Like the natural world, people’s lives exist in cycles. Powerful, yet somehow fragile and soft. Leaning into the flow of such energy, with the artist Mika Nakashima, we depict the contours of a joyful world where the fantastic and the real exist side by side.
Which outfit was the most impressive for this shoot?
I seldom get a chance to wear so many outfits, and I don’t usually wear clothes with a lot of colors, so the bijoux outfit with the purple inner wear was particularly impressive. Even in my private life, there are times when I suddenly feel like wearing something with bright color, and surprisingly, I wear pink a lot, so I liked the outfit on the double cover. The shoot itself was a lot of fun.
The theme of this issue is “strong and flexible,” which expresses the strong yet flexible nature of women. Do you have an ideal image of a woman?
In the end, I simply like to be cool. I am happy to be described as beautiful or cute, but I have always liked a kind of coolness that is neither beautiful nor cute. Because I wear a lot of dresses in my work, I used to have my hair cut to balance it out, so maybe I am attracted to something in-between that doesn’t swing to any one thing.
You said you had a complex about your voice as a child, what made you decide to become a singer?
I think it was when I decided to make my debut. As I studied how to sing and gained experience, of course I came to like my voice, and there is no doubt that I love singing, but whether or not I have confidence is another story. I haven’t had confidence in my singing yet. However, the definition of “good” is different for everyone, and I naturally feel positive when I go on stage. I have been practicing so far, so I hope to do my best to convey my feelings through singing.
Was there a turning point in your life?
I guess you could say that my debut was a big turning point in my life, but it happened so fast that I honestly don’t know which timing was a turning point in my life. What I remember most about the time of my debut is that I had moved to Tokyo at that time, and I was wondering whether I would return to my hometown after this job or whether I would have to look for a part- time job here. I had selfishly envisioned that after one job, I would have to go through another audition and start from scratch. Thanks to the people around me, I was able to belong to an office and was signed with Sony, but at that time I had no idea what that meant. However, the time when I had just debuted seemed more recent to me, or rather, I remember it very vividly, though not all of it. My memories of the time in between are all jumbled up, so I always trace back my memories using my hairstyle as a clue, thinking, “This is when I had this hairstyle, so it must have happened before that” (laughs).
What are some of your creative sources?
I’m not sure, but I think the fact that it is not clear even to me means that I naturally pick up things I like in my head, and I am constantly inputting them subconsciously. My husband once said to me, “You have such a spontaneous response when I ask you to do this,” and I thought that was something everyone does as well, regardless of the nature of their work or their profession. I happen to be the type of person who is slower than others in many things, and I think that is why I always try to catch things with my eyes open and take action.
You are active in many scenes as a singer and actor. Do you have a different approach to each of your jobs?
I think the way I feel about them is the same. Both have their own difficulties. However, when it comes to acting, I am a quick learner, but I am not good at applying myself. If I am asked to interpret the lines in my own way and act freely, I freeze up, so if there is an original story and I can learn the whole picture beforehand, or if there is a plot that I am supposed to follow, I feel that I am better suited for that.
It has been more than 20 years since your debut. Has your working style changed?
Recently, I have come to feel that I have to have my life first, and that it would be nice to be able to enjoy music in the midst of my life. Until then, it was the complete opposite; I felt like I had to work first, and then live my life in between. However, I began to think that if I became too full of myself and that came across, it might affect the stage in a bad way, and the audience might not find it interesting. Of course, I think about singing every day, but except for before a live performance, I don’t work so much just for the sake of work.
Is there anything you keep in mind when you work?
I’ve always had my own style, and I value it, but I try not to be self-contained within that framework. If I proceed only according to what I like and my own sense of style, and if I decide everything by myself, the work will not be updated and will become uninteresting. Ideas don’t just come to me, so I try to listen to the people around me and ask for their help. However, I am persistent about what I absolutely want to do! (laugh), and I will keep saying it until I do it. As long as I can achieve that, we can talk about other things together and make things happen. I think that the balance between them is what I’m trying to put on the axis.
What do you feel as a singer now?
My empathy for people is the theme of my songs. The more years and experiences I have, the more I empathize with them, so I find that the songs I used to sing when I was younger, the lyrics I was written, and even the lyrics I wrote myself resonate more now.
What kind of music do you usually listen to?
I listen to a wide range of genres, but I have my own point among them, and listen to the same songs over and over again. I also listen to songs by idols who sing and dance, which is cool, and famous songs that people think why I didn’t know before, and suddenly I get hooked on them and start saying to others, “Isn’t this cool? (laughs).
Do you have music in your daily life?
It depends on the day, but I prefer quietness, so I don’t often have music playing at home or have the TV on. I turn on the TV for my cats, but it’s almost silent, just quiet enough so that I can watch them play watching the TV. My house is in a quiet area, so if there is even the slightest sound, it might bother me. If I hear my cats meowing there, I want to play with them, and I am completely a servant of my cats.
