TOKYO (TR) – Gravure idol and former top race queen Yume Hayashi, nominated three consecutive years for the “100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World,” is cutting her agency ties and grilling up a new business venture, she tells Shukan Post (Sep. 18).
The Hokkaido Prefecture native, renowned for her world-class beauty and stunning proportions, recently revealed that she went freelance about a year ago and has since plunged headfirst into the hospitality and nightlife industries.
“At first, I was doing everything alone, from work communications to writing out invoices, so there was really a lot I didn’t understand,” Hayashi said of her transition to independence. “But because of that experience, I now realize the responsibility and the thrill of creating my own work.”
Yakiniku
Balancing her entertainment career with corporate management, Hayashi has successfully opened a yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant in her hometown of Furano, Hokkaido. Fulfilling a long-held dream to run her own business, she utilized connections from a Tokyo restaurateur friend to source local meats, while leaning on her father—who also runs a local eatery—to secure fresh vegetables and find the property.
In addition to her restaurant, Hayashi is also producing a “concept cafe” (con-cafe), admitting that she now spends the majority of her time focused on business management. However, fans of her modeling need not worry about her retiring from the spotlight.
“My love for gravure and entertainment work hasn’t changed, so rather than choosing one, I want to cherish both,” she explained.
“Kind person”
Hayashi won the Rookie Grand Prix at the 2018 Japan Race Queen Awards. The following year, she was crowned Race Queen of the Year. She was nominated for the “100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World” from 2019 to 2021.
When it comes to her private life, the highly sought-after idol has surprisingly grounded expectations for romance, concluding from past experiences that a “kind person is the best.”
“I’m not the type to care about physical appearances, so I’m drawn to deeply affectionate people who treat me with compassion,” Hayashi revealed. “Also, I want someone I can respect. But my hurdle for respect is pretty low—just commuting to an office every morning is something I can’t do, so I think that’s amazing.”
Profile: Yume Hayashi was born on October 18, 1995, in Furano, Hokkaido. Standing at 168 cm,
