Once again breaking records this year, we're back with another photobook. I initially decided to only do this next month along with the final book (Audience: The FINAL BOOK!!??) (Yeah, just, not yet), but I guess I'll finish this first. We're still outside the voice actress circle though, as this time around I'm giving one long time gravure model I've known for years. It's another tribute, I guess. Baba Fumika, this one is for you. I keep saying that though do you think they will know? Haha anyways...
(Also, you think this be inconspicuous enough of a title for this post? I mean, I'm not exactly wrong; read on to find out)
THE ORIGIN
Well known in the industry as a beauty of this decade, Baba Fumika, despite her rather awkward family name (which translates to "horse riding ground") is somewhat suitable for her rather wild personality considering the lengths she went to show off her wonderful body (ahem) by doing gravure outside of modelling (for fashion and makeup) and drama acting as her main job scope today. People would know her of a certain hero drama series from years ago, but that is not my focus. (I hardly watch drama anyway but I did watch two of them, namely "Omae wa Mada Gunma wo Shiranai" in 2017 and "Shinya no Damekoi Zukan" in 2018) I knew her through gravure, and if you didn't notice below because she has a respectable rack, along with her initial boom back around 4 years ago with those wonderful - to the extent of enticing - shots, and I've been following her ever since. This might not be her first time releasing a photobook (Ever seen "hair bra"? Yeah that was her 1st), but it's her first time doing a travel-related photobook, quite a rarity in photobooks from gravure models since normally it's literally just them half-naked in bikini or whatever. This book gives just a little more respect to her because besides the even distribution of gravure and her normal shots which I think she is cute in, they also gave her control over the contents of this book. Let's take a closer look, literally.
THE REVIEW
|
|
Baba Fumika "Babatabi" [Available on Amazon Japan] |
It's going to be a long journey but LETS DO IT!!
|
|
Wow, it's way smaller than I thought. They did say it's A5-sized
though. (What's with the peel off on her face) |
|
| I thought I would rip her face off but hey "tear it away carefully" it sure does, note on the seal. |
[*Okay because I didn't take work leave for the rest of the week lol, I'll do first impressions here and briefly talk about her journey using images first. The final interview will be below, and I'll try to fill in the gaps with as much info as possible because this travel photobook, man... so if you see segments incomplete I'll be back for this b*tch lol]
写真集 Baba Fumika "Babatabi"
|
| As seen from the bottom-most large text: "(She's) a stay-in, (but she) wants to travel." |
The foreword summarises her gravure shootings over the past few years (we will get to see that later) with her travelling to various destinations from within the country to outside of the country. Recently (2 years ago to be exact) after one of the gravure shoots she was asked where she wanted to go, and as she said "I want to hug koala bears" and here we are. *laughs* Ah, I love myself a flexible production studio. The locations detailed, food eaten (I will not say them all) and comments on the book are BORING (lol) so here's my take. Ready?
|
| Nice inset cover, by the way. Still preferred the main cover though |
|
|
Loneliness is... when you sit in a large elevator alone. (Okay there's the cameraman, I guess) |
|
|
Both cute, but I only want to f**k one of them. Just to clarify, it's the one to the left haha |
|
|
Both cute, but I- Oh we did that already? *laughs* (Is this what it's like when she has a baby? *gasp*) |
|
| The comment (bottom right) says she's scared of it but we know. She be scared of being less cute than a stuffed toy snake lol |
|
| Loneliness is... buying that weird animal hat for yourself haha |
|
| How dare you, comment, to criticise on her food reviews. She be as "sweet" as the food she's eating, I would say. |
|
| And then she ate a couple more because it's too good lol |
|
| Someone should feel bad telling her to keep that koala hat on hehe |
|
|
Oh? Slight tingling down there now... (Uh, I meant, Australia feels) |
|
|
Loneliness is... when you have the whole train seat to yourself. Can I sit beside you though, Fumika-chan? |
|
| She be so bored on a trip like me lmao |
|
|
"Deluxe Pool View Room", huh. All I can see is my girl's deluxe- (*thumbs up*) |
|
|
HELL YEAH NOW WE TALKIN' haha (Front View) |
|
| (Back View) |
|
| Hey, I might not drink alcohol but I'll pay for it. Get drunk, Fumika-chan. *giggles* |
