Actress Erika Sawajiri held a launch event in Tokyo on May 23rd for her first photobook in approximately 20 years, "DAY OFF" (Gentōsha). When asked about the changes in her life over the past 20 years, she reflected, "20 years ago, I really loved creating a certain image, like, 'This is who I am, this is who I am.'" She then smiled and said, "But as time has passed, I think I've finally found a place where I can be my natural, unpretentious self."
Regarding the photoshoot, she explained, "They took pictures of me every day, showing what kind of holidays I have and what I do." She reflected, "They captured me relaxing and having fun, so it was a really enjoyable shoot."
The photobook also features shots of Sawajiri skin diving and playing with dolphins underwater. Sawajiri said she started skin diving seriously three years ago, and explained its appeal, saying, "When I'm underwater and swimming with dolphins, it's a moment when I forget myself and become completely absorbed in something, realizing that there's something I can be so passionate about. I can become one with the world around me, and it's a moment that I can be completely satisfied with." When asked how long she can stay underwater, she replied, "If I'm feeling well, it can be a little less than a minute. Right now, I can free dive to about 10 meters."
She also showed off some photos of herself without makeup, saying, "I have absolutely no problem showing my bare face. I can't wear makeup at the beach anyway (laughs)." She added, "Lately, I've been feeling that I need to take care of my skin, something I didn't care about when I was younger, as I've gotten older. I've been taking care of my skin for a while now, and I've become much more careful about things like daily moisturizing."
When asked about her feelings after turning 40 on April 8th, she said, "Turning 40 is a really big milestone. If you ask me if there has been any major change in my feelings, I would say not in particular..." but then added enthusiastically, "However, I am really looking forward to my 40s. I want to enjoy both my work and my private life."
When asked about her future challenges, she smiled and said, "I want to try a lot of different things. There are still so many things I haven't tried yet, so I'd like to try various things like stage performances and musicals." When asked what she wanted to do this summer, she gave a wry smile and said, "I want to go diving right now, but I'm most afraid of the UV rays," and then drew laughter by saying, "I love the sea, but I have work this year, so I think I'll tackle the mountains this summer."
Finally, she smiled and said, "I'm so happy that I was able to create this photobook at this time," and appealed to the audience, saying, "I made it because I wanted to share a genuine side of myself with everyone. If you're interested, please pick it up and enjoy it."
For the photobook, she personally selected the makeup, costumes, and shooting locations. It showcases her bare-faced look, her surfing, and active side with scenes of her skin diving and playing with dolphins in the ocean. With over 10,000 shots taken, it includes over 150 carefully selected visuals. A4 size, 160 pages. 3600 yen (excluding tax).
