Aoi Mizobata, Social Media’s Breakout Star, Finds New Confidence in First Black Bikini

Aoi Mizobata, who made her first appearance in the June 5 issue of FRIDAY and whose digital photo book quickly claimed the No. 1 spot on FRIDAY’s subscription “Photo Book Best Sellers Ranking,” is currently generating major buzz. In this gravure shoot, she revealed a more mature side of herself, different from her usual image, showing a new facet of her personality. She spoke with us about the behind-the-scenes of the shoot, her daily efforts, and life since moving to Tokyo.

A shoot full of first-time experiences

For this shoot, themed around early summer, she showed off a variety of expressions in six different outfits — from a flowing white dress to a refreshing swimsuit by the pool, lighting up the scene with her smile.

“What left the biggest impression on me was the black swimsuit! It was my third gravure shoot, but the first time I wore black. I discovered a new side of myself, wrapped in a more mature atmosphere, different from anything I’d done before.”

She also mentioned it was her first time getting into a pool this year.

“I didn’t fully get in — I just touched the water with my toes (laughs). It was my first time, so I was a little nervous. The shoot was in April, but I didn’t feel the cold at all. I was so focused on the shoot that I forgot about the chill.”

The secret to her beautiful body is YouTube

Compared to her previous photo shoots, her body has become more toned overall, with her waistline standing out even more. She says the secret to her beautiful figure is doing workouts at home while watching YouTube.

“I follow workout videos on YouTube like fat-burning muscle training and squats to shrink your butt, and I train while watching them. I save the workout videos I want to do in a playlist and go through them in order. At first, I didn’t really feel the effects myself, but people around me started saying, ‘Your waistline looks so nice now,’ and that’s when I started to notice the results. Even so, I’m not completely confident yet right up until the day before a shoot, I sometimes feel anxious, wondering, ‘Will I be okay?’”

She also spoke passionately about her love for dancing.

“I was in the dance club when I was a student, so I really want to dance. But my desire to do it just keeps growing, and I haven’t actually done it yet (laughs). The song I want to dance to most is HANA’s ‘ROSE.’ I haven’t learned the choreography yet, but I’ve been watching the video so much that I’ve memorized it in my head. I don’t have a big mirror at home, so I want to rent a studio soon and dance there!”

“I’m not lonely” — her honest feelings after moving to Tokyo

About three months have passed since she moved from Osaka to Tokyo. When asked about how her feelings have changed in her new life, an unexpected answer came back.

“I don’t feel lonely. I often video call my family. But I do miss touching my dog back home. When I see dogs at pet shops in Tokyo, I can’t help thinking, ‘Ah, I want to pet my dog back home!’

On the day I moved to Tokyo, I actually overslept and left the house without even saying goodbye to my dog. That’s something I still regret, and it makes me want to see him. Also, people often say Tokyo people are cold, but I haven’t felt that at all. Everyone around me is so kind — I truly feel blessed with the people I’ve met.”

Finally, when asked about what she wants to challenge herself with going forward, she gave a confident answer:

“Of course I want to keep doing my best in gravure, but someday I’d also like to try acting!”

Mizobata, who’s aiming for greater heights in gravure and aspires to enter the acting world, is expected to continue shining in various fields.

Mizobata Aoi, 24

Born in Osaka Prefecture. A major newcomer who just made her entertainment industry debut this March. With her overwhelming looks and exceptional expressive ability, she’s already receiving a flood of shooting requests. Her latest digital photo book “Natsu no Hajime” is now on sale to great reviews. For the latest updates, check out her official X and Instagram accounts (both @aoi_mizobata)!