<figure id="attachment_447418" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1685px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-447418"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d3baed34"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/11/4c4edb0b44cd17b32498003cfa253c37-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-447418" class="wp-caption-text">At a local restaurant: “I love Vietnamese food. I hate when my stomach sticks out, so I stuffed myself on the last day!”</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Retiring at the height of her popularity</h2>
— This is your first-ever FRIDAY cover. How do you feel?
“I’m super happy! I’ve been doing gravure modeling for about three and a half years now, but I actually haven’t been on magazine covers very often — this is only my fifth time.”
— You’re a YouTuber, yet you debuted in gravure in 2022, released your first photo book in 2023, and have made a name for yourself in the field.
“Looking back, it was really like a rocket start. I was put on magazine covers right after debuting, and before I knew it, I already had my first photo book. That’s why I’m so grateful that I’ve been given the chance to publish a second photo book and appear on a magazine cover again after a while.”
— The shoot took place in Vietnam, right?
“We went for six days in June. I’ve been to Vietnam before for a企画 on my YouTube channel ‘いけちゃん / ikechan’. This was my third time, but my first time traveling overseas for gravure work. Since it was going to be my last, I wanted to experience an overseas gravure shoot, so I asked the staff. The cameraman also said my vibe would look great in an Asian setting, so Vietnam was chosen.”
— You announced your retirement from gravure, and the photo book to be released on December 10 will be your last photo book. I think many fans were shocked. Why did you decide to retire?
“The biggest reason is that I felt gravure just isn’t suited for me. I started because a publisher offered the opportunity. Back then, I had just graduated from university and wanted to try lots of things. Thankfully, I got a lot of gravure work right from the start. But as I continued, I realized the expectations, the style of expression, and the fanbase were very different from YouTube. I realized I’m more suited to video content.”
— It’s hard to see from the outside, but balancing both is difficult, isn’t it?
“Yes. More than working hard at gravure, I wanted people to see me as a YouTuber. I’m already 28, and younger girls are entering the gravure world one after another, so this is an early withdrawal (laughs).”
— But you could still be active in gravure?
“It’s not that I’m quitting because there’s no demand. I want to retire at a timing where people still say, ‘We want to see more!’ After announcing my retirement, I got so many DMs saying, ‘I wish you’d continue.’ I felt sorry, but at the same time, it made me a little happy. I think I’m able to retire at just the right moment.”
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<h2>Looking for another expression</h2>
— Was there anything you’re glad you gained from doing gravure work?
“It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but when I look back at my early photos, I think, ‘Wow I was really cute’ (laughs). At the time, I thought my face looked rounder and that I was a bit heavier than now. But looking back, I realize there were so many great shots that captured moments unique to that time in my life. I’m happy those beautiful photos exist. I’m sure when I look at my last photo book years from now, I’ll feel grateful I captured those moments too.”
— What are the highlights of this final photo book?
“I feel like I put everything of who I am now into it. It has the highest level of exposure I’ve ever done—showing sides of myself I’ve never revealed before (laughs). Because I wanted fans who supported my gravure work to be happy, I was the one who suggested the higher exposure. I hope people will enjoy it.”
— As a travel YouTuber, you’re constantly flying around Japan and abroad. What does your everyday life look like?
“I really struggle with rainy weather and low-pressure systems—rainy or cloudy days make me feel down. So, although I’m normally based in Tokyo, if the forecast shows several rainy days ahead, I travel to wherever it&#8217;s sunny. If it’s the rainy season and the whole country is gloomy, then I go abroad. I’m always chasing the sun.”
— After retiring from gravure, will you focus entirely on YouTube? Or take on something new?
“I can’t give details yet, but I want to start some kind of creative activity. Writing, photography, drawing, I’m exploring a form of expression that’s different from YouTube’s video format.”
