[Interview] Bambi Naka, whose eyebrowless Ninja visuals have a big impact. Netflix series “House of Ninjas”

Since its release on Thursday, February 15, “House of Ninjas” has been ranked No. 1 in Netflix’s weekly global top 10. In this completely original story about the last Shinobi (or Ninja) family living in the present day, Bambi Naka plays a strange Kunoichi (a Japanese cant term for “female Ninja”) who grabs the viewer’s eye and doesn’t let go. We asked him about her appearance in this work, which is also attractive for her beautiful movements unique to dancers, and her efforts to do so.

“House of Ninjas” is a thrilling story that includes stylish Ninja action and a family drama about the last Shinobi living in the present day and has gained a lot of support both in Japan and abroad as a completely new Ninja drama that has never been seen before.
Since its release on Thursday, February 15, the series has been a huge hit, reaching No. 1 in 16 countries and regions around the world, including Japan, India, Hong Kong, and Thailand, as well as entering the Top 10 in 92 countries and regions around the world. The momentum has not slowed down, and it has continued to spread, and in the second week of distribution (2/19 (Mon) – 2/25 (Sun)), it won the first place in the Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 (non-English series). A “new wind of Ninja drama” is sweeping the world.

Starring Kento Kaku. He is also a member of the production team as a co-executive producer of this film, and he is taking on the challenge of creating a work with extraordinary enthusiasm, so much so that he says that it is “a work that puts his life on the line.” He plays the role of “Haru”, the second son of the Tawara family, who is an excellent Shinobi with exceptional talent, but whose kindness is avenged and has a great deal of trauma.
Ayame, played by Bambi Naka, is also a Kunoichi (female Ninja) living in the present day, but she is deeply involved in a shady organization led by Tsujioka (Takayuki Yamada) and is an enemy of the Tawara family.

Interview with Bambi Naka

” Who’s gonna believe this!?”

— Kento Kaku is involved in the Netflix series “House of Ninjas” as the lead actor as well as an original draft writer and as a co-executive producer, what was your impression when you first read the script of such a work?

Bambi Naka
I thought it was a very interesting work. There are several scenes that I feel are excessive, but I can’t imagine them at all with just the words, and I wonder what would happen if they were made into a video. I was very excited.

— How were you selected to appear on the film?

Bambi Naka
It’s via an audition. At that stage, I only heard the general setting of the role of a Kunoichi (female Ninja) in a Netflix production.
At the audition venue, there were more than 20 women, and I was nervous. The audition is in two stages: a play and a sword fight, starting with the play.
Auditions for the play were held in small groups based on the lines that had been given to us in advance.
After that, in the action judging, I was supposed to introduce my own experience of an action play, including the works I had appeared in before, but since I had no experience in acting or practicing for action, I honestly said, “I don’t have anything, I’ve only been dancing all the time.” I answered clearly. As I thought there’s no point in me showing off there.
Then, I ran and did the action moves taught by the action instructor, such as jumping kicks and sword fight actions, one by one.

— I see.

Bambi Naka
Then, later day, my manager contacted me and said, “Bambi-san, you have passed,” and I was happily surprised and said, “Hooray! Who’s gonna believe this!?” as I don’t have much experience passing the audition, and to make it harder this time, I was among such people who have lots of action play experience.

— Since you dance, I would assume the beauty of your body move has been much valued.

Bambi Naka
I would assume so. I think my dance experience was useful this time, and I now realize that my dancing experience is part of my strengths.
Then, I was further surprised for the second time when I saw the details of “House of Ninjas” and the cast list.

— I guess you had found the names of the gorgeous cast members on it.

Bambi Naka
You nailed it! I was so surprised and almost screaming at it so my dog sleeping in the next room was so stunned (laughs).
I knew it would be a big movie because it’s a Netflix production, but I didn’t think it would be this far. It was also at this time that I learned for the first time that Kento Kaku would also be serving as a producer.
For the next few days, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

— By the way, when the action screening at the audition was over, did you feel a good response by yourself?

Bambi Naka
I’ve always wanted to do action and sword fighting, so being taught action at that time (at the audition) was very precious to me and fun, so I was very excited, so I think I was able to relax and be my normal self. I was even applauding my elders who were teaching me how to act, saying, “Wow!”
So, it’s not even feeling a good response, but I just felt like I had a very good time.

— I see, the fact that you relaxed and enjoyed yourself may have been one of the thing that was valued.

Bambi Naka
I would agree.

Eyebrowless makeup with a strong impact “I couldn’t believe I was walking around the city like this.”

— Please tell me about the character of the Kunoichi (female Ninja) “Ayame” that you acted as.

Bambi Naka
She is a mysterious woman. She has no eyebrows, her facial impact is strong, and many of the words she speaks are scary, so she creates the atmosphere of a mysterious woman throughout the play.

— How do you feel about that eyebrowless makeup yourself?

Bambi Naka
It’s simply scary, isn’t it? When I saw the finished video, I couldn’t believe I was walking around the city like this.

— You mean, during the filming period, did you spend your daily life without eyebrows?

Bambi Naka
Exactly. At first, the makeup lady said she would do it with concealer, but I was sorry to have to go through the trouble, so I decided to dye it.
I was riding the train without these eyebrows, so I naturally there would be no people around me (laughs).

