuyama chooses to make the most of living in a multicultural environment: using every new experience as a chance for introspection. Revisiting the discussion on her decision to pursue acting abroad instead of in her home country, Fukuyama noted cultural and societal pressures as a factor, “It is really difficult [to explain] — why I’m in LA — it’s because if I were in Japan I would feel too much pressure to get married or get some specific job or something like that. You know, I [would] have to make standard money, but in LA I’m always being inspired by artists — by art and so many cultures and different points of view, so I think it is really important what position I put myself in.”
What’s Next?
Fukuyama’s growing catalog is filled with various roles that have challenged how she thinks and feels. When considering potential roles she would like to take on, she expressed that she wanted to explore someone with a wicked nature. “I enjoy any character and any role but I would like to play bad people,” she laughed. “I would really like to work on the human’s inside, you know bad people are not always bad people I think.”
Explaining her rationale further, she referenced the anti-villains often portrayed in Studio Ghibli films, who despite their bad deeds, tend to draw a certain level of sympathy from audiences. “[T]hey always portray bad people, but they have been acting this way because of some reasons, because they need to protect their people,” she explained. I think people are always going through something we don’t know, so yeah, I’d like to discover something that looks bad. I think that would be fun to play.”
Keep up with Chikako on Instagram and watch Juror #2 on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or MAX!
Ready to discover another hidden gem talent? Check out our exclusive interview with rising actor Emerson Min here!
