[This Week’s Cover Girl] First Essay Collection Now on Sale! Aimi Higa: “I Packed It Full of the Core of Who I Am”

These reflections serve as a birthday gift

—On June 10, just before your 40th birthday, you released your first collection of essays. What were your thoughts when you decided to publish it?

“I’ve always taken on a new challenge at each milestone marking a change in my age group. This time, I created this collection hoping that people would get to know me not just as an actor, but as a person, and also because I wanted to preserve my memories and thoughts in the form of essays while reflecting on who I was in the past and who I am now.”

——When did you start writing?

“The project itself began about a year ago, but I didn’t actually start writing until earlier this year. Since these are my own words, I believe there’s no right or wrong way to express them. Still, I took the utmost care in my choice of words and how I conveyed my thoughts to ensure that no one who reads them would be hurt.”

——As you wrote, what stood out to you the most?

“It was being able to confront my younger self and the version of myself from what I’d call my ‘darkest days.’ I felt that the emotional scars—which were still lingering slightly even now, though they were certainly present back then—began to fade little by little as I put them into words. I think it’s precisely because so much time has passed that I was able to face them head-on and find my own way to heal.”

——Have you received any feedback from readers of your essay?

“A close friend who’s known me since my time in Okinawa told me, ‘It was good to learn things about you that I didn’t know. I’m proud to have been a part of your turning point.’ While I wrote the essay with words I wanted to share with many people, including my fans, hearing the reactions of the important people closest to me is particularly moving.”

——It sounds like that in itself became a kind of “birthday present.”

“Exactly! It turned out to be a wonderful birthday present. Before it went on sale, I was so restless—it wasn’t just nervousness, but a feeling I’d never experienced before—so I’m really happy about it.”

——What made you feel that way?

“I packed the essay full of my own whims and personal preferences.It’s also very personal, which is exactly why I had such strong doubts: ‘Will a book like this—one that feels like it was made just for me—be accepted?’… Of course, how readers interpret it is entirely up to them. But I realized that revealing my ‘true self’ to the world is actually a very scary thing.

Since I’ve packed it full of my most precious core—my genuine, unvarnished true feelings—I feel I have no choice but to leave it entirely up to the readers to interpret it however they wish. It’s such a straightforward book that it’s actually a bit difficult to recommend it with sales-pitch-style phrases like, ‘Please read it this way.’”

The Real Star

——You’re starring in the drama *First Cry: Mother-Child Emergency Rescue Team* (Nippon TV), which premieres on July 8. As the lead actor, how are you approaching the filming?

“I’m really enjoying the thrill of being the lead. It’s a great team. My co-stars and the staff all place a high priority on harmony and communicate closely with one another. Since I have no worries about our teamwork, I can just focus on fully embodying my role.I’m fully immersed in my performance, deeply feeling the sense of mission that Aki Mitsui, an obstetrician-gynecologist, has toward childbirth.”

——Have you made any new discoveries through this role?

“It really makes me realize once again that the birth of a child is anything but a matter of course. It’s only through the help of medical professionals and so many other people that a baby can let out its first cry.Everyone is born with the support of others. Playing a character on the front lines makes me feel very strongly about how we should approach life and its preciousness. Although I’m playing the lead role, I also believe that I’m not the real star.”

——Who is the real star?

“It’s the baby. When it’s time for the actual scene, the real baby enters the set, and the atmosphere changes instantly. It’s as if the air is purified all at once—all distracting thoughts and unnecessary elements vanish. I can feel everyone’s hearts filling with compassion.

At the same time, everyone is inspired by the thought, ‘We’re doing this for this life.’ Honestly, the atmosphere is completely different. ‘First Cry’ is the first project I’ve appeared in since turning 40, and I truly cherish every day, thinking, ‘How lucky I am.’”

——What kind of actress do you hope to be as “Aimi Higa in her 40s”?

“Just as I have been, I want to be an actress who continues to evolve with a spirit of curiosity. It’s only because of the efforts I’ve put in over the years that I’m able to continue doing the work I love so much right now. I’ve come to a point where I can acknowledge myself just a little bit and think, ‘I’ve really worked hard.’”

Outside of acting, I’m exploring ways I can contribute more to society. I’ve devoted myself entirely to acting up until now, but going forward, I want to actively learn about other fields and broaden the scope of what I can do.”

Manami Higa, 40
Born in Okinawa Prefecture in 1986. Began modeling in 2003 and made her acting debut in 2005.
On June 10 of this year, she published her first collection of essays, *See You Later* (Kodansha).
She plays the lead role of an obstetrician-gynecologist in the drama *First Cry: Mother and Child Emergency Rescue Team* (Nippon TV).

My current favorite: “QUEST”
Exploring Hidden Hot Springs

I’ve always loved traveling, but lately I’ve been especially hooked on exploring hidden hot springs. Whenever I hear a tip like, “This place is great,” I make time to visit, no matter how far away it is. Soaking in the hot springs and relaxing in nature is the best way to recharge. I truly feel that taking time to heal both my mind and body is essential

From the July 31, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*