Nozomi Sasaki (fashion model)
Encyclopedia
, previously known simply as Nozomi during her fashion modeling career, is a Japanese glamour model and former professional fashion model from Akita
.
After working as a fashion model for nearly 7 years, she has become famous as a gravure idol and main ringside commentator / spokesperson for the mixed martial arts
competition Dream Fighting Championships
and the kickboxing
competition K-1 World Max
since 2009.
Since late 2008 she has released five photobook
s and two DVDs, and has also made countless appearances on television, magazines, and ads unrelated to fashion / cosmetic, including ones for Coca-Cola
's green tea products, Suntory
's 3 soft drink products, So-net
, Willcom
, Fujifilm
, Kao, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
and Seiko
's Tisse brand line created for and dedicated to her. She has also endorsed an accessory brand, Cotton Cloud, since June 2010 when it was created for her and its first flag shop opened in Harajuku
.
She was given the nickname "No Mercy" for her countless reported atrocities toward other show-business girls she worked with, in her teenage years, especially toward actresses, glamour models, and fashion models from foreign countries, whom she considered to be "fat".
magazine. She first appeared on the cover of Pinky in July 2007, along with another cover girl, Emi Suzuki
.
One theory suggests that Suzuki was the person who brought Sasaki to the commercial modeling field after she discovered Sasaki when Sasaki was planning to retire from modeling, and it has been noted that Sasaki already appeared at the time to be significantly chubbier than she used to be.
magazine Young Jump and several of other magazines as a glamour model (gravure idol) in late 2008. She released her first photobook
, Nozomi
, in August of that year.
She made her first landing on the top cover of Young Jump in January 2009. This caused surprises in many fields. Model Coco Kinoshita who was close to Sasaki officially commented about this, "that dreadful one who tortured everyone now has extra weight on her chest and whole body, smiling for innocent boys with burning sticks!". She released her first full DVD, Dolly, and two photobooks, Sasaki Nozomi in Tenshi no Koi and Non
, in 2009.
In early 2010 she was specially featured by 2.4 million selling manga series Usogui on Young Jump, and released her fourth photobook Prism. Despite her breast size which has been known as one of the smallest in the gravure scene, she became a successful model by the end of 2010 in the field where breast size is regarded as a vital factor.
At that time she also began appearing on the Non-no
magazine, a biweekly girl-next-door-orientated fashion magazine that does not usually feature people like her. Though after becoming more of a gravure idol than a professional model, Sasaki was heavily featured in a spring fashion collection presented by the magazine and BS-TBS, and soon after that, she landed on the top cover of the magazine. These appearances have been described as like an "invasion", as she has significantly changed the magazine's tone. Some critics have suggested that the magazine has been destroyed by Nozomi Sasaki.
's new chewing gum
product Fit's
, where she performed a "silly dance" called the Fit's dance. Fit's became a smash hit, selling over 40 million in its first 5 months in the Japanese gum market where 4 million-per-year is considered large success.
In March 2009, she was chosen as the image character for a special advertising campaign by the Japan Magazine Publishers Association, a governmental publishing trade association
run by the Ministry of Education. During the campaign between July 21, 2009 - August 20, 2009, her portrait appeared in 300 different magazines and as 30,000 posters for bookstores and public libraries all over Japan, 100,000 posters hung in trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai
area, and 2,009 prepaid cards.
Having made a cameo appearance in the romantic comedy Handsome Suit as well as minor roles in two television serials, Sasaki scored a major breakthrough in her budding acting career with the lead role in the 2009 sentimental romance film Tenshi no Koi
, where she played a teenage girl in a fragile relationship with an older man played by Shosuke Tanihara
. The film became an instant hit and was also distributed in some nearby countries such as Hong Kong
, Taiwan
, and Singapore
.
In 2010, she acted in the television drama Dohyo Girl where she played a model who became the coach of a high school sumo
team. This was the first time in her acting career that she took the lead role in a television drama series.
She also made her singing debut in July 2010 with the catch phrase
"Heta de Gomenne!" ("Forgive my tone-deafness!") when she released a single, Kamu to Funyan feat. Astro, which debuted at number one on the Oricon
singles chart. At the end of 2010 she released her second single titled Jin Jin Jingle Bell, a cover version of Chisato Moritaka's 1995 hit. She was expected to participate in the NHK
Kohaku
show, an annual New Year's Eve
musical TV show, but when she was asked about it by the press during the commemoration event for Jin Jin Jingle Bell, she stated that she did not wish to appear on it. She stated that she could not sing and was shy, implying she would never perform her songs live in public. As a result, she did not attend the show.
