Erika Umeda to Make Modeling Debut

Former Hello!Project J-pop idol unit C-ute member ERIKA UMEDA will make her debut as a fashion model this Saturday at Japan’s largest music and fashion show “Girls Award 2010″ in Tokyo.  The Japanese teen has a lithe 5’7″ body with smooth fair skin and huge beautiful doe eyes for a complete model package.  For the short interview with Sankei Sports Erika Umeda (梅田えりか) showed up looking both cute and sexy wearing a pair of daisy duke shorts and black heels.  The 18 year old who left her J-pop idol status half a year ago to pursue modeling says, “I’m really excited about this opportunity.  I’m feeling nervous but I’ll give it my best.”  Since Japanese actress/talent and quite possibly the No.1 bitch in Japanese entertainment world Erika Sawajiri will also be present at the event, Ms. Umeda commented that she thinks the recently divorced diva is definitely beautiful but she would like to stand out even more than her counterpart who shares the same first name.

Last month Erika signed with Japanese modeling agency Illume who also has other popular Japanese fashion models such as Reiko Takagaki and Naoko Tokuzawa under its wings.  On the career change, the Yokohama native shared that, “At first I liked singing.  But when we had photo sessions for shooting the CD jacket I realized I really enjoyed having my own pictures taken.  It was then I felt I wanted to be a fashion model.  My goal is for people to want to have the same outfit and hairstyle that I have when they see me in fashion magazines.”

I have no doubt Erika Umeda will ham it up on stage for the cameras but I just hope she will have a clear head and keep her humility and not turn into another stuck up diva like Erika Sawajiri.

See more of the former C-ute member here: JAPANESE IDOL FASHION MODEL ERIKA UMEDA ON SLEEPYJOHN.COM

Haruna Yabuki Interview

Japanese daily Sankei Sports caught up with popular Japanese gravure idol HARUNA YABUKI, or to be exact the former Haruna Yabuki to find out exactly where she’s been for the last year.  Nicknamed “Sold Out Queen” due to the fact that any magazines with her gravure spread inside would end up selling out, the sexy Tokyo native befuddled and surprised everyone in March of ’09 by quitting all of her showbiz activities at the height of her popularity and announced her plan to go study abroad.

Now back in Japan starting afresh under the name Mari Abe (which is very close to her real name, Mariko Abe), the beautiful 25 year old is striving to become an action actress.  That “undisclosed location” Haruna headed last summer turned out to be Los Angeles, where she stayed while studying English at a language school for about 10 months until the middle of April this year.  The gravure hottie was full of confidence during the interview with Sankei Sports.

Haruna Yabuki (矢吹春奈) explains she felt that she had reached the glass ceiling and a limit in her career and began feeling uneasy about herself.  It was at that time she decided to go overseas to take in new things and hopefully seek out exactly what she wanted to do in life.  She proceeded to leave her management agency and once her student visa came down she left for the US last June.  Haruna told Sankei Sports she did homestay for the first 2 months and moved in with a roommate after that.  She now has mastered daily conversation in English and that fulfilled the dream she’s had since she was a school girl in Japan.

But according to the 2003 TV Asahi Angel Eye gravure team member, the turning point was when she got invited to attend a once a week action acting class.  Haruna says she had a great time learning the fundamentals of kicking and punching.  Later on she even performed in a show.  This experience gave her a great sense of achievement and made her realize she wanted to become an action star.  As a matter of fact, the 5’5″ bikini hottie went as far as to say she’d like to appear in Hollywood flicks someday.  Haruna added, “By going to America I think I became a stronger person.  The path of my future took shape based on whether I was proactive or not.”

It looks like Ms. Yubuki, or should I say Ms. Abe has grown into a different person.  While it’s a shame we won’t be seeing more hot bikini gravure pictures of Haruna Yabuki anytime soon, I’m waiting for the day when she makes her Hollywood B-movie debut and shows some skin.  Hey, we all got to start somewhere, right?

