Taniguchi’s close-up, Matsuda’s celebration
Photographed by Masato Yokoyama, Taniguchi’s cover keeps the styling simple: a pale yellow T-shirt, folded arms resting on a railing and a small smile toward the camera. Yellow accents in the B.L.T. masthead echo her shirt.
The portrait belongs to an everyday-life shoot around Kichijoji and neighboring Tokyo areas, taking in pancake-making, rainy walks, vintage shopping and conveyor-belt sushi. Her approximately 10,000-character interview considers how she has changed since leading 13th Single BACKS LIVE!!, alongside the music-video shoot for Ai MUST BE, her first title-track center assignment on Sakurazaka46’s 16th single.
Kojiro Hosoi’s landscape-format back cover gives Matsuda’s feature its celebratory image. White bedding and a white printed sweatshirt make the metallic streamers stand out as she stretches both hands toward the lens. This is the issue’s back cover, rather than a separately announced alternate front-cover edition.
The shoot marks her 27th birthday and forthcoming graduation with cake, party poppers and outdoor games of catch. Her own approximately 10,000-character interview reflects on about eight years of idol activity, captaincy, her graduation decision and singing, including the 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.
Matsumoto and the wider lineup
Fourth-generation member Wako Matsumoto, center of Genkyo, makes her first solo gravure appearance in photographs by Takeshi Shinto. Creative spaces and a secondhand-book district provide the settings; the released window-side portrait catches her reflection in pale blue tiles. Her interview explores personal growth, relationships and preparing for her center role.
Elsewhere, the issue includes previously unpublished photographs from Nogizaka46’s sixth-generation solo series; features on 22/7’s Uta Kawase, Nao Suzui and #YOYOYO’s Mii Sugii; and reporting from Suzuki Hayasaki’s music-video shoot with Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora. SUNNY PARADE appears with producer Rui Takanashi for photographs and an eight-person roundtable.
Regular columns feature Kyoko Nango, Kurumi Inagaki, Nanaka Yano, Hinoha Yoshida, Yulia Matsubara and Narumi Tada.
Our earlier B.L.T. December issue story has fuller details of the shoots, lineup and individual retailer postcard options.
What comes with the magazine?
A double-sided extra-large Airi Taniguchi poster is included. Retailer postcards are separate purchase bonuses: HMV announces three Taniguchi designs plus Matsuda and Matsumoto options, while Seven Net Shopping offers Kawase, Suzui and Sugii designs. Each selected bonus-bearing listing provides one postcard, not the whole selection.
The announced offers are dated October 21 and last while supplies remain; some HMV stores do not participate. Check the chosen retailer’s current terms before ordering.
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: Airi Taniguchi
- Back cover: Rina Matsuda
- Included supplement: Double-sided extra-large Airi Taniguchi poster
December is the issue label, not the on-sale month. Publication information is available from TOKYO NEWS magazine&mook.
Photography: Masato Yokoyama, Kojiro Hosoi, Takeshi Shinto, HIROKAZU and Kenji Tanaka / Tokyo News Service. The gallery includes both finished covers, editorial photographs, two poster-side samples and eight retailer postcard samples. Supplied SAMPLE markings are retained.
Source: Tokyo News Service via PR TIMES