, she was picked as the ringside commentator for K-1
. Soon after this, she was also selected by Dream
as the ringside commentator. Since then, she has worked for these two combat sport competitions not only as the ringside commentator but also as a spokesperson since April 2009. She immediately established a good reputation. Remy Bonjasky
has referred to her as a "good one", "Oh, well I think she's good, she seems too calm, at least way better than that one I saw at the previous World GP". Gago Drago
commented "You know, she's uncannily reticent compared to other ringside gals I know, but in a way it's good, you know, especially during a fight!". Buakaw Por. Pramuk commented after K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final, "Immediately after the bout, that girl gave me a towel with her awesome smile. It killed all of my pain!". In Dream, many fighters, including Joachim Hansen, JZ Calvan, Zelg Galešić
, Choi Hong-man
, Paulo Filho
, James Thompson
, Bibiano Fernandes
, Kultar Gill
, Sergei Kharitonov and Josh Barnett
, have positively made highly-extolling comments about the new face, resulting in being described as gullible cherry boys by Rin Takanashi
on Twitter. Only a few criticisms have been levelled at her, notably, Badr Hari
has stated that he thinks the predecessor and the heavyweight division's long-term commentator Norika Fujiwara
were better because he finds her "somehow ominous".
-like image attributed to her looks and manners, hence her first full-scale DVD's title "Dolly".
Unlike her mentor, Emi Suzuki
, who has rejected nearly all the interview requests even after beginning to appear in the general celebrity scene, Sasaki has normally granted interviews since 2009 when she began appearing in the general celebrity scene. She often speaks in her native language, the Akita dialect, which people outside of the northern region hardly understand, thus, the press chasing her are often with translators. It has also been known that some reporters have been banned from interviewing her, and they are mainly those who have attempted to ask her questions about her past, specifically, her fashion modeling years.
The topic of her fashion modeling years has occasionally become a matter of public interest, although she has never spoken about it. In April 2010 a photographer mentioned Sasaki in an interview, saying he witnessed Sasaki's first meeting with Yukina Kinoshita, a commercial model who has been known as a notorious brawler, a claimed former member of a bosozoku
gang, and has become Sasaki's co-worker. The photographer apparently, in 2008, witnessed their pre-brawling scene where Kinoshita picked a fight with Sasaki, pouncing on Sasaki, but Kinoshita got away from it after Sasaki caught Kinoshita's arm, staring at her, and Kinoshita got "seriously freaked out". Kinoshita later commented on this shortly before her retirement, confirming it and describing Sasaki as something on a different level from a mere brawler, which makes her "gang" past highly questionable.
In August 2010, she landed on the cover of the anan magazine, with a black dress and a body shape slightly reminiscent of her past as a fashion model. At that time she signed a new endorsement contract with FinePix of Fujifilm
and attended its ceremonial press conference, with another black dress designed by her former fan Razor Ramon HG and a body shapehttp://j.mycom.jp/news/2010/08/18/006/images/003l.jpg fairly reminiscent of her past as a fashion model. Some of the fashion press made mention of these appearances. The September number of the Ray magazine headlined "«Nozomi» has returned?", and associated the black dresses with some of her past nicknames related to the black color such as "Black Surgeon / Black Maiden". Sankei Shimbun
, a decent newspaper not a tabloid, also featured this appearance, referring to her as "Nozomi".
In November 2010, Akita Prefecture
chosen her as one of the two official PR-Ambassadors, along with Natsuki Kato
, with the purpose of creating a better image of the prefecture. The mayor Norihisa Satake
officially commented on the selection that he was hoping that she would eradicate Akita's image being snowy and dark, with her image being fine and cheerful.
She has been known for her reticence and spiritless, apathetic attitude seeming lack of emotion on television, but one unusual incident was observed on January 5, 2011 when she was on the live television
show Reco Hits, a midnight music show she has regularly appeared on as a host. At one point during Kana Uemura
's song about family, "Toire no Kamisama
", was introduced, she broke down in tears. This was considered the first time for Sasaki to cry on media.
Akita, Akita
is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District , the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of...
.
After working as a fashion model for nearly 7 years, she has become famous as a gravure idol and main ringside commentator / spokesperson for the mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
competition Dream Fighting Championships
DREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
and the kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
competition K-1 World Max
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
since 2009.