See other posts we have on this former gravure idol: JAPANESE GRAVURE IDOL HARUNA YABUKI ON SLEEPYJOHN.COM

Japanese TV Announcer Maya Kobayashi Interview

Japanese daily Sankei Sports interviewed popular Japanese TV announcer MAYA KOBAYASHI last week.  The beautiful 30 year old belonged exclusively to TBS and was the face of their nightly main news telecast until the spring of last year.  Now a freelance announcer/newscaster with management agency Cent Force, she will begin hosting her very first variety show “Gacchari Academy” which starts next Friday night also on TBS.

Nicknamed Mayaya, Maya Kobayashi (小林麻耶) showed up in a graceful black and beige dress with short black heels just as her reputation precedes her.  Naturally Sankei Sports asked about her younger sister, freelance TV announcer Mao Kobayashi who married Japanese kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa last month.  According to Maya, Mao who is 3 years younger has moved into a new home in posh Meguro Ward in Tokyo with her husband.  “The bath at her new place is huge so when Ebizo is on tour I plan to sneak in there and take a bath with my sister”, proclaimed Maya.  She then added that her brother-in-law has already said ok to her coming over.  The Aoyama Gakuin University graduate is close to her sister.  For a while before Mao tied the knot they were living together and would often carry their conversation into the bathroom while sharing the bath.

Maya admits that since her younger sister has married many people around her are worried.  They’ve been asking her, “What are you going to do?”  To which she replies, “I’m more like a mom so I wanted to see to it that Mao gets married off first.  I don’t feel like getting married right now.  But I’d like to marry by the time I’m 35.”  When asked what is her ideal man the beautiful and sexy Japanese announcer answers, “He has to be generous and calm.  It’s best if he’s a male version of my sister.  Also he can’t be too handsome because good looking guys might cheat.”  Maya also shares that she’d be content with a simple marriage proposal line like “Please be my wife” or simply “Let’s get married.”

Fellas (especially ugly looking ones), get in line.  I’m out of luck, but now is your chance!

Go here for more Maya: JAPANESE TV ANNOUNCER MAYA KOBAYASHI ON SLEEPYJOHN.COM

Yoko Kumada Wants to Get Hitched

Sexy Japanese gravure idol Yoko Kumada (熊田曜子) wants to get married…like now!  Japanese daily Sankei Sports aka Sanspo interviewed the gravure veteran earlier this year to find out that the Gifu Prefecture native is very ready to say yes to a wedding.  Can somebody please tell me where is the sign up sheet for me to bury my face in Yoko’s soft F cup chest?

The following is taken from the 27 year old Artist House Pyramid talent’s interview:

I have a strong urge to get married.  As a matter of fact, I thought I was going to marry when I was 23 years old.  Like I wrote in my book last year, I’d like to get married at 27 and give birth at 28.  I’ve gotta get hitched since I already missed that deadline.  There’s no ideal partner right now, but I’m thinking positively and working hard everyday toward that goal.  There’s still time. 

I think a woman who works hard for a man is wonderful.  I’ve been working out hard for a body that men would love.  I lost 8 kg in 3 months.  To maintain my nice body shape I began doing massages since 2 years ago and keeping a close eye on my weight on a daily basis.  As I enter my 7th year in showbiz, I keep expanding my talent as an actress, singer and entertainer.  I’m always seeking out my own style.  To me gravure modeling is still my bread and butter, so I’ll continue doing that in the future.

Yoko Kumada Wants to Get Married Now

Interview with Yu Tejima

Tittie monster Japanese gravure idol Yu Tejima (手島優) was chosen to be on last year’s NTV Genic gravure idol team and now she has a DVD out titled “Big Love”.  Japanese online media Aitopix caught up with the I cup blessed Platinum Production model at the release event a couple weeks ago.

Aitopix:  First we’d like to ask you about the title of your new DVD.

Yu Tejima:  Since I’ve always used “I’ve got an I cup chest filled with love” as my slogan, it goes well with the title. (laughing)

Aitopix:  Where are some of the shooting locations?

Yu Tejima:  We shot during spring by the ocean and at traditional Japanese inn on the Izu Peninsula. (about 2 hours southwest of Tokyo)

Aitopix:  What kind of theme was your photoshoot?

