Meet Rimu Kuwaki: A Talented 10-Year-Old in Hirokazu Koreeda’s Cannes Film ‘Sheep In A Box’
Newcomer Rimu Kuwaki Debuts in Koreeda’s ‘Sheep in the Box’ at Cannes
Rimu Kuwaki, a Japanese child actor, makes his acting debut in the film Sheep in the Box, directed by acclaimed auteur Hirokazu Koreeda. The film premiered in Competition today at the Cannes Film Festival, where Kuwaki’s role as a robot child surrogate captures both intrigue and emotional depth.
Koreeda, a Palme d’Or winner, is no stranger to Cannes, often presenting films that explore themes of life, death, and parenting. This year, Sheep in the Box introduces a science fiction twist to these familiar topics. Kuwaki, who is set to turn 10 during the festival, portrays a humanoid who resembles a child who tragically died in an accident. “I play a humanoid who looks exactly like their child, who died in an accident,” he shared, “and continues living in their place.” Haruka Ayase and Daigo Yamamoto star as his on-screen parents.
Kuwaki was selected from over 200 candidates, despite having limited acting experience. He candidly remarked, “I’ve never really had any acting lessons — almost none, to be honest — but I have appeared in one drama series. The lines were basically just me being myself, so I’m not sure if you could really call it acting.”
Despite his inexperience, Kuwaki embraced the role and credited Koreeda for his support. “Director Koreeda Hirokazu is very kind,” he said. “He would encourage me by saying, ‘Let’s do our best,’ so any feelings of fear or embarrassment just disappear. Every time after shooting a take, he would also say to me, ‘That was really great,’ which made me so happy and motivated me to do my best again the next day. The atmosphere on set was fun and relaxed.”
Though he faced some challenges on set, Kuwaki maintained a positive attitude. “Sometimes I got a bit too excited and started running around,” he recalled. “I was told, ‘Robots aren’t supposed to sweat.’ And when I had a little bit of food around my mouth, the crew said, ‘Robots don’t eat sweets, right?’ So I realized I had to be more careful.”
Kuwaki also appreciated his interactions with his on-screen parents. “They’re kind, beautiful, and cool — I love them very much,” he expressed. To prepare for his role, the trio spent time together eating meals, reviewing baby photos, and even giving each other shoulder massages. “I was really moved by their facial expressions and movements during the acting, and it made my heart ache at times. It made me realize how amazing acting can be.”
Looking ahead, Kuwaki expressed a desire to continue his acting career. “I like both watching movies and acting in them, and I hope to continue acting in the future. I’ve already told my family about my decision, and I’m going to do my best to appear in three more films.” Outside of acting, he also enjoys sports and hobbies, including baseball, soccer, video games, golf, dancing, and fishing, and he is currently focusing on improving his golf and dance skills.
