Japanese star Maria Abe made her first public appearance on October 9, 2026, at the Kaohsiung Film Festival, stepping out with a noticeable baby bump after announcing her marriage and pregnancy last month. Attending the premiere of the short film 1945 alongside director Chang Yung-chang and actors Yang Da-zheng and Zhou Hou-an, Abe joked to reporters that the audience’s attention had shifted entirely from her face to her midsection.
Abe’s First Public Appearance and Pregnancy Revelations
- Maria Abe appeared at the Kaohsiung Film Festival on October 9, 2026, marking her first public event since announcing her marriage and pregnancy.
- She stars in the short film 1945 as a pregnant woman, creating a real-life parallel to her onscreen role.
- Abe revealed she is currently dealing with physical discomfort and managing her appetite by relying primarily on fresh fruit.
Stepping Out at the Kaohsiung Film Festival
Maria Abe joined director Chang Yung-chang and co-stars Yang Da-zheng and Zhou Hou-an at the festival’s opening event for the “Future Images” short film block, which showcased Atile’i, The Deepest and Most Beautiful Asia: The Old Monk and the Cat Monster, and 1945. Having successfully kept her pregnancy under wraps prior to the event, Abe opted for a form-fitting outfit that accidentally put her developing bump front and center. The actress laughed off the sudden shift in audience behavior, noting that people previously looked at her face when speaking to her, but now everyone’s gaze immediately drops to her stomach.
Morning Sickness and Crafting the Onscreen Pregnancy
The timing of the public appearance offers a striking mirror to her recent acting work. In 1945, Abe played a woman facing childbirth despite having zero prior personal experience with pregnancy. To prepare, she studied Japanese television dramas and researched medical documentation online. Transitioning from fiction to reality, Abe shared that she is currently experiencing physical discomfort and reduced appetite, admitting that she largely survives on fresh fruit. She also mentioned playful interactions with her husband, telling him that maintaining a happy mood for the mother ensures an easier baby, prompting him to regularly stock up on fresh produce.
Co-Star Reactions and Production Challenges
During the press interaction, co-star Yang Da-zheng—who has experience entering the delivery room—discussed the technical hurdles of the production. 1945 was filmed using a demanding one-take technique across a three-day schedule where Abe joined on the final day. Upon learning that Yang had been married twice, Abe offered a surprised Japanese exclamation of “Sugoi!”, praising his extensive life experience and sparking laughter among the cast. Director Chang Yung-chang and the ensemble navigated the experimental nature of the digital studio shoot, which required repeating certain sequences over twenty times to achieve seamless continuity.
| Project Detail | Production Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 2026 Kaohsiung Film Festival Opening |
| Featured Short Film | 1945 |
| Key Cast & Crew | Maria Abe, Yang Da-zheng, Zhou Hou-an, Director Chang Yung-chang |
| Filming Method | One-take sequence in digital/studio environment |
The festival runs through October 26, 2026, across multiple Kaohsiung cultural venues, with the Future Images showcase highlighting experimental cinematic forms. Share your thoughts on Abe’s transition from playing an expectant mother on film to embracing motherhood in real life in the comments below.
