For those who belong to the 8X and 9X generations, Sakura Maruko (Vietnamese title: Nhóc Maruko) is one of the beloved childhood memories.
Nhóc Maruko is a Japanese anime beloved by Vietnamese audiences. Image: Sakura Maruko
Produced by Nippon Animation, it is adapted from the manga by the author Momoko Sakura (1965-2018). The show first aired in the early 1990s and has accumulated over 1,000 episodes to date. The storyline focuses on the daily life of a young girl named Maruko and her family in Shimizu City, which is now part of Shizuoka Prefecture, the hometown of the author in the 1970s.
The story, while simple, captures the endearing and clever nature of Maruko, along with humorous episodes that have made the show a symbol of the Japanese anime industry.
Following its success, production companies created a live-action version. The first actress to portray Maruko was Yongyi Mori.
Mori began her acting career in animated films in 2002. In 2006, she was chosen among 500 child actors by Fuji TV to star in the live-action version of Chibi Maruko-chan. When she first took on the role of Maruko, Mori was only 9 years old.
Her portrayal brought Mori’s name into the spotlight across Japan at that time. However, after that, she did not have any significant acting roles, and her fame quickly faded.
Yongyi Mori as Maruko in the live-action version. Image: Chibi Maruko-chan
During her second year of high school, Mori focused on her studies. After graduating from university, she returned to the entertainment industry but did not make a notable impact.
In her studies, Mori’s achievements were quite impressive. She is fluent in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. According to HK01, having both Chinese and Japanese heritage (her mother is from Shanghai, China) helped her learn Chinese more effectively.
Moreover, Mori also attended Sophia University, one of Japan’s top universities, alongside Waseda University, Keio University, etc. During her studies, she had a scholarship to study abroad in the United States for a year.
In addition, Mori is known to be a talented singer. She can record songs after reading the lyrics only once.
Currently, Maruko has transformed into a charming 25-year-old girl, still endearing.
Online communities have praised her appearance as “endearing and successful,” while also encouraging her to pursue her passion for acting.
Yongyi Mori is currently a 25-year-old girl with a charming appearance. Image: IG
Mori is no longer famous as before, but she still wants to pursue an acting career. Image: IG
Moreover, she has impressive academic achievements and graduated from a prestigious university. Image: IG
According to HK01, Daydaynews
