Rising Dancer Yui Hayashi Takes on Gravure in Swimsuit Debut

A bitter memory from Guam

Yui Hayashi, a dancer with over 250,000 Instagram followers and growing attention across Japan, takes on her first gravure shoot with FRIDAY—and announces the release of her debut photo book.

Marking a new chapter with her first-ever swimsuit shoot, Hayashi shares the behind-the-scenes of the project in this exclusive, fast-track interview.

—The shoot was done in Guam, right?

“My first time in Guam was back in high school, on a family trip. I was going through a rebellious phase, so I was in kind of a bad mood. Before this shoot, I told my dad I was going to Guam, and he said, ‘That place brings back bitter memories for me’ (laughs). I also went once more in my early 20s with a close friend, so this makes it my first time back in about 10 years.”

—What kind of preparation did you do before the shoot?

“I’ve always had a naturally muscular build, but I really wanted people to think, ‘Now that’s a dancer’s body.’ So, I pushed myself with a strict diet and intense training. If I was going to do this, I wanted people to be impressed by my abs and legs. I trained every day and ate mostly fish to stay lean. After the shoot, I was almost in tears eating ramen at the airport. My body was definitely in top form for this.”

Also included are shots of her in a dress, showing a striking contrast from her usual look.

—This was your first gravure shoot. Were you nervous?

“On the first day, we went straight into a night pool shoot right after arriving in Guam, and I was completely stiff from nerves. At first, I felt shy and embarrassed, and I didn’t know how to pose or what would look best, so I naturally kind of shrank into myself.

But partway through, the staff encouraged me, saying things like, ‘Just go all out!’ and ‘Show off those abs!’ That helped me loosen up and start striking bold poses. They kept cheering me on with lines like, ‘Looking good!’ ‘Your abs are popping!’ and ‘Put more into your hips!’ They even said things like, ‘Feel the sun!’ or ‘Pretend it’s a sunscreen commercial!’ (laughs). So, the photos from the beginning and the later ones are totally different. The contrast really makes the photo book interesting.”

The natural, unfiltered Yui Hayashi

—How did you feel when you saw the photos from the shoot?

“(Zooming in on a photo) Wow, my abs are really defined! (laughs) Also, I noticed something in the pictures—my stance is totally that of a dancer. I never stand pigeon-toed; I always end up opening my pelvis. My dancer friends will definitely catch that right away.

This shoot made me realize how amazing professional gravure models are. I’m good at expressing myself through movement, but posing still in a swimsuit was definitely not easy.”

—Was there anything particularly tough about the Guam shoot?

“The heat, for sure. It was over 30°C every day with really high humidity. I sweat a lot, so my hair kept sticking to my face—keeping it neat was a constant struggle.”

—Was there any outfit that left a strong impression on you?

“The white swimsuit and white one-piece dress we shot during sunset really stuck with me. The whole crew came together to hold up lights until the sun had completely set. It felt like we were all in sync, with people shouting things like, ‘Just a bit more!’ That sense of unity was really memorable.”

—If you had to score this photo book out of 100, what would you give it?

“Hmm good question. I’d give my body a 100, but my posing maybe a 70 (laughs). After all, it was my first time. But the final shots in the hotel, in loungewear, really show me at ease—they feel very natural and true to myself. I think people will enjoy both sides of me: the nervous, fresh-faced version and the more relaxed, natural version as I got used to gravure.”

More previews of the photo book’s contents will be revealed in upcoming issues of FRIDAY.

Pre-orders for her first photo book (title TBA) are now open!

Her debut photo book is scheduled for release on September 26!

Yui Hayashi — Born November 11 in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. A dancer known for her sharp, high-impact moves, she went viral on social media and was selected in the “Next Break – People Category” at the Yahoo! Search Awards 2023. For the latest updates, follow her on X (@yui_931111) and Instagram (@yui.1111).