Since late 2008 she has released five photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
s and two DVDs, and has also made countless appearances on television, magazines, and ads unrelated to fashion / cosmetic, including ones for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
's green tea products, Suntory
Suntory
is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to sandwich chains...
's 3 soft drink products, So-net
So-net
is a Japanese internet service provider operated by and owned by Sony.- Timeline :* November 1995 - The operating company, Sony Communication Network Corporation was established as a subsidiary of Sony.* January 1996 - launched ISP business....
, Willcom
Willcom
is a Japanese PHS operator, offering flat-rate wireless network data transmission and flat-rate voice calls for its subscribers.The company was formerly known as DDI Pocket, a subsidiary of KDDI. In 2004, the Carlyle Group acquired a majority stake from KDDI and changed the name of the company in...
, Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
, Kao, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tatsumi-nishi, Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Japan. founded "", the predecessor of Rohto, in Shimizucho, Higashi-ku , Osaka on February 22, 1899.Yamada sold "Rohto Eyedrops" in 1909...
and Seiko
Seiko
, more commonly known simply as Seiko , is a Japanese watch company.-History and ongoing developments:The company was founded in 1881, when Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and jewelry shop called in the Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan. Eleven years later, in 1892, he began to produce clocks under the...
's Tisse brand line created for and dedicated to her. She has also endorsed an accessory brand, Cotton Cloud, since June 2010 when it was created for her and its first flag shop opened in Harajuku
Harajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
.
She was given the nickname "No Mercy" for her countless reported atrocities toward other show-business girls she worked with, in her teenage years, especially toward actresses, glamour models, and fashion models from foreign countries, whom she considered to be "fat".
Early life
Born in Akita, she finished elementary school and attended a middle school there for a short period.Modeling
Sasaki began modeling at the age of around 14. She modeled mainly in the collection circuit, and for fashion / cosmetic advertisements. In the latter years of her modeling career, she was a featured model and contributor to the now defunct PinkyPINKY (magazine)
Pinky was a Japanese fashion magazine published by Shueisha.Launched in 2004 as a sister magazine of Seventeen, Pinky was targeted at teenagers and young women in their early 20s or early 30s...
magazine. She first appeared on the cover of Pinky in July 2007, along with another cover girl, Emi Suzuki
Emi Suzuki
is a Japanese fashion model and retired occasional actress. Widely known by her nickname Emichee, she has often been described as a "charismatic model" and is particularly popular among gyaru teenagers.-Early life:...
.
One theory suggests that Suzuki was the person who brought Sasaki to the commercial modeling field after she discovered Sasaki when Sasaki was planning to retire from modeling, and it has been noted that Sasaki already appeared at the time to be significantly chubbier than she used to be.
Gravure
After further intentionally gaining weight, she began appearing on the youth-targeted weekly mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
magazine Young Jump and several of other magazines as a glamour model (gravure idol) in late 2008. She released her first photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
, Nozomi
Nozomi (book)
Nozomi, officially stylized as nozomi, is the first photobook by Japanese model Nozomi Sasaki, released in late 2008 by Shueisha.It consists of photographs of Sasaki taken in Hawaii, Tokyo, and several other places...
, in August of that year.
She made her first landing on the top cover of Young Jump in January 2009. This caused surprises in many fields. Model Coco Kinoshita who was close to Sasaki officially commented about this, "that dreadful one who tortured everyone now has extra weight on her chest and whole body, smiling for innocent boys with burning sticks!". She released her first full DVD, Dolly, and two photobooks, Sasaki Nozomi in Tenshi no Koi and Non
Non (book)
Non is the third photobook by Japanese model Nozomi Sasaki, released in late 2009 by Shueisha.As Nozomi Sasaki's first self-produced photobook, it consists of photographs of her, several of her columns, and several interviews with her...
, in 2009.
In early 2010 she was specially featured by 2.4 million selling manga series Usogui on Young Jump, and released her fourth photobook Prism. Despite her breast size which has been known as one of the smallest in the gravure scene, she became a successful model by the end of 2010 in the field where breast size is regarded as a vital factor.
At that time she also began appearing on the Non-no
Non-no
is a Japanese fashion magazine published by Shueisha. Like CanCam, non-no has a comparatively longer history than other Japanese fashion magazines e.g. Cawaii!, Olive and so forth. The magazine is targeted at teens and young women in their early 20s....
magazine, a biweekly girl-next-door-orientated fashion magazine that does not usually feature people like her. Though after becoming more of a gravure idol than a professional model, Sasaki was heavily featured in a spring fashion collection presented by the magazine and BS-TBS, and soon after that, she landed on the top cover of the magazine. These appearances have been described as like an "invasion", as she has significantly changed the magazine's tone. Some critics have suggested that the magazine has been destroyed by Nozomi Sasaki.