Yu Tejima:  It’s just as if I’m going through a typical day in my life.  It has a feeling of going on a date with the camera often closing in with lots of eye contact.  It’s very intimate…even I got a little embarrassed when I saw the final cut the other day.

Aitopix:  You also went to a river for the DVD.

Yu Tejima:  It was still cold when we did it.  I got goosebumps when the cold water hit my body.  By the way, the camerman likes to torture me.  He kept telling me, “Get into the stream more, splash more water on yourself!”

Aitopix:  What’s a memorable scene for you?

Yu Tejima:  This is my first DVD since doing NTV Genic so I wanted to appear a little more grown up.  But I ended up wearing a school uniform. (laughing)  However I was thinking, “So this is what being young again feels like” and enjoyed it.

Aitopix:  Which one’s your favorite bikini that you wore?

Yu Tejima:  It’s on the jacket of the DVD.  It’s a green micro bikini that barely covers anything.  It looks like my boobs are about to pop out!

Aitopix:  You turned 25 back on August 27th while shooting the DVD.  How did your birthday go?

Yu Tejima:  I worked in the morning but did nothing afterward.  I went home and ate soba that I bought at the convenient store.  For about 2 hours I complained to my mom that no one was celebrating my birthday. (laughing)

Poor Yu…if I had know it was her birthday I would’ve gotten to her house in a jiffy and taken her out for a night she’ll never forget.  Hell, I would’ve even thrown in my world famous breast massage! xD

Interview with Japanese Actress Idol Yui Aragaki

Super cute and charming Japanese actress idol Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣) has a new movie out and Japanese entertainment daily Sankei Sports caught up with the talented 21 year old Okinawa native for a quick one on one interview session.  The movie “BALLAD Namonaki Koi no Uta” (BALLAD 名もなき恋のうた) hit theaters in Japan this past Saturday.  Yui plays the leading role as a princess in this historic/periodic movie that takes place back in the 16th century.  Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅剛), member of Japan’s most popular ageless boy group SMAP and lately the king of “one man party in a city park” stars as Yui’s love interest.

For your information, Japanese often refer to Sankei Sports as “Sanspo”.

Sankei Sports Interviews Japanese Actresss Idol Yui Aragaki

Sanspo:  This is your first time taking on a role as a princess in a periodic piece.

Yui Aragaki:  I was able to make the transition into the role smoothly.  But the wardrobe gave me a lot of problems since I needed to wear a kimono the entire time.  I’ve never put on a kimino except for a few times when I went to the temple for ceremonies as a child.

Sanspo:  Did it take you a while to get used to it?

Yui Aragaki:  I practiced putting on kimono whenever I had free time on the set.  This is an outfit that people used to wear everyday.  My kimono instructor reminded me, “If you think with your head, your body will naturally follow.”  Actually when you put on a kimino you realize that you’re a woman.  But even now if I’m told to move gracefully I wouldn’t know what to do.

Sanspo:  This is a part of your trial into womanhood.

Yui Aragaki:  Recentely I’m told I’ve got a definitive character showing on my face.  I also started wearing clothing that I never thought about wearing before.  I used to go with loose clothing like parka but recently I’m more interested in form fitting jackets.

Sanspo:  The location where you go shopping have also changed.

Yui Aragaki:  That’s right.  It used to be Shibuya or Harajuku (districts in Tokyo popular with teens).  But recently I found out there are good stores in Shinjuku.  I’d like to check out Ginza too someday.

Sanspo:  You’ve indeed grown up.

Yui Aragaki:  Thank you.  I used to play roles that mostly portrayed me as a good student or a spunky girl.  But recently I could get into other characters more naturally.

Sanspo:  Now that you’ve become an adult, what about love?

Yui Aragaki:  It’d be great if love comes knocking. <– what a typical one-liner response for a Japanese actress / idol

Sanspo:  We heard you got some time off at the end of August.

Yui Aragaki:  I went on a trip with friends to Kawazu in the middle of Shizuoka Prefecture.  The waterfall there was so beautiful and the color was blue!  It reminded me of the blue ocean back home.  I felt really refreshed.

Sanspo:  Sounds like you have many things lined up off camera too.

