Former Fuji TV announcer Watanabe Nagisa's first photo essay "Toumei o Saitama" (Kodansha) was released on January 29th. The book is filled with Watanabe's thoughts after he left Fuji TV and started a new career as a freelancer. It is made up of a newly written full-length essay of over 50,000 characters and a photo section that gives a sense of breaking new ground. This book was the first job offer he received after returning to society in October last year. Naturally, this book is positioned as "the first step," and Watanabe spoke about his "future" plans, emphasizing, "I think this is where it all begins."
◇Modeling is like "a constant process of updating myself"
Watanabe joined Fuji Television in 2020. He was in charge of "Mezamashi TV" and "Moshimo Tours", but after falling ill in June 2023, he stepped down from his programs to recuperate, and left the station at the end of August 2024.
Currently, she is practicing various work styles apart from her title as an announcer, such as writing essays for websites, working as a model, and working as an MC for volleyball-related activities, making use of her experience and knowledge.
"Fulfilling Transparency" contains newly taken photographs, and she has a positive attitude towards her work as a model, saying, "It's a lot of fun."
"I feel like I'm discovering a side of myself I didn't know before, and the more I do it, the more I learn about what kind of expressions I need to use, and the more experience I have, the more I learn about how to present myself. It feels like I'm constantly updating myself."
In addition to fashion, she smiles and says she would also like to actively pursue beauty-related work.
"Originally, I wasn't that interested in fashion or beauty, and I was happy as long as I looked good. But recently, I've become very particular. Up until now, I was pretty reserved, but now I interview stylists and buy clothes. I've started wearing things like ripped denim and clothes with cut parts, so my fashion horizons have expanded. I'm showing more skin, mixing patterns, and I'm having fun learning."
◇The reason he got hooked on shounen manga: "More than romantic troubles..."
In "Meet the Transparent," there are many stories about his relationship with volleyball. There is also a reference to a certain line from the popular manga " My Hero Academia " by Kohei Horikoshi , which was also made into a popular TV anime. This book also gives a glimpse into the "true face" of Watanabe, who is also a fan of shounen manga and anime.
"I first read shonen manga properly when I was a student, in issues of Jump and Magazine. I thought they were perfect for me, so I started buying them every week. We had shoujo manga at home, but I wasn't into them. Rather than love disputes, I like stories about characters fighting for their own sense of justice, stories about effort, friendship, victory, and the like. I also have a strong desire for knowledge, so I like stories that are educational. I have a habit of carefully following every single character, and if I like something, I take note of it."
Recently, Watanabe has become addicted to the snack "Sharimoni Gummy" (Bourbon). He says he is now savoring the happiness of "big purchases" that he couldn't do as a child.
"I haven't eaten many gummy candies before, but I've become addicted to one particular type. I feel so happy when I go to the supermarket and pick so many off the shelves that I can't even hold them all in my hands and take them to the register. And when I eat them every night, I feel so happy."
It has been about four months since he returned to society. Regarding his future plans, he said, "I still don't have a clear goal in mind, but in the broader context of life, I want to continue on the path that I have chosen and am happy with."
"Until now, I've lived my life seeking long-term stability, but instead, I want to cherish experiences that make me excited. In terms of work, if I feel like 'this looks fun', I don't want to decide from the start that 'I can't do it', but rather I want to keep challenging myself, and in the process I think I'll come across something that makes me think 'I want to dig deeper into this.' I couldn't have imagined that I'd be where I am now a year ago, so I'm sure that in a year's time I'll have arrived at a place I couldn't have imagined. So without deciding on a firm direction, I think I'll just set sail."
