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.