|
|
Ah WTF is this her favourite toy or is this just a stalker to monitor
her movements? I mean, look at the hotel room one this mascot's a perv haha |
|
| I genuinely like this one a lot. Really, ignoring her figure she looks beautiful in this. |
|
| About there already, to be honest. *laughs* |
|
| I came. *laughs* THE BED, MAN! THE BED!! |
|
| If you see someone walking around in the hotel you cannot NOT take this and share with your friends |
|
| She may have a rack but her back looks real good also that ponytail grab |
|
| Is she normally wearing this when outdoors or...? Such audacity but then again it's Australia isn't it |
|
|
Her boobs are staring right back at me I'm uncomfortable down under
lol (*insert Australia joke*) |
|
| Do all beautiful girls have a quirky side and they must make those weird faces? I've seen this before but Fumika-chan you too? haha |
|
|
I took a little below so you can see her down under lmao (I meant the view, Australia? haha) |
|
| The sun be too glaring for this beauty why are you wearing so much? *laughs* |
|
|
Hey! It's from the cover! (It's some National Park I don't care haha) |
|
| This front back combination will only let you think about Fumika-chan's beauty... |
|
| ... until you see this. *laughs* |
|
| In case you didn't notice, the mole makes her all the more attractive. |
|
| We be looking at those two rocks but I'm looking at her two rocks, you know what I'm saying? *giggles* |
|
| It's cold at that time of the year? Southern hemisphere, right? You're not cold? *laughs* |
|
|
Loneliness is... when even the train doesn't come for you haha |
|
| I wish I could be this carefree on the streets. Overseas. |
|
| I can imagine this is what she wears when she goes to bed. |
|
| Yeah, inside too. *wink* |
|
|
The angle be more perfect than my down under haha (I mean, my Australia trip as a kid) |
|
| Reminding you the only thing between you and her is that glass let me fondle your boobs lol |
|
| That's the face when I ask her "what do you see" when she gets to look first. Prove me wrong. |
|
| What is she trying to do there lol |
|
|
These two pages are so wholesome here's all of it (Okay maybe not the dog for me but still) |
|
| Again, I'll pay for the wine Fumika-chan so drink away~ |
|
| If the can of coffee beans be one of the souvenirs she bought for lucky fans I want to be the 14 of them |
|
|
She be giving the "I want it but I have no money" face haha (Also, is that angmoh on the right doing the distracted boyfriend meme? lol) |
|
|
In case you are curious about what's in her bag the
|
50 QUESTIONS FOR BABA FUMIKA!!!(Just the interesting ones)
[Answers are quoted for conciseness]
Q1: "Your earliest memory of a trip?"
A1: "Road trip with family to Hokkaido"
(FYI Fumika-chan lives in Niigata ie. west part of Japan)
Q2: "Your earliest memory of a trip you went alone?"
A2: "The one in which I went to Taiwan not long ago, went along with friend's work trip"
Q7: "Favourite country visited thus far?"
A7: "Taiwan, for the Xiaolongbao"
(I know what that is btw, but if you don't it's a small bun filled with soup, and is done by using soup paste and freezing it before steaming it so the soup stays inside)
Q8: "Favourite location visited thus far?"
A8: "The streets of Rome, makes the long plane trip worth it"
Q9: "Best food you ate so far in your trips?"
A9: "Okinawa'mekishiko' shop that sells Mexican
tacos"
Q10: "Worst food you ate so far in your trips?"
A10: "Don't remember as I don't eat them, only go for places with good food"
(Wow, what a question, huh)
Q11: "Souvenir(s) you kept from your trips you still have now?"
A11: "Polar bear stuffed toy I bought from a zoo, still by my bedside"
(I want to be that stuffed toy lmao)
Q12: "Favourite gift people gave to you from their travels?"
A12: "Ballpoint pens that were sold overseas, they feel different when writing"
Q13: "Where you do want to go again?"
A13: "Italy, as I did not spend time exploring the last time I went there for photo shoot, would like to take time to look around and eat"
Q14: "Are you the type who plans or lets others plan for trips?"
A14: "I let others plan since I have no idea, but I may suggest once I've seen around"
Q15: "Are you the type who reads travel guidebooks"
A15: "I normally don't since they are searchable online"
Q17: "What do you seek in your trips?"
A17: "Food! I just want to eat good food"
Q18: "Preferred mode of transportation for your trips?"
A18: "By car? But I don't think I've sat on trams"
Q19: "Window seat or aisle seat?"
A19: "Aisle seat as I don't want to inconvenience people when I want to go to the washroom"
(Nice girl Fumika-chan hehe)
Q20: "What do you do on long trips?"
