Ai Tominaga, a supermodel with an unparalleled presence that continues to be active all over the world, and GIORGIO ARMANI, a leading Italian brand that has established the firm position in the fashion world. The encounter between the charismatic and brilliant two, is like a big bang, releasing an alluring pull.
ーーThis issue themed “charismatic.” For you, who is truly a charismatic figure in the modeling world, what does help and build your charismatic presence?
I don’t think of myself as charismatic actually, so it’s quite hard to answer it. But I absolutely love standing in front of the camera as a model and expressing myself, and it’s a lot of fun. There are infinite possibilities for expression in creating works, so none of them is the same. I find interesting about that and that’s what keeps me motivate to continue improving. I could say that’s what has led me to where I am now.
ーーWhat core principles do you keep in mind while working?
The aspiration to “do everything as much as I can” is common across any job I take on. I always put my current self into everything I do, and that style has never changed. As a model, I always pursue how I should be, like for my health or my visual aspect. It’s not about being thin or losing weight, but rather it’s about how “Ai Tominaga” should be. I think about how I should continue to evolve as I age.
ーーDo you mean being age-appropriate?
I don’t think about that at all. If I start thinking I need to be age-appropriate, I think it would become “ordinary “ means “normal”, so I try to look at myself from a third-person perspective as much as possible. Rather than that, I feel it’s more important to envision how I want to be.
ーーWhat does being a “model” mean to you?
I believe the definition of a model is someone who gives life to clothing and expresses themselves while wearing them. It’s a simple yet deeply profound job, which makes me pursue what expression truly means, I think. Every work is created through the involvement of many people, not just myself, so it’s very important to be perceptive as a model. To put it simply, I use all five senses to judge how I should move by sensing the flow of the situation. I cherish these intuitive elements. It’s challenging to train this, but alongside experience, I apply what I learn as a model but also I feel that it’s important to input. Keeping that something deep inside me such as the vibe and the sensitivity that can sense things I have mentioned, and staying sensitive is also one of my core principles.
ーーHave your fashion preferences or tastes changed as you’ve aged?
I feel my tastes have naturally changed. B e i n g i n t h i s i n d u s t r y, I c a n fe e l what’s trending even if I don’t follow it intentionally, and I catch various styles in my own way. However, I just wear what I want to wear, and I incorporate various styles without confining myself to specific categories. When shopping, I often find that my size isn’t available in stores, which is why I rarely go clothes shopping. My feet are also large, so when I was younger, I struggled by forcing myself to wear smaller sizes, ending up with blisters. Once I started getting high fashion work, I finally found sample sizes that fit me, so I’ve increasingly been purchasing items I liked wearing during photo shoots.
ーーYou’ve been involved in various activities rooted in social contribution. What have you felt about the world, and what do you want to convey globally? What can each of us contribute in some way you think?
Now I have a strong desire for the wars happening worldwide to stop. I’ve been providing support through JOICFP and WFP (World Food Programme) where I contribute as an ambassador, and I always strive to stay aware of various issues. There are three steps to support: “knowing, thinking, and acting,” and I’ve become an ambassador for organizations I’ve been interested in and wanted to support. We can’t take any action without first knowing. So if you want to help with social contribution or anything else, start by learning. There are many activity groups, and I think the start is to find something that interests you or catches your attention, and then supporting that organization or their activities. I feel that each of these small actions leads to really significant help.
ーーSome may hesitate to take on their first step for challenging things they want to do or they like, whether it’s social contribution. Could you give them some advice on how to take that first step?
People might overthink and stay in place,but nothing will change or be created unless you take the first step. Whether you want to change yourself or achieve your dreams, everything will remain the same if you hesitate to take that step. With social contribution too, I completely understand the feeling of wanting to do something. During the Tohoku earthquake disaster in 2011, I was also driven by the feeling that I needed to do something, but I kept thinking only about big things. However, we can’t suddenly do such big things, so going back to what I said earlier, start by learning and gradually expand from there. Once we learn, we can also communicate. There are many options, so instead of being too cerebral, look for places where you can give support when you have room in your heart and means, which will lead to taking your first step.
ーーWhat do you consciously do in your daily life to keep your body and mind healthy?
I try to stay attuned to my body and mind, like knowing how my condition is now. Both mind and body change significantly with age, and especially for women who are easily affected by hormones. I think it’s important to be my own best understanding of what methods can heal my mind when affected, or when my body starts to signal distress. Listening to my body’s voice, and understanding the equation of “if I do A, B will happen”. For example, when I feel really down, I try to find the cause. Is it before my period, is it because I pushed myself too hard, or is it because I ate too many greasy foods? I’ve gone through such trial and error too. Just when I find a conclusion, my age changes, and what worked before doesn’t work anymore, so it’s always a chase. I think skin type is a good example. While it may sound strict to “face myself”, but I believe it’s important to value yourself because there are no exact answers in physical and mental health.
ーーWhen do you feel happiest?
As it’s always been, the happiest time for me is when I’m with my family.
ーーRamen often comes up as your favorite food though, what’s a special treat for you?
Of course, ramen is a big and special thing for me (laughs). I regularly take a day off, but when I think of special treats, it’s definitely food. While I’m not really holding back on ramen that much normally, one thing I can say is that at our age, there would be more things we can’t eat. It’s not about gaining weight but it’s like our digestive organs work slower with age. Besides food, I’ve come to understand the added value of expensive things like jewelry with getting older, so buying things I’ve always wanted is also a special reward for myself.
ーーDo you have any non-negotiable personal rules?
While various things come to mind, I don’t want to restrict myself too much, so conversely, I prefer not to create strict rules for myself. I’m more flexible in my approach. I work out several times a week and take care of my skin as part of my job, but beyond that, I feel like that’s enough. To exaggerate, I’d even like to go without washing my face to be honest (laughs). But overall, not making rules is my rule.
ーーPlease tell us about your future outlook.
I’m diligently working as an actor, but I have no plans to quit modeling, and I’d like to continue both respectfully while maintaining balance without changing my attitude. There might be opportunities to try new things, and I value the present moment. At the end of this year, the movie “Grand Maison Paris” will be released, and in 2025, the NHK Taiga Drama “Berabou: Tsutaju Eiga no YumeBanashi” will be broadcast, so I’d be happy if everyone could watch them.
ーーLooking back at 2024, how was this year for you?
I did everything I could this year. I want to tell myself, “You worked hard this year, well done.” I’m not the type to think about small things, so being able to think “OK, that’s fine” is also part of taking care of myself. Especially at year’s end, it’s tended to feel anxious about things left undone, but I’ve been trying to consciously stop that since last year and I just keep praising myself for my efforts. I hope 2025 will be a wonderful year for me and of course, for everyone too!
Model:AI TOMINAGA(CROSSOVER) Photography:MACIEJ KUCIA(AVGVST) Styling:RENA SEMBA Hair:SHINGO SHIBATA(eight peace) Makeup:TOMOMI SHIBUSAWA(beauty direction) Edit&Text:SEIRA MAEHARA