Adventures In Cuteness: Fumika Shimizu

You may remember how much I loved Fumika Shimizu back in her stint in Kaseifu no Mitazono, as well as her fun role in the Suteki Na Sen Taxi Special. At the time I noted that Fumika was a former Kamen Rider Girl (because, of course she was…ALL young actresses I like are former Kamen Rider girls, it seems!) but I had to yet to actually see her in it...

Kaseifu no Mitazono

Suteki na Sen TAXI SP

Well, with Toei’s Official channel Tokusatsu World fully stocked with a wide assortment of their classic shows, I was finally able to watch some episodes of the show Fumika starred in, Kamen Rider Fourze. Not only was I surprised to see Kamen Rider Fourze alter ego Gentaro played by none other than Sota Fukushi(!), but…HOLY HANNAH, Fumika’s character of Yuki Jojima was the hands-down CUTEST and most SPUNKY and ADORABLE character EVERRRRR!!!

I’m not kidding, every scene she was in was completely STOLEN by her adorable antics, spazzy behavior and 100% ALL-IN enthusiasm, as evident in this terrific scene with Yuki and Gen:

A  monster has invaded the school and a hero is needed! Say, this monster reminds  me not just a little of Kome Kome Club's James Onoda!

Gentaro has the spirit to fight the baddie but not the smarts when he realizes he has no idea how to work the transform belt.

But never fear, Yuki Jojima is here to help!

Grabbing the device from him, she slaps it around his waist and tells him the switches and levers he must turn on to invoke the mechanism!

Then some genki words of encouragement  before running to hide behind a corner to watch the pyrotechnics!

"B-But how do I change after flipping the switches??"

"You make the moves like this...and say...HENSHIN!!!!"

HENSHIN FOURZE!!!

And thus Kamen Rider Fourze is born, much to Yuki's delight!!!

"YOSSSSHHHH!"

Fourze uses his newfound powers to vanquish the vile foe....

...and then it's time to celebrate their VICTORY!!!

Watching Fumika (now going by the name Yoshiko Sengen) in Kamen Rider Fourze, and how unbelievably charismatic she is, I’m astounded that she isn’t a more well-known actress. Is it because of her religion thing? Someone with this much radiance should be having dramas lined up down the road! And yet we haven’t seen much of her in recent years, such a shame!

BTW, I still can’t get over that it’s Sota Fukushi as Kamen Rider Fourze. And if that wasn’t enough of a shock, there was Erina Mano as Kamen Rider Nadeshiko to come in the Fourze Movie!