Taniguchi around Kichijoji
Photographer Masato Yokoyama followed Taniguchi through Kichijoji and its surrounding Tokyo neighborhoods. The feature moves from buying ingredients and making pancakes to rainy walks, cafe cake, vintage-clothing shopping, crane games and sushi.
The released photographs keep those small activities close. One frames her beneath a transparent umbrella in red-and-gray argyle knitwear; another finds her holding a fork over a pancake, wearing a yellow T-shirt with its own pancake illustration. Twin ponytails and a bright green backdrop bring a more playful change of scene.
The feature accompanies her first title-track center assignment on Sakurazaka46’s 16th single, Ai MUST BE. Her extended interview looks back on changes since leading 13th Single BACKS LIVE!!, discusses the new music video and explores how her idea of idol work is developing. The publisher describes the interview as approximately 10,000 Japanese characters.
Matsuda’s celebration, Matsumoto’s first solo feature
Rina Matsuda’s shoot, photographed by Kojiro Hosoi, takes “Happy” as its theme. Playing catch outdoors and relaxed indoor scenes lead into a cake-and-party-popper celebration of her 27th birthday and forthcoming graduation.
The supplied photographs range from a quiet portrait on white bedding to a broad smile amid colorful streamers. Her approximately 10,000-character interview reflects on about eight years as an idol, her graduation decision, captaincy, younger members and singing, including her solo song Ano Hi no Watashi de.
Matsuda’s graduation ceremony is announced for November 15, 2026, the second day of Sakurazaka46’s 6th YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE at ZOZO Marine Stadium.
Wako Matsumoto, center of the fourth-generation song Genkyo, receives her first solo gravure feature. Takeshi Shinto photographed her in creative spaces and a secondhand-book district, with the released images pairing outdoor greenery with a window-lit portrait reflected in a tiled wall. Her interview considers personal growth, finding it difficult to rely on others and preparing for her center role.
Elsewhere in the issue
- Nogizaka46’s sixth-generation members: Previously unpublished photographs selected from earlier solo shoots for Gravure Kojo Iinkai: gravure à la mode. This is an archive feature, rather than eleven newly commissioned shoots.
- Uta Kawase of 22/7: Her first B.L.T. appearance combines a casual street-walking shoot with an interview about the group’s new lineup and her changing outlook.
- Actress Nao Suzui: Her first appearance in the magazine’s swimsuit gravure follows the start of her gravure work in 2026.
- Mii Sugii of #YOYOYO: A swimsuit feature photographed by HIROKAZU, contrasting playful expressions and relaxed indoor scenes.
- Suzuki Hayasaki of Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora: Reporting from the music-video shoot for Boku wa Mikata da, the group’s November 18 ninth single and her first title-track center assignment.
- SUNNY PARADE: The seven-member group makes its first appearance with photographs, member introductions and an eight-person roundtable including producer Rui Takanashi, formerly of #BababaBambi.
Regular columns feature Kyoko Nango in Tonari no Nango-chan, Kurumi Inagaki in Kuruminoru, Nanaka Yano in Yano Nanoka, Rosy Chronicle’s Hinoha Yoshida and Yulia Matsubara in Harolabo!!, and Narumi Tada in ANA-LOG.
Which postcard comes with which purchase?
The included Taniguchi poster is distinct from the retailer offers. Each bonus-bearing listing below offers one postcard, not the entire selection.
HMV&BOOKS online and participating HMV stores have five options:
Seven Net Shopping has three options:
- Uta Kawase: resting her chin on folded hands over a blue chair.
- Nao Suzui: a seated portrait beside a window.
- Mii Sugii: smiling with both arms raised.
These are the offers announced on October 20. Bonus-bearing supplies are limited, reservation opening times may differ and some HMV stores do not participate. Choose the listing for the desired design and check the retailer’s current terms.
Issue details
- Title: B.L.T. December 2026
- On-sale date: October 28, 2026; some regions may differ
- Publisher: Tokyo News Service
- Announced special cover price: ¥1,430
- Front cover and opening feature: Airi Taniguchi
- Back cover: Rina Matsuda
- Included supplement: Double-sided extra-large Airi Taniguchi poster
The December issue label is separate from the October on-sale date. Publication information is available through TOKYO NEWS magazine&mook.
Photography: Masato Yokoyama, Kojiro Hosoi, Takeshi Shinto and HIROKAZU, with additional photographs supplied by Tokyo News Service. The gallery contains editorial photographs, two poster-side samples and eight retailer postcard samples, rather than finished magazine cover artwork. Supplied SAMPLE markings are retained.
Source: Tokyo News Service via PR TIMES
