Rinka, a top model with 22 years of modeling experience who has led the Japanese fashion industry, will release her latest book, "No. 22," on May 28th. This book, which marks the final chapter of her modeling career, is neither a photobook nor a style book; it's a new type of "special book." Rinka has appeared on fashion magazine covers more than 250 times, the most in Japan's history. Even at 40, she still shines brightly as a fashion icon, and she spoke with a carefree smile. We spoke about her new book and her outlook on life. What prompted you to create "No. 22"? Turning 40 and having a child made me feel a strong desire to reset, both as a model and as a woman. It was a time when I wanted to switch gears. I heard you selected the photos from over 10,000 shots. Did you discover anything new during the process?

I'm the type of person whose photographs reflect my state of mind at the time, so I felt nostalgic as I remembered myself at the time, along with the historical context of each work.

There have been several milestones in my life, and the shoots I did at those times were particularly memorable. I debuted as an Akamoji model, and after graduating from that at 25, I went through a period of five years where I was completely unemployed, especially around 28 or 29 years old... But once I turned 30, work gradually began to increase. At the time, the impression that modeling ended in my 20s was strong, so I was given the opportunity to appear on magazine covers in my 30s, and a new chapter in my modeling career began. I'm grateful to have received so many offers, and I've been able to get to where I am today.

--What's the secret to being able to appear on covers for so long?

When I was just about to turn 30 and I was out of work, overseas celebrity snaps became popular. Until then, conservative styles were the norm once you reached a certain age, but now it's become acceptable for adults to wear miniskirts! I guess I was lucky to be able to grow with the times. Everything in my life started to move when I was 30. I really enjoyed my work in my 30s. I think being able to work on magazines for various genres and age groups was a great experience.

-- Was there anything you did to get yourself back up after feeling down?

When I lost my job, I honestly thought it was all over. At the time, I did everyday things like going for walks. That's partly because that was all I could do, but I was in my 20s and felt unsatisfied, and I remember feeling really bad that nothing would change if I continued like this. But now, I think doing the ordinary things properly might have been a good thing.

--What do you think is good to do in your 30s?

Organize! I mean not only your room, but also your life plan and your current situation. When you organize and tidy up, things become clearer. I don't mean being greedy, but there are so many things I feel I need to do. Surprisingly, I don't have that much capacity, so there are times when I find myself struggling. At times like that, I need to look at myself, think about what I really need, what's most important right now, and strip away everything else. By doing that, I think I'll be able to see what I need to prioritize.

--As a model, what do you do to maintain your figure?

I have ideals, but even as a model, it's difficult to make them a reality. That's why I try to be conscious of myself by eating healthy foods like smoothies. I don't really like training, but rather than doing it because I feel like I have to, I feel like it's more effective if I do it while thinking, "I care so much about my health." I think it's important to make yourself aware of it.

Continued on 2/2