Moeka Nozaki: “I’ll Evolve Like Phu Quoc Island!”

“To all the fans, thank you so much for your patience!”

–Congratulations on the release of your first photo book on February 13th!

“Thank you! It’s been a dream of mine to release a photo book since my twenties, so I’m really happy that it’s finally come true!”

–It’s been 15 years since your debut, and this must be a long-awaited photo book for your fans. Could you share what led to its publication?

“Last April, when I joined Avex Clans, my manager and I discussed our goals for 2024, and the one thing we both agreed on that we absolutely wanted to do was release a photo book. In my previous agency, I was mainly focused on modeling work, so there wasn’t really a chance to release a gravure photo book. Fans, thank you so much for waiting!”

–I heard the photo shoot took place on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. What kind of place is it?

“It’s an island located in the southwest of Vietnam, and it’s a very popular resort area. It’s said to be the second most beautiful island in the world after the Maldives. While it continues to evolve as a tourist destination, it still retains a lot of nature. I chose Phu Quoc Island as the location because I wanted to keep evolving just like the island. Also, I simply wanted to visit there (laughs).”

–I’ve heard you love traveling.

“It’s my biggest hobby. Traveling helps me relax, and by having unique experiences in different places, I can grow emotionally, so I really enjoy it. This is my third time visiting Vietnam. I’ve been to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang before. That’s why I was surprised—Phu Quoc Island felt more like a Mediterranean resort rather than a Southeast Asian one.”

–Did you have any memorable experiences on Phu Quoc Island?

“We did a lot of shoots inside the hotel, and the view of the sea and the sunrise from the bedroom was absolutely stunning. The breathtaking view from the pool in the room is unforgettable too.”

–Did you have a pool in your room?

“Yes, we did. It was quite a large pool, about 20 meters long, and I was amazed. The hotel I stayed at had several standalone villas on the property, and each villa was considered one room. The first floor had a living room, kitchen, and a large pool, while the second floor had a bathroom, bathtub, and bedroom. The bedroom alone was about 50 square meters, making it an extraordinary hotel.

The food was also amazing, and what impressed me the most was the Vietnamese-style crepes, ‘Bánh Xèo.’ The crispy outer layer and the variety of seafood fillings inside were incredible. You wrap them in vegetables, and they are absolutely delicious. I had it every day during my 4-night, 5-day stay.”

Her first photo book is described as the culmination of myself

–Can you tell us what to look forward to in your photo book?

“Since it’s my 15th anniversary, although it’s my first photo book, I consider it the culmination of myself. The staff involved are people I’ve had a long relationship with since my teenage and twenties years. It’s a photo book made with members I love, so I think my expressions will be very natural, like the ones I would show to family and close friends. Also, I lost more than 10kg and created the most beautiful version of myself that I could possibly be. I’m excited for you to see that version of me!”

–Losing 10kg must have been quite tough, right?

“It wasn’t about forcing myself to lose weight; I focused on improving my body by incorporating ‘organ activation’ to make my body more prone to burning fat, so it wasn’t too difficult. Organ activation is a process of understanding and activating the condition of your internal organs. Everyone’s issues are different, but for me, my body tends to get sluggish, so I aimed to create a body that detoxes more easily. I took herbal medicine to help with swelling and made sure to consume potassium-rich drinks like coconut juice. I also increased my intake of fiber and fermented foods like kimchi and natto. After overeating, I would eat easy-to-digest porridge to give my organs a rest. I also made sure not to get too cold. By maintaining this lifestyle, my skin became clearer, exercise became more effective, and I successfully lost weight in a healthy way.”

–Your schedule must be very busy, but how do you spend your days off?

“I love art, so I often go to art museums. I’ve also launched a jewelry brand called ‘Pense´es,’ so I spend time thinking about designs. Sometimes I spend the whole day at home watching movies and anime. Recently, I really enjoyed the anime ‘Kaisen wa Hōjin ga Iii’ that aired in fall 2024. It’s a romantic comedy about a woman born into a yakuza family, and the edgy atmosphere was refreshing and captivating.”

–Is there anything you’d like to challenge yourself with this year?

“I’d like to study languages. I can manage with Korean when I travel, and I can understand French to some extent, but I’m not confident in my English yet. I want to improve my English to a level where I can easily handle everyday conversations. As for travel, I’m really interested in Namibia in Africa. I love animals, and right now, I’m particularly drawn to wild animals. I’d love to see giraffes and zebras in the savanna of Namibia in person.”

Nozaki Moeka (34)

Born in 1990 in Tokyo, was scouted at 18 and worked as an exclusive model for the fashion magazine non-no (Shueisha) until 2012. She made her gravure debut in 2019, which attracted a lot of attention. Her first photo book, jealousy, is set to be released on February 13th by Kodansha.

My best recent movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

I grew up in a household where TV was forbidden, but I was allowed to watch as many movies as I wanted. As a child, I would sometimes watch 3 to 4 movies a day. I especially love films from the ’80s and ’90s, and one of my favorites is An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), starring Richard Gere. I’ve watched it countless times since middle school. The love story, told against the backdrop of the protagonist’s upbringing, really moves me. Even now, I still watch about 40 movies a month.

From the February 14, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”

From the February 14, 2025 issue of FRIDAY