Yuka Ogura on Yoga, Stress Relief, and Her Secret to Staying Fit

Her commitment to beauty and health

— How was it to do a gravure shoot for the first time in a while?

“In the past, I was often able to have my wishes accommodated, like ‘I want to go overseas!’ (laughs). But this shoot came together suddenly, and the studio was in Kujukuri, Chiba Prefecture. Actually, it’s a place I went to about six or seven years ago, when I had just started doing gravure and was still at a point where I couldn’t really make demands. So it brought back a lot of memories and felt quite emotional. Since it had been a while since my previous shoot, there were moments when I wondered, ‘How did I usually do this again?’ But once we started shooting, I think we got some really great shots!”

— Tell us about the atmosphere on set and any memorable moments.

“The snacks the staff prepared were amazing! There were lots of beauty- and health-conscious treats, like cranberry chocolate and rice-flour cookies—the kind of things you might find at Natural Lawson. I could eat them without feeling guilty, so I ended up eating too much instead (laughs).”

— Do you usually eat a lot of snacks?

“I love them! But they don’t always agree with my body, so I’m very strict about eating gluten-free and try not to eat wheat flour. Just avoiding sweets and bread made with wheat naturally makes it harder to gain weight, and my body feels lighter.”

— Which shot from this shoot is your favorite?

“The shot of me on the bed wearing whitish lingerie with a frilly cardigan over it. It had a cute, morning-loungewear feel that I think girls would look at and say, ‘So cute!’ It really got me excited. I also love the pink frilly dress we shot on the rooftop. The wind made the skirt billow beautifully, and they captured it wonderfully.”

— What are your secrets to maintaining your incredible figure?

“Being strict all the time would be stressful, so I believe in moderation. I stop drinking alcohol and increase the amount of exercise I do starting one week before a shoot. But in my everyday life, the only things I really pay attention to are eating gluten-free and avoiding excessive spikes in my blood sugar.”

— What kind of training do you usually do?

“I do weight training at the gym, Pilates, yoga, and cardio. Pilates helps improve my posture, while yoga and cardio help me relieve stress and stay emotionally balanced. I’ve always had a body type that doesn’t build muscle easily, so I make sure to do strength training and aim for a body that’s less prone to gaining weight.”

— What do you focus on when it comes to beauty?

“Rather than focusing on putting things on my body, I pay attention to inner care. I avoid putting things that are bad for the body, such as oxidized oils, into my system. Then I sweat through exercise to detox. That’s something I’m very particular about. By the way, I do drink alcohol, but I’m able to control myself, so I never drink to the point of blacking out (laughs).”

Her acting career is also going strong

— How do you spend your free time?

“I relax by watching Chinese dramas and variety shows, or I go out to eat Chinese food. When I can take a decent stretch of time off, I also travel. I started studying Chinese after visiting Taiwan for the first time when I was 16, and I’ve now obtained HSK Level 5 (an advanced level of the Chinese proficiency test).”

— So can you already speak it fluently?

“I’ve continued studying all this time, so as long as there aren’t too many technical terms, I can understand just under 90% of a Chinese drama without subtitles. I can also communicate quite smoothly with my Chinese-speaking friends.”

— What is your favorite destination to travel to?

“I absolutely love Thailand, and including trips for work, I may have been there nearly 20 times (laughs). I’m sensitive to the cold, so the warm climate suits me. The people are kind, and the food is inexpensive and delicious. There’s both the ocean and the city, and it’s incredibly comfortable.”

— This year, you returned to acting for the first time in five years. You star in the Ashallow Cinderella Girls’ Marriage-Hunting Battle series, which is being released on a short-form drama app. How do you feel about your performance?

“Since it was a comedy and I hadn’t acted in a while, I was nervous during Season 1. But as we went through the episodes, I gradually got my feel for acting back. By the time we filmed the newly released Season 3, I felt that I had gained a much deeper understanding of the expressions the director wanted and of my character.”

— The series portrays women from Minato Ward navigating the marriage market. Is there anything that overlaps with your own views on marriage?

“I’ve never personally had a desire to get married. So, in order to understand and approach the role, I researched marriage-hunting accounts on social media. Personally, I’m the type who thinks, ‘If you love someone, you can stay together forever without being bound by the institution of marriage—that’s what real love is.’ So it was a fresh challenge for me to understand why the protagonist wants to get married so badly and then portray her from that perspective.”

— What are your career goals for the future?

“I’d like to try radio again. I quit before because I didn’t appreciate what was so appealing about radio… But looking back, I realize what an incredibly valuable experience it was to have a weekly opportunity to talk with senior comedians and learn their skills. Also, I really enjoy GL (Girls’ Love) productions that are popular in Thailand and Taiwan, so if there’s ever an opportunity to work on one filmed in Japan, I’d definitely love to be involved.”

— Finally, do you have a message for your readers?

“Thank you for waiting so long! I think the changes in my way of thinking and inner self, as well as the charm that comes with getting older, are reflected in this gravure shoot. I’d be happy if you could enjoy those changes and get to know this new side of me.”

Yuka Ogura, 27
She began her career in entertainment in 2013 and has worked extensively as a model, actress, and gravure idol. Fluent in Chinese, she holds HSK Level 5 certification. Her starring drama Ashallow Cinderella Girls’ Marriage-Hunting Battle 3 began streaming on August 5.

Recent Personal Best: “SOCIAL SKILL” — Maintaining the right distance

Recently, I’ve started interacting with my friends while maintaining a healthy distance. In the past, even the slightest feeling of discomfort would bother me, but I realized there was no need to be so sensitive about everything. Once I changed that mindset, I made many more female friends, and my everyday life became much more fun. I’ve also made more friends whom I see several days in a row—we’ll go from a café to dinner and then hop from one bar to another.

From the August 21 & 28, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”