A20: "Everything from listening to music to watching movies to reading books, but now it's pretty much a time to take naps"
Q22: "What is something you must do when you go on trips?"
A22: "Nothing in particular, but sometimes I might be wrong(?)"
Q23: "Things you'll bring for your trips?"
A23: "Sunscreen, supplements, accessories, also I'll be fine with smartphone, wallet and passport"
Q24: "Soft or hard pillows?"
A24: "Around the middle, and if the pillow is not comfortable I sleep without it"
Q25: "Do you shower or take baths in hotels?"
A25: "If there are bathtubs I would like to sit in them as it takes aways the stress"
Q26: "(As of bracketed text) Cold or hot places for travel?"
A26: "It happens too often but I still prefer hot places, even though it's bad when it's too hot, but I like the feels of relaxing in warm weather"
Q27: "The sea or the mountains?"
A27: "The sea! Never been there alone, but I like the ocean views"
Q28: "Comfort food or local delicacies?"
A28: "A mix of both, because eating local delicacies when going abroad is part of the joys of travelling"
Q29: "Japanese or European wine?"
A29: "I used to like Japanese wine but I noticed I don't drink the a lot when I return home, and I've been liking red wine recently"
Q30: "Meat or fish?"
A30: "No matter what you say it's always meat because I love it! I also like fish too, like sushi"
Q31: "Where would you like to go now: hot spring inn or resort hotel?"
A31: "For now it's hot spring inns, because I just want to get into hot spring, eat, get into hot spring, drink alcohol, sleep, get into hot spring... lead that type of life. In any case I want to get into a hot spring."
(lol Fuika-chan but tbh I like that kind of life too hehe I want to experience it too)
Q33: "Favourite season?"
A33: "Fall/Autumn! It's cold in winter, hay fever is tough in spring, and summer is hot, and I have a great time satisfying my appetite during fall season"
Q35: "If you can learn a language right now what would you learn?"
A35: "Normally I would want to learn English, as expected. Foreigners (who can speak English) are cool"
(COUNT ME IN!! I'm technically a foreigner who speaks English haha)
Q39: "Cairns or Melbourne?"
A39: "Melbourne I guess, since there are plenty of cafes, and just eating and looking at art is satisfactory for me"
Q40: "Favourite food so far on this trip?"
A40: "Lunch and wine I had in Melbourne; it makes me happy being able to drink alcohol in the day in the middle of photo shoots"
Q41: "Best photo taken so far?"
A41: (Not going to post it here but) "I was surprised where I was reserved a place at a restaurant and they used my name lol"
(If you need a description it's a "RESERVED FOR" table label with "Baba" written on it, on 6.30pm, for 8 people)
Q43: "What surprised you the most on this trip?"
A14: "Cairns is surprisingly colder than I thought"
Q44: "Any travel plans to share?"
A44: "Friends want to go to Thailand early next year, but nothing is confirmed yet"
(You can assume she went to the wonderful southern hemisphere weather from April to July, so at least 4 months ago from this post, because she said Cairns is cold)
Q45: "No.1 country you want to go?"
A45: "Spain, the food looks great (lol), and the streets are beautiful"
Q46: "No.1 location you want to go?"
A46: "London, for the vintage shops and walking on the streets"
Q47: "Before you die where is the one place you want to see?"
A47: "Aurora (Borealis) but it looks hard, but I know it will pay off, and it's not assured you see it when you go there, but I want to see it~"
(FYI Northern Lights only appear at certain times of year due to solar flare reactions on the north and south pole atmospheres)
Q48: "Where you want to go for your honeymoon?"
A14: "No plans for marriage yet so I don't know"
(I know right what is with these questions)
Q50: "Prefecture/State (in Japan) you would like to visit but have never?"
A50: "Surprisingly Fukuoka, as for work or in private I have never visited it before"
Q1: "Your earliest memory of a trip?"
A1: "Road trip with family to Hokkaido"
(FYI Fumika-chan lives in Niigata ie. west part of Japan)
Q2: "Your earliest memory of a trip you went alone?"
A2: "The one in which I went to Taiwan not long ago, went along with friend's work trip"
Q7: "Favourite country visited thus far?"
A7: "Taiwan, for the Xiaolongbao"
(I know what that is btw, but if you don't it's a small bun filled with soup, and is done by using soup paste and freezing it before steaming it so the soup stays inside)
Q8: "Favourite location visited thus far?"