Yui Aragaki:  I bought a car this year.  The shape is not too round but it doesn’t have too many sharp lines either.  I kept talking about it and finally got it.  I haven’t gone too far from home yet.  I have a dog so it’s nice we can go places together.  Of course, I’ll drive safely!

We all know Gakki, as Yui is affectionately called by her friends and fans got her own ride so it’ll be easier for her to dodge the media.  What I’d like to know is what lucky guy will get to sit in the passenger seat of her new car!

Interview with Japanese Fashion Model Nozomi Sasaki

One of the most talked about rising stars these days is definitely Japanese fashion and gravure model Nozomi Sasaki (佐々木希).  Only 21 years old, the Akita Prefecture native’s beautiful face can be seen everywhere from magazines to television.  Nozomi started doing fashion and gravure modeling after winning an audition sponsored by Japanese fashion magazine Pinky.

The Top Coat (トップコート) entertainment agency artist has gained plenty of female fans in their teens and twenties.  Nozomi also began her acting debut earlier this year on NTV’s drama Kami no Shizuku (神の雫).

With fine porcelain like white skin, sparkling big eyes and gentle appearance in addition to her successes and promising potential, Japanese entertainment beat authority Sankei Sports jumped at the chance and conducted an interview with the 2005 Young Jump Gravure Audition winner.

Nozomi Sasaki at Sankei Sports’ Tokyo headquarters

Sankei Sports Interviews Nozomi Sasaki

Before the interview even officially began, the interviewer couldn’t help but complimented Nozomi again by saying, “You’re such a fair skinned beauty!”  To which the northern Japan native replied, “Akita doesn’t get much sunlight so I guess that’s why I’m white.”

Q: You came to Tokyo from Akita 3 years ago.  I understand before that you worked at an apparel shop?

A: There are almost no model or talent scouts in Akita City where I worked.  So when a scout approached me I was really surprised.  I wasn’t good at speaking to strangers but the shop manager pushed me.  Because of this I was able to enter Young Jump’s audition and later won it.

Q: This was fate, wasn’t it?

A: I never thought I’d enter the entertainment industry.  I never imagined I’d leave my family and friends.  But my mother told me, “This is your life so you should go to Tokyo and work hard.”  Without realizing, my tears began falling as I left for Tokyo.

Q: Did you get homesick?

A: In the beginning I didn’t have any job coming in.  I was worried about that so I didn’t really have time to be homesick.  Of course I wanted to go home but I didn’t even have money for bus or train.  So I told myself I can only stay and work hard.  Plus everyone back home were rooting for me.  I’m really glad that I stayed.

Q: You’re also good friends with Pinky‘s model Yukina Kinoshita, right?

A: She comes over and hangs out at my place.  We think the same.  We have a great time without having to put up a front.  I’d go out with her if she’s a guy (laughing)!

Yukina Kinoshita (L) and Nozomi Sasaki (R)

Q: Do you want to get married?

A: I think that’ll be when I’m 26 (laughing).  I was told by a famous fortune teller in Okinawa.  I kind of believe it.  When the possibility of me doing the movie Handsome Suit (ハンサム★スーツ) came up…at that time people said I couldn’t act.  I was really troubled with whether I should take this job or not.  But the foretune teller told me, “Right now luck is on your side.” and I ended up being chosen for the role.

Q: It looks like you might just end up getting married at 26

A: Hahaha, but I’m really enjoying my work right now.

After this Sankei Sport’s interviewer asked, “Now that you’ve become an actress, are you shooting at becoming a blockbuster actress?”  At first Nozomi nodded but quickly said, “I take that back” while turning red.  But the fair skinned beauty added, “I’ll work really hard to prevent that from happening.”  I wonder what exactly did she mean by that.  Was she suddenly drunk or was that just a poor attempt at humor?

Q: What are you into these days?

A: Doggies!  I’ve got a 10 month old male long coat Chihuahua.  His name is Maron and we live together.  You can see him in my blog.  I wasn’t thinking about getting a dog but the moment I saw him at the pet shop he was too cute to resist.  I’m also bringing home a female teacup Poodle named Runa soon.

