The Japanese Gen-Z style icon shares insight about growing up in the entertainment industry and maintaining a ‘dual-identity’ during recent years of turbulence.

Jumpsuit, gloves and shoes *ALAÏA,*
ring *NAOTO KOJIMA*

PHOTOGRAPHER TOKI

STYLIST KANAKO SUGIURA

INTERVIEWER JANE ZHENG

A frequent guest of catwalks, covers, spotlights, and the big screen since the early age of 12 – Nana Komatsu was perhaps born to be a star of dualities. On one hand, she’s fashion’s favourite, one that’s not merely captured on camera but also invited to front–rows with exclusive titles like Chanel’s House Ambassador. On the other hand, winning the 38th Japan Academy Film Prize for Newcomer of the Year in 2015 at the age of 19, her screen presence is seen in over thirty films and television series, including a Hollywood debut with Martin Scorsese. Intrigued by her passage to fame, The WOW has specifically tailored seven questions for Komatsu, which she answers retrospectively with reflections of her past, present, and future.

THE WOW: How do you balance your role as both an actor and a model? To you, what are the differences and similarities between the two?

NANA KOMATSU: I’ve found a balance between acting and modelling by doing both jobs. Being a model is about how to make clothes appealing, whereas being an actress, it’s all about how to make the role seem appealing to the audience through yourself. I used to think they were totally different, but I’ve found things in common.

I also get easily bored with myself, meaning that I get bored with the patterns of what I do. For example, I would think “I have seen myself in this pose already, I have done this pose before” whilst being a model. But this [annoyance] is what motivates me to discover a new part of myself. I want to stay as my original self.

THE WOW: The theme of this issue is 'identity'. It can be understood in various ways, but in mainstream Western media it is often discussed in terms of ‘self-recognition’. How would you define identity, and what keywords would you use to describe your identity?

N: My husband and I were talking about 'what is identity?'. We discussed about many things got to the conclusion that we sometimes get tired of the word 'identity'.

What is my identity, what distinguishes myself from others? It’s difficult to understand who we really are when looking at ourselves subjectively. And perhaps whenever we are asked about these questions, we’d have to ponder upon it thoroughly. But surely everyone has their own identity since birth. I think it's natural for everyone to be different, with different ways of life, different ways of thinking and different values. Otherwise, it would be a boring world. If you are comfortable with who you are, that might be what makes you who you are today.

THE WOW: What does fashion mean to you?

N: For me, fashion is the majority of my brain that never gets tired, I always think about clothes and fashion. When I’m looking for clothes, I feel very energetic and excited. I have so many things I want to wear that having only one body feels not enough for me. Whenever I find something I like, there is just so much joy. Don’t think too hard – just wear what you like!

“I THINK IT IS NATURAL FOR EVERYONE TO BE DIFFERENT, WITH DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING AND DIFFERENT VALUES. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD BE A BORING WORLD.”

— Nana Komatsu

THE WOW: How did Covid-19 affect you?

N: I was able to move onto the next starting point. Covid was complicated because there were things I hated and things I was thankful for.

But I’m sure this is just another challenge in my life that brings these recurring questions back to me again: what should I do and what do I want to do? I've decided to live in the moment so that I don't have any regrets. In the end, I do only have one life.

THE WOW: What does acting mean to you?

N: The more you enjoy acting, the deeper you get into the character – there would be a moment where you suddenly lose yourself. This thrill becomes an addiction. Looking back, there is a lot to reﬂect on in each and every role I’ve been given, and sometimes I feel down that maybe if it wasn't me, that role would have been more attractive. But I often gain something more important [than fame] in this ﬁeld, so as expected, still passionate about acting.

It is because I get to play so many diﬀerent roles that I can keep doing this job. To be acting with sincerity from the bottom of my heart is something I keep in mind when exercising this art.

THE WOW: Do you have any films that you particularly enjoy and would like to share with our readers?

N: Ghibli films and works by director Mamoru Hosoda. They have fascinating views of the world – everything about them is appealing to me. I will probably love their works for the rest of my life and would want to show them all to my own children one day. They are the pride of Japan!

THE WOW: Looking back at your early twenties, what are your hopes and resolutions for the future?

N: I hope to enjoy moving forward in a direction that strikes me, including the people I meet and the work I do at various times. It's important to stop and take a break, but there are also times when you have to give yourself a little push. I want to grow in a way that I never knew I was capable of.

This profile was published in the print issue The WOW N° 7.

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Talent: NANA KOMATSU

Photographer: TOKI

Stylist: KANAKO SUGIURA

Hair: TSUBASA

Make-up: UDA @ MEKASHI PROJECT

Producer: TORU HOSAKA

Casting Director: SHIMANA

Retoucher: HARUNA ISHII

NANA KOMATSU

A NIGHT TOO FAR

US, BEHIND THE MASK