Megumi Kagurazaka surprises fans with nude gravure return

The actress Megumi Kagurazaka has made a surprise return to gravure with a new photo book.

Here’s something we didn’t expect to see on our radar: actress Megumi Kagurazaka has made a surprise return to gravure.

At 44, the married mother is set to release her first photo book in 14 years, scheduled for release in Japan on December 18. Her comeback begins with an 11-page interview and photo spread in the October 24/31 issue of Friday magazine.

And this isn’t just any gravure revival — it marks her return to nude photography, including a full-frontal (hair nude) shoot, a bold throwback that feels straight out of the 2000s.

Age and motherhood have clearly done nothing to diminish Kagurazaka’s beauty or allure.

If her new photo book maintains the same tone as this shoot—which likely serves as a preview—it’s bound to attract strong attention and sales. Since debuting in the entertainment industry in 2004 and releasing her first photo book in 2008, Kagurazaka initially built her career in gravure before transitioning to acting, particularly in independent films.

She became known for her voluptuous figure and bold performances, notably in the erotic dramas Cold Fish and Guilty of Romance (2011), both directed by renowned filmmaker Sion Sono. Kagurazaka married Sono in 2011. She has continued to act while also serving as president of his production company, and the couple welcomed their first child in 2019.

But Sono became a prominent figure in Japan’s MeToo movement after being accused of sexual assault in 2022. He denied the allegations and even won part of a defamation case against another male actor over comments made on social media. Nonetheless, the scandal appears to have left the 63-year-old filmmaker unable to find work. His wife’s return to nude modeling may, therefore, be driven by financial necessity. Still, judging by the photos, the aging director seems to have plenty to keep him occupied at home.