— It might be early, but do you have a goal for 2026?
“I want to run a marathon. I’m not particularly athletic, but I actually enjoy running. More accurately, I like how the scenery changes as you run. I’ve never participated in a marathon event before, so instead of a full marathon right away, I want to try a half marathon first. I run on the treadmill at the gym sometimes, but I get bored staying in one place. I want to run outside, train properly, and take part in a real race. I’m confident in my mental stamina, so I’d love to finish the race.”
<figure id="attachment_447419" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1769px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-447419"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="91e33b89"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/11/5085906db8932797287140074a2ba243-2.jpg" alt=""></a>Although Taiwan had been considered as a candidate location, the shoot was realized in Vietnam at her own request — “If we’re doing it, it has to be Vietnam!”<figcaption id="caption-attachment-447419" class="wp-caption-text">
Ikechan, 28 Born in Akita Prefecture. Started YouTube in 2019. Gained popularity with lifestyle videos focused on travel and food; her channel now has over 760,000 subscribers. On December 10, her final photo book “Afterglow” (Kodansha) will be released.
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<h2>My recent “BEST ACTIVITY” Painting</h2>
In junior high, I was in the art club and often painted abstract works using oil and acrylic. Even as an adult, I drew occasionally, but recently my urge to paint has come back again. I bought canvases and paints, but I still don’t have a clear vision of what I truly want to paint. So I’ve been looking at tons of artists’ work on social media and visiting exhibitions to boost my inspiration. Right now, I’m very drawn to landscape paintings that capture nature—like skies, forests, and other natural scenes.
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<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/article/378862" data-friday-gold-link-title="Ike-chan &quot;shows parts of herself she has never shown before in her last photo book......&quot; [This Week's Cover Girl's Chest]." data-friday-gold-link-excerpt="The truth behind her declaration of retirement from gravureShe surprised her fans nationwide with her sudden &quot;retirement declaration,&quot; and she talks about the secret story behind the photo shoot in Vietnam, which she chose as her first and last overseas location. ----FRIDAY's first cover story. What are your frank feelings? Please tell us your honest feelings." data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2025/11/aba1dd9afd994bc383f5259806be7bb4-13102931918994.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=HXivy9Nli8aQX2Lg4lrcC7S5m6BVbNG-Op0OCTJRL1h6aC1gUtsdmDrwomdY81m9fGN2D3xyxDIPyuJRzACbZ8qPeE0RlhfrN25TAEytHlrvKACOtQ8oF9Qw~1dDKu7tVM~7rkl5-VHNaPyBn8l27tjeu1O-p5Pl0~P71llMV5tOf~YsC9ldWPmrPDrYUAYyVe8qfypOjLIxzdGte~QPiBmTLkSRMroJQSziSKxf6l~RWXzY5iapymY~axIxKeOyH7KXIOv9QAYa~mz3uDUZJZujNVy18wRcRD6PcrSO4n6UliEnxUzP60tj9UxcchLy~rOSviTQzjatyUKPcaUiSA__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2025/11/aba1dd9afd994bc383f5259806be7bb4-13102931918994.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=XRq96NIETvxGaUHEziI8L5xDCGNzctm7enUstgmR6eXR~kri2X~qdBKXXOgaBdr2ZvUo-ZiWjPxY0h0pJhZS11nPzFBY5wHMKgJxOtBkXxUFxiyF20ptDebBWIZdqplc3Kss7ZlW9gjk9XqZO4u6emOfc9IXuUr-pvSmGnM2orBCt-LCAH-JMOeIc1jhPBrOWwt0yAj87nGFoTWFaulOUTAZ63r4IMekFUUm2-m7li3t4EjA8X~Y7tf1oYp2OUhUPds9xKT5AjtvEM8wipVcw~E51Y-ngL6SyOynCTdSLyeRrYdE4xXu4meEGb4PGJyjRUz5sx6SfRNipOtJn7WzhA__"></div>
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From the November 28/December 5, 2025 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;

 Hiroyuki Sato

 Keitaro Haga

 Ikechan surprised her fans by declaring her retirement from gravure! Ike-chan, who surprised her fans by announcing her retirement from gravure, wanted to experience an overseas photo shoot for the last time... She talks about the secret story of the photo shoot in Vietnam, which she chose as her first and last overseas location, and the true reason for her retirement. She also tells us about her future plans.

 The true meaning of her retirement from gravure She surprised her fans by suddenly announcing her retirement, and she talks about the secret story of the photo shoot in Vietnam, which she chose as her first and last overseas location.

“I Show Parts of Myself I Never Did Before” — Ike-chan Opens Up About Her Final Photo Book

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