Megumi Morisaki: Actor, Activist, and Champion of Arts

Before becoming a prominent figure in worker's rights, Megumi Morisaki cultivated a rich and diverse acting career that earned her critical acclaim and a significant presence in Japanese cinema and television. Her early foray into the industry saw her debut as a leading actor in the film "Human Scramble," marking the beginning of a prolific journey. Over the years, Megumi Morisaki has graced the screens and stages in more than 30 films and TV dramas, taking on both leading and supporting roles that showcase her versatility and depth as a performer. One of her most notable performances was in the starring role of the film "CHARON." Her portrayal in "CHARON" garnered international recognition, with critics at the Deauville Asian Film Festival lauding her performance. They described how she "breathes life into the noble, moving, enchantingly beautiful and virtuous CHARON with a performance that can only be described as simply wonderful". Such accolades highlight her ability to infuse characters with compelling emotion and narrative power, establishing her as an actor of considerable talent. Beyond specific film titles, Megumi Morisaki has appeared in popular TV dramas like "Aibou" and stage productions such as "Hissatsu!". This extensive body of work not only demonstrates her artistic prowess but also underscores her deep understanding of the intricacies and demands of the performing arts from an insider's perspective. It is this lived experience, the long hours, the often precarious nature of project-based work, and the intimate knowledge of production environments, that profoundly informs her relentless pursuit of better conditions for her peers. Her artistic journey is not merely a collection of roles but a foundational chapter that laid the groundwork for her powerful advocacy, equipping her with the credibility and insight necessary to champion the cause of Japan's arts workers.

The transition from a celebrated actor to a formidable advocate for labor rights might seem like a significant shift, but for Megumi Morisaki, it was a natural evolution stemming from decades of observing and experiencing the systemic vulnerabilities within the Japanese entertainment industry. At the heart of her advocacy is her leadership role as the President of the Association of "Arts Workers Japan," an organization that has grown to include an impressive 52,000 members, encompassing actors, musicians, dancers, models, and various other arts and entertainment professionals, as well as staff. This substantial membership underscores the widespread need for the protections and reforms that Megumi Morisaki champions. A critical issue Megumi Morisaki has consistently highlighted is the stark reality that approximately 95% of arts and entertainment workers in Japan operate as freelancers. This freelance status, while offering flexibility, historically meant a severe lack of legal protection. Unlike salaried employees, these independent contractors were often excluded from basic labor laws, leaving them without social security, workers' compensation, or even the right to negotiate fair contracts. Megumi Morisaki herself recounted the alarming truth that, as freelance actors, they "had no legal protection" and were often "not compensated when we were injured on the job". This precarious situation often leads to unfair practices, where workers might not receive written contracts, or find themselves in situations where the terms of work, including rehearsal times, transport costs, and cancellation fees, are not clearly stipulated or are subject to last-minute changes. A survey she cited revealed that only 17.8% of 242 workers had signed a service contract, with another survey by the Agency for Cultural Affairs showing an even lower 12.7%, starkly indicating the widespread absence of formal agreements in the sector. Recognizing these systemic issues, Megumi Morisaki became a vocal and persistent force for change. Her relentless lobbying efforts with government agencies bore fruit in 2021 when the workers' compensation insurance system was amended. This crucial change, which she actively campaigned for, finally allowed arts and entertainment workers to "obtain a minimum level of social security". This achievement, though a significant step, necessitated the establishment of a contact point for enrollment, leading to the formation of "Arts Workers Japan" as a mutual aid organization. This is a tangible example of her ability not just to identify problems but to drive concrete, actionable solutions that directly improve the lives of thousands. Beyond this milestone, Megumi Morisaki continues to campaign for more comprehensive legal frameworks. She has been a strong advocate for the establishment of a "Law on ensuring fair transactions involving freelance contractors" and for improvements to the Health and Safety Law. Her goal is to ensure that freelance workers have the right to negotiate on equal footing with production companies and clients, addressing issues like securing payments, setting minimum remuneration, and expanding the social security system. She also played a significant role as a member of the Council for the Establishment of Appropriate Contractual Relationships in the Cultural and Arts Sector, Agency of Cultural Affairs, further solidifying her influence in policy-making. Megumi Morisaki's advocacy extends firmly into the realm of workplace safety and addressing harassment within the arts community. She has been an active participant in Japan's #MeToo movement, pushing for belated but necessary reforms. In 2023, under her guidance, "Arts Workers Japan" undertook extensive surveys on harassment, workplace accidents, health and safety, and even the impact of AI, collecting responses from 26,891 creative practitioners. These surveys revealed more than 2,000 cases of damages, exposing the harsh reality that Japanese freelance arts and entertainment workers had virtually "no legal protection at all". Her insights into these issues are profound. Speaking on a scandal involving a major broadcaster in January 2025, Megumi Morisaki, as the representative director of Arts Workers Japan, expressed concern that prioritizing an individual's privacy in such cases could allow problematic situations to continue "like nothing happened" once the victim returned to work. She questioned whether the broadcaster had taken sufficient measures, asserting that "They could have done many things more quickly". This demonstrates her critical perspective and her insistence on proactive, systemic solutions rather than superficial fixes. Her leadership in this area is not merely about reactive measures but about establishing a culture of accountability and prevention that ensures a safer and more respectful environment for all artists.

