Japanese actress Erika Sawajiri released a new photo book titled “DAY OFF” on May 23 [2].
The release marks a significant professional return for Sawajiri, who has not published a photo book in approximately 20 years [2]. Her previous collection, titled "ERICA," was released in 2007 [2].
Sawajiri spoke about the project during a press event in Japan. She described turning 40 as a major turning point, calling it a "very big milestone year" [1]. The actress said she is looking forward to her 40s and intends to enjoy both her professional work and her private life while pursuing new challenges [1].
The production of the book involved an intensive shooting period of about 10 days [1]. During this time, photographers took approximately 10,000 shots [2], resulting in two terabytes of captured data [1]. The final published work consists of 160 pages [2].
While some reports listed Sawajiri as 39 years old [2], other sources and the actress herself identified her as 40 [1]. Records indicate she celebrated her birthday on April 8 [3].
Sawajiri said the work was created with heartfelt thanks to those supporting the project [4].
““Very big milestone year””
Sawajiri's return to the photo-book medium after two decades suggests a strategic rebranding as she enters a new decade of her life. By framing her 40th birthday as a turning point, she is positioning herself to transition from her earlier public image toward a more mature phase of her career and personal identity.
