When we were 27 years old: Words of encouragement from 25 people who struggled, got lost, and became "me." KODANSHA with Editorial Department "My" History: Stories from successful women 1 Miho Kanno (Actress) "Keep running until you can say, 'I'm glad I was in a hurry.'" 2 Hiromi Nagasaku (Actress) "I think your 20s are a time of training to develop the power to choose." 3 Naomi Kawase (Film Director) "Dig deep into the place where you can be yourself." 4 Akiko Nogi (Screenwriter) "Even if you don't have dreams or a vision, life is still ahead of you." 5 Yuzuru Kurenai (Actor) "It's okay to just get by without confronting things." 6 Michiko Kichise (Actress) "If you think you have no special skills, set clear goals." 7 Yuka (Talent/Actor) "It might be a misconception that 'this is the only place,' or 'this is the only thing.'" 8 Kyoko Sasaki (Fuji TV Announcer) "Even if it's uncool, your feelings will be conveyed if you are honest." 9 Yo Yoshida (Actress) "You don't need a reason to be confident in your 20s!" 10 Shinobu Otake (Actress) "As long as you believe in what you want to cherish." 11 Eriko Kitagawa (Screenwriter/Film Director) "Taking a break is also a way of living sincerely." 12 Chiaki Mukai (Astronaut) "Human life is finite. 'No regrets!' Challenge yourself." 13 Yuniko Unno (Manga Artist) "A ball can become a strike if you change it." 14 Tomoko Yamaguchi (Actress) "The days you faced trials will become the power for new challenges." 15 Moyoco Anno (Manga Artist) "The more you overcome, the more you can do." 16 Mari Natsuki "If you move with all your heart, your possibilities will expand greatly." 17 Jun Fubuki (Actress) "The less experience you have, the more important your own senses are." 18 Waki Yamato (Manga Artist) "The peak is yet to come. Try to work hard in your 20s." 19 Atsuko Muraki (Former Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare) "If it's hard to balance work and childcare, it's okay to have a time to borrow." 20 Kyoko Hasegawa (Actress) "If you keep overcoming each day, a free world will open up." 21 Kumi Koda (Artist) "After giving it your all, don't forget to take care of yourself." 22 Junko Arai (Drama Producer) "With work and relationships, start by finding them interesting." 23 Natsuko Toda (Film Subtitle Translator) "If you're close to your goal, your dream will come true." 24 Yukiko Motoya (Playwright/Novelist) "Don't try to forcibly resolve the complexes you have now." 25 Seiko Noda (Member of the House of Representatives) "Don't try too hard to be serious, and fulfill 'ordinary' desires."