Maki Goto: “The back shot of the white swimsuit is my favorite.

She said, “If I shoot a photo book now, I think it will be a wonderful work of art.

–Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of your debut. Please tell us about your thoughts behind your latest photo book, “flos.

Around last fall, I suddenly had the feeling that a photo book would be a wonderful work of art if I shot it now. The staff was the same as for “ramus” three years ago, so I was able to go about the shoot in a natural way. I think I have a soft expression on my face. In the previous film, when I was asked to smile, I could only do so much as to blush a little, but now it is “normal” for me to smile. Rather, I am now asked to have a cool expression. I feel myself changing, as if I am becoming more relaxed.”

–What made you feel calm?

I think because I have been living without social networking services, I have been separating my private life from my work life. But recently, I have been delivering routine videos on YouTube, doing insta-lives, and talking about everyday events on social networking sites. I started to say more and more what I want to say to my fans. I’m becoming more natural myself. I feel more comfortable interacting with fans as I am.

–Why did you choose Yamagata as the filming location?

I was looking for a location with snow. We shot at the end of February when it was sunny and the snow would start to melt, so we found a place with a lot of snow and shot the film.

–You also filmed on location on Jeju Island in Korea.

I chose Jeju Island because it was a place I had never been to before and it gave me a fresh feeling. At the time of filming, it was the rainy season on Jeju Island, and I didn’t really feel like I was in a resort area. I have always loved Korea and often visited Seoul, but I had never seen the sea in Korea, so it was refreshing to shoot in an open location. I also love Korean food, so I was determined to have pudae jjigae for dinner in the morning. I was saying “pudae jjigae, pudae jjigae” over and over from the morning so that everyone would not forget (laughs). (Laughs) With our packed schedule, the only time we were able to relax was at dinner, but the grilled abalone was really delicious. Also, there were stray cats in town. When I saw them, I just wanted to touch them. I was being healed in between shoots.”

–What is the meaning behind the title of your new film?

The title of my previous film, “ramus,” means “branch” in Latin. This time, I chose “flos,” meaning “flower,” to express the idea that I have grown from that branch.

–Do you have a favorite cut?

There was a white one-piece swimsuit that I had wanted to wear since the costume fitting. It actually reveals my body line. You have to be confident to wear it, but I wanted to give it a try. The back shot is my favorite!　There were sexy snaps of international celebrities turning around with their backs exposed, and I wanted to take a similar shot. I was so particular about it that I even reshot the scene in the hotel pool on the last day.

–Did you put a lot of thought into your body make-up as well?

I didn’t do a lot of body make-up. The only thing I did was a few exercises to lift my hips. I would do a few exercises to raise my legs while brushing my teeth in my spare time, and that was about it. I didn’t really think, “I’m going to work out for a photo book,” or anything like that.

–It’s amazing that your body shape hasn’t changed.

On the contrary, I tried not to lose weight. When I shoot photo collections, some of the outfits show a lot of skin, so I’d rather be a little plump than skinny.

I’m going to do a bus tour with my fan club.”

–Speaking of unexpected things, his YouTube channel “Gomaki’s Guild” is a hot topic for its live game playing.

I’m the type of person who likes to play games all the time, as long as time permits. Recently, I’ve been playing a lot of “Apex Legends” and “Eldenring. It’s a good way to pass the time.

–Is there anything new you would like to try in the future?

I’m going on a bus tour with my fan club for the first time next February.

–You are going on a bus tour with Gomaki?

I said I wanted to go strawberry picking, so we are going to do it on a bus tour. It will be my first experience to be with my fans from morning till evening, but I am really looking forward to it.

–What are you into in your private life?

I have watched every Korean movie and drama series I can get my hands on. I like actress Kim Tae-hee so much that I want to be her face. If I were reincarnated, I would like to be Kim Tae-hee in the drama “Jang Ok-jeong.

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

The pages of the photo book are more voluminous than the last one, and it is a book that shows more of my recent natural self. I am happy to hear that some of my fans have taken me on a tour of the “holy places” where the photo book was taken. I hope you will visit Yamagata and Jeju Island in this collection as well.

Maki Goto, age 39.
She debuted in 1999 as a third-term member of Morning Musume。 She debuted in 1999 as a third-term member of Morning Musume。
The song “LOVE Machine,” in which she played the center role for the first time, became the group’s first million-seller.
Her latest photo book “flos” was released by Kodansha in November 2012, her first in three years.

My best recent song “GAME
Eldenring.”

I didn’t like games that much in the days of the SNES, but I got into them when I was in my mid-20s. Now, as long as I’m in good shape, I’d like to play all the time. If nothing happens for a day, I can play except for meals and bath time. I especially spent a lot of time playing Eldenring, which is so poisonous to my body, and if I turn on the Share Play feature on PS5, I can watch my friends play. It’s a great way to pass the time.

From the December 13-20, 2024 issue of FRIDAY