As the world grapples with the rapid advancements of artificial intelligence, Megumi Morisaki has proactively positioned herself and "Arts Workers Japan" at the forefront of protecting artists from the potential downsides of this transformative technology. She recognizes that while AI offers unprecedented opportunities, it also poses significant threats to the livelihoods and intellectual property rights of creative professionals. Megumi Morisaki has been particularly vocal about the "possibility of human workers losing their jobs to AI". She observed a surprising number of workers who had already experienced the impact of AI early in its proliferation, highlighting that the concerns emerging globally, notably seen in the SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood, are equally pertinent in Japan. A survey conducted by "Arts Workers Japan" in May 2024 regarding AI literacy revealed alarming statistics: almost 94% of over 26,000 respondents were worried about the infringement of rights by AI and other harmful effects. Furthermore, 91.9% were concerned about their work being used without permission, 64% feared losing their rights, and 60% worried about losing their skills and motivation. These figures underscore a deep-seated anxiety within the creative community, particularly among illustrators, where 58.5% expressed fear of job displacement due to AI's advance. Megumi Morisaki cited real-world examples to illustrate these concerns, such as a major beverage company, Ito En, using an AI model for a recent TV commercial. She noted that commercials are a vital source of income for entertainment workers, and if such roles are increasingly filled by AI, "then the job of an actor comes into question". This direct threat to income streams and traditional career paths is a central point of her advocacy. While countries like the European Union have begun to devise AI regulations and the U.S. has seen significant union victories against AI's unchecked use, Megumi Morisaki argues that similar protections are "lacking" in Japan. She points out that Japan's current copyright laws tend to favor AI more than legislation in other countries, allowing companies to exploit language, sound, or images for data analysis with potentially "scant artistic protection". She has emphasized the need for Japan to introduce protections for actors at the start of their careers, given that AI can instantly generate similar content and potentially preclude their future success. Megumi Morisaki believes that addressing these issues requires a broad, collaborative approach. She asserted that it is "too narrow to think (of this issue) just within Japan," advocating for collaboration with the Japanese government, other countries, and similar international organizations. This global perspective highlights her understanding that AI's impact transcends national borders and requires a unified response to protect creators worldwide. She has presented her insights at various forums, including the Freelance Act Symposium at Aoyama Gakuin University in June 2024, where she discussed "Fair Trading in Entertainment and Performing Arts and Creative Industries and the Law: A Deep Dive into Japan's Freelance, Subcontract, and Antimonopoly Acts," providing a crucial "perspective of art and entertainment freelance-workers" on legal frameworks. Her discussions often include specific examples of concerns voiced by artists, such as voice actors troubled by AI generating their voices, and the widespread issue of lack of contractual clarity regarding AI usage. Her dedication to these issues demonstrates her forward-thinking approach to an industry grappling with rapid technological change, ensuring that human creativity remains valued and protected in the AI era.