A8: "The streets of Rome, makes the long plane trip worth it"
Q9: "Best food you ate so far in your trips?"
A9: "Okinawa
Q10: "Worst food you ate so far in your trips?"
A10: "Don't remember as I don't eat them, only go for places with good food"
(Wow, what a question, huh)
Q11: "Souvenir(s) you kept from your trips you still have now?"
A11: "Polar bear stuffed toy I bought from a zoo, still by my bedside"
(I want to be that stuffed toy lmao)
Q12: "Favourite gift people gave to you from their travels?"
A12: "Ballpoint pens that were sold overseas, they feel different when writing"
Q13: "Where you do want to go again?"
A13: "Italy, as I did not spend time exploring the last time I went there for photo shoot, would like to take time to look around and eat"
Q14: "Are you the type who plans or lets others plan for trips?"
A14: "I let others plan since I have no idea, but I may suggest once I've seen around"
Q15: "Are you the type who reads travel guidebooks"
A15: "I normally don't since they are searchable online"
Q17: "What do you seek in your trips?"
A17: "Food! I just want to eat good food"
Q18: "Preferred mode of transportation for your trips?"
A18: "By car? But I don't think I've sat on trams"
Q19: "Window seat or aisle seat?"
A19: "Aisle seat as I don't want to inconvenience people when I want to go to the washroom"
(Nice girl Fumika-chan hehe)
Q20: "What do you do on long trips?"
A20: "Everything from listening to music to watching movies to reading books, but now it's pretty much a time to take naps"
Q22: "What is something you must do when you go on trips?"
A22: "Nothing in particular, but sometimes I might be wrong(?)"
Q23: "Things you'll bring for your trips?"
A23: "Sunscreen, supplements, accessories, also I'll be fine with smartphone, wallet and passport"
Q24: "Soft or hard pillows?"
A24: "Around the middle, and if the pillow is not comfortable I sleep without it"
Q25: "Do you shower or take baths in hotels?"
A25: "If there are bathtubs I would like to sit in them as it takes aways the stress"
Q26: "(As of bracketed text) Cold or hot places for travel?"
A26: "It happens too often but I still prefer hot places, even though it's bad when it's too hot, but I like the feels of relaxing in warm weather"
Q27: "The sea or the mountains?"
A27: "The sea! Never been there alone, but I like the ocean views"
Q28: "Comfort food or local delicacies?"
A28: "A mix of both, because eating local delicacies when going abroad is part of the joys of travelling"
Q29: "Japanese or European wine?"
A29: "I used to like Japanese wine but I noticed I don't drink the a lot when I return home, and I've been liking red wine recently"
Q30: "Meat or fish?"
A30: "No matter what you say it's always meat because I love it! I also like fish too, like sushi"
Q31: "Where would you like to go now: hot spring inn or resort hotel?"
A31: "For now it's hot spring inns, because I just want to get into hot spring, eat, get into hot spring, drink alcohol, sleep, get into hot spring... lead that type of life. In any case I want to get into a hot spring."
(lol Fuika-chan but tbh I like that kind of life too hehe I want to experience it too)
Q33: "Favourite season?"
A33: "Fall/Autumn! It's cold in winter, hay fever is tough in spring, and summer is hot, and I have a great time satisfying my appetite during fall season"
Q35: "If you can learn a language right now what would you learn?"
A35: "Normally I would want to learn English, as expected. Foreigners (who can speak English) are cool"
(COUNT ME IN!! I'm technically a foreigner who speaks English haha)
Q39: "Cairns or Melbourne?"
A39: "Melbourne I guess, since there are plenty of cafes, and just eating and looking at art is satisfactory for me"
Q40: "Favourite food so far on this trip?"
A40: "Lunch and wine I had in Melbourne; it makes me happy being able to drink alcohol in the day in the middle of photo shoots"
Q41: "Best photo taken so far?"
A41: (Not going to post it here but) "I was surprised where I was reserved a place at a restaurant and they used my name lol"
(If you need a description it's a "RESERVED FOR" table label with "Baba" written on it, on 6.30pm, for 8 people)
Q43: "What surprised you the most on this trip?"
A14: "Cairns is surprisingly colder than I thought"
Q44: "Any travel plans to share?"
A44: "Friends want to go to Thailand early next year, but nothing is confirmed yet"
(You can assume she went to the wonderful southern hemisphere weather from April to July, so at least 4 months ago from this post, because she said Cairns is cold)
Q45: "No.1 country you want to go?"
