Gravure idol Momiji Kuribara goes nude for debut print photo book

The gravure model Momiji Kuribara will release her first nude photo book, Land of the Beautiful Butt, on September 30.

The book is published by Takeshobo, like her recently released fifth image DVD, and Kuribara sat down with Weekly Playboy for an interview featured in the August 10 issue.

The 29-year-old Saitama native has only published digital photo books to date, so her upcoming release marks another milestone in her career.

“I was nervous before the shoot started because it was my first time doing nude work, and the outfits were unlike anything I’d ever worn for glamour shoots before. The settings were quite extraordinary, too.”

The issue of Weekly Playboy includes some nude pics, which may not be in the final book.

“As part of the promotion, I did this advance nude shoot with Weekly Playboy. Honestly, I did have some inner conflict about whether it was okay to go nude, but once we actually started shooting, it was really fun. There was a sense of liberation in having nothing to hide, though expressing myself was also challenging in its own way. But since I was baring my true self, in a sense, it was actually easier to do than a swimsuit shoot.”

The title of the new photo book references Kuribara’s shapely rear.

“My large hips are my best feature. I’ve always had a big bottom — partly because I have naturally wide hips, and also because I played basketball from fourth grade through junior high.”

The images available at present from the Weekly Playboy shoot (also available as a standalone digital photo book) reveal Kuribara’s beautiful breasts in all their glory, while previews from the print photo book suggest the focus is on her ass.

It is not clear at this stage if the new photo book contains full-frontal nudity (known in the industry as a hair nude). We hope to update readers after the book is released and more images become available.

A perennial interest of Tokyo Kinky is the jobs that models and idols did before their work in the industry as well as the side gigs they do to support themselves in a competitive gig economy.

Kuribara’s case proves an enlightening example.

“After graduating high school, I went to a beauty vocational school. After graduating from there, I worked at a hair salon handling hair and makeup.”

She even obtained a hairdressing license.

“I did have one. But after about a year, I switched jobs to work at an apparel shop. I enjoyed working there for around four years, but as my 25th birthday approached, I started questioning my future and wondering if this was really the right path for me.”

Somewhat unusually, then, she switched to modeling in her mid-twenties, while many, if not most, gradols and idols seem to start in their later teens.

“You know how they say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die? I realized that if I kept living the way I was, I’d definitely have regrets when looking back on my life. So, I decided to try my hand at the entertainment industry, which is something I’d always wanted to do.”

Kuribara also works as a race queen (grid girl) and cosplayer.

She has done semi-nude shoots and DVD content in the past, including some very provocative pics where only pasties or foam preserve her modesty.

“They often prepare really unique outfits for me. I’m frequently asking the stylist how exactly I’m supposed to wear them! I was really surprised once when my outfit was basically just Band-Aids. That experience actually played a part in my decision to go nude. I figured, if the outfit is that minimal, I might as well just go without it.”

The truth is that Kuribara is a somewhat minor gravure idol and on the cusp of 30, so going nude is a sure-fire way for her to gain more traction.

In her interview with Weekly Playboy, Kuribara is frank about this.

“I’m turning 30 on September 29. Since it’s a major milestone in life, I wanted to try something new. That’s when I received the offer for this photo book.”

Publishers target certain models and idols, making offers like this to people whose careers they know are in the right point for a nude shoot. (Most gradols avoid going fully nude to give their careers as long legs as possible.)

And what are beautiful Kuribara’s goals for her thirties?

“I hope this opportunity leads to more appearances in magazine gravure spreads. I’d love to release two or three photo books as well. That’s my goal!”

Other upcoming photo books that we are looking forward to include debut releases from Yume Hazuki, Karen Hara, and race queen Kako Okawa. Idols who have recently done notable nude shoots include Miju Hayashi, Mimi Kinami, and porn star Kanon Hinano.

Update (1 September)

The cover for Momiji Kuribara’s photo book has been announced. As expected, it puts the emphasis squarely on those butt cheeks of hers, plus shows us plenty of side boob.