Television, film and print
She has regularly appeared on over 10 television programs and over 20 television commercials since 2009. Her first huge hit on the TV scene was a TV commercial for LotteLotte (conglomerate)
Lotte Co., Ltd. is a South Korean-Japanese Jaebeol and one of the largest food and shopping groups in South Korea and Japan. Lotte was established in June 1948, in Tokyo, by Japanese-educated, Korean businessman Shin Kyuk-Ho – also known as...
's new chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
product Fit's
Fit's
Fit's is a Japanese brand of gum produced by Lotte Group. It contains twelve units of gum in each pack ....
, where she performed a "silly dance" called the Fit's dance. Fit's became a smash hit, selling over 40 million in its first 5 months in the Japanese gum market where 4 million-per-year is considered large success.
In March 2009, she was chosen as the image character for a special advertising campaign by the Japan Magazine Publishers Association, a governmental publishing trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
run by the Ministry of Education. During the campaign between July 21, 2009 - August 20, 2009, her portrait appeared in 300 different magazines and as 30,000 posters for bookstores and public libraries all over Japan, 100,000 posters hung in trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
area, and 2,009 prepaid cards.
Having made a cameo appearance in the romantic comedy Handsome Suit as well as minor roles in two television serials, Sasaki scored a major breakthrough in her budding acting career with the lead role in the 2009 sentimental romance film Tenshi no Koi
Tenshi no Koi
is a 2009 Japanese romance drama film based on the popular cell phone novel of the same name. Director Yuri Kanchiku made his directorial debut in this film. Japanese model Nozomi Sasaki stars in her first lead role in a film, as a seventeen-year-old high school student...
, where she played a teenage girl in a fragile relationship with an older man played by Shosuke Tanihara
Shosuke Tanihara
is a Japanese actor probably best known outside of Japan for his portrayal of Riki Fudoh in Fudoh: The New Generation.Tanihara hosts Tokyo Twenty-Four Living Supported by FLET’S Hikari, a podcast produced by TOKYO FM...
. The film became an instant hit and was also distributed in some nearby countries such as Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
In 2010, she acted in the television drama Dohyo Girl where she played a model who became the coach of a high school sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
team. This was the first time in her acting career that she took the lead role in a television drama series.
She also made her singing debut in July 2010 with the catch phrase
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
"Heta de Gomenne!" ("Forgive my tone-deafness!") when she released a single, Kamu to Funyan feat. Astro, which debuted at number one on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
singles chart. At the end of 2010 she released her second single titled Jin Jin Jingle Bell, a cover version of Chisato Moritaka's 1995 hit. She was expected to participate in the NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
Kohaku
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
show, an annual New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
musical TV show, but when she was asked about it by the press during the commemoration event for Jin Jin Jingle Bell, she stated that she did not wish to appear on it. She stated that she could not sing and was shy, implying she would never perform her songs live in public. As a result, she did not attend the show.
K-1 and Dream
Immediately following the firing of the predecessor, Akina MinamiAkina Minami
is a Japanese gravure idol and tarento signed to Free Style Company.-Movies:*Wanna be Free!: Tokyo Girl as amateur model*Chorus-tai: Kanojotachi no Kiseki as Aki*Buraburabanban...
, she was picked as the ringside commentator for K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
. Soon after this, she was also selected by Dream
DREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
as the ringside commentator. Since then, she has worked for these two combat sport competitions not only as the ringside commentator but also as a spokesperson since April 2009. She immediately established a good reputation. Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...
has referred to her as a "good one", "Oh, well I think she's good, she seems too calm, at least way better than that one I saw at the previous World GP". Gago Drago
Gago Drago
Gago Drago is an Armenian-Dutch welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Alkmaar, Netherlands. He is known for his punch combinations and unpredictable kicking techniques and highly aggressive fighting style...
commented "You know, she's uncannily reticent compared to other ringside gals I know, but in a way it's good, you know, especially during a fight!". Buakaw Por. Pramuk commented after K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final, "Immediately after the bout, that girl gave me a towel with her awesome smile. It killed all of my pain!". In Dream, many fighters, including Joachim Hansen, JZ Calvan, Zelg Galešić
Zelg Galesic
Zelg Galešić is a Croatian mixed martial artist, currently fighting in Bellator Fighting Championships. He has previously fought in Cage Rage, PRIDE, DREAM, and Hero's...