A45: "Spain, the food looks great (lol), and the streets are beautiful"
Q46: "No.1 location you want to go?"
A46: "London, for the vintage shops and walking on the streets"
Q47: "Before you die where is the one place you want to see?"
A47: "Aurora (Borealis) but it looks hard, but I know it will pay off, and it's not assured you see it when you go there, but I want to see it~"
(FYI Northern Lights only appear at certain times of year due to solar flare reactions on the north and south pole atmospheres)
Q48: "Where you want to go for your honeymoon?"
A14: "No plans for marriage yet so I don't know"
(I know right what is with these questions)
Q50: "Prefecture/State (in Japan) you would like to visit but have never?"
A50: "Surprisingly Fukuoka, as for work or in private I have never visited it before"
[CLOSE]
|
| Man, this was in 2014? Brings back memories hehe |
|
| Same as above, from Okinawa |
|
|
From Hokkaido (Man, is she not cold out in the snow? I just hope she's well wrapped) |
|
| From Taiwan, and she be killing a lot of women there of her age tbh |
|
|
From Hawaii (I wished I was there, man... *laughs*) |
|
|
And finally, from Hiroshima (I know this one she shot these for her calendar, I have evidence to prove on these two) |
So all in all, I've avoid most of the text (as you can see in some of the images) in this smaller than normal photobook which to be honest only had decent shots for like half the book, so... oh well. Once again, this one is for you, Fumika-chan. I'm still glad you get to sell something while still enjoying the time of your life exploring Australia. And thanks for the shots all these years; I really appreciate it. *fap fap fap* Haha I don't think I have done it to her EVER *silence*
THE INTERVIEW
It's not a long one, but I think I should put this in. So, to talk about the main points which focused mostly about Fumika-chan on travelling instead of being a self-introduction interview:
- She thought the (baby) koala would be hard (lol) but it's real soft and warm, and cute.
- "There are koalas in Japan zoos but I've only seen my friends hug it before and say it's good" Haha nice joke Fumika-chan
- When asked to rank the animals in Australia ie. koala, wallaby and kangaroo, she likes koala and kangaroos because they are cute, but it's her inherent fear of seeing kangaroos jump towards her that gave koalas the 1st place.
- On sitting on a boat from Cannes to Melbourne, she said she couldn't stand the shaking even to the extent the kid beside her was puking, and she felt bad for him/her.
- The photobook was focused around "amazing scenes" so it was bad when the crew met with no sunny weather the only day they had to do the photo shoot by the beach. Fumika-chan says it's inevitable and the temperature isn't exactly warm either at the time of year. (It was August when they did the shoot)
- Cannes may be cold, but arguably Melbourne is colder. They knew about how people could get away with half sleeved outfits in the day but it was colder than expected, and they had to take gravure level shots too? It was Fumika-chan who suggest it too, as she jokes laughingly at herself. (Bear in mind this was mostly planned by her)
- On being asked why go to Melbourne, Fumika-chan heard from a friend that the atmosphere is great and it's only a 3 hour plane ride (which she is bad at, ooo) from Cannes too.
- She thinks the streets of Melbourne are "cute", and there are plenty of unique shops around. Melbourne also has longer operating hours since in Cannes most shops or restaurants will close by around 9pm, which makes of a very laid back experience, and she would like to visit again.
- Coincidentally, this photobook was released 5 years after her first gravure shoot in November 2014. On being asked where she would like to go in another 5 years, Fumika-chan said ask her then. (Haha poor interviewer) She argues that she also won't know what she would like until then, and asks back the interviewer? Okay I don't care already lol
Man, is this my least enthusiastic review ever? *laughs* It might be but my effort is at a record for one blog post, by the way. Well, that, and the Wanted List page which also has this lovely woman in it, just so you know. Well, maybe because my mom didn't return me clean underwear and I (she) had to literally to get new ones late at night so these are cheap and uncomfortable and I still have to work tomorrow? Man, f**k you mom lol just joking. Well, Fumika-chan, I hope you're mom isn't as terrible as mine lol I think we can stop here. I'll pop back from time to time to update this hopefully by the end of the week but no promises again because they be tellin' me to do overtime again so... we shall see. Cya guys this weekend. And seriously, do yourself a favour and research on her. You will not be disappointed, I assure you. Ok good night!
P.S. Have a great Thursday haha