You have toured in many Asian countries. Is there any difference in the level of enthusiasm between Japanese and foreign audiences? Do you change your programs depending on the country?
That’s different in each country. I do research beforehand to find out what songs are popular in each country, and not because it’s a specific country but because it’s first time, there are songs I would like to sing. For places I have visited several times, I change the program so that the audience can enjoy it again and again.
We heard that you designed all the costumes for this tour. What kind of costumes did you design?
I worked with “Viviano” to create them. We divide the live show into about five different sections, including a ballad section, a rock section, and a mixed section, so the costumes are tailored to each section. I love fashion, and I look at a lot of different clothes on a regular basis, so I always have inspiration for the kind of clothes I want to wear, which is why I asked the staff to give shape to these outfits.
What kind of fashion do you usually prefer?
In terms of differences from work, recently I have been wearing more comfortable clothes that I can put on quickly in my private life. However, my taste hasn’t changed much, so while I wear comfortable clothes, I sometimes wear the same things I have been wearing for more than ten years.
Is there anything you keep in mind for health and beauty?
In my own way, I am studying and practicing various things. One of the most obvious is intestinal activation. Since I became aware of intestinal activities, I have been told by people around me that I am healthy and have changed. I also try to keep my throat and other parts of my body moisturized. I have very dry skin, and because I used to have atopic dermatitis, my skin is very thin. When I was younger, I was more concerned with curing my skin than beautifying it, so I feel the importance of moisturizing very deeply. I have tried many things that are said to be good for health and beauty, but everyone’s constitution is different, so I think it is the best to continue with what seems right for you.
Are you the type of person who tries everything you think of trying?
I do everything! I do it all, even until I break my body down (laughs).
What do you often do when you have time for yourself?
I spend all my time with my cats. They are really cute. Even if they don’t like me, I chase and play with them all the time.
What is the best reward for yourself?
A nap. I’m kind of not good at sleeping at night. My mind goes round and round thinking about tomorrow, but if it’s daytime, I can take tomorrow as the future, so maybe I can sleep peacefully. Napping is the best luxury, isn’t it? I often ask my cats to come and take a nap, but they never sleep with me(laughs).
How do you refresh or recharge your energy when you feel tired?
I’m sometimes relaxed when I am on vacation, and although everyone says it is not in my image, I actually like to exercise a lot. I also clean the house, stand in the kitchen all the time, chase my cats, etc. Recently I’ve been thinking that just doing things around the house is enough exercise for me. Maybe that refreshes me.
Do you have any personal rules that you cannot compromise on?
If I sit down after I get home, I can’t move, and I don’t want to sit down in my outdoor clothes in the first place, so when I get home, I change into my room clothes first and try to finish everything I have to do before I sit down or start getting ready for bed. I never sit down until I finish what I have to do during the day. My mother knew exactly what I was like, because I grew up being told to do this, that, and everything else before I sat down. Thanks to her, I’ve learned it, and I am grateful for that.
When you feel depressed or troubled, how do you often get over it?
I think it is better not to try to get over it in a hurry, but I am the type of person who thinks about it all the time, so I think I have stopped trying to stop thinking about it. I think it is healthy to be honest and to let various things out without hoarding them, because holding back is bad for the body.
Do you feel that as you get older, you are able to release more patience?
I think I released more when I was younger (laughs). I didn’t control it, and I would get into a lot of trouble with people around me, and I often regretted it greatly afterwards. I think I am able to control that now.
What is your outlook for the future?
Rather than thinking about the future, I am thinking about how much I can enjoy and do to the best of my ability now. I would like to continue to cherish every moment.
PROFILE Mika Nakashima, Artist/Actress
Born in Kagoshima on February 19, 1983. The first demo tape she sent to a record company led to her selection as the heroine for the 2001 drama “Kizudarake no Love Song” and her debut with “STARS,” the theme song for the drama. Her second album “LOVE” became a million-seller, and her single “Yuki no Hana” and many others were big hits. In 2005, she starred in the movie “NANA,” based on the popular comic book by Ai Yazawa, and sang the movie’s theme song “GLAMOROUS SKY” under the name NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA, which reached number one on the charts. Since 2016, she has been active in Asia, touring Taiwan, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, and is currently holding the “MIKA NAKASHIMA ASIA TOUR 2025,” a six-city solo tour in Asia, including her first performance in Seoul.
Model:MIKA NAKASHIMA(OUR SONGS) Photography:KIZEN(W) Styling:KOSEI MATSUDA(NOBODCR) Hair&Makeup:HIROKAZU NIWA(maroonbrand) Edit&Text:SEIRA MAEHARA