Miss Todai Reflects on Her First Gravure Shoot

Bring on the controversy! This is such a great opportunity, I have to challenge myself!

“You’re a Todai student, yet you’re showing your butt?”

This is a comment that was posted when I did my gravure shoot. A comment as striking as this, I will probably never be able to forget.

When I received the gravure offer from FRIDAY, I immediately said “I’ll do it.” I didn’t even hesitate. The reason is that I’ve decided to take on any job and not be selective. The saying bad fame is better than no fame perfectly fits the entertainment industry. As long as I’m doing it as a job, if I don’t produce results, I should quit. Furthermore, choosing only the jobs I want to do and enjoying them—such a sweet thought is something I’ve abandoned in this tough industry. So, I give my all to every job I’m offered.

Although I hold this policy, it doesn’t mean I was reluctant to take on gravure. On the contrary, I actively wanted to do it! I felt that it would definitely stir up a lot of debate—education, lookism, and traditional views on gender.

“I’ve never encountered a topic that’s so perfect for SNS and I knew it would definitely cause an uproar! Honestly, I’m really grateful,” I thought.

I’m not bothered by the controversy. However, I didn’t tell my parents.

That’s why I knew people would say things like “Your parents will cry,” “How could you strip as a Todai student, it’s over,” or “Digital tattoos.” I thought that even before taking on the challenge. But that didn’t stop me from moving forward. I’m used to controversy, and above all, I love standing out. When it comes to criticism, I basically think, “Thank you for showing interest in me.” For comments that hit a nerve, I think, “Wow, you really nailed it, you’re right! You’re paying close attention to me!” For absurd comments, I just think, “The world is way too big.”

That being said, I still didn’t tell my parents in advance that I would be doing gravure. If I had told them, they would have definitely stopped me. If I had a daughter and she came to me saying, “I want to do gravure,” I would try to stop her with everything I had. But, even if my parents tried to stop me, I’m too strong-willed to listen to that advice. I knew I was going to do it anyway, so I felt it would be pointless to consult my parents.

I understood everything about the controversy beforehand and went into it knowing what I was getting into. “Because, after all, I want to be successful in the entertainment industry.”

Click here to see the digital photo book containing 120 gorgeous pages of the much-talked-about first photogravure by Asa Kamiya.

There were more positive reactions than I expected. Negative comments were within my expectations.

I was a little nervous when I uploaded the gravure to SNS. But it wasn’t because I was afraid of the backlash. It was more like, “What if after all this, no one pays attention?”

That thought quickly disappeared. Within 30 seconds, it received over 100 likes on X.

It spread at an incredible speed. And as expected, the comments followed.

“How could a Todai student strip, your life is over,” “You’ll never get a job,” and other critical remarks. In my mind, I was thinking, “Well, yeah,” or “If a company wouldn’t hire me just because of gravure, then I would never want to work there.” Honestly, I even felt thankful for those who went out of their way to spread it with quote retweets.

What surprised me the most was how many positive comments there were. “It’s amazing that you’re challenging yourself,” “Todai doesn’t matter, you’re doing something great!” and so on. The label of being a “Todai student” is definitely the strongest in Japan’s academic society, as well as on SNS, which is full of validation-seeking and insecurity. I do think Todai students are definitely overestimated, since in reality, they’re just regular people who were good at studying during exams. But I’m glad I worked hard when I was in high school. A few years of studying really gives you so much leverage in life.

When the comment “Your parents will cry after sending you to Todai” was posted, I thought, “Ah, here it comes!” and found it a bit funny. But as the same comment kept appearing dozens of times, I gradually started feeling guilty toward my parents.

I’m sorry for being unfilial, but I have no regrets.

The day the gravure was released, nothing in my home changed. But my father, who would usually say something like “I saw it, you did well,” didn’t say anything at all. The FRIDAY magazine on the corner of the dining table made me feel my father’s complex emotions, and I felt a mixture of guilt and discomfort.

Indeed, the gravure might have been unfilial. I’m sorry.

But I have no regrets.

My media appearances have increased, and I think I’ve achieved results. Both my parents and grandmother have been genuinely happy about the programs I’ve appeared on since my gravure debut, and I believe, as a result, I’ve become a daughter they can be proud of.

Still, when I think about how my family feels about the harsh comments about me on SNS, or whether there are any negative impacts on my sisters, that is, without a doubt, the hardest part of this controversy—more painful than any anti-comments.

Click here to see a gorgeous 120-page digital photo book of Kamiya Asa’s first photogravure, which caused a lot of controversy.

Asa Kamiya, born on April 19, 2000, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, height: 161 cm.

She won the “Miss University of Tokyo” Grand Prix in 2020. While still a student at the University of Tokyo, she has been active as a “CanCam It Girl.” She also appears in a wide range of variety shows. During her time at university, she founded a company, SASA, which specializes in low-sugar sweets. For the latest updates, follow her on X (@AsaKamiya) and Instagram (@asa_kamiya).

First reveal! Exclusive off-shots from her debut gravure photoshoot.

Click here to view the 120-page digital photo book featuring the much talked-about Akisai Kamiya’s first photogravure!