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From housemate to ‘Halfmates’: Kaori Oinuma’s journey as a rising Kapamilya star

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Liezel dela Cruz 

<p>With her talent already &#x27;ripe&#x27; for bigger things, Kaori Oinuma is ready to shine even brighter as the lead in ABS-CBN&#x27;s upcoming rom-com &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-videos/kaori-and-jeremiah-lead-abs-cbns-new-digital-romcom-series-halfmates-23505"><em><strong><u>Halfmates</u></strong></em></a>.&quot; From her early days as a reality show star to becoming a digital series powerhouse, she&#x27;s proof that when potential is nurtured, anything is possible.</p><p align="justify">Ever since she broke into the entertainment scene with her remarkable stint on &quot;<strong><u><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pbbotso/"><em>Pinoy Big Brother Otso</em></a>,</u></strong>&quot; the public hasn&#x27;t stopped taking notice of the &quot;Kawaii Daughter ng Japan.&quot;</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/10wqKR09L9w" title="Kaori Oinuma" s="" memorable="" journey="" in="" PBB="" Otso="" width="1374"></iframe></div><p align="justify">She won the hearts of the &#x27;taumbayan’ by facing <em>Kuya&#x27;s</em> tasks with her innate strength, without losing the selflessness and dreamer&#x27;s spirit that she’s had since stepping into the iconic yellow house, earning her a well-deserved spot as 8<sup>th</sup> Big Placer.</p><p align="justify">Kaori developed a strong passion for acting when she was cast in a project following her PBB stint. Though a neophyte, she delivered her character’s cute and feisty presence in the Sunday thriller &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/parasiteisland"><em><u><strong>Parasite Island</strong></u></em></a>.&quot; Also, her unexpected chemistry with Paulo Angeles had viewers smiling with their every on-screen interaction.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WtKYzUeIdsw" title="Miggy charms Lia | Parasite Island (With Eng Subs)" width="1374"></iframe></div><p align="justify">Kaori&#x27;s impressive performance in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/parasiteisland"><em><u><strong>Parasite Island</strong></u></em></a>&quot; was followed by a guest appearance in the “<em>Mata</em>” episode of iconic drama anthology &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/maalaalamokaya"><em><strong><u>Maalaala Mo Kaya</u></strong></em></a>,” and she even showcased her comedic side in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/homesweetiehome"><em><strong><u>Home Sweetie Home Extra Sweet</u></strong>,</em></a>&quot; solidifying her versatility and potential as a star on the rise.</p><div align="justify"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5EhemBdDxCk" title="Mata (Kobe" s="" Life="" Maalaala="" Mo="" Kaya="" Recap="" Eng="" width="1374"></iframe></div><div align="justify"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVb9CGSj6Hs" title="Hiro introduces Akiko to Bogs | HSH Extra Sweet" width="1374"></iframe></div><p align="justify">The more she immersed herself in acting, the more she fell in love with the craft. Not long after her PBB journey, in 2020, she landed her first lead role in the digital movie “<em>The Four Bad Boys and Me</em>.”</p><p align="justify">We can&#x27;t deny that her captivating Asian-doll visual, which looks flawless from every angle, is one of the main reasons we can&#x27;t take our eyes off her. With her sweet and feminine features, Kaori was a perfect fit for high school rom-com genres.</p><p align="justify">Playing Michiko in the phenomenal series &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/hesintoher"><em><strong><u>He&#x27;s Into Her</u></strong></em></a>&quot; opened a new era for Kaori, one marked by greater popularity, and for which she won &quot;<em>TV Supporting Actress of the Year</em>&quot; at the 4th Village Pipol Choice Awards. If you haven&#x27;t seen this two-season Gen Z favorite, topbilled by Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, we highly recommend watching Kaori&#x27;s big scenes that will make you cry and feeling ‘kilig.’ “<em>He’s Into Her</em>” Season 1 and 2 are available for streaming via iWantTFC.</p><p align="justify">Not veering away from shows with friendship as the central theme, Kaori added depth and color to the iWantTFC series &quot;<em>Tara, G</em>&quot; with some of her fellow &#x27;<em>Rise</em>&#x27; artists. This time, she was more fearless as Legs, the &#x27;ate&#x27; of Team W.I.S.E., who is blessed with &quot;ganda at galing.&quot;</p><p align="justify">While her succeeding acting project, the mystery-thriller iWantTFC series &quot;<em>Fractured</em>,&quot; still had &#x27;barkada&#x27; elements in the plot, Kaori stepped up her game by bringing a bolder and more grown-up side to her acting. <em>That</em> kissing scene with Jeremiah Lisbo was a significant leap for her, signaling a transition into a more mature phase of her career.</p><p align="justify">Kaori also had her time to shine, working closely with award-winning actress and fellow PBB alum Kim Chiu in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/seckim2024"><em><strong><u>What&#x27;s Wrong With Secretary Kim</u></strong></em></a>,&quot; the Filipino adaptation of the hit K-Drama.</p><div align="justify"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G87g1KnxVbE" title="Brandon is now ready to court Kim | What" s="" Wrong="" With="" Secretary="" width="1374"></iframe></div><p align="justify">In films, the 24-year-old Kapamilya nailed her role as the naturally sweet and model student Megumi Sakai in &quot;<em>Love At First Stream</em>&quot; (2021). An actress truly proves her range and depth by effortlessly transitioning between opposite characters. After embodying innocence and charm as Megumi, she flipped the script, delivering jaw-dropping moments as the fierce and intense Rigel Abalos in &quot;<em>A Very Good Girl</em>&quot; (2023).</p><p align="justify">As 2024 draws to a close, Kaori is entering a new era, with her talent even more refined and magnified as she takes the lead once again, alongside Jeremiah, in the digital rom-com &quot;<em>Halfmates</em>.&quot;</p><div align="justify"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="784" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7wowaU1bQk0" title="‘Halfmates’ Official Trailer | Kaori Oinuma, Jeremiah Lisbo | #KaoMiah 🧡" width="1374"></iframe></div><p align="justify">She will play the role of former OFW Dani, whose bubbly personality clashes with the quiet and serious nature of James, portrayed by Jeremiah. The characters will cross paths after learning that they were scammed in a double sale of their dream house.</p><p>KaoMiah is sure to steal our hearts as they bring this feel-good, &#x27;nakaka-in love&#x27; series to life, premiering on October 18 at 5:30 PM on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@abscbnentertainment"><u><em>ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel</em></u></a>. Fresh episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday.</p>

Kaori Oinuma is set to shine even brighter in her lead role in 'Halfmates.' But first, let's look back at her showbiz journey!