Former Gravure Idol Yinling Revives M-Pose at 49

The shoot, which will appear in the late September issue of Weekly Post, reunites her with renowned photographer Seiichi Nomura after two decades.

Although she is now the mother of three children, including a junior high school son and twin daughters in elementary school, Yinling said she wanted to reclaim her identity as a woman beyond motherhood. "Everyday life is school pickups, cram school runs, homework checks. I realized I needed some stimulus," she explained. "Not just as a mother, but as a woman, I wanted to feel alive again."

The day’s shoot featured revealing outfits in lace and black fabrics, as Yinling admitted to nerves after a long absence. She recalled how, in her twenties, confidence came naturally, while now she wrestles with doubts about posing and facial expressions. Encouragement from Nomura, however, helped restore her self-assurance. "When he told me, ‘You haven’t changed, you’re still beautiful,’ I felt my confidence returning," she said.

The iconic "M-pose" also carried symbolic meaning. Yinling explained that as a child she was always told to "keep her legs closed" because she was a girl. "Why should women alone be told to do that? I wanted to express that women, too, have the right to open their legs. It was a rebellion against gender bias," she said.

She also revealed for the first time that she had once quit a television program after a producer inappropriately touched her chest while posing for a group photo. "I couldn’t accept it, so I said I would leave the show. I didn’t want to be seen as someone flattering men," she recalled, describing her stance as an act of resistance.

Reflecting on her career, Yinling said gravure remains central to her identity. "At this point, I think it’s my vocation," she said. "Being in front of the camera, expressing myself—that’s what I love most. As long as people want to see me, I’d like to keep going."

Source: ABEMA