TOKYO (TR) – Actress and model Ayaka Miyoshi is turning heads and sparking concern among fans with a drastic makeover, trading her squeaky-clean teen idol persona for back tattoos, piercings, and daring, skin-baring fashion, reports Aera (July 19).
The 30-year-old, currently appearing in the hit film franchise “Kingdom,” claims her edgy new look is an act of rebellion against years of strict parental control and a symbolic break from her repressed past.
Scouted in Harajuku in the third grade, Miyoshi rose to fame as an exclusive model for Seventeen magazine before transitioning into a pristine, orthodox young actress. However, behind the glamorous facade, her life was micromanaged.
To maintain her marketable appearance, Miyoshi’s parents forbid her from sitting seiza (kneeling), joining school sports clubs to avoid building muscle, or participating in swimming classes to prevent sunburn.
In a recent social media post, Miyoshi confessed to deep-seated family trauma. “Since I can remember, I learned to endure to please my parents. Meanwhile, my heart was quietly hurting,” she wrote. She described getting tattooed as she approached her thirties as “proof of living as myself” and a necessary step to sever professional ties with her family.
Messy love affair
The shift to a “strong woman” persona also follows a highly publicized, messy love affair.
Miyoshi previously made tabloid headlines for her relationship with actor Ryoma Takeuchi. The romance sparked severe backlash after it was revealed that their relationship overlapped with Takeuchi’s cohabitation with another actress, causing his public image to plummet. Despite rumors of an impending marriage and reports that Miyoshi was limiting her work to spend time with him, the couple reportedly split in 2024, citing busy schedules.
Leaving domestic drama in the rearview mirror, Miyoshi has pivoted toward international markets.
Having studied Korean, Chinese, and English, she boosted her profile in Greater China by starring in a music video for Taiwanese megastar Jay Chou. She also bulked up for heavy action scenes to star in the Japan-South Korea co-production “Knuckle Girl.”
Her overseas ambitions have recently sparked fresh romance rumors. After appearing on a Netflix food variety show, her intimate on-screen banter and bold, couple-like promotional photos with South Korean singer Sung Si-kyung have fueled speculation of a cross-border relationship.
Once a tightly controlled teen idol, Miyoshi appears to have fully shed her restrictive past, prioritizing her own terms in both her career and her personal life.
