“This photo shoot really brought out the peak of my sex appeal in my late 20s!” Ina Enokihara [This Week’s Cover Girl’s Inner Thoughts]

Mature Series

—This marks your ninth appearance, a record high.

“I’m so grateful! If I’ve been featured this many times, maybe it’ll make the online news? There might be someone who’s been featured 10 times, so please count them to make sure this really is the record (laughs). I guess it’s thanks to having released two photobooks.”

—We counted carefully, and yes, it really is your record! I hear this is your first new photo shoot in about a year.

“We shot in a studio in Tokyo, but the sunlight was pouring in as if we were on the Greek island of Santorini. The white walls were just as dazzling, so I approached the shoot with the feeling that ‘there’s a piece of Santorini right here in Tokyo.’My favorite shot is the one where I paired a one-piece swimsuit with jeans. When I wear jeans, it really reinforces the image of a ‘cheerful, cute girl.’
When I first debuted, I wore a lot of pastel colors, like a pink bikini, but starting with my second photo book, fans began telling me, ‘You’re gradually becoming more mature.’ This shoot brings out the peak of the allure you’d expect from someone in their late twenties, making it the pinnacle of the ‘Enokihara Mature Series’!”

——What’s amazing about Enokihara is how she balances the allure that captivates her fans with her sense of humor.

“Since I’m from Kansai, ‘funny’ is the highest compliment for me. On social media, I share glimpses of my personal life, like posting videos of myself eating ramen or yakiniku with a big appetite. Please enjoy the ‘real’ Enokihara and my bright, fun daily life (laughs).”

——Your “Yoihara” videos, where you sing passionately at karaoke while drunk, are also very popular.

“Yuki Hirako (47) from Arko & Peace, who I co-hosted a variety show with, saw the ‘Yoihara’ video and complimented me, saying, ‘You’re a good singer.’ Sometimes I post videos while still a bit tipsy, with my memory a bit fuzzy, so I just hope nothing bad happens…”

——What kind of songs do you sing at karaoke?

“‘Freckles’ by JUDY AND MARY is my signature song. My mother loved Judy and Mary, and I grew up listening to ‘Freckles’ and ‘Over Drive’ like lullabies.While my friends sing Aimyon or ‘Mrs. GREEN APPLE,’ I’m belting out songs by ‘Rebecca’ and ‘PRINCESS PRINCESS.’ I’m the only one whose generation is a bit off, aren’t I? (laughs).
I’ve loved karaoke since I was three years old. My grandma runs a snack bar, and apparently, when I was just toddling around, I used to sing Yuko Nakazawa’s “Junjo March” right on top of the bar counter (lol).My very first karaoke experience was singing Ms. Nakazawa’s enka song. I really don’t remember it at all, but I guess I’m a die-hard karaoke fan.”

Everyone around me was an experienced actor

——You made your acting debut in the drama *Kenka Dokugaku*, which streamed on Netflix this past June, didn’t you?

“I took on my very first audition and landed the role of the protagonist’s classmate. There’s a scene where the whole class picks on the protagonist, but even though they told me, ‘Just do whatever you want,’ I had no acting experience. My Kansai dialect kept slipping out, and the intonation of my lines ended up sounding weird.
I tried asking, ‘Would it be okay if my character was a transfer student from Kansai?’ but the answer was, of course, ‘No’ (laughs). Every day of filming was a process of trial and error, and there are parts I don’t even remember.”

——Appearing in a Netflix drama with zero acting experience must have put a lot of pressure on you…

“Among the actors playing the other students, some had been acting for years since they were child actors, and others were reading scripts for their next drama during breaks. I was the only complete amateur, and I thought to myself over and over, ‘I don’t belong here…’Some kids could burst into tears on the spot, while others could deliver long lines flawlessly—it was one shock after another, and I kept thinking, ‘What on earth is going on here?!’ Those were days of constantly thinking, ‘I’m really sorry. An amateur like me is getting in the way,’ but it was stimulating and a great learning experience.
I had no idea that even for a single fight scene, they’d shoot multiple takes from different angles. It only lasts a few seconds when you watch it on TV, but the actual filming takes a long time. It completely changed the way I look at TV dramas.”

——Did you notice anything in particular on set?

“I don’t know what other sets are like, but the snack corner at the catering was really impressive. There was a whole section stocked with everything from high-end sweets you’d find in a department store basement to familiar old-school snacks. Whenever something ran out, it was restocked, so I’d slip my favorite treats into my pocket and chat with the other cast members while we snacked during breaks.”

——You’re active in variety shows and have been branching out into acting—do you have any goals for the future?

“I’ve been feeling a growing desire to pursue music. My parents and grandmother are all great singers, so if possible, I’d love to make my debut as a singer. I’m also practicing to be a DJ.When I had my fortune told by my friend Kasumin (29), who’s a comedian and fortune-teller, she said that in ’28, I’ll be traveling abroad a ton, living in a house that costs twice my current rent, earning twice my current salary, and will be rich. Two years from now, I might be successful as a singer or DJ, touring the world.”

Ina Enohara, 28
Born in Sennan City, Osaka Prefecture. She made her gravure debut in ’24, releasing her first photobook, *Inaism*, in October of that year, followed by her second photobook, *I am ina*, last December (both published by Kodansha). Her hobbies include traveling abroad, people-watching, and trying out different foods

My Recent Favorite: “RAMEN”
Yamaoka-ya’s “Spicy Miso Ramen: Extra Spicy”

I love Yamaoka-ya so much that I go there with friends at least once a week. For the “Spicy Miso Ramen – Extra Spicy,” I add two servings of bean sprouts, spinach, and a seasoned soft-boiled egg as toppings. I also order a half-portion of rice so I can turn the leftover soup into a rice porridge-style dish to finish off the meal. I just choose to ignore how many calories I’m consuming in a single meal (laughs).I’m also collecting coupons that can be exchanged for ramen and gyoza!

From the September 4, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*