Former Fuji TV Announcer Nagisa Watanabe Opens Up: Embracing Pain and Moving Forward

Exclusive 90-Minute Interview:
Her First Photo Essay Creates a Buzz!
From Career, Illness, and Family to Online Criticism and Flashbacks

On the Internet, I’ve been called a calculating woman, a mass of desire for approval, and many other things. I’m not like that at all.

Nagisa Watanabe, 27, said this with a casual smile and without any pretense of being strong.

50,000 words written in just three weeks

At the end of January, she published her first photo essay, Tōmei wo Mitasu, which includes over 50,000 words of newly written content. The book candidly details her battle with and recovery from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which she developed during her time as a Fuji TV announcer. The book has received a tremendous response, and even nearly a month after its release, bookstores continue to experience shortages and sellouts. On Amazon, the book has already garnered over 1,400 reviews.

It has been about six months since she left Fuji TV. We spoke with Watanabe about her current state of mind as she embarks on a new chapter in her life.

“From the time I received the book offer last fall until its release, I’ve been going full speed ahead. Now that the events for readers have wrapped up, I feel somewhat like an empty shell. Today, I made sure to get a solid 10 hours of sleep before coming to this interview.

Lately, on my days off or when I have free time, I’ve been watching anime non-stop. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been completely immersed in The Apothecary Diaries and Dr. STONE. I’ve watched all the available episodes—who knows how many times at this point! My family even tells me, ‘You’re so obsessed, it’s scary.’ Once I get into something, I tend to dive in headfirst.”

Her extraordinary focus also played a major role in writing her book.

“I wrote the essay in about three weeks. Of course, I revised it multiple times afterward, but I finished the first draft well ahead of the deadline. Since I had been keeping a journal, I was able to write each of the 27 topics in about 90 minutes per piece.

I typed everything on my smartphone, not on a PC. I’d be lying in bed at night, writing away, and before I knew it, morning had arrived. I’ve always been the type to finish assignments as soon as possible, or else I can’t relax. Even when I was little, I used to complete my summer vacation homework before the break even started. I guess I’m just impatient.”