Fame is 80% Luck, Says Veteran Japanese Actor Takashi Naito

TV Asahi

Japanese actor Takashi Naito sparked curiosity when he revealed that he wouldn’t recommend pursuing a career in entertainment to elementary school students who dream of becoming celebrities.

On April 4, Naito appeared on the radio program Kunimaru Restaurant on Nippon Cultural Broadcasting and shared his perspective on the profession of being a celebrity.

Host Nomaru Kunimaru revealed the rankings of dream jobs among elementary school students in Japan, saying, “When we asked first-grade students about their dream jobs, ‘sports player’ topped the list for the first time in four years. Just like last year, “celebrity” ranked second. Although the rankings are the same as last year, the response ratio has increased.”

Upon hearing this, Naito responded, “Although I’m a celebrity, I think it’s better not to become one.” He added, “It might sound funny coming from a celebrity, but I believe luck accounts for 80% of success in this profession. Good character only accounts for 10%.”

When Kunimaru asked, “Then what accounts for the remaining 10%?” Naito replied, “Nothing.” He further explained, “Effort is important, but everyone makes an effort. In the end, it’s all about luck. At least, that’s what I believe.”

Kunimaru agreed with Naito Takashi’s sentiment, sharing, “There are many talented people, but not all of them succeed.”

Naito concluded, “Many young people are putting their hearts into acting or producing plays, working hard in various small theaters. There are a few people I think are ‘good,’ but their future, whether they can make a living in the entertainment industry, is a separate issue.”

Meanwhile, Naito made his debut in the 1980 movie Disciples of Hippocrates. Since then, he has appeared in numerous movies and dramas and is gaining popularity.