This Week’s Cover Star Wakana Sakai Shares Her Philosophy on Life and Change

“No matter what happens, I’m going to stay in entertainment for 30 years”

— This year marks the 30th anniversary of your career, and you’re releasing your first photobook in 13 years. What inspired you to start this project?

“When I was around 22 or 23 years into my career, I made up my mind that, no matter what happened, I would stay in the entertainment industry for 30 years. So I’m very happy to have safely reached that milestone. I wanted to give something special to the fans who have supported me for so long, and when I thought about it, I realized that a photobook—something I had moved away from—might be a good idea after all.

Another reason was that the editor in charge kept persuading me, saying, ‘We can even shoot overseas.’ (laughs) My only condition was, ‘If the photographer is Masafumi Sanai.’ Taiwan was actually one of the locations Sanai-san casually suggested during our planning meetings, and by coincidence it was the country I most wanted to visit.”

— That’s quite a coincidence! How was the shoot itself and your time in Taiwan?

“Sanai-san is the type of photographer who never presses the shutter at the exact moment you think, ‘This is the shot.’ Instead, he’ll suddenly take a picture during a fleeting moment when you’ve let out a breath or let your guard down. As the subject, it was unsettling because I couldn’t really tell how things were going, but I trusted him completely and left everything in his hands.

The people in Taiwan were incredibly kind, and the food was the best I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. Apparently, Sanai-san and the local staff had prepared all the dishes they absolutely wanted me to try. When I tasted them, every single thing that came out was exceptional. Even something as simple as leafy greens was delicious enough to move me.”

— You also appear in swimsuits and lingerie in this photobook. Did you have any reservations about that?

“Of course I did. So I consulted some friends from my generation, and they told me, ‘If you wear a swimsuit now, it’ll actually come across as refreshingly confident and cool. It’ll work in your favor.’ Their encouragement helped me make up my mind.”

— That sense of confidence and decisiveness seems similar to the resolve you showed when you completely shifted from gravure modeling to acting.

“Maybe it is. Back then, there really wasn’t any precedent for gravure idols becoming actors, so there was a lot of resistance. On set, people wouldn’t call me by my character’s name—they’d call me the gravure girl. During downtime between scenes, I’d be told, ‘You’re not an actor, so don’t go back to the dressing room. Just stand there.’ People would even make comments behind my back like, ‘Nobody cares about you once you’re wearing clothes.’ It was the kind of environment that would never be tolerated today.

But I felt a sense of mission. I wanted to prove that even someone as quiet and reserved as me could become an actor. At the time, I had seen dozens of talented people give up because they couldn’t take the next step in their careers. So I told myself, ‘If I can just endure and keep going for ten years, eventually people will recognize me.’ Meeting works by Kankuro Kudo, such as Ikebukuro West Gate Park and Kisarazu Cat’s Eye, was a major turning point that helped me gain recognition as an actor.”

— Speaking of Kudo’s works, that was a period when many actors of your generation pushed each other to improve. Are there any industry friends you’re particularly close to?

“I met Ryuta Sato when I was 19. We often talk about how fortunate we are that we’ve both been able to make a living in this industry from our teens all the way into our forties.

I sometimes think, ‘If he’s still in the entertainment world, then maybe this industry isn’t so bad after all.’ (laughs) I think he feels the same way. Even if we don’t see each other for years, just knowing the other person is out there serves as a quiet source of support.”

For others and for herself

— Recently, you’ve been sharing content on YouTube and note that seems aimed at supporting people who struggle with life’s difficulties. That has left a strong impression.

“Rather than speaking to the general public, I’m really trying to reach people who are struggling to live comfortably or who are dealing with illness. When I was younger, I often wished there had been someone willing to listen to me, so I thought that maybe I could become the kind of person I once needed myself.

Sometimes fans send me messages saying, ‘You gave me hope to keep living,’ and those messages make me feel that what I’m doing has meaning.”

— You’ve said that turning 40 became a turning point that made you reevaluate the way you live.

“Yes. ‘Life begins at 40’ may sound old-fashioned now, but during the first 40 years of my life, I always put myself second. I decided I didn’t want to keep doing that in the second half.

Back then, even if I had to leave for work at six in the morning, I’d stay on the phone listening to a friend’s problems until five-thirty. But once I decided to make myself a priority—to adopt a self-first mindset—I became able to say no to things that were unreasonable, and life became much easier.

I realized that even as an adult, you can always change the way you live.”

— Finally, after reaching this major milestone with your new photobook, what challenges or goals would you like to pursue next?

“This year is supposedly my ‘Daisakkai’ and ‘Tenchūsatsu’ period, so I’m taking it easy.” (laughs)

“In a few years, I’d like to launch a project that supports women pursuing second and third careers later in life. I hope people will look forward to that as well as the photobook.”

Wakana Sakai

Born in Tochigi Prefecture, Wakana Sakai made her entertainment industry debut in 1995 and gained popularity appearing on the covers of numerous magazines, including “FRIDAY.” She later appeared in dramas such as Ikebukuro West Gate Park and Kisarazu Cat’s Eye. She currently works as both an actress and a writer.

My recent favorite routine
Taking walks

“I’ve always loved going for walks, but during pollen season it was difficult to get outside. Recently the pollen has finally settled down, so I’m happy to have gotten back into my routine of taking walks while listening to my favorite music.”

From “FRIDAY” May 15 and 22, 2026