Misaki Ito Stuns in Kimono: Iconic Train Man Role and Natural Photos

Became a Big Star with Hermes in Train Man

Actress Misaki Ito (47), currently on a hiatus, caused a huge stir on November 24 when she posted a photo of herself in a white kimono on her Instagram. The image was taken at the same time as the one published in the Utsukushii Kimono 2024 Winter Issue (released November 20).

In her post, she commented:
“This is an off-shot, so my expression differs from the one in the magazine, but both the kimono and jewelry are gorgeous and perfect for the upcoming season.”

The natural smile she showed in the photo prompted a flood of comments on social media, such as:
“Is she really 47? She’s so beautiful!”
“I haven’t seen her in a while, but she hasn’t changed at all. She’s amazing!”

“Ito was scouted in 1998 while still a university student, and the following year, she was chosen as the 13th ‘Asahi Beer’ image girl and a model for CanCam (Shogakukan). In 2000, she made her drama debut in Love Complex (Fuji TV), and in 2005, she gained widespread attention for her role as an admired young lady in Train Man (Fuji TV), starring alongside Junji Ito (41).” (TV magazine writer)

FRIDAY began focusing on Ito around 2002, when she first starred in a drama, Taiho Shichauzo (TV Asahi). They reported various aspects of her life, including her posing with a close-up photo of her own lips at a handshake event, and wearing a Bond girl-inspired dress. One of the most memorable reports was of Ito’s off-duty appearance in the nightlife district while she was skyrocketing to fame with Train Man in 2005. Let’s revisit the article from the October 7, 2005 issue.

The handsome man who drank with her until 3 a.m.

In September 2005, three people—two men and one woman—emerged from a high-end restaurant in Minami Azabu, Tokyo. The woman, dressed in a black sleeveless dress with a white scarf, was the stunning Misaki Ito.

“At the time, Ito was playing the heroine, Saori (commonly known as Hermes), in Train Man, a drama that boasted an average viewer rating of around 20%. Train Man tells the true story of a nerd who helps a woman being harassed by a man on a train, then posts about it on the giant online forum ‘2chan’. He receives encouragement from other 2chan users and confesses his feelings to the woman, eventually winning her love. The book based on the story became a massive bestseller with over a million copies sold, and it was later adapted into a movie and a stage play, becoming a kind of social phenomenon.” (TV industry insider)

This particular day seemed to be a brief break in the midst of filming. The man next to her, who caught attention, was Ivan (40), a model who was active in men’s fashion magazines like MEN’S NON-NO and POPEYE at the time. The three of them took a taxi and headed to a bar in Shibuya. Ito and Ivan were seen leaving around 3 a.m., and only Ito got into a taxi to head home.

“Through this drama, Ito’s talent as a comedienne blossomed, and she continued to star in lead roles in subsequent dramas. With her beauty, which became even more prominent on close-ups, she appeared in numerous commercials, particularly in the beauty industry. In 2006, she ranked number one in the annual talent CM usage rankings.

However, in 2009, she married the president of a major pachinko machine manufacturer. Following the birth of her first child the following year, she took an indefinite hiatus from the entertainment industry. Since then, although she has made occasional appearances in fashion magazine interviews, she has not returned to acting.” (TV magazine writer).

Misaki Ito Reveals Her Current Goal

In an interview article for Bi-ST published on October 8, 2023, Ito stated:

“Since two years ago (2021), I have been studying psychology and other subjects to become a clinical psychologist. When I think about my life plan over a span of 5 to 10 years, I had set goals for my 40s, which include going abroad and aiming to become a clinical psychologist.”

True to her words, Ito relocated her base of life to Hawaii in 2019. Furthermore, in August 2024, she announced on her Instagram that she had moved to Singapore. While fans hope for her return to dramas and films, Ito’s goals may lie elsewhere. Moving forward, we should continue to keep an eye on her updates.