Forty-year-old Asami Kumakiri strips again for first photo book in nearly two decades

We love a comeback, hence our interest in the apparently nude photo book by Angelica Michibata scheduled for release in August. We also love a jukujo, hence our interest in the comebacks by single mom Hiroko Sato and former Morning Musume Asuka Fukuda.

So now there’s Asami Kumakiri, whose summer-themed photo book “Bare Self” more or less lives up to the name.

It’s the first time in 16 years that the 40-year-old idol, a former member of the group Checkicco and (we understand) still unmarried, has released a photo book.

It’s not nude, and barely qualifies as semi-nude, but Asami does give us the classic tebura “hand bra” pose that is so beloved of female celebrities.

It’s tempting to resort to cliches at these times and write something like she likes amazing for her age — but why shouldn’t she? Why should we be surprised? Forty is the new 30, and a woman in her forties can still be a sex symbol.

“Bare Self” hit stores in Japan last week.