Rapid glow-up sparks buzz! Akane Osawa credits mom friends, Megumi, and husband Gekidan Hitori

Forging ahead on her beauty journey!

2026-02-23

Beauty industry veteran MEGUMI is a perfectionist/obsessive

Akane Ōsawa (40) debuted in the entertainment industry at age three. During her time as an exclusive model for the magazine Pichilemon, she was a central figure, saying, “They said the clothes I wore would sell.” In 2009, she married Gekidan Hitori, after this magazine scooped their romance. Her grandfather was Keiji Ōsawa, the famous manager of the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

“Actually, until I was 36, I didn’t do any beauty care at all I didn’t go to clinics, just put on an all-in-one gel. My face and body were treated the same way! (laughs)”

Recently, she has become a hot topic for awakening to beauty and her rapidly increasing attractiveness. On February 2, she even released a beauty book titled Late Bloomer: Skin Care Obsessive, Fully Committed to Beauty (Wani Books). The person who drew her into the world of beauty was none other than herself.

“One day, I looked in the mirror and was shocked. I saw a me that wasn’t me. Fatigue from raising children, sagging, all kinds of things were showing on my face. Meanwhile, my peers in the entertainment industry were still shining on TV. I felt frustrated. I decided to seriously dedicate myself to beauty.”

Her book details the intense days it took to develop her skin management obsessive beauty routine. Ōsawa describes herself as easily bored, but she became so absorbed because it’s just fun. She adds, “It feels more like a hobby, so I don’t even feel like I’m making an effort.”

“About six months after starting beauty care, while taking my kids to school, a mom friend said, ‘Your skin looks great lately.’ That really meant a lot. We’re both busy and tired from raising kids, so it was nice to be complimented by someone in the same situation.”

She also received mentorship from a beauty leader in the entertainment world:

“MEGUMI (44) is my ideal and my inspiration. Every time I meet her, I bombard her with questions. She even advises me to watch out for the evidence police when sharing beauty tips. Recently, I was amazed by her body-making methods. She has developed approaches to target fat loss in specific areas—like an athlete. I think she’s a bit of a perfectionist/obsessive (laughs).”

Though she came to beauty later than most, Ōsawa started her entertainment career as a charismatic magazine model.

“Believe it or not, I was more popular than my contemporaries Masami Nagasawa (38) and Aoi Miyazaki(40) at the time (laughs). But while they were advancing as actresses, I was constantly failing auditions. Seeing my agency struggle with how to sell Ōsawa made me feel down. That’s when I discovered variety shows.”

Her subsequent success needs no explanation. About three years after the birth of her third child, she stepped away from the spotlight, but after returning, she also appeared on stage. The former top model, having found her place in variety TV after setbacks, has now awakened to beauty in her late 30s and plans to continue pursuing her acting career.

She doesn’t talk about work with her husband

Regarding her comeback, she has not consulted her husband, Gekidan Hitori (49), who is active as a talent, actor, and director.

“I’ve been in the industry longer than him! (laughs) We don’t talk about work at home, and I haven’t even watched his works. I’ve seen how hard he works up close—walking around the house lost in thought, serious and a little crazy—so I just can’t watch them. I wouldn’t know how to evaluate them.”

Even so, he warmly supports his wife, who has awakened to beauty:

“He’s shy, so he won’t say things like, ‘You look amazing today,’ but he quietly observes and says, ‘You’re working really hard,’ (laughs).”

To FRIDAY readers, Ōsawa said:

“Try a sheet mask after your bath. It will make a dramatic difference!”

Her words, coming from someone who has always thrown herself fully into everything, are worth trying.