Nanaka Yano & Miyuka Minami: Their “Two-faced Life,” Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Their Collaboration, and Their Ambitions for the Future

The two of us were able to get through the cold.”

–How was it shooting with the two of you?

Yano: “I was nervous at first, but as time went by, I relaxed and enjoyed it. The shoot lasted about six hours in total, but Miyuka and I became closer to each other after the second pose, and the atmosphere became more lively.

Minami: “It had been a year since I did a photo shoot for FRIDAY. It was also the first time for me to be on the cover, so I was really fired up about it.

–Did your impressions of each other change after working together?

Yano: “I couldn’t imagine what it would be like before we met, but I found her to be very cool and outgoing in a good way. Miyuka is the same age as me, but I felt that she is very determined and reliable like an older sister.

Minami: “I have known Nanaka for a long time. Before working with her, I thought she was a quiet person. But when I met her in person, I found that she had a very cheerful personality and made the scene more exciting. I am glad we became good friends!

–What was the most memorable moment for you?

Yano: “We had to shoot in an outdoor hot spring, and it was very cold. If I had been alone, it would have been hard, but because we were together, I was able to get through the cold.

Minami: “The scene where the two of us play basketball together left a strong impression on me. Unfortunately, we lost this time, so I will practice so that we can win next time (laughs).

–Were you able to balance your schoolwork with your entertainment career?

Yano: “I had decided to join an agency when I entered high school. I chose a correspondence high school because I wanted to pursue my entertainment activities in earnest. So I never thought it was hard to balance both. Most of my memories from school are about work.”

Minami: “I attended a full-time school only during my first year of high school. At that time, I would go to Nagoya from my hometown in Mie Prefecture and come back by the last train every day. It was very difficult to live a “two-faced life. But looking back now, I feel that the hardships I had to endure back then really helped me to train myself, and I switched to the correspondence system in my second year, which made my job much easier.

–Do you do any body building on a regular basis?

Yano: “I pay attention to my diet. I look at the ingredients list of food on a daily basis before I buy it, so I don’t eat anything unnecessary. I also try not to take salt when a photo shoot is approaching. When I cut out salt, vegetables and potatoes become the main part of my diet, which inevitably helps me lose weight.”

Minami: “I have tried to cut out salt before, but I failed. I love to eat and dieting is not my forte. It is really hard to remove salt from food, so I respect Nanaka-chan (laughs).”

–Aside from gravure, are there any other jobs that stand out in your memory?

Yano: “Last year, I appeared in the drama “Sono dress-up doll (bisque doll) ha koi wo koi wo suru” (MBS). I would like to do acting in the future, so it was a good experience for me.

Minami: “For me, it was the idol activity in “O₂. I get to wear a variety of outfits and see a new side of myself each time, so it’s very rewarding. I want to keep doing it.

I admire Satomi Ishihara and Yua Mikami

–What do you do in your free time?

Yano: “I love karaoke and often go alone. When I am alone, I don’t have to worry about anyone, so I sing the same songs over and over again. I especially love “Osaka Lover” by DREAMS COME TRUE, and I sing just the chorus over and over again. Massages and beauty treatments are also good ways to refresh myself.

Minami: “I spend a lot of time with the members, and we often go to Universal Studios Japan together. Since I have been an idol since I was a student, I don’t have many friends, so I spend my off-days hanging out with the members.

–What do you want to try in the future?

Yano: “I would like to work in acting. I have appeared in TV dramas and on stage, but I have no experience in movies. So I would like to be involved in movies, even if it is just a little. I love Satomi Ishihara’s (38) acting and her attitude toward acting, and I respect her as an actor. I would like to work with Ms. Ishihara and study with her on the set. I would also like to publish my own photo book and have the opportunity to meet my fans in person.

Minami: “I am currently based in Nagoya, so I would like to perform on various stages throughout Japan. I will turn 20 this year, so it would be great if I could put out a photo book at that time. I would also like to work with Yua Mikami (31), whom I adore!”

Nanaka Yano, age 19
Since her debut in 2010, she has been active in TV dramas and gravure. She won the Rookie of the Year Award at the GRADEMY Awards, the 40th anniversary of the magazine’s first issue.

Miyuka Minami, age 19.
She made her gravure debut in ’21 and has appeared on the covers of numerous magazines. Also active as the center of the idol group “O2

My Best Recent “Entertainment
Comedy and Games”

Yano: Ever since I performed with “Linda Color ∞” on Nobuyuki Sakuma’s “NOBROCK TV,” I have noticed how great comedians are at reading the atmosphere and their spontaneity. Recently, watching back the past “M-1 Grand Prix” is my boom!

Minami: I am addicted to a game that is often found in game arcades where you have to shoot down zombies with a gun!　I didn’t realize that even though we are 19 years old, we have such different interests (laughs).

From the March 14/21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY