Riho Takada: “The time I spend drinking just one drink at the end of the workday is bliss” [This Week’s Cover Girl’s Chest

A sense of accomplishment for the first time

–Congratulations on the release of your first photo book in three years. How are you feeling now?

It’s been a really long time, and I’m surprised even by myself.’ When I released my last book in 2010, I felt like it was my last photo book in my 20s, so I didn’t think I would release it so soon in my 30s (laughs). (Laughs) But I was very deeply moved by the fact that my 30-something self was able to form a work of art in one volume. I was just absorbed in the process of filming, but when I saw the finished book, I felt a hot sensation rising up from deep within my chest.

–What was the atmosphere like during the filming?

I was so focused the whole time that I honestly had no idea how I looked in the pictures. The photographer didn’t show me the monitor at all because he wanted me to concentrate. …… So when I saw the finished photos, I almost cried. I felt that I had been able to face each and every one of the shots properly. It was probably the first time I had ever had such a sense of accomplishment in a photo shoot.

–I heard that the cameraman gave you some impressive words.

At the end of the first day of shooting, he said to me, “You’ve always been so normal. Those words really hit me. I was able to move boldly with the momentum of the first costume, but he saw that I started to wonder if this tension was the right one. …… I was told, “The photos that readers want to see are the ones that are out of the ordinary,” and I had an epiphany. From that point on, I changed my mindset and started to look for the “unusual me.

–What is the meaning behind the title “Souzou”?

At first, I was thinking that “Koi Koi” would be a good title. I wanted to make a work that would contain the feeling of falling in love. But in the end, the staff suggested the title “Sousho,” and at first I didn’t understand the meaning or the sound of it. However, as I looked at it, I felt that “Dosaku” was more suited to the taste of the work than “Koi” (love). The title is not too explanatory, but has a blank space. I like the innocence of a single photo that conveys the whole story.

–As well as the photo book, you have also appeared in a number of TV dramas this year.

Thanks to you, I have been filming dramas for a long time. I’ve appeared in about eight dramas this year alone. My schedule is tight, but I like being busy. I am the type of person who can’t relax unless I am doing something. I feel more stable when I have a lot of work to do. I also feel that acting is a place where I can be myself most of all, even though I am always living as someone other than myself. I love the moment when I can say the words in the script through my body.

Full of private life

–You don’t have much time off, do you?

No, I take a moderate amount of time off!　I can’t sit still, so I spend most of my off-days going to second-hand clothing stores in Shimokitazawa (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) or checking out trends at H&M. I don’t go anywhere, but just walk around and have a cup of coffee. I don’t go anywhere, I just walk around and have a cup of coffee. That alone refreshes me. Sometimes I find myself walking close to 10,000 steps (laughs). I also like to drink alcohol, and I find it blissful to have just one drink at the end of the workday. I make light snacks at home and drink beer while playing music at ……. In short, I am a “home drinker” (laughs). Sometimes, though, there are days when I don’t move at all. I just sit on my bed all day watching YouTube, movies, and social networking sites, and before I know it, it’s night. There are days when I don’t do anything at all. In short, I am fulfilled (laughs).

–Do you go back to your hometown, Fukuoka, at the end of the year?

I go back every year. I used to just relax at my parents’ house, but recently I go to Tenjin and Hakata to look at vintage clothes and visit my friends’ bars. When I went back home a few years ago, I went to a food stall in Nakasu for the first time. …… I thought it was more for inbound tourists than for locals (laughs). (Laughs.) But I enjoyed it because I felt like a local in that way.

–Now that you are in your 30s, have you become more conscious of your health?

When I was in my 20s, I could get through a shoot even if I wasn’t sleeping just by drinking an energy drink, but that’s not the case anymore (laughs). If I push myself a little too hard, it immediately shows in my skin and physical condition. So recently I have become more conscious about taking care of my body. I try to choose organic products, and I used to drink several cups of coffee a day, but now I try to drink less and make miso soup every day. I switch up the ingredients and use vegetables from the fridge to make a ″Miso Soup of the Day″ every day. When I drink a bowl of warm miso soup in the morning, I feel like my body is regulated from the inside out.

–Lastly, what are your goals for the future?

I want to continue acting for the rest of my life. I feel most alive when I am acting. Through my roles, I live a different life, but my own heart is definitely there. I love that feeling. That is why I want to continue to be involved in this work, no matter what form it takes.

Riho Takada, age 31.
Born in Fukuoka Prefecture.’ She started her entertainment career as a fashion model in 2007 and became a heroine in “Masked Rider OOO/OOO,” which has been airing since ’10. Also appears in the drama “It’s You Who’s Bad” (Yomiuri TV) currently airing.

My Best Recent “MISO SOUP
Dropped Eggs

In my 30s, I started making miso soup every day for my health. I like the classic potato and the odd plum, but the ingredient I am particularly addicted to is hardened dropped sesame seeds!　For dashi broth, I choose “Kayanoya,” a brand from my hometown of Fukuoka. It has a deep umami flavor, so you don’t need to add a lot of miso. Recently, I have discovered the deliciousness of white miso and use it often. The key is to sprinkle a lot of green onions on top.

From the December 12, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY