“There’s Only One Time for This”—Rena Kato Opens Up About Her Life as a Rising Gravure Star

Devoting herself to entertainment activities

— Congratulations on your first appearance in “FRIDAY!” How did you feel when you received the offer?

“I was honestly shocked! I always had the impression that “FRIDAY” gravure features mature women, so I thought, ‘No way, me?’ Then, little by little, the excitement started to sink in.”

— How was the photoshoot in Odawara (Kanagawa)?

“It was incredibly cold. We were near the ocean and the wind was really strong, so whenever the wind stopped for a moment, everyone would go, ‘Now!’ and we’d quickly take the shots (laughs). But the atmosphere on set was so cheerful that I almost forgot about the cold!”

— The outfits seemed a bit different from what you usually wear.

“Up until now, I’d mostly done shoots in cute pastel-colored swimsuits, but this time I challenged myself with more subdued outfits. The brown checkered swimsuit left the biggest impression on me. It was the kind of calm, mature swimsuit I normally wouldn’t wear, so at first I was worried, thinking, ‘Will this really suit me?’ But once the photos were taken, I felt like I managed to show a more grown-up side of myself!”

— Before starting gravure work, you were aiming to become a nurse, right?

“That’s right. I was attending nursing school and studying. It may sound boastful, but I actually got pretty good grades on my exams (laughs). However, balancing school with entertainment activities became difficult, and I started feeling that if I continued, I’d end up doing both halfway. So I quit this spring. You can earn qualifications at any age, but pursuing a career in entertainment is something I can only do now.”

— You were actually involved in entertainment even as a teenager, weren’t you?

“I admired magazine models and actresses, so from around fifth grade I was taking lessons and auditioning for movies and TV dramas. During high school, I was also active as an idol. But when I graduated, I decided to draw a line under that chapter and enroll in nursing school.”

— Did your family oppose your decision to leave nursing school?

“When I first told my mother, she was genuinely shocked. She was like, ‘Why all of a sudden?’ and wouldn’t really listen at first. She kept saying, ‘You’ve worked so hard at your studies—are you really going to quit?’ She was very worried. From her perspective, she wanted me to earn qualifications and have a stable career. After that, I kept explaining my passion for entertainment for days, and eventually she told me, ‘If you feel that strongly about it, then follow the path you truly want.’”

— How did your father react?

“He was surprised too. When he found out I was starting gravure work, he said, ‘Are you really sure about this? Just be careful not to get caught by any shady adults’ (laughs).”

— Is he okay with your appearing in “FRIDAY?”

“He’s actually become one of my biggest supporters! He buys every magazine I appear on the cover of and apparently hands copies out to relatives.”

— Have you ever gotten homesick after moving to Tokyo from your hometown in Aichi?

“When I first moved here, I was homesick all the time. Until fairly recently, I was calling my family almost every day. But now I’m doing fine.”

Love idols

— Have you gotten used to gravure photoshoots?

“I finally have. During my first shoot, I was so nervous and embarrassed that my face turned bright red. I had no idea what kind of poses I should do, and I was completely flustered. But as I gained more experience, I gradually understood how shoots worked and started enjoying the posing. Actually, during this shoot, they played songs by my favorite idol group as background music! I was smiling the entire time.”

— So you’re a big idol fan?

“I absolutely love idols. On my days off, I often spend time watching concert videos. Recently, I’ve been obsessed with ‘Sagasé Diamond Lily’ by =LOVE. I enjoy listening to the music, but honestly, I just like looking at cute girls (laughs).”

— Besides idols, what do you enjoy doing on your days off?

“I’d say saunas. I actually went yesterday. My mother has always loved hot springs and saunas, and when I was living at home, we went to hot springs almost every week. That’s what got me into it, and now I even go by myself.”

— Who is your role model in the entertainment industry?

“Satomi Ishihara. Ever since I was little, I’ve been captivated by the dramas she appears in. My favorite is the TV drama Unnatural, which aired on TBS. I was drawn in by her performance as the forensic pathologist protagonist. During the serious scenes, I found myself crying too. That’s when I realized just how amazing actresses are.”

— Finally, what are your ambitions, Rena?

“I want to challenge myself with all kinds of work. If I get the chance, I’d love to be an idol again! As a gravure model, I want to appear on lots of magazine covers. I’m going to work hard so that people say, ‘When you think of the queen of gravure, you think of Katorena!’”

Kato Rena, 20

Born in 2006 in Aichi Prefecture. She made her gravure debut in January this year in Young Magazine. Her popularity quickly exploded, leading to one magazine cover after another. In May, her newly shot digital photo collection, Rena, was released.

Recent Personal Favorite: “IDOL”
FRUITS ZIPPER

“My favorite idol group is definitely FRUITS ZIPPER. They played FRUITS ZIPPER songs during this shoot, and I started having so much fun halfway through (laughs). I especially recommend their song ‘Kanpekishugi de☆.’ Within the group, Karen Matsumoto is my favorite. When I used to attend their concerts, I often got to take ‘cheki’ photos with her. My favorite idols always give me energy.”

From the June 5-12, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”