Did the shooting proceed smoothly?

Yes. At the shooting, I was asked to imagine being a monkey or gorilla, but this was the first time I’ve ever been asked to do something like that. We spent a whole day shooting the still and movie, which, in itself was very fun, but I’ve never climbed up and down a jungle gym so many times in my life, I suffered from really bad muscle aches after that (laugh).

We would also like to ask you about your work as a model. How did you get started as a model?

I graduated from a sports university, and ever since I was a little girl, sports was all I did. But when I was starting my third year in university, my mother passed away, which got me thinking about my future. I have 2 older sisters, of which, my eldest sister was already a model, and because I was tall, I did a test shooting under my sister’s recommendation. The completed photograph was black and white with a very cool world view being expressed, and something about it appealed to me. From there, I decided to pursue a modeling career seriously, and began to think, if I’m going to do this, I might as well aim for the Paris collection.

Having started working as a model, what aspects of it did you feel fit you?

When I was a little girl, I wasn’t a talkative child, nor did I like going in front of people or even having my picture taken. But when I faced the camera with make-up, I felt a sense of becoming something different from my normal self. It felt good to express the feelings I had inside, without being ashamed of anything, and when I saw the completed photograph, I discovered “I didn’t know there’s such a me inside”. To tell you the truth, there was a time when I thought about becoming a make-up artist, but my father said, “you should be on the side of having make-up put on you, not on the side of putting it on”. Back then I had short hair and didn’t have any interest in fashion at all, so I couldn’t understand why my father would say such a thing, but now that his words have come true, I feel I understand what he meant.

Of your past works, was there a turning point, or any job which was especially memorable?

I’m sure there have been several turning points, but nothing comes to mind right away (laugh). This is because, I’m conscious of always having some kind of goal, like walking the runway of this brand, or being on the cover of this magazine, but once I clear that goal, I rush on towards my next goal, so I think I may have passed through without noticing what or when my turning point was.

In that sense, since walking the runway in Paris fashion week had been one of your goals since you first started modeling, wasn’t that a big thing for you?

Yes. My Paris debut was in an haute-couture collection, in a production wearing pin-heels, walking down the runway, holding hands with a Kid model. I remember well that while we walked down the runway, only looking straight into the light ahead, I couldn’t even see the guests around me, and the kid model and I were both shaking (laugh).

For you, what is the true charm of modeling, Ms. Arai?

Every time I participate in a fashion week, there is always a moment in which I cry my eyes out. Most of time it is tear of mortification, but I feel it is because it is not all fun and joy that I can grow, and the more I feel regret, the bigger the joy when something good happens, and I love how that moment feels.

In addition to the movie of this season’s key visual, you’ve been in the Ferragamo movie directed by Mr. Takumi Saitoh, but do you have any interest in acting?

I used to think, there’s no way I could do that, but recently I’ve began to think, if there’s a possibility of broadening my horizons, I’m willing to try anything. As an influence from my parents, I’ve always liked movies, and even now, I often go see movies in private, so if I get some good opportunity, I’d like to challenge myself. In my present job, I am blessed with many encounters with all sorts of people, and with the stimulation I receive from the people around me, I intend to actively keep trying and keep challenging myself to those things which appeal to me.