TOKYO (TR) – Last month, publisher Kodansha published a highly revealing photo book featuring former AKB48 member and actress Atsuko Maeda.
Published on February 16, “Atsuko Maeda Photo Book Beste” is the former pop idol’s first photo book in nearly 14 years.
“As my last photo book, I wanted to give it my all without any regrets,” the 34-year-old Maeda said.
Maeda may have done just that. The spread contains some of her most seductive photos to date, including numerous cleavage shots and glimpses, according to sleuths on X, of her pubic hair.
Just over a week after it hit store shelves, the book shot up Oricon Weekly Book Rankings to the number-one position.
Evening tabloid Nikkan Gendai (Mar. 25) reports that Maeda’s turn to the steamy side follows the success of Maki Goto, whose revealing photo spread from two years ago left fans calling for more.
“Not playing it safe”
Released by Kodansha on November 29, 2024, “flos” is an erotic photo book featuring former Morning Musume member Goto. Many of the shots show her practically nude.
As with Maeda’s book, it became a huge topic of conversation on social media from the moment it was released. It quickly went into its tenth printing.
For many, the revealing photos of these former top idols was shocking since they both are mothers.
“Some people are giving negative reviews, saying that idols who boldly undress in photo books have fallen from grace, but that’s an outdated perspective,” a fashion magazine editor tells Gendai. “No matter their age, their attitude of not playing it safe and instead going on the offensive, and boldly revealing themselves to take on challenges, is seen by many women as ‘cool.’ They have an erotic side. Even though they’re mothers, you can still feel they’re women.”
Mother of two
Maeda married 39-year-old actor Ryo Katsuji in 2018. Their eldest son was born the following year. She announced their divorce in 2021. She is currently raising her 7-year-old son as a single mother. Goto married a non-celebrity man in 2015. She is a mother of two.
On March 21, Maeda appeared on the MBS TV program “Tsukai! Akashiya TV.” During the episode, she shared a heartwarming anecdote about her parenting struggles.
“She mentioned how her son would join other families in restaurants and other public places and boast, ‘My mom used to be an idol,'” the same editor says. “Of course, there are concerns about her son knowing that his mother has released a provocative photo book with revealing photos, but the photo book itself shows a certain boldness, demonstrating her life as a mother who was once a top idol. This kind of resolute attitude, typical of a former top idol, is likely a factor in why she’s considered ‘cool’ by women.”
Goto appeared in ‘flos’ before turning 40. Meanwhile, Maeda is still in her 30s.
“The timing of when they undress is important in terms of generating buzz, but it’s precisely because these two top idols showed such bold sides that they garnered support from women and achieved such strong sales,” the same editor continues. “Their willingness to continue challenging themselves without fear of criticism, even as they get older and become mothers, shows they still have the same mindset they had as top idols.”
Gendai concludes that overtly putting eroticism on display may be the ultimate second career opportunity only permitted to former top idols.
