Kasumi Mori Discusses Her Fitness Goals for a Balanced Physique
It's been almost a year since her last gravure appearance, and this is the first time fans have been waiting for her to make an appearance! The freelance announcer with the most momentum at the moment, who is about to air a drama in which she plays the lead role, reveals the secret story behind the photo shoot and how she spends her private life.
Highly anticipated gravure appearance by the fan! The reason for the comeback is
— How was Phuket, Thailand?
“The shoot was in early March, and the weather was perfect throughout my stay. It was sunny every day, and I think the outfits chosen for me matched the colorful streets, resulting in beautiful shots.”
— What locations did you shoot at?
“We shot at the beach, the pool, and in the city. We also took photos in a Chinese-style, enchanting hotel. We visited nature-rich locations with lots of plants, so I really enjoyed Phuket.”
— What were your favorite shots or outfits?
“My favorite shot was one where I wore black lingerie paired with a red outfit. The color combination of black and red is bold, but the natural surroundings softened it, making it a lovely photo. I rarely get the chance to wear such bold, primary colors in shoots in Japan, so I think this is a shot that could only be taken in Phuket. Another favorite was a black long dress with a deep slit, which really showcased my body’s silhouette. It was a simple, pattern-free dress, but the artwork on the hotel walls and the plants around it created a dreamy scene.”
— The black lingerie seems more sensual than your usual image.
“The lingerie itself is quite sensual, but thanks to the fresh atmosphere in Phuket, it doesn’t come off as too bold. It strikes a good balance. The fashion is also high-quality, so I hope it will appeal to a wide range of people, including young women.”
— What did you do during breaks in the shoot?
“I’m the type to go out and have fun as soon as I have some free time. One day, I found out I had about an hour and a half of free time, so I rushed to shop at the Old Town market (laughs). Also, whenever I had a moment, I went for massages. They even wash your hair, let you use the sauna, and offer full-body oil massages at the spas. Compared to Japan, the prices are also cheaper, so I’ve really fallen in love with Thailand!”
— It’s been about a year since your last major gravure shoot. What was the reason for your comeback?
“When I first received the offer, I hesitated. But recently, because I’ve been focusing on body sculpting, I’ve been asked a lot about it. I’ve also received a lot of feedback on my diet posts on SNS. Since people are so interested, I thought I’d give it a try. Also, gravure shoots always motivate me to stay focused on my body sculpting.”
— What are your key focuses when it comes to body sculpting?
“When I did my first photo book, I kept some softness in my body, but recently, since I’ve been doing lingerie ads, I’ve focused on body sculpting from a female perspective. I aim for a toned body that isn’t overly muscular. I focus on maintaining softness in my skin, while doing Pilates and stretching to strengthen my inner muscles.”
— Which body part did you focus on the most?
“My legs. In the past, I focused on lifting my hips, but in this gravure shoot, there were many scenes showing my legs, so I made sure not to let any parts become too muscular.”
“Recently, I’ve been hooked on watching anime.”
–Starting this spring, the drama “The Younger Virgin Who Is Being Played With” (MBS) will begin airing. Will you focus more on acting from now on?
“I’ve always wanted to do acting, and as I’ve had the opportunity to take on lead roles, I’ve come to realize things I’d like to improve. I’m still in a growth stage, so I want to challenge myself with a variety of roles.”
–The protagonist you play in this drama is a sexually liberated older woman, which is quite a bold setting. Was it difficult to prepare for this role?
“There are, of course, differences from myself, but the protagonist is basically just a normal girl at heart, so it wasn’t too far removed from me. I found it easy to get into the role. However, I have little experience with comedic roles, so I had to experiment and figure things out.”
–You must be very busy with your successful career. How do you manage to relax?
“Lately, I’ve been really into watching anime. Also, I go to karaoke with friends or travel to Korea sometimes.”
–Where do you usually visit when you go to Korea?
“I usually go to Seoul, and I often visit areas like Apgujeong and the Han River. I don’t have a standard route, but I tend to stay in hotels in the Gangnam district. It’s refreshing because the language is different from Japan, and it’s also nice that no one minds when I talk to myself while memorizing my lines (laughs).”
–Lastly, do you have a message for the readers who are looking forward to your gravure work?
“The body I have now is quite different from when I appeared in Friday last time. I think I’ve improved in how I create expressions and poses, so I hope you enjoy it. You’ll get to see the real me, truly enjoying my time in Thailand!”
Kasumi Mori, 29 years old
She joined TV Tokyo in 2019 and left the company in March 2023 to become a freelance announcer. She is currently active in a wide range of fields, from variety shows to acting. Her starring drama, “Toshishita Dotei-kun ni Honrō Sarete Masu” (MBS), began airing on April 24.
My Best Recent Cooking
Brown rice and samgyetang
I recently started cooking. I’m the type to start with the essentials, so I’ve bought a lot of cooking appliances and have been trying different things (laughs). Among them, my favorite is a rice cooker that can cook fermented brown rice. This rice cooker can also function as a pressure cooker, so I’ve been making Samgyetang with it. For my body, I feel it’s better to eat dishes that preserve the natural ingredients rather than those with additives.
Available starting from the FRIDAY April 25th and May 2nd combined issue of 2025.
From the April 25 and May 2, 2025 combined issue of “FRIDAY”
PHOTO： Yasuhisa Kikuchi Interview and text by： Koichiro Umeki
