Behind the Scenes with Rio Yamashita: Unveiling Her True Thoughts on Playing Someone Else

I wanted to go to a place where I could let myself go.”

Rio Yamashita, 31, made her debut as “Re-House Girl” and played a member of an idol group to which the main character belongs in the drama “Amachan. We take a closer look at the real face of the actress, who showed off her gravure in the October 11 issue of “FRIDAY.

–Why did you choose Mongolia for this photo shoot?

I was aware that while I was in Tokyo, I was always in my work personality. I wanted to go to an extraordinary place where I could let myself go. I wanted to go to a place where I could be relaxed in the vast nature, so Mongolia became a candidate. Also, I like horses so much that I wanted to become a horse rider, and I had always been interested in Mongolia, where nomadic herding is very popular.

–Where did you visit in Mongolia?

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. I was told it was a four-hour drive. I was told it was a four-hour drive, but it took me six or seven hours (laughs).

–(Laughs.) “I heard that the stay in Selenge was difficult.

We got a good hotel, but the hot water in the shower in our room only lasted 10 minutes. …… I have long hair, so it was like a running water. I was fighting with anxiety about whether I would be able to take pictures safely, but I got through it with the mindset of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Also, the sun sets late in Selenge in June, at 9:00 p.m. I was able to shoot from morning until late at night. We could shoot from morning until late at night, so it was a very hard schedule.

–Did you get to interact with the horses that you love so much?

There was a scene where we had to ride a horse. That was probably the most fun part of filming on location this time (laughs).

(Laughs) — So you really like horses.

In fact, at first the horse really didn’t like me. He stepped on my foot, and I thought he was doing it on purpose. But I talked to him and said, ‘Let’s be friends,’ and eventually we became friends, and I was very moved by that. I became aware that I was changing in the midst of the great nature of Selenge.

–What was the most impressive scene in the film?

I wanted to shoot in a ger (a traditional mobile home used by nomads). I wanted to shoot the scene wearing ethnic costumes, so I looked for them in a department store in Ulaanbaatar and was able to find nice costumes that local people would actually wear. It was a valuable experience to be able to wear the costumes and shoot in a ger.”

–What is the cut you would most like people to see in the book?

The shot in the river. The water was filthy with horse manure, and I was exhausted, so I was on the edge physically and mentally, but when I saw the photo, I was surprised. I think the photos turned out impressive, as if I let nature take its course.”

I want to know who I am without any decorations.

–What made you start gravure in the first place?

When I left my agency in 2010 and went freelance, I thought I would quit the entertainment business if I didn’t get any job offers. But I was approached more often than before. I had been acting since I was 14 years old and had always played other people, so I wanted to know who I was without any decorations.

–Is there a difference between acting and gravure?

Do you feel uneasy when you don’t have a role? I feel how uneasy it is not to have a role. It is also interesting that I don’t have any lines, so my interpretations can be more varied. When I did a photogravure for “Friday,” I was surprised at how many women responded to it, which made me happy. I was told by a senior member of the entertainment industry that I was very sexy from a woman’s point of view.

–What are the challenges of being independent?

How do you spend your time? I am the type of person who takes a lot of time to prepare for a role, but now I have to do my own managerial duties as well. It’s all my responsibility, but that’s why I feel I’ve become more independent.

–What do you do to relax in your busy life?

I drink. I drink half a bottle of whiskey by myself at home to jog my memory (laughs). (Laughs.) When I go to regional tours, I visit sake breweries around the country and buy many bottles of local sake to take home.

–It sounds like you are quite a strong drinker.

I am not weak. I like to drink with other people, but it’s hard to make time to meet with people these days, so I end up drinking alone at home. So I get drunk and do insta-lives and my mother gets mad at me. …… My fans probably know I’m drinking again.”

–What do you do offline?

I can’t take a lot of time off right now, but I try to leave two weeks open in my schedule every year to go on a solo trip. I get a lot of energy from each trip, and it motivates me to do my best the next time. So far, I have been to Egypt, Thailand, the Philippines, and Los Angeles. When I am abroad, Japanese common sense does not apply, and I feel like a global citizen, which is a liberating experience.

–Please give a message to our readers who are looking forward to seeing your photo book.

I think I have done all I can do within myself. It is presumptuous of me, but if Yamashita is working so hard, I want them to think that I will work hard, too. I am sure that some of my long-time fans have never seen photos like this before. I think they are quite aggressive, so I think there will be some people who will be interested in them.

My best recent meal

Yamameshi (mountain food)
Nabewari Sanso’s Nabiyaki Udon Noodle

Hunger is the best spice. While anything tastes good at the top of a mountain, there is one taste of the mountains that remains unforgettable to this day. It is the Nabewari udon noodles at Nabewari Sanso (鍋割山) on the summit of Mt.　Although it is a grueling 3-hour one-way trip, it is a bowl of hot udon with plenty of vegetables and fried tofu in a hot bowl that has seen better days. In the middle is a half-boiled egg. The gentle taste soaks into every exhausted cell. ……I have yet to find a mountain meal that surpasses that taste!

From “FRIDAY” October 11, 2024 issue