島崎和歌子の美容法・健康習慣|シートマスク・愛用コスメ・碁石茶・食生活・睡眠

Wakako Shimazaki's Beauty & Wellness | Skincare, Diet & Sleep

OBARASOTARO

Her booming laugh, quick wit and refreshingly down-to-earth personality have made Wakako Shimazaki a familiar face on Japanese television for decades. She is best known as a cheerful variety-show personality and presenter, but a closer look at her beauty and wellness routines reveals a surprisingly meticulous approach to caring for her skin and body. Over the years, she has developed everyday habits that reflect her changing needs, her experiences in entertainment and her personal preferences.

Her routine includes sheet masks, a practice she began in her thirties; a milk cleanser she had been using for approximately 20 years; and an approach to sun protection shaped by lessons she learned early in her career. Her eating and drinking habits are equally interesting. She has spoken about drinking soy milk for around 30 years and incorporating green juice and fermented-food products into her life for approximately 25 years. She also enjoys about two cups a day of Goishicha, a traditional fermented tea from her home prefecture of Kochi.

There is more to her daily life than skincare products and drinks. Shimazaki has described preparing steamed vegetables and slow-cooked dishes to take to work, making time for adequate sleep on her days off and soaking in the bath every day, even when her schedule leaves only a few minutes to spare. Around the age of 39, she published a beauty book titled Bijin ("Beauty"), sharing her experiences with exercise, posture and personal care.

Her approach to beauty has also been shaped by the people around her. She has received skincare advice from beauty entrepreneur Towako Kimijima, maintained a long-standing friendship with actress Alisa Mizuki, and inherited her unmistakable hearty laugh from her family in Kochi Prefecture.

Drawing on interviews, television and radio appearances, and official materials, this article explores Wakako Shimazaki's skincare routines, beauty products, diet, favourite teas, physical activity, sleep, bathing habits, health checkups, family background, views on marriage and approach to life in her fifties.

1. Wakako Shimazaki's Career and Beauty Philosophy: From Teen Idol to Age 53

Wakako Shimazaki was born on 2 March 1973 in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. She made her singing debut on 5 May 1989 at the age of 16 with the single Yowacchaunda. Her debut catchphrase was "Wakako Dokidoki," reflecting the lively image she presented as a young idol.

That same year, she played the lead role in the Japanese fantasy series Magical Girl Chukana Ipanema! (Maho Shojo Chukana Ipanema!), beginning a career that combined singing and acting. She subsequently appeared in films including Suki! and Super Girl REIKO.

In 1991, at just 18, she was selected as a co-host of TBS's All-Star Thanksgiving Festival (All-Star Kanshasai), a major Japanese television special bringing together celebrities for quizzes, games and competitions. She has remained closely associated with the programme for decades and appeared alongside fellow host Koji Imada in its 70th-broadcast special on 10 October 2026.

She has also been a familiar presence on programmes such as Honma Dekka!? TV, while continuing to act. Her credits include the NHK historical drama Ryomaden and the morning television drama Ranman. In 2024, a compilation album titled Wakako Shimazaki Golden Best marked the 35th anniversary of her entertainment career.

Although Shimazaki is now widely recognised as a television presenter and variety personality, her original ambition was to succeed as a singer. When she debuted in the late 1980s, however, many popular Japanese music programmes were coming to an end. Opportunities to perform her songs on the shows she admired were limited.

At the time, she watched performers such as Miyuki Imori, Hiroko Moriguchi, Mami Yamase and Akiko Matsumoto expand beyond their idol images and find success in variety television. Their willingness to try unfamiliar types of entertainment encouraged her to explore new opportunities while making use of the experience she had gained as a singer.

That flexibility opened the door to a long television career. In later interviews, Shimazaki reflected on how unexpected it had been for someone who debuted as a singer to spend so many years working in variety programmes.

How Her Approach to Beauty and Health Changed in Her Thirties

Shimazaki began paying closer attention to her skincare in her thirties, when she noticed dryness and changes in her skin. Seeking advice from a dermatologist prompted her to place greater importance on moisturising.

Around the age of 39, she published a book about her beauty experiences, including diet, exercise and posture. In her forties, she began giving more attention to health checkups, adequate rest and looking after her body as she grew older.

In a September 2026 interview, Shimazaki recalled senior entertainers telling her when she was younger that health was the most important thing. She said the meaning of that advice became much clearer after she turned 40.

Being well enough to accept an unexpected television booking or participate in a lengthy live broadcast is now something she particularly appreciates. Her interest in beauty has developed alongside a broader desire to remain active, enjoy her work and live comfortably in her own way.

Wakako Trivia 1: A Failed Audition Opened the Door to Show Business

Shimazaki's entertainment career began with an audition she attended while still in junior high school. Although she was unsuccessful in the audition itself, an entertainment agency president noticed her and offered her an opportunity. Her father initially opposed the idea of his young daughter moving to Tokyo, but the agency president's enthusiastic persuasion helped make it possible. Shimazaki left Kochi at 15 and made her debut as an idol singer the following year.

2. Sheet Masks and Sun Protection: Skincare Habits She Has Maintained Since Her Thirties

One of Wakako Shimazaki's most distinctive beauty habits is her long-standing use of sheet masks.

In a 2025 interview with the Japanese beauty magazine BiST, she explained that she began experiencing dryness and skin concerns in her thirties. After consulting a dermatologist, she became more conscious of moisturising and started applying sheet masks every evening.