I’m not sure about either the Chihuahua or the teacup Poodle.  But what I’m sure about is that Nozomi Sasaki is cute as a button!

Lee Pani Interview – Korean Playboy Girl (Yee Pah Nee) 이파니

This video may load slowly. What I’ve seen is that it’ll load partially, then it’l pause,… and then it’ll load all the way. It may be better if you live closer to Korea,… or worse if you’re further away.

ANYWAY,… you can see all of the posts we have on this Korean Playboy model here which includes her Playboy pictures.

This video actually shows some insight into this whole Korean Playboy deal that’s blowing up all over the net. She’s definitely one that needs make up though. Beyond that, instead of translating literally (because that’ll take up a grip of space) I’ll summarize each section for you guys:

Introductions with the 4 girls,… each girl saying who she is,… and then saying thank you for “meeting us”

She says that she knows how big of a deal this is so when comparing herself to others,… (I’m a little bit confused as to exactly what her thoughts are here)

She talks about how people should evaluate the (Playboy) magazine not so much as just the pictures of nude girls and what not, but also of the content itself and of what the magazine tries to achieve (?) before making a (snap) judgment (about what she does/her role in it)

She’s talking about her going to school, how the professor made her stand up and write something on the board in “Old” Korean. I’m actually not sure what her point is.

Here, she’s a bit arrogant,… she talks about how she’s much hotter than her friends when they all go to the sauna. How she’s more “glam”orous.

She’s talking about drawing,…

And then you see her in the bikini. She’s talking about confidence and how

She talks about how Korean’s are awesome blah blah,… and how she wants to represent Koreans and show the world how awesome Koreans are,…aaaaaaand,….

Sorry folks. I’ve got mean old headache now. Just finished hanging out with John and we drank too much sake, or something. So if need be, I’ll translate more later.

Yee Pah Nee – Lee Pani 이파니 Interview Video 앙녀쟁투

She basically starts out by saying that it was indeed quite difficult, but it was a lot of fun. “I think that’s right,… the overall feeling is that it was a lot of fun.” She asks the crowd for support, and help.

Then the reporter asks if she felt that she did a good job with the acting job to which she says that “in truth” she felt that she had some mistakes/regrets when watching trailers (?) of the show (?) she wondered “why did I do that?” but that her older “sisters – at which point she digresses and says, I’m the youngest, but nobody believes that I am,…

I learned a lot from the older sisters and feel that I would be able to do well (from here on out). The show/episodes of Ahn-Young-Jeng-Too (앙녀쟁투) is some show about models,… and their lives. Supposed to be sexy and all that,… I’ll have to dig it up to see for myself. :)

Don’t forget, we’ve a few pics from her Playboy shoot as well. Check it out:

Lee Pani 이파니 Nude Playboy Pictures

You can read the original comment from the original post-er of the video below.

권혁문PD]10일 오후 청담동 클럽서클에서는 XTM의 4부작 드라마 ‘앙녀쟁투’ 쇼케이스가 열렸다. 이날 주연배우인 성은, 이파니, 김세인은 포토타임에서 섹시명랑한 포즈로 많은 박수를 받았다.

한편 기자간담회에서 이파니는 첫 연기에 대해 “참 어렵긴 한데 너무 재밌다. 잘 맞는거 같다. 오늘 예고편을 보며 안타까운게 많다”고 말했다.

‘앙녀쟁투’는 모델 아카데미를 배경으로 섹시하고, 매혹적인 모델들의 이야기를 다룬 작품으로 3월 15일 밤 12시 XTM을 통해 방송될 예정이다.

Hoshino Aki Promotion Video with Photo Session Video

a very nice long video of hoshino aki doing what she does best. it’s 5 minutes long with a nice short segment of her doing the photo shoots showing off her gorgeous body. the dress that she’s wearing in the interview / book signing is a bit more conservative than i would’ve expected but it also looks like it’s a bit of a more serious interview than usual? anyway, one thing i’ve noticed is that her face is a lot flatter than the pictures tell,…

that’s not to say that i would kick her out of the bed in the morning for eating crackers. just an observation.

she’s hot, no doubt about it.