Mazda launches new CX-5

Mazda launches new CX-5

Mazda Motor Corp. President Masahiro Moro and Japanese actress and "brand ambassador" Haruka Ayase pose on May 21, 2026, in front of a fully remodeled Mazda CX-5 sport utility vehicle, launched the same day.

Mazda launches new CX-5

Mazda launches new CX-5

Mazda Motor Corp. President Masahiro Moro and Japanese actress and "brand ambassador" Haruka Ayase pose on May 21, 2026, in front of a fully remodeled Mazda CX-5 sport utility vehicle, launched the same day.

Film director Koreeda in Cannes

Film director Koreeda in Cannes

Japanese film director Hirokazu Koreeda (2nd from L) holds a press conference at the Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 17, 2026, a day after the screening of his latest film "Sheep in the Box." Haruka Ayase (far L), Rimu Kuwaki (2nd from R) and Daigo star in the film.

CORRECTED: Cannes film festival

CORRECTED: Cannes film festival

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase (L) and film director Hirokazu Koreeda (R) receive a standing ovation following the screening of Koreeda's latest film "Sheep in the Box" at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 16, 2026, in Cannes, southern France.

CORRECTED: Cannes film festival

CORRECTED: Cannes film festival

Japanese film director Hirokazu Koreeda (C, facing camera) receives a standing ovation following the screening of his latest film "Sheep in the Box" at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 16, 2026, in Cannes, southern France, along with Haruka Ayase (C, L), Rim Kuwaki (C, R) and Daigo (C, far R), who star in the film.

Women mimic actress Ayase's Glico ad pose in Osaka

Women mimic actress Ayase's Glico ad pose in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Women imitate the "one-leg stand" pose of popular actress Haruka Ayase shown on a curtain draped over a huge Ezaki Glico Co. signboard in the Dotonbori area of Osaka, western Japan, on Aug. 25, 2014. The original signboard is being remodeled.

Bean-throwing festival at temple

Bean-throwing festival at temple

NARITA, Japan - Japanese actress Haruka Ayase (L) throws bags of beans during the annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at Naritasan Shinsho Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2013. People in Japan customarily throw beans to drive away demons and attract good luck at traditional "setsubun" events in early February. Actor Hidetoshi Nishijima (C) and actor Hiroki Hasegawa (R) also took part in the event.

Bean-throwing festival at temple

Bean-throwing festival at temple

NARITA, Japan - Japanese actress Haruka Ayase throws bags of beans during the annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at Naritasan Shinsho Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2013. People in Japan customarily throw beans to drive away demons and attract good luck at traditional "setsubun" events in early February.

Bean-throwing festival at temple

Bean-throwing festival at temple

NARITA, Japan - Japanese actress Haruka Ayase (L) and actor Hidetoshi Nishijima throw bags of beans during the annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at Naritasan Shinsho Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2013. People in Japan customarily throw beans to drive away demons and attract good luck at traditional "setsubun" events in early February.

Women mimic actress Ayase's Glico ad pose in Osaka

Women mimic actress Ayase's Glico ad pose in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Women imitate the "one-leg stand" pose of popular actress Haruka Ayase shown on a curtain draped over a huge Ezaki Glico Co. signboard in the Dotonbori area of Osaka, western Japan, on Aug. 25, 2014. The original signboard is being remodeled. (Kyodo)

Tokyo Olympics countdown

Tokyo Olympics countdown

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase poses during an event held by All Nippon Airways Co. at Tokyo's Haneda airport on July 23, 2019, a day before the start of the one-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase (R) and Ritsu Doan of Dutch soccer team FC Groningen pose for a photo with 2020 Tokyo Olympic torches at an event held by games sponsor Coco-Cola (Japan) Co. in Tokyo on June 10, 2019, to promote its torch relay smartphone app. About 10,000 people will take part in the 121-day torch relay from March 26, 2020, covering more than 800 municipalities in Japan's 47 prefectures. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Japanese swimming star Kousuke Kitajima (L), actress Haruka Ayase (C) and Ritsu Doan of Dutch soccer team FC Groningen pose at an event held by Tokyo Olympics sponsor Coco-Cola (Japan) Co. in Tokyo on June 10, 2019, to promote its torch relay smartphone app. About 10,000 people will take part in the 121-day torch relay from March 26, 2020, covering more than 800 municipalities in Japan's 47 prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase poses for a photo with a 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch at an event held by games sponsor Coco-Cola (Japan) Co. in Tokyo on June 10, 2019, to promote its torch relay smartphone app. About 10,000 people will take part in the 121-day torch relay from March 26, 2020, covering more than 800 municipalities in Japan's 47 prefectures. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Torch relay for 2020 Olympics

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase poses for a photo with a 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch at an event held by games sponsor Coco-Cola (Japan) Co. in Tokyo on June 10, 2019, to promote its torch relay smartphone app. About 10,000 people will take part in the 121-day torch relay from March 26, 2020, covering more than 800 municipalities in Japan's 47 prefectures. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Actress Haruka Ayase at Seiko Watch press conference

Actress Haruka Ayase at Seiko Watch press conference

Seiko Watch Corp. Chairman and CEO Shinji Hattori (L) and Japanese actress Haruka Ayase attend a press conference by the watchmaker in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

ANA to fly Airbus A380

ANA to fly Airbus A380

All Nippon Airways Co. President and CEO Yuji Hirako (R) and Japanese actress Haruka Ayase attend an event in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2018, to announce that the company will fly the Airbus A380 double-deck jetliner between Japan's Narita and Honolulu starting from May 24, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

ANA to fly Airbus A380

ANA to fly Airbus A380

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase lies down on seats to be installed on All Nippon Airways Co.'s Airbus A380 at an event in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2018. The company announced that it will fly the double-deck jetliner between Japan's Narita and Honolulu starting from May 24, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

ANA to fly Airbus A380

ANA to fly Airbus A380

All Nippon Airways Co. President and CEO Yuji Hirako (L) and Japanese actress Haruka Ayase (C) attend an event in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2018, to announce that the company will fly the Airbus A380 double-deck jetliner between Japan's Narita and Honolulu starting from May 24, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase

Japanese actress Haruka Ayase delivers a speech during a ceremony to kick off a parade event commemorating the former Aizu domain in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, on Sept. 23, 2018. The Aizu domain lost to forces against the ruling Tokugawa shogunate in the Boshin war (1868-1869) and Aizuwakamatsu was one of the fiercest battlefields in the war. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo