Actress Emi Takei, 17, has been appointed an "image girl" for luxury Italian fashion brand Gucci -- the first Japanese celebrity to do so.
As part of her role, Takei will endorse Gucci's clothes and bags in Japan and attend Gucci events in other countries.
The Gucci deal brings Takei's total number of commercial contracts to 15 this year. She was only offered one TV commercial contract in 2010.
On Wednesday, Takei launched her foray into the world of music with the release of her debut single "Koisurukimochi" (The feeling of falling in love). She told media, "It's like a dream. I feel like crying because I am so happy."
© Japan Today
24 Comments
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some14some
cost-cutting and revenue-raising measures by Gucci.
Gurukun
Typical talento-less words.
lrodriguezsosa
Beatiful girl!
plasticmonkey
15 commercial contracts and a single? Doesn't this girl go to school? I'm sure her contractors and gangster production company have found a way to get around the child labor laws prohibiting individuals under age 18 from working long hours.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
She looks great in her junior high bathing suit pictures.
genji17
bah ha Mabo
DentShop
No need. You go to Japanese school not for education but to get a job. She already has a job and is doing rather well.
nath
I reckon she is schooled similar to the AKB48, etc girls.
In short they are home-schooled by an Instructor on site between working schedules, reports about their schooling aplenty. Also common practice overseas for teen-actors, etc.
My local town has its own radio station one of the announcers is a former teenage singer/cravure idol.
Yubaru
At 17 she is legally allowed to work, she has no obligation nor requirement to go to school. Compulsory education in Japan ends with 9th grade and kids who do not go on to HS many times find work.
The law states;
<http://www.loc.gov/law/help/child-rights/japan.php >
It's poor form to assume anything.
LH10
^o^ congrats!!
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Thanks Genji.
I googled her. Most of her pictures are when she was modelling to make dirty old men go crazy. That is why I wrote that up there. What a silly country, but we all love it ne!
herefornow
Gucci hiring a 17 year-old as a spokesperson. Says a lot about Japanese culture -- that girls dominate the market and real "women" are not the role models.
LoveNot
She is beautiful I think. Everyday i see so many Japanese beauties on JT so I want to become Japanese myself...
The_True
Does she speak any english to go to other country as a endorser?
LoveNot
She will look more kawaii if she does not try to speak too much.
Nessie
@mabo
I see your are a scholar, if not, perhaps, a gentleman. ;)
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Thanks Nessie.
Vernie Jefferies
I think they should hire male models too. I see many young Japanese guys with Gucci bags, purses, and belts.
realdoll
The world admits by choosing it's models, campaign girls and beauty contestants and winners, that young girls are sexy. However, if a middle aged man is seen with one, he is tagged by women as a discusting pervert.. unless it is a young woman. It goes to show that women hate men when they are enjoying themselves.
BlueWitch
realdoll
you made good points...
I was asking my husband the other day that I was wondering if he still finds me "attractive/sexy" in his eyes, now that I'm 30 and after giving birth 4 times (164cm/57kgs) maybe I'm nothing like the time we were dating.. and I thought that men like young women and all that, his reply was this:
You'll never be better or more beautiful than this. not before, not 10 years later and although the truth is that most men like to look at the young women, doesn't mean they will go after her. I know I won't. I have all I need and more in you. I can't wait to get out of work and go home to you and my children, everyday.
That's my rough translation from when he told me in Japanese but I guess you get the idea. Every single man is different. Stereotypes doesn't always define a man..or a woman for that matter.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
You are too...
nath
I checked out some pictures of her and she does look pretty. Her legs are almost as good as mine. Just smiling. :-)
lucabrasi
Given the condition of the world economy, she'd be better off learning Mandarin.Then maybe she'll be able to get a job as a maid in a rich family's Shanghai apartment one day....
seesaw1
@lucabrasi: you must be new in Japan.. J women plan their life well. That teenager is not going to land herself a maid job in Shanghai .. for sure!