, Choi Hong-man
Choi Hong-man
Choi Hong-man , often anglicised to Hong-man Choi, is a South Korean kickboxer, mixed martial artist and former ssireum wrestler. In Asia he is called "Che Man", "Korean Monster" and "Korean Colossus"...
, Paulo Filho
Paulo Filho
Paulo Fernando de Souza Leite Filho, better known as simply Paulo Filho , is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist as well as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo practitioner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
, James Thompson
James Thompson (fighter)
James Thompson is an English mixed martial artist. He fights as a heavyweight and has appeared in such promotions as Elite Xtreme Combat , Pride Fighting Championship, and Cage Rage. He is known for rushing his opponents at the start of the bout.-Biography:James Thompson grew up in Rochdale,...
, Bibiano Fernandes
Bibiano Fernandes
Bibiano Fernandes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has competed for K-1, DREAM, and King of the Cage. He was the first DREAM Featherweight Champion.-Early career:...
, Kultar Gill
Kultar Gill
Kultar "Black Mamba" Gill is a professional Indian-Canadian welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer and lightweight mixed martial artist, fighting for Team Mamba in Abbotsford, British Columbia....
, Sergei Kharitonov and Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
, have positively made highly-extolling comments about the new face, resulting in being described as gullible cherry boys by Rin Takanashi
Rin Takanashi
is a Japanese actress, and former teen model from Chiba Prefecture. She starred in the 2007 film adaptation of the Japanese novel Goth as one of the lead characters, Yoru Morino. She starred in the 2009 Super Sentai series Samurai Sentai Shinkenger as one of the lead characters, Mako...
on Twitter. Only a few criticisms have been levelled at her, notably, Badr Hari
Badr Hari
Badr "The Golden Boy" Hari is a Moroccan-Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam. He is a former K-1 Heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 finalist. As of May 2011, Hari is ranked the #2 heavyweight in the world by LiverKick.com...
has stated that he thinks the predecessor and the heavyweight division's long-term commentator Norika Fujiwara
Norika Fujiwara
is a Japanese beauty queen, model and actress. She became Miss Japan in 1992 and was an exclusive model for CanCam magazine. She has appeared in various commercials and TV series and a number of films in Japan.-Career:...
were better because he finds her "somehow ominous".
Public reception
Since she debuted as a glamour model, she has been known for her dollDoll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
-like image attributed to her looks and manners, hence her first full-scale DVD's title "Dolly".
Unlike her mentor, Emi Suzuki
Emi Suzuki
is a Japanese fashion model and retired occasional actress. Widely known by her nickname Emichee, she has often been described as a "charismatic model" and is particularly popular among gyaru teenagers.-Early life:...
, who has rejected nearly all the interview requests even after beginning to appear in the general celebrity scene, Sasaki has normally granted interviews since 2009 when she began appearing in the general celebrity scene. She often speaks in her native language, the Akita dialect, which people outside of the northern region hardly understand, thus, the press chasing her are often with translators. It has also been known that some reporters have been banned from interviewing her, and they are mainly those who have attempted to ask her questions about her past, specifically, her fashion modeling years.
The topic of her fashion modeling years has occasionally become a matter of public interest, although she has never spoken about it. In April 2010 a photographer mentioned Sasaki in an interview, saying he witnessed Sasaki's first meeting with Yukina Kinoshita, a commercial model who has been known as a notorious brawler, a claimed former member of a bosozoku
Bosozoku
is a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs.-Traits and history:The word bōsōzoku is also applied to motorcycle gangs, who share an interest in modifications for motorcycles, such as removing the mufflers so that more noise is produced...
gang, and has become Sasaki's co-worker. The photographer apparently, in 2008, witnessed their pre-brawling scene where Kinoshita picked a fight with Sasaki, pouncing on Sasaki, but Kinoshita got away from it after Sasaki caught Kinoshita's arm, staring at her, and Kinoshita got "seriously freaked out". Kinoshita later commented on this shortly before her retirement, confirming it and describing Sasaki as something on a different level from a mere brawler, which makes her "gang" past highly questionable.
