“Being Healthy is Number One”

—Could you tell us about your thoughts on beauty?

For beauty, I believe that having a healthy body comes first. After all, a healthy body naturally produces healthy skin, hair, and nails. Of course, I love cosmetics, but I don't think they can make you beautiful on their own. Lotions and creams are for supplementing what's lacking. I do go for massages and facials occasionally, but my goal is to “relieve fatigue” or “relax.” I think daily care is more important than a single spa treatment.

—I see. So, what do you do to maintain your health?

I'm naturally quite robust, so I rarely get sick, but I believe “prevention” is important. For example, when buying skincare products, I always check the back of the package to see if it contains ingredients that suit me or that I believe are good. Also, I try to keep my body from getting cold. If my metabolism slows down, my skin will likely suffer. It's really just small things, but the accumulation of these small efforts is what matters. I try to do things that are easy and don't cause stress.

Risa Hirako Interview

“I Want to Enjoy Being a Woman My Whole Life, Until I Die” (2)

“Consistent Skincare and Bath Time: Doing the Basics Diligently”

—Do you not do any exercise or follow any diet restrictions?
I don't exercise at all, and I love eating, so I eat whatever delicious food I want to my heart's content (laughs). I especially love meat and Chinese food. Of course, I like vegetables too, but I tend to eat them alongside meat.

—What's the secret to maintaining your figure then?
Hmm… Perhaps eating proper meals and not snacking too much. I don't really have a sweet tooth. I might have dessert after a meal, but I don't snack much in between. Also, for the past two to three years, I've been really into water, drinking it only when I feel like it, and I always keep my favorite brands at home. I've tried quite a few, but lately, I've been enjoying mineral water from hot springs and strongly carbonated water. Carbonated water improves circulation, and it feels very refreshing after a large meal.

—Are there any particular things you focus on for your daily skincare routine?
I just follow the basics: applying toner, serum, and cream, but I make sure to moisturize properly. However, overdoing it or applying too much oil can also burden the skin, so I adjust the level of moisture based on my skin's condition at the time. With cosmetics, I tend to buy them impulsively, so the variety keeps increasing (laughs). I have enough to fill a shelf, but I categorize them in my mind as 'this has high moisturizing power' or 'this is light and refreshing,' and I use them according to my skin's needs at the moment.

—How about your bath time?

I don't do anything special during bath time either. I tend to get hot quickly, so I can't soak in the tub for long or do half-baths… When I'm short on time, I just shower, but when I do use the tub, I fill it up to my shoulders and soak for about five minutes before getting out. However, I love bath additives. I enjoy adding bath salts, aroma oils, or 'yunohana' (hot spring sediment) bought from hot spring resorts. I'm particularly hooked on herbal baths lately! When I have time, I boil them in a pot and add them to the bath. When boiled, they have a strong, intense herbal scent, which I find quite interesting these days (laughs). I also mix in salt or wood vinegar and play around with different combinations.

Risa Hirako Interview

“I Want to Enjoy Being a Woman My Whole Life, Until I Die” (3)

“On My Days Off, I Go Out and Search for 'Something' on Foot”

—Listening to you, it sounds like your life is filled with things you love, and you seem to be having a lot of fun.

How do you spend your days off?

I go out and wander around town, have meals with friends, or go to the hair salon. I do ordinary things, but I really love searching for 'something.' It could be in a clothing store, a bookstore, or a record shop, but I want to find it with my own feet. I want to see it with my own eyes, not just rely on information from magazines or the internet.

—What's something you've recently acquired that you're particularly fond of?

If I started listing small items, there would be no end… It wasn't something I bought, but I received a speaker from my agency when my CD was released, and I'm very fond of it. I've always loved music, but I hadn't really paid attention to the sound environment recently. But when I listened through that speaker, I realized, 'Music is twice as enjoyable when listened to with good sound!' Since then, I've become quite particular about sound, and the other day, I spent the whole day comparing headphones at a shop (laughs).

—Could you tell us about your recently released album, “CANNONBALL”?

It's a collaboration between the magazine 'GLAMOROUS' and avex, so it includes a CD and a photobook. The CD has five songs, and four of them are in English. This is because I grew up listening to Western music and wanted to create music with overseas tracks. The photobook contains content related to music, including my music history and introductions to albums that inspired my fashion. Although I don't often get to talk about music when working for fashion magazines, I believe both parts of this release are enjoyable.

—The fashion in the photobook was also wonderful. What kind of clothes do you usually wear?

I like all genres, not just girly or rock. I love mixing styles, like combining girly with rock, or incorporating vintage clothing. Not sticking to one style keeps things interesting for me. I also really love T-shirts. I'm wearing a personal outfit today, and I wear them year-round. My taste leans towards vintage-style rock, or a 70s vibe with a French touch. I really like that kind of aesthetic.

—Finally, could you tell us about your ideal image of a woman?

Since I was born a woman, I want to enjoy being a woman! I want to be a woman who can enjoy herself throughout her life, until the very end.

—Your way of life truly seems like a model for others. Thank you very much.

HIRAKO Risa
Model. Attended an international school and studied abroad in the United States at age 15. Returned to Japan in 1990 and began her entertainment career. Since then, she has been active as a model and TV personality in a wide range of fields, including television, magazines, and advertisements. Currently, with her beautiful skin and slender figure, she is recognized as a beauty and fashion leader, influencing women of all ages. On May 21, 2010, she released the CD & photobook “CANNONBALL,” a joint project between the magazine “GLAMOROUS” (Kodansha) and avex. Her favorite artists include Michael Jackson and Aerosmith.

CANNONBALL (CD + PHOTO BOOK)
Price | ¥2,400
Publisher | Kodansha
Available only in bookstores
【CD】
01 Wonderland
02 Epic
03 Make It Scream
04 Crazy Over You
05 Take Me
【PHOTO BOOK】
Part1 CANNONBALL
Part2 My Music My Song
Part3 Risa’s Music Style