Megumi Morisaki's influence extends beyond her acting career and direct advocacy. Her engagement with academic institutions and governmental cultural bodies further solidifies her position as a leading authority and thought leader within Japan's cultural sphere. These roles provide her with additional platforms to shape policy, educate future generations, and embed the concerns of arts workers into broader societal discussions. As a part-time teacher at Kyoritsu Women's University, Megumi Morisaki brings her invaluable real-world experience and deep understanding of the arts industry directly into the classroom. This academic role allows her to educate aspiring artists and professionals about the practical realities of the industry, including labor rights, contractual issues, and the evolving landscape of digital technologies like AI. She can impart not only artistic knowledge but also crucial information about professional self-protection and advocacy, preparing students for the challenges they will face in their careers. Her presence in academia underscores the importance of integrating practical industry knowledge with theoretical learning, fostering a more informed and resilient generation of arts workers. Furthermore, Megumi Morisaki is a respected member of the Council of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. This appointment places her in a strategic position within Japan's government cultural agency, allowing her to directly contribute to policy discussions and decision-making processes that affect the entire cultural and arts sector. Her participation in this council is instrumental in ensuring that the voices and concerns of freelance artists and entertainment workers are heard and considered at the highest levels of cultural governance. It is within such bodies that broad cultural policies are formulated, funding decisions are made, and legal frameworks are reviewed, making her involvement crucial for the ongoing improvement of working conditions and protections for artists. Her insights, drawn from extensive surveys and direct engagement with the arts community, provide the council with a grounded and experienced perspective, bridging the gap between policy-makers and the practitioners on the ground. These roles collectively amplify Megumi Morisaki's impact. They enable her to influence not only through direct lobbying and organizational leadership but also through education and formal policy engagement. Her ability to navigate these diverse environments—from the film set to the university lecture hall, and from the activist rally to the government council meeting—demonstrates her comprehensive approach to fostering a more equitable and sustainable arts industry in Japan. Through her academic and governmental affiliations, Megumi Morisaki is not just addressing present challenges but actively shaping the future of cultural work in Japan, ensuring that the next generation of artists enters an industry that is more supportive, fairer, and more securely positioned for success.

As of 2025, Megumi Morisaki stands as an indispensable figure in the ongoing evolution of Japan's arts and entertainment sector. Her journey, seamlessly weaving together the threads of a successful acting career with profound and impactful activism, has created a legacy that transcends individual achievements. She is not merely reacting to the challenges faced by artists but proactively shaping an environment where creativity can flourish without exploitation. Her persistent advocacy for fair transactions and improved health and safety laws continues to be a cornerstone of her work. In a landscape where, as recently as March 2025, the conversation around legal protections for freelance workers remains critical, Megumi Morisaki's voice is more vital than ever. Her emphasis on the urgent need to include freelance workers within existing legal frameworks demonstrates her unwavering commitment to securing basic rights for those historically overlooked. The ongoing discussions about securing payments, setting minimum remuneration, and expanding social security systems for artists remain central to her agenda, reflecting a long-term vision for systemic change. The digital revolution, particularly the proliferation of AI, presents both opportunities and significant hurdles for the creative industries. Megumi Morisaki’s foresight in identifying AI’s potential to displace human talent and infringe upon intellectual property rights has been crucial. By leading extensive surveys and actively participating in national and international dialogues, she has ensured that the concerns of Japanese artists are heard on a global stage. Her call for collaborative efforts between governments, international organizations, and industry bodies to establish robust AI regulations underscores her understanding that these challenges require a unified, comprehensive response. As AI technology continues to advance in 2025 and beyond, her work in this domain will become increasingly critical in shaping ethical guidelines and legal precedents that protect human creativity. Megumi Morisaki’s enduring impact is multifaceted. She has undeniably raised awareness about the precarious working conditions for freelance artists in Japan, transforming what were once unspoken struggles into mainstream discussions. Through her leadership of the Association of "Arts Workers Japan," she has created a powerful collective voice, uniting thousands of individuals who previously lacked representation. Her concrete legislative victories, such as the Special Safety Net Insurance, have provided tangible, life-changing protections for countless individuals, demonstrating that sustained advocacy can indeed lead to meaningful policy reform. Furthermore, her roles at Kyoritsu Women's University and the Agency for Cultural Affairs ensure that her influence extends beyond direct activism into educational and governmental spheres. This strategic positioning allows her to embed principles of fair labor and artist protection into the very fabric of cultural policy and future talent development. Looking ahead, Megumi Morisaki's work remains far from complete. The challenges of a globalized, digitized, and increasingly AI-driven entertainment industry demand continuous vigilance and adaptation. Yet, her track record of impactful advocacy, coupled with her deep understanding of the industry, positions her as a pivotal leader for the years to come. Her vision is one where artistic passion is supported by robust legal protections, fair compensation, and a safe working environment, ensuring that Japan's vibrant cultural landscape continues to thrive through the dedicated efforts of its human creators. Megumi Morisaki is not just a figure of the present; she is a foundational architect of a more equitable future for the arts.