Japanese actress Kōki (born Mitsuki Kimura) has been in front of cameras her whole life. The daughter of actor Takuya Kimura and singer Shizuka Kudo, she has been in the public eye long before making her professional debut. While she tells ELLE Singapore that acting has always been her first love, Kōki’s early creative endeavours were in music and modelling, writing songs for her mother and fronting magazines by her mid-teens.
Kōki made her acting debut in the Japanese horror movie Ox-Head Village in 2022, and later took on international films like the romantic drama Touch (2024) and period action drama Tornado (2025). Now, the actress is finally stepping into the small screen with Viu’s The Season, a Hong Kong-set drama about the power struggles between society’s elite. Kōki stars in the series as Alison Hext, the picture-perfect daughter of Christopher and Fiona Hext (played by Toby Stephens and Karena Lam respectively) who yearns for genuine, unconditional familial love.
Ahead of The Season’s premiere on 17 June, we spoke to Kōki about stepping into the shoes of Alison Hext, creating a family dynamic with her co-stars and her creative focus moving forward.
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Tell us about your character, Alison Hext, and the role she plays in The Season.
"Alison Hext is the only daughter of Christopher and Fiona Hext. She's a clever, loving, and charismatic young woman who appears to have the perfect life. But beneath that polished image, she longs for genuine love and emotional connection from her family. Having grown up in a world shaped by status, she has always been taught to be the 'perfect daughter'. Because of that, she often feels like a bird trapped in a cage—admired on the outside, yet never truly free to be herself. At times, she even feels like a puppet put on display for others rather than someone seen for who she truly is. More than anything, Alison simply wants a warm, loving, and caring family.
One of the themes of The Season is how delicately the relationships and emotional complexities between the characters unfold throughout the episodes. As the story progresses, Alison’s journey becomes deeply intertwined with themes of identity, love, freedom, and the desire to be understood."
What drew you to this project and role?
"I was drawn to this project because of its captivating story and the way each character is so thoughtfully portrayed throughout the episodes. This story feels like an emotional rollercoaster, constantly taking unexpected turns and keeping you invested in every moment. While revenge is a strong element, The Season is also deeply about family, friendship, personal growth, and the emotional journeys each character goes through. There are so many layered themes woven into it, which made the script feel very special to me.
What especially drew me to Alison was her complexity. She is incredibly strong, yet at the same time emotionally vulnerable, which made her feel very real and human. Beneath her elegance and composure is someone who is longing to be loved and understood. I loved that contrast within her, the balance between strength and fragility, confidence and loneliness."
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Your on-screen parents, Christopher and Fiona Hext, are played by Toby Stephens and Karena Lam. What was it like working with them on set?
"Working with Toby Stephens and Karena Lam was such a wonderful experience. They are both actors and people whom I truly admire, so being able to work alongside them was an honour. Karena was like the sun of the team. She was always looking out for everyone and naturally guided us through the filming process with so much warmth and kindness. Toby also brought so much joy to the set. Wherever he was, there was laughter, happiness, and such positive energy. Being surrounded by such talented and generous people made the experience even more special, and I learned so much from both of them."
Tell us about the relationship between these three characters. Did you have discussions with Toby and Karena about how you wanted to portray their family dynamic?
"We exchanged a lot of ideas about how to portray this complex yet deeply connected family dynamic. Even though the Hext family carries emotional distance and unspoken tensions, there is still a strong bond between them, and we wanted to portray those layers in a very honest and natural way.
During rehearsals, we also did exercises where we would go completely off-script and simply interact as our characters. Those moments really helped deepen the relationships between the characters and understand the emotions that existed beneath the surface. It allowed us to build a genuine connection as a family."
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Did they give you any advice about acting or your career?
"So many. Not only about acting, but about life and how to grow as a person as well. Through both their words and the way they carried themselves on set, they taught me so much about professionalism and kindness. I really admired how grounded and generous they both were. Their advice and support meant a lot to me, and I feel very grateful to have shared this experience with them."
Do you have a process, such as a playlist or ritual you tap into on set to get into character?
"I have a breathing exercise I do every time before I act. It’s taking deep breaths and imagining each part of your body loosening and relaxing. I tend to stiffen up before emotional and important scenes, so this helps me concentrate and become flexible to get me into the character."
Most of your acting projects so far have been in films. What was it like adapting to working on a series with an ensemble cast like The Season?
"Working on a series was very different from film, but in such an exciting and rewarding way. Because the story unfolds over multiple episodes, we had more time to explore the characters emotionally and really allow the relationships to develop. I loved being able to slowly discover Alison throughout the journey and show different layers of her over time.
Being part of an ensemble cast also made the experience very special. Every actor brought something unique to their character, and because all of our stories were so interconnected, it felt like we were constantly building the world of The Season together. There was such a strong sense of collaboration on set, and I learned so much from working alongside such talented people."
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You’ve explored a few areas in your career, like modelling and songwriting, before you started acting. When did you begin to consider acting, and why?
"Acting was actually my very first dream. I remember being little and watching one of my dad’s films, and I was crying my eyes out while watching it. I was completely overwhelmed and amazed by how movies and characters could move people so deeply and deliver meaningful messages to the audience. That experience stayed with me for a very long time."
Where does your focus, both professionally and personally, lie for the rest of 2026?
"For the rest of 2026, both professionally and personally, I want to continue challenging myself and not be afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. I hope to keep growing through new experiences, take on roles and projects that push me emotionally and creatively, and continue learning along the way.
More than anything, I want to give my very best in everything I do and keep evolving as an actress and as a person. I think growth comes from embracing the unknown, and I want to continue approaching new opportunities with courage, curiosity, and gratitude."
What is one thing you want viewers to take away from your role in The Season?
"One thing I hope viewers take away from Alison’s story is that it’s okay to show weakness and that you don’t have to be perfect all the time. I think so many people feel pressure to appear strong or flawless on the outside, but being vulnerable is also a part of being human. Alison carries a lot of emotional weight beneath the surface, and through her journey, I hope people can see that there is strength in vulnerability and honesty. Sometimes our imperfections, emotions, and struggles are the very things that connect us to others the most."
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.