Mito Shirahama Reflects on Balancing Gravure Work Through Two-Thirds of Her High School Life

Her expression is more mature now.

— How was the shoot in Chiba?

“I usually do shoots with a more mature vibe, but this time it felt like a fresh, youthful summer.”

— What do you mean by that?

“Since we shot at a studio in a seaside town, it had an outdoor, laid-back atmosphere I hadn’t experienced before. There was even a scene inside a camper van. It was my first time doing something like that, and it was a lot of fun.”

— Any favorite cuts or outfits?

“There’s a shot where I’m wearing a striped swimsuit with floral embroidery, paired with a checkered shirt over it. It matched the beachside setting so well and looked really cute. I also loved a look with a navy bikini and a blouse with fluffy sleeves. It has a soft, mature feel, so I’d really like people to see that one. I wore thigh-high socks too, and I think it struck a nice balance between cuteness and a hint of sexiness.”

— Any moments from the shoot that left an impression?

“The stylist who worked with me when I first debuted said, ‘You’ve grown into such a mature vibe now!’ I hadn’t noticed myself, but maybe it’s because my hair has grown out — I used to have a bob. Not just my hairstyle, though — I think my expressions have gotten a little more grown-up too, so I hope readers will notice that.”

— You graduated from high school this March. How do you feel about that?

“About two-thirds of my high school life overlapped with my gravure work. It feels bittersweet knowing there won’t be any more shoots as a high school student.”

— Was it tough balancing school and gravure work?

“On days with shoots, I had to skip classes, so it was a struggle to keep up my attendance. My manager worked hard adjusting my schedule so I could manage both. But I think because I was so busy, it made me cherish my limited high school time even more.”

— In February, you won the Newcomer Award at FRIDAY’s 40th anniversary Grademy Awards. How did that feel?

“I was honestly so surprised! The gravure shoots and photobooks I did for FRIDAY hold a lot of memories — they captured my growth along the way. So getting an award for that made me really happy and made me glad I stuck with gravure.”

— Do you have any body care tips?

“My body tends to swell up easily — not just my face, but also around my stomach, legs, and arms when I eat too much salt. So before I shoot, I try to cut back on salty foods.”

— Do you follow a workout routine?

“Since graduating, I’ve had more time at home, so lately I’ve been using a foam roller for light exercises and doing stretches on a yoga mat. I’m not the type to go out much, so I prefer to stay active at home.”

— Which part of your body are you most confident about?

“People often compliment the length of my legs. Right up until a shoot, I wear compression socks, and in the car while traveling I try to maintain good posture to avoid swelling. Depending on the outfit, the look can vary, but I’d love for everyone to pay attention to my legs.”

“I sleep a lot, anyway.”

— What do you usually do on your days off?

“I love sleeping, so honestly, I just sleep a lot (laughs). Also, I recently started keeping a hamster, so I spend time playing with it. It’s super cute!”

— I heard you also like watching YouTube.

“I don’t have a particular favorite YouTuber, but I really enjoy watching game commentary videos. I also like videos about animal behavior and ecology.”

— Are you interested in animals?

“Yes, definitely. Sea creatures and other living things besides humans are so fascinating to me. And just watching my pet hamster at home is really entertaining too.”

— Is there any kind of work you’d like to challenge yourself with in the future?

“Up until now, I’ve mainly focused on gravure, but from here on, I want to try acting. I’d love to perform in a way that resonates with people’s hearts. I’m also interested in voice acting work.”

— You have a voice that sounds like an anime character — very cute.

“I used to be really insecure about my voice. I even hated hearing it in behind-the-scenes videos. But after starting gravure, fans began to compliment my voice a lot, and it made me feel like maybe I’d like to try voice acting someday.”

— Lastly, could you give a message to the readers?

“I never imagined I’d get to be on the cover of FRIDAY on my sixth appearance. This will be the last photoshoot of me as a ‘high school student Shirahama,’ so I hope people can feel how much I’ve grown through these photos!”

Shirahama Miu, 18 years old. Born in Tottori Prefecture. She won three special awards at the Bishoujo Zukan AWARD 2023. Since her debut, she has gained popularity for her innocent looks and outstanding figure. In 2025, she received the Newcomer Award at FRIDAY’s 40th anniversary project, the Grademy Awards.

Recent personal best “Book”
“Kanae Minato”

I’ve always really loved gaining knowledge about things I didn’t know before. That’s also why I’m so interested in the behavior of living creatures. For the same reason, I enjoy reading and picking up novels whenever I have free time. Among them, I especially like mystery novels, and I have several of Kanae Minato’s works on my shelf. Her stories aren’t exactly cheerful, but they often leave me thinking deeply after I finish them. I’d like to keep reading her books from now on too.

From FRIDAY June 6–13, 2025 combined issue.