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| Ayame Misaki Opens Up About Freezing Her Eggs at 30: “It Was My Form of Insurance” |
Actress Ayame Misaki has revealed that she chose to freeze her eggs six years ago, calling it a decision made “just in case” she wanted children later in life.
Speaking at the press conference for TV Tokyo’s upcoming drama “Dekitemo, Dekinakutemo”, the 36-year-old reflected candidly on her personal experience and how it ties in with the show’s central theme of infertility.
Ayame Misaki explained that she made the decision when she was 30:
“At the time, I didn’t want children, but I started wondering if I might change my mind in the future. I thought of it as a kind of insurance — something I could choose later if I wanted to.”
The actress added that the drama’s message resonated with her and many in her generation who face similar thoughts about family and work balance.
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“It’s a theme that really fits people around my age,” she said.
“When I was offered the role, I felt I wanted to take it on wholeheartedly.”
“Dekitemo, Dekinakutemo” stars Misato Ugaki as Sui Monou, a 32-year-old woman working at a construction firm whose life turns upside down after discovering she’s infertile.
Following a painful breakup and workplace gossip, she meets a younger man, Mao Tsukidome (played by Jutaro Yamanaka), and their unexpected connection leads to a complicated yet healing relationship.
Ayame Misaki plays Erika Katsuragawa, Sui’s supportive best friend and cousin to Mao — the person who quietly keeps both of them grounded through their emotional journeys.
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The drama is based on a popular manga that sensitively explores modern relationships, infertility, and the many definitions of happiness beyond traditional family life.
During the event, Ayame Misaki also talked about her nerves before filming, as it was her first time working with co-star Ugaki.
She admitted with a laugh,
“I was so nervous the night before filming — I even worried, ‘What if she’s cold or difficult?’ But she told me, ‘You’ll get fined if you use polite language with me,’ and that instantly broke the ice. We’ve become close friends since.”
The event also featured cast members Hinata Higuchi, Yuta Uehara, Kento Shibuya, and Robin Furuya, who joined in discussing the show’s heartfelt take on love, loss, and starting over.
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, allows women to preserve their fertility by storing eggs for potential future use.
Though still not widely practised in Japan compared to some Western countries, the topic has been gaining attention among women balancing career goals and family planning.