— “Ayame” has an outstanding presence in the work.

Bambi Naka
Thank you so much!

— Ayame is a master of swordsmanship, how was it to prepare for the role?

Bambi Naka
I had a strong desire to do sword fighting for a long time, so I practiced for almost two months. But of course, it was very different from dancing, and there were many things that didn’t go as planned, which was very frustrating. I cried a few times, thinking how stupid I was. But I tried to cheer myself all the time, I bought a wooden sword to practice on my own, and I wielded it at home all the time. I wanted to be a real professional action actress in the video as “Ayame” has strong visuals, so it needs to be as convincing as it gets.

— The visuals of “Ayame” are reminiscent of ancient images of Japan, and it seems to have a particularly strong impact on overseas viewers.

Bambi Naka
I think it’s strong.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to go out into the world again.”

— I won’t name him because it would be a spoiler, but in the play, there is an action confrontation with a super veteran actor. What was the atmosphere like on set?

Bambi Naka
It was a very friendly atmosphere. I felt that it was a very good team, including the staff.

— You mentioned earlier that when you first saw the cast list, you almost scriemed when you saw the names of the gorgeous cast, but what was it like to work with such people?

Bambi Naka
When I looked at the cast list, I was still the only unknown actor among them, and I was worried that I would become out of scheme, but everyone is a big veteran, so they call me “Bambi!” in a friendly manner, which eases my nervous feelings. Kengo Takara also had a casual conversation with me, such as “What kind of music do you like?”

— I saw Kento Kaku was posting his reply calling you “Bambi-chan!” on X (formerly Twitter).

Bambi Naka
It’s true. I was able to relax incredibly, and everyone treated me friendly. I was really honored and very happy to be called “Bambi” by such people.

— Listening to your story, I was reminded that first-class actors try to make a good work, not only by themselves, but also by creating an atmosphere for the entire scene.

Bambi Naka
That’s right. I had a lot of respect for the wonderful people because I could see that they were not forcing the atmosphere of the place, the distance between the cast members, and the communication between the cast members, and that they were enjoying the scene.

— What did “House of Ninjas” mean to you?

Bambi Naka
Definitely top of the top. In dance, I went to the world with Madonna’s world tour, but I didn’t expect to be able to participate in a production that could be seen all over the world again.
Before this film was released, I told Kaku-kun and director Yoshiaki Murao, “I’m more nervous than I was with Madonna,” and they said, “I heard some scary words” (laughs).

— What do you mean by that tension?

Bambi Naka
I didn’t think I would have another chance to play overseas, so I was nervous that I would have that chance again, and that it would be as a play. I wondered how people around the world would look at me.

— “Ayame” appears much more in the second half, and there are some things that make us speculate she could be a very important character, though the truth is masked in mystery.

Bambi Naka
I’m grateful! If there is a sequel, I want to do more action!

“It’s a dream come true!”

— Speaking of which, the last time I interviewed you (2021), you were saying, “I want to try action play in a heel role,” in replying to my question asking what your aspiration for the future was, but in fact, at that time, the story of this work had already been planned, hadn’t it. (laughs)

Bambi Naka
It hadn’t been planned at all! After all, the audition for “House of Shinobi” was in 2022.

— Well, that means you have acted on your words.

Bambi Naka
You can say that again! It’s a dream come true! After all, you’d better speak up about your dreams. That’s important to believe sprit lives on your words.

Handling Kunai (Shuriken) like a dance

— Please tell me about the highlights of “House of Ninjas”, including the points of interest of “Ayame”.

Bambi Naka
If there were Shinobi in the modern world, and if there were Kunoichi, I think I would feel that she would be a woman like “Ayame”. In fact, I have heard such a reputation from overseas. Please pay attention to that.

— I can’t be a spoiler writing in detail, but the scene where “Ayame” handles a Kunai (a type of Shuriken) brilliantly in the mountains alone, as if it were a dance by Bambi (which is characterized by the way you move your hands) was very beautiful.

Bambi Naka
I am so delighted! That scene was really difficult, but there are scenes where the other cast members do the same thing, and Kengo Takara said it was the most beautiful.

— That scene was like watching Bambi Naka’s signature dance.

Bambi Naka
I think he knew about my dance and made the most of it in his production. My dance buddies watched that scene over and over again about four times. Said it’s too beautiful.
I think “Ayame” is a beautiful woman in her motion, so I was very conscious of that.

— I also liked the contrast with the intensity of the sword fighting. I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction of overseas viewers.

Bambi Naka
I hope that “House of Ninjas” will be seen more and more widely around the world. I hope that the beauty of Japan will also spread via this film.

Bambi Naka Profile
She started dancing at the age of 5 and has a career spanning more than 20 years. In addition to artists such as Miliyah Kato and BoA, in 2015 she accompanied Madonna on her world tour as a backup dancer. She also participated in Japan’s presentation “SEE YOU IN TOKYO” at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics. She has been featured in many magazines, advertisements, commercials, PVs, events, etc., and is active worldwide.
In recent years, she has appeared in films such as “Chihuahua-chan” (2019), “DustBunnySHOW” (2021), and “R&J” (2019) from ROCK OPERA

Photo gallery

[Interview and photo: Juntaro Sampei / English translation: Kojiro.S]

Netflix Series “House of Ninjas”

Now available exclusively on Netflix