TOKYO (TR) – Morning Musume ’26 sub-leader Sakura Oda is set to release her seventh solo photo book later this year, serving as the final visual milestone of her 14-year idol career before she officially departs the group.
Titled “Sakura,” the publication, set to be released by Wani Books on October 20, features the 27-year-old performer shedding her inhibitions under the Okinawan sun. Posing in a bikini against a backdrop of sweeping natural landscapes and deep blue seas, Oda showcases both the dignified aura she has cultivated as a top idol and her unvarnished, natural charm.
The release comes after Oda’s recent announcement that she will graduate from both Morning Musume and the Hello! Project on the final day of the group’s autumn tour.
“I have never once thought a shoot was grueling”
Looking back on her long career, Oda recalled the sting of waiting three years after her debut to finally land her first gravure release.
“Being selected for a solo photo book means being asked, ‘Can you take responsibility for this single volume?’ I think I needed those three years to get to that point,” she explained, emphasizing how she channeled her early frustration into professional growth.
Despite the demanding nature of the entertainment industry, Oda remained completely positive about her time in front of the camera. “I have never once thought a shoot was grueling. I was thrilled every time one was finalized, and each shoot is a fun memory,” she said. “I always looked forward to seeing how the fans would react to a book I worked so hard to create.”
As she prepares to step away from the stage, Oda expressed deep satisfaction with her legacy.
“Facing each book properly and continuing to create them until the very end is a massive asset in my 14-year idol career,” she stated proudly. “I am proud as ‘Idol Sakura Oda’ to have left behind seven photo books.”
