Miri Hanai legend continues gravure comeback in forties with nude photo book

The 40-year-old gravure idol Miri Hanai held a launch event for her latest photo book, the aptly titled Legendary, in Tokyo yesterday.

Released by major publisher Kodansha, Legendary is her first print photo book in about two decades, though she has continued to release digital books.

In 2023, we wrote about Hanai and her incredible 20-year career in gravure. We don’t know what magic or dark arts she uses, but she still looks at busty and svelte as ever.

Fans will certainly be pleased with Legendary, which showcases the jukujo’s charms and assets in swimsuits, lingerie, and nude. That said, despite plenty of flesh on display and some stunning bathing pics, we think she doesn’t actually show her nipples, which seems to be a line she won’t cross. At least in the previews we have seen so far, carefully placed hands, hair, knees, and so on sadly prevent us from enjoying a full view of her assets.

It was shot on an exotic island as well as a large mansion. If you prefer more kinky stuff, rest assured that Hanai has something for you, with some fetish-inspired gothic wear and bondage gear.

Appearing on stage in a boldly plunging blue dress, Hanai shared her nerves over this new stage in her career. “This is my first print photo book in 20 years, and I was so happy to have made it to the publication event that I couldn’t sleep.”

She is proud of her age and the bold direction she has taken with Legendary. “I wanted to make a photo book that people will say this was when I looked my best, even though I’m older. I did my utmost to reveal the most skin I’ve ever shown.”

Hanai, who made her debut at 18, is famous for her huge breasts and they have only gotten bigger with age.

“I’ve become more sculpted in terms of style. My breasts have actually gotten bigger. I think I was slender when I was younger. I’ve gained weight, and my breasts have grown by about three cup sizes. I think I look a lot different.” She’s now a J cup.

“Gaining weight is a bit unpleasant for a woman, but when I look at the finished photos, I don’t think they’re so bad.”

Though this is her first print photo book in 20 years, Miri Hanai has been making money through DVD releases as well as OnlyFans and Fantia in more recent years. The second wind her career has now received with this photo book release is probably influenced by the trend for fortysomething Japanese beauties right now (a sign that the men of a certain age have nostalgia and a willingness to spend cash on the women they remember liking back in the 2000s). Other examples include Asami Kumakiri, Yoko Kumada, and Mariko Seyama.