Miku Tanaka: “Among actors of my generation, I admire Mana Ashida.”
The "gravure queen of the idol world," who made her gravure debut while a member of HKT48 and gained immense popularity among her fans, is also active as an actor with her excellent acting skills. What are her "ambitions"?
“I love the fact that I can capture the now of the moment.”
――Tanaka-san, often referred to as the “Gravure Queen of the Idol World,” what do you find most appealing about working in gravure?
“I think it’s wonderful to be able to capture the ‘present’ of that moment in a tangible form. When I look back at old photos, I can see how my expressions have changed over time. For example, in my first photobook, 1/2 Shoujo released in 2021, I was 20 years old and still a member of HKT48, so I think my expressions were fresh and very idol-like. However, in my second photobook, Kimamani., released this September, I had graduated from HKT48, and my surroundings had changed as I moved on to the next stage. My expressions seem more liberated, you might say. Rather than fresh, I think they give off a slightly more refined impression.”
――Your second photobook was shot in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast in Australia, correct?
“It was my first time in Australia, even including private trips. Just the fact that it was an overseas shoot really got me excited. When I started doing more gravure work, it coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, so I couldn’t travel abroad easily. Since I was also active as an idol, most of my shoots were domestic, and there were many times when I’d travel from Hakata to Tokyo for a same-day shoot. That’s why being able to go overseas for a gravure shoot was such a big deal for me. I was thrilled to discover things like ‘This country has this kind of charm, and we can take these kinds of photos here!’ In Australia, surrounded by magnificent nature and foreign cityscapes, I felt an overwhelming sense of freedom. I also love animals, so I was delighted to touch a koala and feed kangaroos!”
