Japanese Nepo Babies Face Criticism With Their Poor Acting

The “Nepo Baby Actors with Room for Improvement” ranking has sparked discussions about the pressures children of celebrities who pursue acting careers face.

On March 20, a ranking by the Japanese magazine sparked discussion about the challenges faced by nepotism babies who enter the acting world. Based on a survey of 500 people aged 20-60, the list highlights actors perceived as having “mediocre acting skills.”

The survey results placed Kōki at the top, followed by Yui Okada and Ryuhei Matsuda, all cited needing improvement in their acting skills.

Kōki, daughter of acting power couple Takuya Kimura and Shizuka Kudo, landed a leading role in her 2022 debut film, “Ushibukimura.” This challenging dual role garnered significant attention.

Despite the initial buzz surrounding her debut, Kōki’s acting has received mixed reviews from the public. Inevitably, comparisons are drawn to her father, Takuya Kimura, a renowned actor known for his good looks and talent. Comments from netizens highlight areas for improvement, such as needing to develop a stronger screen presence and a more comprehensive range of emotional expression.

Yui Okada, daughter of comedian Keisuke Okada, follows closely in second place. While her initial fame came from being a television personality from “Genius TV-kun” for four years since 2010, she transitioned to acting in 2023 with a lead role in “26 Hours 13 Minutes” after a short stint as an exclusive model for a magazine. However, netizens haven’t been impressed, criticizing her for a lack of range and a more suitable fit for variety shows.

In third place is actor Ryuhei Matsuda, son of acting royalty Yusaku Matsuda and Miyuki Matsuda. His younger brother Shota Matsuda is also an actor, earning them the moniker “acting family.” Despite appearing in various dramas such as “Amachan”, “Quartet”, and “We Cannot Become Beasts”, viewers find his acting one-note, with comments like “His expressions are unnatural” and “He feels the same in every role.”

The high profile of these nepotism babies brings them early attention but also intensifies comparisons to their accomplished parents. Their ability to overcome such scrutiny and carve their path in the industry remains to be seen.