[This Week’s Cover Girls] Yuzuha Hongo, Aoi Mizobata, and Mao Takano: “The night of the shoot, the three of us watched the Brazil game together♡”

A Close-Knit Collaboration!

——This time, the three of you did a photo shoot together. How was it?

Hongo: “We’re close even in our personal lives, so it was a lot of fun! I think our playful, lively vibe really comes through in the photos. We played table tennis between shots, but Aoi-chan was way too good (laughs).”

Mizobata: “It’s not that I’m good—it’s just that the other two are too cautious (laughs).”

Hongo: “In the end, it turned into a ‘weakest player’ showdown between me and Mao-chan (laughs).”

Takano: “The shoot took place right in the middle of the World Cup, and staying up late to watch the games is one of my fondest memories.”

Mizobata: “It was the day of the Japan vs. Brazil match, so we gathered in my room and said, ‘Since we’re here, let’s watch it together as a trio.’”

Hongo: “Aoi-chan and I cheered our hearts out, but Mao-chan couldn’t fight off her sleepiness and ended up watching with her eyes half-closed (lol).”

Mizobata: “The moment Japan scored a goal, Yuzu and I screamed, and Mao was so startled she jumped out of bed (laughs).Even though she must have been almost asleep up until then, when I saw Mao-chan’s post, she’d muttered something like, ‘The World Cup is intense!’ It looked like she’d been watching the whole match, so Yuzu-chan and I burst out laughing.”

Takano: “The two of you were cheering so loudly that I definitely woke up the moment Japan scored a goal (laughs).”

Mizobata: “The match ended around 4 a.m., and after getting about two hours of sleep, we headed to the shoot. Sure enough, I was hit by sleepiness… and during the shoot, I tried to nap whenever I had a chance.”

——All three of you are with the same agency, but what’s your professional dynamic like?

Hongo: “In terms of time in the industry, I’m the senior. But since all three of us are close in age, it feels more like we’re peers than senior and junior.”

Mizobata: “Yuzu-chan is my senior both in terms of our careers and as a gravure idol, but she creates such a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy to talk to her. That’s why we can shoot together as if we were close friends. If Yuzu-chan were the type to act like a senior, I don’t think we could have had such a friendly and relaxed shoot like this one.”

Takano: “When we worked together on the last *FRIDAY* shoot, I spoke to Yuzu-chan using honorifics the whole time. But during this shoot, she said, ‘Let’s talk casually!’ and from then on, we were able to talk like friends. A month after the shoot, the three of us even went out for drinks, didn’t we?”

——As gravure idols, what do you respect most about each other?

Takano: “I’m the shortest of the three of us, so when we’re photographed side by side, I stand on my tiptoes to make my legs look as long as possible… but the other two are really good at posing to make their legs look longer, and I really respect them for that!　Even during this shoot, I learned a lot just by watching them pose—things like, ‘If I adjust the angle of my legs just a little more, I’ll look even more slender.’”

Hongo: “I’ve been in the gravure industry for over five years now, but Aoi-chan and Mao-chan exude such composure—it’s hard to believe they’ve only been doing this for about a year. Maybe it’s because they’ve done so many shoots… I was watching them and thinking, ‘They’re really something.’”

Mizobata: “Yuzu-chan, in particular, has an incredibly strong professional mindset. As soon as the shot is called, she checks the photo right away and applies what she learned—like ‘I should do this a little differently’—to the next shot. I think it’s amazing how Mao-chan can create such a wide range of expressions, from a bright, girlish look to a seductive, mature one.”

Overflowing “Fun”

——Aside from gravure modeling, is there any other kind of work the three of you would like to try?

Takano: “I’d like to do a YouTube channel together. I love strawberries, so I’d love for our fans to watch a video of the three of us going strawberry picking.”

Hongo: “I’d love to try doing a radio show! I’ve done it alone before, but I haven’t had many chances to talk with others. I’d like to try a segment where we take turns sharing updates each week, or a segment where the three of us help listeners solve their problems. It would also be great if we could star in a short drama together!”

Mizobata: “You just said everything I was about to say (laughs). With the three of us, both our YouTube channel and radio show are sure to be a hit, so please send us your requests!”

——Finally, please share a few words for readers looking forward to the collaboration photo spread.

Mizobata: “We each appear in various media, but I’m sure there are expressions and poses we can only pull off when the three of us are together. I hope you’ll keep an eye out for those!”

Hongo: “Since the three of us are close even in our personal lives, I think this photo spread is full of natural expressions and a relaxed atmosphere. Please enjoy it!”

Takano: “Shooting together as a trio was so much fun, and I think that joy really comes through in the photos. I’ll do my best so we can do another photo shoot together!”

Yuzuha Hongo, 23
From Osaka Prefecture. Graduated from “NMB48” in ’23. Currently active as an actress as well.

Aoi Mizobata, 25
From Osaka Prefecture. Has been with “seju” since ’25. Her first photobook, “Aoi Mamade,” is now on sale.

Mao Takano, 22
From Tochigi Prefecture. Has been with “seju” since ’25. Her first photo book, *About Mao*, is currently on sale

My Recent Favorites: “SNS & FOOD”
setlog / Spicy Hot Pot / Shaved Ice

Hongo: “setlog” is my latest obsession. If you record a 2-second video every hour, the app creates a vlog of your day for you!

Mizobata: I’m so hooked that I go out for mala soup whenever I have free time. I’m trying to get Mao-chan into it, too.

Takano: I’m hooked on visiting shaved ice shops. A café near my house started serving shaved ice, so I tried it and gave my thoughts on the flavor.

From the September 11 & 18, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”