Kumiko Takeda Returns to Gravure with New Photo Book at 58
There are comebacks, and then there are truly remarkable returns. While several former gravure stars have stepped back into the spotlight in recent years, few announcements have generated as much excitement as Kumiko Takeda’s.
It was revealed that the 58-year-old model and actress will release her first photo book since 2003. Preview images showcase Takeda in stunning form, while a 10-page cover feature appears in this week’s issue of *Weekly Friday*.
The photo book, due for release on September 9, is photographed by renowned gravure photographer ND Chow and published by Kodansha. The project is described as a tribute to some of Takeda’s most iconic past works.
Takeda shared her excitement, saying: “I am delighted to announce that I will be releasing a new photo book through Kodansha, my first in 23 years. Although a long time has passed, I personally feel that I am currently at the peak of my womanhood! For years, fans have been asking me to release another photo book, and I am truly happy to finally be able to answer those requests. I think fans will enjoy looking for and comparing the shots to see which ones serve as homages to my past photo books.”
We expect the still-untitled release to appeal not only to longtime fans who admired Takeda during her heyday, but also to women of a similar generation, many of whom will appreciate seeing a celebrated beauty icon confidently embrace this stage of her life.
Takeda remains one of gravure’s most enduring figures. She rose to prominence through magazine photo shoots and film appearances in the early 1980s before cementing her status with the hugely successful *My Dear Stephanie* (1989), remembered for its iconic “white shell bikini” imagery that perfectly captured the era.
She later elevated her reputation even further with a series of acclaimed nude photo books, beginning with *Lady Casablanca* in 1994—the first installment in her *Lady* trilogy—and continuing throughout the decade. Released during the height of Japan’s hair nude publishing boom, these works established Takeda as one of the defining gravure models of the period. Her final nude photo book is believed to have been *Mocha* in 2000, when she was in her early thirties.
In 1999, Takeda married an American and relocated to the United States. Her maternity nude photographs, taken while she was pregnant with her daughter, Sofia, became one of the most widely recognized celebrity maternity photo shoots of its time. Following her divorce in 2016, she has divided her time between Japan and the United States.