Nene Shida: I Ate Ramen Five Times a Week! [Cover Girl]

“I’m proud to say that it turned out really well!”

――Gravure star, “Nenemaru” or Shida Nene (26), who is taking the gravure world by storm. It seems that two photo books, one from FRIDAY and one from Weekly Gendai, will be released simultaneously in February next year. How was the photoshoot?

“I will be releasing my photo books on Valentine’s Day, February 14th next year. For the FRIDAY shoot, I went to Taiwan, and for the Weekly Gendai shoot, I went to Nagasaki and the Gotō Islands. I believe the result turned out really great! Typically, gravure shoots involve traveling from a hotel or location to nearby areas, but in Taiwan, we moved around using high-speed trains and local lines from the moment we arrived at the airport. We traveled from Taipei to Tainan, which felt like a mini-tour around Taiwan (laughs). But we got to experience the night markets, surrounded by lanterns, and relax in nature. I was able to enjoy the different atmosphere from Japan while still focusing on work, which was refreshing!”

――It seems you had a very busy schedule in Taiwan with almost no breaks.

“The schedule was so tight that there was not even a second to tour (laughs). During short breaks, I enjoyed a bit of the local flavors like tapioca and mango shaved ice with the makeup artist. One of the most memorable moments was the shoot at the night market. The lively atmosphere and the Taiwan-like scenery made it exciting. I really wanted to try lantern flying at the night market, but unfortunately, there was no time in the schedule, so I’ll have to try it next time!”

――It was also your first time shooting in Nagasaki, right?

“Nagasaki had a lot of nature, like the sea and rivers, and many places with the charm of old Japan. The atmosphere at the guesthouse and the old houses where we shot was wonderful. Personally, I really like the photos taken on a mountain called ‘Onidake’ with a great view. I hope everyone enjoys the natural and relaxed ‘Shida Nene’ blending into the unique scenery of the Gotō Islands.”

――I heard you found a new favorite food in Nagasaki.

“I was shocked by the Nagasaki-exclusive ‘Onisaba Sushi’ that a staff member introduced me to! Regular saba sushi usually lasts a few days, but this one only lasts one day. It’s fresh saba sushi, and I brought some as a souvenir for my grandmother, who loves saba sushi. After returning to Tokyo, I went straight to my grandmother’s house, and we ate it together. It was so delicious that I thought, ‘This is beyond regular saba sushi!’ My grandmother also said, ‘It’s delicious,’ and was happy. Since I live with my family, I bought some for them too, but it was so delicious that I ended up eating it all there and came back empty-handed (laughs).”

――It seems like your family is very close, buying souvenirs for your grandmother and family.

“My family is so close that everyone is a family fan. Whenever something exciting happens in my work, I want to talk about it immediately, and once I get home, the conversation doesn’t stop. My family comes to events, stage shows, and live radio broadcasts I appear in, but they dislike being treated specially. They make sure to buy their own tickets and come to support me, saying, ‘Buying the tickets is proof of being a fan!’ (laughs). Having my family as my biggest supporters is really reassuring.”

 

“I felt that my life was in danger, so I gave up.”

――In the official YouTube channel that was launched four years ago, you’ve taken on spicy challenges. Do you like spicy food?

“I do like spicy food, but I’m not really that strong with it. I’ve tried the 10-spice level at ‘Coco Ichibanya’ before, but usually, I’m fine with level 2. I did the 10-spice as part of a challenge, but by the end, it was all about mental strength (laughs). As soon as the camera stopped, my stomach felt like it was on fire, and I was like, ‘This isn’t something you should eat.’ and I gulped down a lot of water. I also tried the super spicy ‘Peyoung,’ but it was so painful it even hurt my eardrums, and I felt like my life was at risk, so I gave up. You can’t just power through it with willpower (laughs).”

――In today’s interview, it’s about food for about 70% of the time (laughs). It’s surprising, considering how great your figure is!

“I’m the type to eat a lot once I get hooked on something, and I used to eat ramen about five times a week. But after my health checkup this year, I found that my cholesterol levels were high. I’d love to eat it every day, but since then, I’ve been trying to limit myself to about once a week.”

――That’s tough. Health comes first! Could you tell us about your future goals?

“I’ll be starring in the play ‘Kageki Shoujo!! Chapter 2’ in December. Gravure is my foundation, and I will continue that, but I also want to keep challenging myself with acting. The 2022-2023 show ‘Kamen Rider Geats’ (on TV Asahi) made me realize the joy of acting, and it was a big turning point for me. I want to follow the path of people like Haruka Ayase (39), who can portray any role perfectly, and Ryoko Shinohara (51), who suits the cool beauty roles. Whether it’s gravure or acting, I want to treasure the opportunities I’ve been given and put my all into everything I do from here on out!”

Shida Nene, 26 years old, debuted in the entertainment industry after winning the second runner-up award at the 2013 Miss Teen Japan competition. In 2019, she worked as a weather caster for “ZIP! Shizuoka Weather” on NTV. Since 2022, she has been active as an actress, appearing in works such as “Kamen Rider Geats” on TV Asahi.

 

Her recent favorite food: 

Ramen.

Recently, her favorite is the miso ramen from “Menba Tadokoro Shoten!” The medium-thick noodles blend perfectly with the broth, which is rich yet not too heavy or too light, and the miso flavor is spot on. She always orders white rice along with ramen, as the combination of the leftover soup with rice is the best. She prefers to eat at her own pace, so she usually goes alone. Now that filming has settled down, she’s looking forward to going again on her day off.

From the December 6, 2024 issue of FRIDAY