The first photo book "Jun" (Wani Books) by Junsei Motojima, who starred in the special effects drama "Kamen Rider Gatchard", will be released on November 8th. The theme is "as it is", and it also includes "real tears" shed the day after "Kamen Rider Gatchard" wrapped up in August this year. "At that time, I had a mixture of emotions, including a sense of accomplishment for wrapping up, as well as anxiety about what would happen in the future," said Motojima, who said, "I would be happy if people could accept me as I am." We spoke to Motojima, who said, "I didn't know that a person's facial expressions could change so much in a year." Motojima was born on January 5, 2005 and is 19 years old. In "Kamen Rider Gatchard", which aired from September 2023 to August 2024, he played the main character Kamen Rider Gatchard/Houtaro Ichinose, and attracted attention. This photobook is a carefully selected layout of the photos taken over a year and a half from February 2023 to August 2024. The photos are arranged in the order they were taken. The result is a work that allows you to feel the changes in Motojima's facial expression.
"I took photos at every milestone, and I think it's a worthwhile photobook in the sense that you can see the growth of Junsei Motojima to the point that I myself can tell that my face has changed."
Motojima reveals that he "really likes the very first shots," which were taken shortly after he joined the agency.
"I didn't take the photos thinking, 'I'm going to release a photobook,'" he says. "I think it's interesting that the photos show the 'nobody Junsei Motojima' right after he graduated from high school."
Once again, he says, "I realized that a person's facial expression can change so much in a year."
"The other day, I showed my mother the photo book, and she said, 'It's like looking at an album of my son.' I have about 10 albums from my childhood at home, and just like those, I have pictures of me as I am, and I can really see my growth, so I was happy to hear her say, 'It's interesting to look at.'"
◇Is there someone you want to brag about? Showing off the finished 'physical beauty'
The title of the photo book, 'Jun', was chosen by Motojima himself.
"I wanted to take my first photo book from my own name. 'Junmasa' is my real name, and it was given to me by my parents, and it was filled with the desire for me to grow up pure and healthy, and I feel like I projected that meaning directly into this photo book."
When shooting, he was conscious of not being too tense. As a result, the photo book was completed, which is as natural as possible, and you can feel close to the 'real Junsei Motojima', but at the same time, Motojima also shows off the finished 'physical beauty'.
"I've been working on my physique for over a year, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to show off my ripped body (laughs). I also trained with Miyahara Kanon, who I co-starred with in Kamen Rider Gatchard, and I think that's how I got into shape. Miyahara also seems to be in shape on a regular basis, so I'd like to show her how toned I've become when she sees this photobook."
"Junsei Motojima's First Photobook 'Jun'" is B5 size and has 104 pages. It costs 3,300 yen. A release event will be held on November 10th at Book First Shinjuku Book First Shinjuku (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo).
