“Who’s Cutest?” Erika and Marina Momose Take the Spotlight

A Longtime Goal: Their Photo Book

Eri: “I heard about it from our manager last October, but at that time it didn’t really sink in.”

Mari: “He just casually said, ‘There’s a photo book in the works, and Kodansha has been chosen.’”

Eri: “Exactly. Later, in meetings, when we heard it would be shot on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam and about the kind of image we wanted, it finally felt real.”

—Before going to Vietnam, what kind of preparation did you talk about?

Eri: “It was a six-day schedule, and going abroad was a rare opportunity, so I started preparing the day before—”

Mari: “Eri sent me a LINE message: ‘I’m bringing this, so make sure you’re prepared too.’ She even made a detailed packing list with over 50 items. It really helped.”

Eri: “And Mari replied, ‘I forgot my passport!’ (laughs). I’m so glad I sent her the list.”

—This week’s gravure feature is a preview from the upcoming photo book. Do you have a favorite outfit?

Eri: “I like the pink-gold satin lingerie. I imagined it as a luxurious cat character—very celeb-like and cute!”

Mari: “For me, it’s the denim bikini. We shot it on a small uninhabited island a bit away from Phu Quoc, and it matched the local atmosphere perfectly. When I saw the photos, I thought it looked amazing.”

Eri: “Compared to the luxurious vibe of the cover, the denim bikini has a country feel. I think we were able to show lots of different sides of ourselves.”

—The photo book is still in production, but what would you say to fans eagerly awaiting it?

Eri: “Every photo is worth seeing; I think all of them are highlights. In regular gravure, expressions and compositions are limited by the medium and page count. But in a photo book, it’s entirely ours, so we can do everything we want. There are even more daring photos, and shots emphasizing how close Mari and I are. It really feels like we packed everything about us into it.”

Mari: “There are poses like unhooking the bra, things we hadn’t done before. I hope people enjoy those too.”

—A somewhat naive question: when doing intertwined poses, do you feel any embarrassment because you’re sisters?

Eri: “Even though we’re sisters, these were poses we don’t usually do, so yes, it’s a little embarrassing. But because we’re sisters, we can be fully close in ways others can’t. Our paired shoots aren’t your typical closeness.”

Mari: “I don’t really feel embarrassed. But when we press our noses or foreheads together, I hold my breath so I don’t breathe on Eri.”

Eri: “I know! That’s a little annoying, right? I hold my breath too (laughs).”

Cuteness Comes First

—You two are close sisters, but are there things you don’t want to lose to each other?

Eri & Mari: “Cuteness, probably.”

Mari: “Eri might beat me in mature, sexy vibes, but I won’t lose in cuteness.”

Eri: “I also don’t want to lose when it comes to looking good in photos.”

Mari: “We both think the left cheek angle is cuter, so we often battle over who stands where.”

—Are there things about each other that you find a little… strange?

Eri: “Yes. Mari is usually quiet around other people, but she really lets loose around me. When she comes over, she starts doing weird poses—like human pyramids or yoga—by herself.”

Mari: “Flexibility! It’s all about flexibility!”

Eri: “Then she asks, ‘See how amazing this is? Can you do this pose, Eri?’… and that’s a little creepy (laughs).”

—And Eri, what’s a quirky thing about you?

Mari: “She overdoes the humidifying!”

Eri: “My bedroom is six tatami mats in size, but I use a humidifier meant for a 20-mat room, so it feels like a wet jungle when I sleep.”

Mari: “The humidity is like a mist sauna. It’s great she’s conscious of beauty, but it’s a bit much (laughs). In the hotel in Vietnam, she started soaking a huge towel and said, ‘Help me wring it out!’ while carrying it along.”

Eri: “I’m a humidity fanatic who hates dryness.”

—Looking ahead, do you have any future goals?

Eri: “We just achieved the big goal of a physical photo book, so I’m still looking for the next target.”

Mari: “I’d like to expand into singing and other activities.”

Profiles

Erika
Born in Tokyo. Height: 158 cm. Older sister of Marina Momose. Hobbies: cooking, self nail art, makeup.

Marina Momose
Born in Tokyo. Height: 151 cm. Erika’s younger sister. Hobbies: skating, skiing, singing, makeup.

Recent Favorites: Tea Time
Bread Making / Chamomile

Eri: “After trying a cooking class, I joined a bread-making course. I bake stollen with dried fruits and nuts, bring it to Christmas parties with friends, or share the bread I bake at home with Mari.”

Mari: “I found passion oolong tea in Vietnam and still drink it often after returning. I also like herbal teas like chamomile, but green tea with Japanese sweets is still the ultimate combo!”

From the February 13, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”