Inside Sayaka Isoyama’s Thoughts: “I Wondered If This Would Be the Last”

Filming in Australia was highly fulfilling.

—Congratulations on your 25th anniversary debut and on the release of your new photo book.

“Thank you! Since it’s a milestone year, we shot in Australia. It’s been about two years since my previous photo book and more (Kodansha), and this was my first shoot since entering my 40s, so it felt very emotional.”

—What was the concept?

“The theme was the current Sayaka Isoyama (laughs). In recent years, I’ve always hoped to express my natural self—the version of me that I can show precisely because of my age.”

—I hear you went to Cairns and Fitzroy Island.

“It was a four-day shoot. On the second day we went to Fitzroy Island, and the rest of the days we shot in Cairns. Fitzroy Island is about a 40-minute ferry ride from Cairns, but the waves were rough and the wind strong, so I got seasick. And although we were supposed to shoot on the beach right after arriving, the weather was terrible (laughs). I thought, ‘Today just isn’t my day’ but then a miraculous break in the clouds appeared, and the whole team came together to shoot as much as we could. The water was so clear that it really felt like, ‘I’m abroad!’”

—Anything else that left a strong impression?

“On the third day, we started shooting at a huge mansion, then moved to a river and then to a beach. One of my favorite shots is with the border collie that lived at the mansion. On the last day we shot at a house that felt like it was in the middle of a safari, and I even got to see wild wallabies. When everything was finished, I felt a huge mix of accomplishment and relief.”

—Sounds like a very fulfilling four days!

“Yes. I always remind myself that being able to release a photo book isn’t something to take for granted. Each time, I work with the mindset that ‘this might be the last one.’”

—I think that humility is a big part of why people love you. Did you approach this project with that same mindset?

“Yes, this time too I worked with the feeling that this might be my last. When I was in high school, I was the manager for the baseball team, and it might be similar to how it felt the day before an official match—‘If we lose, it’s over.’ If I ever feel my limits or if I get married, then for me it’s game over, so when making these photo books, I always carry a bit of sadness. But I turn that sadness into determination—approaching it with the mindset, ‘Let’s capture my best right now!’ So every photo book should be a masterpiece.”

Changes in the times and the skills she has built

—You debuted as a second-year high school student, and this year marks your 25th anniversary. Do you remember your early days?

“In my teens and early twenties, most shoots were done in prearranged situations. I felt like I was running earnestly on a track that the staff had laid out for me. There was also a high volume of work back then—I sometimes traveled overseas three times a month. The many experiences I gained during that period became the foundation of my later gravure career.”

—What came next for you?

“By my mid-twenties, with about ten years of experience, I had a clearer idea of what I wanted to try, and I was able to make requests. The staff also acknowledged the skills I had built and began accepting my ideas. When I reached my thirties, my desire to do things for the fans grew stronger. Back then, many girls would get married in their late twenties and quit. That’s when I started feeling conflicted, wondering, ‘Is it okay for me to keep going?’ Gravure is the work I love the most, so being able to continue into my thirties and forties is something I’m truly grateful for.”

—And how do you feel about your forties?

“Well, what do you think? (laughs) I’m 42 this year. I can hardly believe it myself! I’ve always said, ‘I’ll quit when I get married’ (laughs). It’s a nice era now—many people say age doesn’t matter in gravure. But I think I’ll continue to have my own internal struggles.”

—As someone regarded as a legend, what do you think is the greatest appeal of gravure?

“That it allows for 100% self-expression. Of course, I rely on the support of the staff, but gravure is a profession where I can say, ‘This is Sayaka Isoyama.’ That’s its charm.”

—Do you think the gravure world has changed over the past 25 years?

“We’ve entered an era of diversity, and I feel there are fewer people who only do gravure. In my time, being solely a gravure idol was the norm. But now, idols and talents often do gravure as an extension of their main work. For example, magazines have fixed numbers of cover slots—four per month for weeklies, twelve per year for monthlies—and now hundreds of people compete for those spots. It has become a very tough world for gravure idols. On the other hand, the spread of social media has made self-production possible, which is a huge change. If something goes viral, many people will see it, even overseas. In that sense, opportunities have expanded.”

—Finally, please tell us about your future outlook.

“I want to continue valuing the idea that work should be fun! I also established my own agency in 2021, so I want to build that up as well!”

Sayaka Isoyama, 42
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. She began her entertainment career as a second-year high school student and marks her 25th anniversary this year. Her latest photo book Yoin, released about two years after her hit photo book and more, is now on sale.

My recent favorite “Two-Hour Drama”
Works featuring Nenji Kobayashi

I’m completely hooked because Nenji Kobayashi (84) is just too cool. Among the dramas being re-aired, I especially love the series Ekiben Detective Jinbo Tokunosuke and Tax Investigator: The Case Files of Madogiwatarō (TBS), as well as Fire Chief Investigator: Morio Igarashi (TV Asahi).

In every role, he’s usually a playful, charming older man—but when the time comes to confront the enemy, he suddenly becomes incredibly cool. Lately, I’ve fallen for that gap in his character (laughs).

From the November 7, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”