In August 2010, she landed on the cover of the anan magazine, with a black dress and a body shape slightly reminiscent of her past as a fashion model. At that time she signed a new endorsement contract with FinePix of Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
and attended its ceremonial press conference, with another black dress designed by her former fan Razor Ramon HG and a body shapehttp://j.mycom.jp/news/2010/08/18/006/images/003l.jpg fairly reminiscent of her past as a fashion model. Some of the fashion press made mention of these appearances. The September number of the Ray magazine headlined "«Nozomi» has returned?", and associated the black dresses with some of her past nicknames related to the black color such as "Black Surgeon / Black Maiden". Sankei Shimbun
Sankei Shimbun
is a daily newspaper in Japan published by the . It has the sixth highest circulation for a newspaper in Japan, and is considered as one of the five "national" newspapers...
, a decent newspaper not a tabloid, also featured this appearance, referring to her as "Nozomi".
In November 2010, Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
chosen her as one of the two official PR-Ambassadors, along with Natsuki Kato
Natsuki Kato
is a Japanese actress and former fashion model, regularly appearing on television in various roles.-Career:After she was spotted and recruited with 1998's television commercial appearance by a current entertainment production, she made her debut in 1999....
, with the purpose of creating a better image of the prefecture. The mayor Norihisa Satake
Norihisa Satake
is a Japanese politician. A former two-term mayor of Akita City in Akita Prefecture, first elected in 2001, he is currently the Governor of Akita Prefecture after winning election on April 12, 2009...
officially commented on the selection that he was hoping that she would eradicate Akita's image being snowy and dark, with her image being fine and cheerful.
She has been known for her reticence and spiritless, apathetic attitude seeming lack of emotion on television, but one unusual incident was observed on January 5, 2011 when she was on the live television
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
show Reco Hits, a midnight music show she has regularly appeared on as a host. At one point during Kana Uemura
Kana Uemura
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who debuted in 2004. She is best known for her song "Toilet no Kamisama", an acoustic ballad about her grandmother, which became a hit in 2010.- Biography :...
's song about family, "Toire no Kamisama
Toilet no Kamisama
is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Kana Uemura, recounting her thoughts about her late grandmother. It was the leading track from her extended play Watashi no Kakera-tachi, released on March 10, 2010...
", was introduced, she broke down in tears. This was considered the first time for Sasaki to cry on media.
Photobooks
- NozomiNozomi (book)Nozomi, officially stylized as nozomi, is the first photobook by Japanese model Nozomi Sasaki, released in late 2008 by Shueisha.It consists of photographs of Sasaki taken in Hawaii, Tokyo, and several other places...
(August 1, 2008 ShueishaShueishais a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
) - Sasaki Nozomi in Tenshi no Koi (October 31, 2009 KadokawaKadokawa Shotenis a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
) - NonNon (book)Non is the third photobook by Japanese model Nozomi Sasaki, released in late 2009 by Shueisha.As Nozomi Sasaki's first self-produced photobook, it consists of photographs of her, several of her columns, and several interviews with her...
(November 21, 2009 ShueishaShueishais a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
) - Prism (March 30, 2010 GentoshaGentoshais a Japanese publisher, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Gentosha publishes manga magazine Comic Birz, Web comic magazines GENZO, SPICA, Comic MAGNA, literary magazines Lynx, papyrus, as well as business magazine GOETHE.- Publications :...
) - Nozokimi (July, 2010 GentoshaGentoshais a Japanese publisher, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Gentosha publishes manga magazine Comic Birz, Web comic magazines GENZO, SPICA, Comic MAGNA, literary magazines Lynx, papyrus, as well as business magazine GOETHE.- Publications :...
)
DVDs
- "nozomi" [DVD] ([IV] Nozomi Sasaki - Weekly Young Jump Premium)
- "Dolly" [DVD] (Nozomi Sasaki Dolly)
Television roles
- Kami no ShizukuKami no Shizuku (TV series)Kami no Shizuku is a Japanese multi-awards winner television comedy series, based on the manga series Les Gouttes de Dieu. Produced by Nippon Television and featuring Kamenashi Kazuya, Tanabe Seiichi, Naka Riisa, Nozomi Sasaki, and Yuki Uchida, it was first broadcast on January 13, 2009, running...
(2009, NTVNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
) as Sara - Shaken Baby! (2010, Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
) as Sakurako Seo - Straight Man (2010, Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
and Kansai TVKansai Telecasting Corporation, often called or , is a TV station affiliated with Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System in Osaka, serving the Kansai region of Japan...
) as Yukie Kayashima - Dohyo Girl (2010, MBSMainichi Broadcasting Systemis a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
) as Hikaru Wakabayashi