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| From Teen Crush to Screen Couple: Yuya Endo Melts Hearts With Confession to Rena Tanaka at ‘Tokyo Forecast’ Gala (Sponichi) |
You never really know what surprises a film gala will bring—but no one expected this one to turn into a real-life fanboy moment. During the star-studded gala for Tokyo Forecast, a new Japanese omnibus film directed by Bunji Sotoyama, actor Yuya Endo made a confession that sent the audience into a wave of laughs, gasps, and awwws. Right there on stage, in front of press, fans, and co-stars, Endo revealed that he’s been a die-hard fan of Rena Tanaka since his teenage years.
Yep, that Rena Tanaka—beloved actress, effortlessly elegant, and now, his on-screen partner.
“I used to say Rena Tanaka every time someone asked me who my favorite actress was,” Endo laughed, clearly flustered himself. “So when I found out we were going to work together… it honestly felt unreal.”
The moment caught even Rena off guard. Blushing and giggling, she playfully covered her face: “Oh no, now I’m turning red!”
The audience loved it. And things got even funnier when Endo revealed that he wasn’t alone in his admiration. “When I told the director about it, he just went, ‘Wait, I’m a fan too!’ So during filming, we’d have these silly debates over who loves Rena Tanaka more,” he joked, sending another round of laughter through the room.
💫 Real Chemistry On and Off the Screen
Rena stars in Namae, Yonde Hoshii (“Please Call My Name”), one of the three short films in Tokyo Forecast. She plays Saho, a housewife caught in a quiet emotional storm, who decides to end her extramarital affair with a bittersweet one-day “goodbye date” with her lover, Ryota—played by none other than Endo himself.
Despite the heavy theme, their on-screen dynamic was full of tender, unforced chemistry—and much of it came from the fact that many scenes were improvised.
“We walked around Asagaya like a real couple,” Rena shared. “Everything was ad-libbed. It felt like a dream, expressing myself more freely, more honestly.”
Endo chimed in with a grin: “I don’t even remember what that oden tasted like. I was too wrapped up in the moment.”
🎬 Behind-the-Scenes Admiration
Director Sotoyama, who also hosted the gala event, openly admitted that he had his own “fan moment” while directing.
“There were times I caught myself thinking, ‘Wait… I’m really directing Rena Tanaka right now?!’ It felt surreal.”
Sotoyama’s Tokyo Forecast is a poetic love letter to the hidden corners and quiet moments of Tokyo, with a theme of “light in the corners of the city.” Aside from Namae, Yonde Hoshii, the film includes two other short stories: Haru Urara and Forget-me-not, each offering their own emotional textures.
Joining the gala were other cast members like Anna Hoshino, Cocoa Kawamura, Seiko Utsumi, Ito Haruhi, and Manami Uno, who all celebrated the unique charm and depth the film brings.
🥹 A Mutual Admiration
While Endo’s fanboy moment took center stage, Rena also had nothing but warm words for her co-star.
“I’ve watched his work for years. He always brings out such depth in his characters, especially in romance roles,” she said. “Working with him was refreshing—I felt more natural, less pressured. It was freeing.”
Endo, clearly moved, ended the evening with a heartfelt tribute: “Rena-san usually shines by receiving energy from her co-stars. But in this film, she radiated—there were moments where I was honestly speechless.”
Tokyo Forecast is now playing in select theatres across Japan, and while the film is already being praised as one of Sotoyama’s most poetic works yet—this unexpected real-life confession may just be the most unforgettable scene of all.