Ayana Sakai I believe that work should not be done half-heartedly.

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Ayana Sakai
Born in 1985. Actress. Regular model for the magazine "Ray" (Shufunotomosha). Currently appearing in the TV Asahi drama series "Jotei" (every Friday at 21pm) as Hojo Na. In addition to her entertainment activities, Sakai Ayana also designs wedding dresses for Ayanature. Sakai Ayana's blog: "Sakai Ayana's AYANAVI" http://ayanavi.jp/blog/

I secretly observe people who seem mean.

Sakai will be appearing as a regular in the TV Asahi drama "Jotei" (every Friday at 2:7 PM), which began airing on July 13th. "Jotei" is a breakthrough work by popular author Ryo Kurashina and manga artist Issaku Wake, renowned for his unrivaled artistic talent. It depicts the turbulent life of protagonist Ayaka Tachibana, born in Kumamoto, as she rises to become a "dominatrix" at high-end clubs in Osaka's Minami district and Tokyo's Ginza district. Ayaka's co-star is Shota Matsuda, renowned as one of the top young actors. Sakai will be playing Rina Hojo, a character described as a quintessential villain. Her character is a far cry from the tolerant and kind interviewer she portrays. When asked how she prepared for the role, she said, "I secretly observe people who actually seem mean." While she emphasizes her meanness to the point of making viewers think, "She's going to go that far!" she also wants viewers to see her "unyielding and determined to climb the ladder." Sakai-san has a cute face and plays characters that are the complete opposite of herself. When you talk to her, you can tell she has an extremely high level of professionalism when it comes to her work.

Maybe he's a perfectionist?

"I believe that work should never be done half-heartedly."

Although he is only one year older than us, his gaze is pure seriousness when he talks about his work. He has never been significantly late, and once he starts something, he sees it through to the very end. "I guess I'm a perfectionist. I'm always telling myself, 'I have to do it properly!'"

This personality is also evident outside of work. She loves doing laundry and isn't satisfied unless she folds it neatly after washing. She also likes cooking, but she also thinks about maintaining her health and actively cooks for herself in between her busy schedule. But even she sometimes gets tired. When that happens, she makes sure to take time out and maximise it for herself. She goes for a walk, takes a long bath, or reads a book. "I especially love being in contact with the printed word, so I read a lot of books. Right now I'm reading a lot of books on therapy, but I'd recommend something like 'Scary Stories About Hamburgers' (Soshisha) (laughs)." Even during her own downtime, you can see her relaxed and thorough approach.

I want to continue modeling and also publish essays.

"My dream is to continue being a model forever," she says, explaining why. "Modeling allows me to meet lots of people and makes me aware every day that both myself and others are changing. There is no job more appealing than this." At the same time, she has another dream. "The truth is, I've been keeping a diary for a long time. When I look back at my diaries, I find some pretty interesting anecdotes, so I'd like to use them as the subject matter for an essay."

Sakai never gives up once she has decided to do something. She will continue to model, and will surely steadily make her goals a reality, including publishing essays. We, as female university students, should aim to be wonderful women like her, who value their individuality and have a relaxed mind.

From the August 2007 issue of the Student Newspaper