First Gravure After Marriage and Childbirth: Why Dempagumi.inc’s Mirin Furukawa Took on Bold Shots
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Available now for early access on FRIDAY’s subscription service! Mirin Furukawa opens up about her feelings towards her first gravure shoot.An active idol and mother of one
“When I was offered a proper gravure shoot by FRIDAY, I thought, ‘Are they out of their minds!?'” (laughs). “I’ve been an idol for 16 years, but this shoot was something completely new to me.”
This is how Mirin Furukawa, a member of the idol group Dempagumi.inc, who announced her group’s activities will end in January, reflected on her experience. Currently, she is in the middle of the group’s final tour, Dempagumi.inc Ending Tour ‘Surely, It’s Dempagumi.inc that Will Save the Universe!’ and has a live performance scheduled in her hometown, Takamatsu, on December 7.
This is “Mirin-chan’s” first challenge with a full-fledged gravure shoot. The photographer for the shoot is Maki Taguchi, who has also worked on the jacket for their 5th single, Kira Kira Tune. After the group’s ending, a digital photo book will be released, with some shots already available for early access on FRIDAY’s subscription service.
I asked her about her thoughts as she took on the shoot.
“When I got the offer, I was honestly surprised. I wasn’t sure if there was even a demand for it… But with Dempagumi.inc ending next year, I wanted to make sure I live without regrets in my remaining time. So, I decided, ‘I have no choice but to do it!'”
In 2019, she announced her marriage to manga artist Shuichi Aso, known for The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., and in 2021, she gave birth to her first child. “Mirin-chan” has walked a unique path as both a current idol and a mother.
“Since I’m married, I wondered if the theme might be something like ‘A Housewife’s Afternoon’ (laughs). I’ve never had a shoot in a swimsuit or lingerie, so this was completely new territory for me.”
Known as a gamer idol, “Mirin-chan” has openly stated she wants to unlock various “achievements” as Dempagumi.inc approaches its ending. For example, in September, she held her first solo live performance, and now, she’s achieved the sexy gravure milestone with FRIDAY.
“This shoot was nothing like the idol shoots I’ve done before. The angles, the poses—I’m not usually asked to do things like that, and I discovered, ‘So this is what my face looks like.’ It was full of surprises, and I feel like my experience level has definitely gone up.”
What kind of preparations did she make for the shoot?
