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It’s fitting that Akina Minami does TV commercials for an energy drink. The 20-year-old gravure idol, model, actress and all-round tarento needs as much energy as she can to keep up with her schedule some weeks.
Recently, in the space of seven days, Minami appeared in the popular Tokyo Girls Collection fashion extravaganza, introduced outfits she helped design for clothing chain g.u., was named goodwill ambassador for next year’s Taipei International Flora Exposition, helped Hello Kitty celebrate her 35th anniversary and suited up for the “au Smart Sports Run & Walk” by cell phone provider KDDI. Plus, she can be seen on a poster warning against shoplifting in retail outlets and convenience stores in her home prefecture of Kanagawa.
Minami has the cute looks and bubbly demeanor that Japan’s cookie-cutter entertainment companies produce year after year. She has been hot for about 18 months, doing ads for Coca-Cola, KDDI and skin care products, among others. Her film credits this year include "Kamen Rider Deno & Decade," in which she played a mini-skirted fighter battling assorted monsters with Kamen Rider in the 15th century Muromachi period. Besides her many appearances at various events, Minami is also a Thursday regular on Fuji TV’s popular midday variety show "Waratte Iitomo."
At the Tokyo Girls Collection, she proved a hit with screaming fans, many of whom have copied her hairstyle. “I created the idea for this hairstyle by myself. I’m very happy to see people imitate it,” said Minami who won the Beauty Fresh category at last year’s Beauty Week Awards.
Since her hairstyle has attracted fans, Minami is hoping her line of clothing for g.u. will do likewise. Unveiling the fall-winter line of jeans, shirts, skirts and knitwear and skirts, which will sell for 990 yen, Minami said, “I hope more girls will want to dress cute and realize its appeal. My boyfriend always tells me he likes what I wear when we go on a date.” Hello Kitty fashion would seem to be a natural for Minami, who attended the feline’s birthday bash at Harajuku’s Laforet Museum in a frilly pink miniskirt and ears. “Isn’t she adorable?” was the sum total of Minami’s opinion on the famous Kitty.
Next on Minami’s schedule was a promotion for Taipei International Flora Exposition, at which she was joined by Gui Lun-mei, a popular actress from Taiwan. Minami was given a flower crown for the expo that starts in November 2010. Naturally, we’d like to know her favorite flowers. “I’d like a bouquet of gerberas, preferably from a guy who is cute and taller than me,” she cooed.
Then she was off to the “au Smart Sports Run & Walk” where she lined up with Q-taro Suzuki, 35, and Hiroaki Matsuda, 32, of comedy duo Hiking Walking. KDDI’s “sports support service” utilizes motion sensors in handsets and GPS technology to calculate calories burned, speed, distance traveled and show the route on the screen. Minami sported a cute, athletic pink number and black tights for the event held on a circular track 45 meters long assembled inside Tokyo Midtown. She said she keeps in shape by taking her two dogs for a walk every day. As for the au service, she added: “The handsets and service are cool, and walking is good for one’s beauty.”
Minami said she is enjoying the fast pace of her life, but added wistfully, “There are times when I just want to hang out with my friends and go to the seaside or festivals, but instead I end up putting a lot more effort into working.”
© Japan Today
23 Comments
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thepro
Cool, a worthless article on a person of no real worth to society.
The758
Personally I don't find her attractive at all. I wonder how long she'll last before burning out or the public losing interest in her.
nath
thepro - entertainment feature in entertainment section, about a person of more worth than yourself on evidence so far.
The758 - beauty is in the eye of the beholder so now we all know you are squinting from behind your porn mags... Fair point about burn out / disposible celebs tho. Welcome to the media age.
Ohayo Japan!! :oD
thepro
Actually, this is the 'Features' section
nath
Entertainment / Arts
TOKYO — It’s fitting that Akina Minami does TV commercials for an energy drink. The 20-year-old gravure idol, model, actress… '
bamboohat
appearing on posters is hard work. It's not like you get a break or anything, you pretty much have to be up 24/7.
dbung10
She probably has more worth to society than those of us, including myself that making annonymous posts about her at 9. 30 am on a weekday. Ganbatte Akina!
DenDon
pffft balderdash
GW
next!
Rugbyfan
I don't no what all the fuss is about with Akina. She is only average on the scale of attractiveness, her shaggy hair style looks terrible and when she speaks she shows what a complete airhead she is!!!! I think she is a terrible role model for young Japanese women. She is so typical of the types that you see on the "variety" shows like Hexagon and Waratteitomo. I think Japanese young women need to see more positive role models like the smart and attractive women that often appear on the quiz show "Q samma". Those women are usually graduates of top universities.
dbung10
agreed young japanese women should see smart role models on tv. But why, rugbyfan, do they need to be attractive? why do role models need to be attractive? Young people both guys and girls cant really aspire for attractiveness, they either are or they arent.
dbung10
ps didnt need to say 'japanese women'. applies to everyone.
almondjoy
hahaha japan's young women are doomed, why go to college when you can make thousands being cute or being a hostess?
Jkanda
'Was hot for 18 months..' What does that mean?
What is the 'idea of the hairstyle that she created'?
sf2k
fitting title: idle chatter has a sense of worthlessness to it, just like the article. The irony no doubt lost in translation
michaelqtodd
The headline says it all with its use of irony in the intentional spelling mistake.With all the attention on pointless people like this,the emphasis on looks over their brains and their pointless commercialised activities it is really hard to see this country continuing to succeed in the way it has
IchyaWarFare
lol. Probably so. Nice point with the role models. Hope we get some good ones soon.
nath
Akina actually has some great legs. Check her out wearing those blue and black stockings. Big turn on.
Rugbyfan
"dbung10", I didn't say that role models HAVE TO BE attractive. If you had read my comments carefully, you would have understood that I said it was wonderful that they had these attributes, not that they had to have them.
Rugbyfan
Oh, please "Yelnats" you can't call those toothpicks great legs!!! And look at the rest of her, she's a walking advetisement for anorexia.
thomyorke
I`m sorry but I dont see any reason why she is famous in the first place. Seriously, do you actually have to do anything worthwhile, show some skills in ANYTHING to be famous in this country? Apparently not.
Rugbyfan
And another thing "dbung10", I said Japanese women because this article is specifically about Akina Minami and the situation here in Japan.
soothsayer
It's about time for JT to start putting the word "gravure" in the inverted comments it reserves for Japlish words used out of context like "talent".
To support my case, I submit the following:
Gravure. Adj.
Definitions
a. A method of printing with etched plates or cylinders; intaglio printing. b. Photogravure.
a. A plate used in the process of gravure. b. A reproduction produced by gravure.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gravure
It's time to reclaim our language!