Mito Shirahama: “When I turn 20, I want to eat bar snacks at an izakaya” [This Week’s Cover Girl’s Inner Thoughts]

She wore 19 different outfits!

——This is your second time on the cover of “FRIDAY.” How was the shoot?

“I had a lot of fun this time, too. Since it also doubled as a photoshoot for my second photobook, I actually got to wear 19 different outfits!? It was my first time wearing so many, which felt really fresh, and I also enjoyed shooting at various locations.”

——Did you have a favorite swimsuit?

“There are so many. One was a pink swimsuit paired with a white sheer dress—even my manager said it was cute!
Also, I’d love for you to check out the red swimsuit. It’s been a while since I wore red, and it even had frilly ribbons—it was so cute because it was packed with everything I love!”

——What stands out most from the shoot?

“The scenery of the Seto Inland Sea is etched in my memory. We shot at two different beaches this time, and both were absolutely wonderful.When we were shooting the sunset, the twilight created a path of light across the sea… it was so magical! We also shot at a spot that looks like a remote island when the tide goes out, and that place was incredibly beautiful, too. The sea was crystal clear, and the pink swimsuit I mentioned earlier as one of my favorites looked so cute there!”

——I hear you worked hard on your diet.

“Before this shoot, a staff member suggested, ‘Why don’t we work on getting in shape?’… (laughs).
I focused on eating slimy foods like mekabu and okra, and cut back on my favorite snacks. Honestly, it was tough, but it paid off—my appearance has changed quite a bit. In fact, when I compared it to photos from last year, I was surprised and thought, ‘My face looks different!’”

——Has your outlook changed now that your appearance has changed?

“I’ve always loved myself (laughs), so that hasn’t changed much. But appearing on a magazine cover made me realize once again that it gives me the chance to be seen by all kinds of people.Precisely because so many people see me, my desire to ‘have more confidence in myself and present myself in a way that people will enjoy looking at’ has grown stronger. Also, maybe because I’d just graduated from high school when we shot the last cover, I was really happy when the photographer told me, ‘You’ve matured a lot.’”

From the perspective of someone who “supports”

——What was this summer like for you?

“My best summer memory has to be going on location for this photo book. Also, I told myself, ‘This year, I’m going to get out and about in my free time too!’ so I went to the beach with friends. Every time I go to the beach for a shoot, I think, ‘This is so much fun—I want to go on my own time too,’ but I’d end up feeling satisfied just from the shoot and often wouldn’t actually go.But this time, I actually went to the beach, and even though my swimsuit was a bit more low-key than the outfits from the shoot, it was still cute—and I had so much fun. To be honest, it was my first time going to the beach in my free time since elementary school. It had been a really, really long time. Though, I did get a little sunburned (laughs). Since it was after the photo book shoot was finished, it didn’t affect the photos, but my manager did scold me a little (laughs).”

——You’ll turn 20 in October. Is there anything you’d like to try?

“It’s not like I’ll suddenly be able to do anything just because I turned 20, but I guess it’s drinking, huh? (laughs). Though, since about half my family can drink and half can’t, I still don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it myself.
But I really love eating, so I’m excited to think that if I can drink, I’ll be able to visit even more restaurants than before. I absolutely love the food served at izakayas, so I’m looking forward to having some bar snacks (laughs).”

——What do you do on your days off?

“I used to mostly just relax and watch YouTube, but lately I’ve been going to live shows to see a female member of a certain idol group. She’s my ‘oshi,’ as they say. Now that I’m in the position of supporting someone myself, I understand even better than before why fans come to my events.When I think, ‘Everyone is coming to see Shirahama with this same feeling,’ they just seem so adorable (laughs). I didn’t start supporting my favorite member specifically to understand how fans feel, but by chance, finding myself in the same position as them has made me cherish everyone even more. They’re just so cute I can’t stand it (laughs).”

——Finally, please share a message for the fans who are looking forward to your second “FRIDAY” cover and your second photobook.

“This time, I’ve been given the opportunity to grace the cover of *FRIDAY* for the second time, and my second photo book is also set to be released. I think you’ll see a side of me that’s even more polished than before, and thanks to my own efforts—as well as the support of those around me—I believe we’ve created a truly wonderful work.I gave it my all—everything I could at this moment—so I really want everyone to see it. You definitely won’t regret it!”

Miwa Shirahama, 19 years old
From Tottori Prefecture. She made her gravure debut in ’23 and won the Newcomer Award at the “Gravemy Awards,” hosted by this magazine, in ’25. That same year, her photobook *manika* (Shueisha) was published. Her favorite foods are seafood and melon bread. The next-generation gravure queen turns 20 next month.

My Recent Favorite “ANIME”
“Horimiya”

I love the contrast between the homebody Hori and the manly Miyamura. I watch anime a lot, and I’m especially into school-life and fantasy series. I enjoy worlds that definitely don’t exist in reality, like reincarnation stories, and I get all giddy watching scenes where I think, “I wish I’d had a youth like this back in school,” which helps me make up for what I missed (laughs).

From the September 25, 2026 issue of 『FRIDAY』