Interview with porn star Nanami Matsumoto

Nanami Matsumoto debuted as a gravure idol in 2015. After gaining popularity thanks to her I-cup, 100 cm bust, she transitioned into the adult film industry in March 2017.

On January 5, 2026, she announced via social media that she had left her agency and was going freelance. The following week, she also announced her retirement from mainstream porn.

Spa! sat down with 31-year-old Matsumoto for a candid interview about her life, including the accounting job she has held concurrently for years, her private life and dating, and her future plans.

We translated a few edited highlights.

Q. You debuted as a gravure idol in 2015 and switched to the adult film industry two years later. Was there a specific trigger for that?

About a year into my gravure career, I started wondering if there was more I could do. I felt that shooting image videos, where I’d just talk to the camera by myself, wasn’t quite right for me. I thought that if I’m going to be doing shoots involving other people, maybe the adult industry is the way to go.

Q. That’s quite a leap in logic!

In my mind, there wasn’t much difference between gravure and appearing nude. I had absolutely no resistance to it. I was actually excited to take on the challenge.

Q. You became popular as an adult actress, and this year marks your ninth anniversary since debuting. You’ve got your tenth anniversary coming up next year.

It really flew by. Time goes by so fast.

Q. You announced on January 5 of this year that you were going freelance, and the following week, announced your retirement from JAV. It was all so sudden and, to be honest, a bit of a surprise.

I began to feel a sense of stagnation and a lack of fulfillment. However, it felt like a waste to completely throw away everything I’d built over nearly a decade. So I decided I wanted to take the lead on everything myself, including sales and business operations. I’d always been interested in doujinshi and wanted to offer consulting to other girls in the industry. I realized, if I’m going to do it, now is the time! I spoke honestly with my agency about my feelings, and we parted ways amicably.

Q. How’s your work going these days?

For independent productions, I work with a small team. We divide up roles like planning, social media, editing, and producing. That said, I handle things like fan events and photo sessions on my own.

Q. Are independent productions profitable?

I want to clear up a common misconception here: independent work doesn’t guarantee a profit. It really depends on the individual’s own effort. You have to consistently shoot and post content. If you take a break without a plan, your income drops to zero. I don’t think you can succeed if you just sit back and wait for things to happen.

Q. How often do you do shoots?

I shoot about three or four days a month. As for posting, I release a collaborative piece featuring a partner each month, and a solo piece every week. I suppose I have a bit more time for myself now than I used to. Even so, creating independent content is by no means easy. If I were to give advice to someone wanting to try it, I’d say you need three things: courage, determination, and the ability to keep going.

Q. What do you do on your days off?

When I take a break from my work as Nanami Matsumoto, I do accounting work. I’ve actually been doing this alongside my other job for about seven or eight years now. I handle it remotely a few times a month. It started through a friend’s introduction. An acquaintance was launching a new company and asked for help because they were short-staffed.

Q. Did you have any prior experience in accounting?

Not at all! I learned everything from scratch. I started out completely clueless, but as I kept doing it, I inevitably picked up the knowledge. I even managed to pass the second level of the bookkeeping certification on my own!

I’d like to get a tax accountant qualification too, but I’m not quite at that stage yet. Actually, I used to go into the office to work at first, but people from other companies sharing the space quickly recognized me. It caused a bit of a stir.

Q. Have you thought about your future career path?

I’m not exactly super young anymore, so eventually, rather than being the star of the show myself, I’d like to move into a behind-the-scenes role where I can support other girls.

Q. What advice would you give to a younger girl in the industry?

Regardless of the industry, I’d say it’s essential to naturally possess basic common sense. Things like greeting people might seem like the bare minimum, but they’re truly important.

Also, we live in the age of social media, right? Even if you’re feeling down or exhausted, you have to keep posting regularly. To do that, it’s crucial to maintain your mental stability, so be sure to carve out time to take a break.

Q. What’s your approach to romance?

When I fall in love, the relationship always lasts a long time. That’s why I’ve only ever dated about three or four people in my life. That said, when I’m single, I do like to go out and have a blast. I’ve even kept in touch with 15 to 20 guys at once.

Q. You’ve never cheated?

Never. Once I start dating someone, I lose all interest in other men. Even if a super handsome guy or a buff, muscular hunk is right in front of me, I don’t even bat an eye.

I was definitely the type to throw myself into romance, especially in college. When I was around twenty, I fell madly in love with someone and actually dropped out of school so we could live together.

I think I’m a passionate person at heart. I’m the sort of person who shows how I feel through actions rather than words.

Q. Do you ever think about marriage?

When I look at my friends, I see both the good and the bad sides of marriage. I don’t think the timing is right for me, at least not for another year or two. And even if I did get married, being a full-time housewife wouldn’t work for me.

Q. You don’t want a partner to shoulder the financial burden for you?

I have a lot of female acquaintances who are stuck in relationships because they don’t have the money to leave. If you aren’t independent, you can’t escape situations like domestic violence or emotional abuse. Even if I have a partner, I never want to be dependent on them.

Q. What are you goals for the future?

My goal hasn’t changed since I first debuted. Working with people I’m close to and doing fun things together: that’s what matters most to me. I don’t care about achieving personal success or becoming famous. I just want to keep working hard so that everyone, especially the people I love, can be happy.