One reason the routine suited her was its practicality. She could wear a sheet mask while doing household chores, allowing skincare to fit naturally into her daily life even when television recordings made her schedule unpredictable.

In a 2015 interview with andGIRL, when she was 42, Shimazaki said she was using sheet masks twice a day, in the morning and evening. Ten years later, she was still talking about her regular evening masking routine. Although the frequency and products have varied over time, moisturising has remained a consistent priority.

She has also spoken about using different sheet masks depending on how they feel and how she discovered them.

In 2025, the products she mentioned included FEMMUE Dream Glow Mask HR, ALBION Skin Conditioner Essential Paper Mask E and FTC Whitening Advanced 3D Mask.

She learned about the FEMMUE mask through an acquaintance and liked its feel on her skin. After removing the mask, she would use the serum remaining in the packet on her décolletage as well. The ALBION mask appealed to her partly because of its fragrance.

Her introduction to the FTC mask came through beauty entrepreneur Towako Kimijima. The two had previously worked together on a variety programme, and Shimazaki had visited Kimijima's home. Kimijima gave her a sheet mask, which subsequently became part of Shimazaki's skincare experience.

Shimazaki has also expressed admiration for Kimijima's continued passion for beauty as she has grown older. Conversations with actresses and other performers on television sets have provided further opportunities to discover skincare ideas.

For an occasional special-care session, Shimazaki has used Skin Care Factory's C Lotion Mask, a product introduced to her at a nail salon she had been visiting for many years. She enjoys having both everyday products and treatments she can take a little more time over.

Wearing Sunscreen Even on Days Spent at Home

Sun protection is another practice Shimazaki has taken seriously for many years.

During a TBS Radio appearance in September 2024, she explained that she applies sunscreen throughout the year. Putting it on after washing her face in the morning has become routine, whether she is going out briefly or spending the entire day at home.

When she does go outside, she also makes use of a parasol, hats and sunglasses.

Her attitude dates back to her teenage years in entertainment. Makeup artists and managers taught young performers the importance of looking after their skin, sometimes rather strictly. Shimazaki recalled participating in an outdoor swimming competition for idols, getting sunburned and being reprimanded by a makeup artist when she arrived for a film shoot the following day.

Outdoor summer recordings and filming under bright lights were part of the glamorous but demanding world of young idols. Those experiences taught her to think carefully about daily skincare.

In the same 2024 radio appearance, she also spoke openly about cosmetic procedures. She said that, at that time, she had not undergone injectable cosmetic treatments and preferred to concentrate on everyday moisturising and sun protection.

She has a similarly accepting attitude towards smile lines. Having spent decades laughing in front of television cameras, Shimazaki regards the changes in her expressions as part of her own story and personality.

Wakako Trivia 2: Her Funny Complaint About Ultra-High-Definition Television

In a 2022 interview, Shimazaki joked about the increasing sharpness of television images, including 4K and 8K broadcasts. She wondered whether viewers really needed to see everything quite so clearly. Coming from someone who has spent decades in front of cameras, conscious of her skin and facial expressions, it was a particularly funny observation.

3. Milk Cleanser, Eye-Area Cream and Body Care: Products She Has Used for Years

Wakako Shimazaki is well known for enjoying a drink, but she has also revealed a remarkably consistent approach to removing her makeup.

In a 2025 interview, she explained that however much fun she has had drinking, she always removes her makeup before going to bed. People sometimes assume she might fall asleep with her makeup on, but cleansing has remained an essential part of her evening routine.

For many years, her preferred product has been a clinic-exclusive milk cleanser. She had previously tried oil-based cleansers, but felt that they left her own skin too dry after washing. She therefore switched to a milk formula that felt more comfortable.

By 2025, she said she had been using that type of cleanser for approximately 20 years. Rather than constantly changing products, she values the familiarity and comfort of something that suits her skin.

She has also maintained a long-standing habit of caring for the eye area. In a 2022 BiST interview, she mentioned using Skin Care Factory's The Skincare Cream SCF for about 15 years. She particularly liked applying it around her eyes before makeup.

Television work frequently involves extended periods wearing makeup, making preparation before filming an important part of her daily schedule. For Shimazaki, moisturising around the eyes became one of those familiar pre-work rituals.

Extending Skincare to Her Neck, Décolletage and Hands

In an interview published by Elle Vue, the official online magazine associated with the Japanese skincare brand Electore, Shimazaki also discussed caring for areas beyond her face.

At the time of that interview, she said she was using the brand's More Moist as part of her nighttime care, extending it from her face down to her neck and décolletage.

She also described applying the product remaining on her hands to the backs of her hands, elbows and knees. Her approach reflected an interest in caring for exposed and frequently overlooked areas as well as her face.

During the same brand interview, she described an in-bath application method in which she left the product on briefly before rinsing it off while bathing. These details describe how she used the product at the time of that particular promotional interview.

In 2022, Shimazaki also mentioned using Moalani Delicate Drop Oil. Her interests had expanded to include intimate body care and broader discussions around femtech as she moved through different stages of life.

For a change of mood during travel or on location, she sometimes enjoys the scent of pure essential oils. She has described putting a small amount on a tissue or handkerchief and taking a moment to appreciate the fragrance.

Her personal beauty collection has therefore included facial creams, sheet masks, cleanser, body-care oil and fragrant oils, each associated with a different use or story. She has discovered many of these items through personal experience and conversations with people she trusts.

Wakako Trivia 3: She Was Fascinated by Tokyo Television at Age 15

When Shimazaki moved to Tokyo from Kochi, she was amazed by the number of television channels available. She spent so much time watching programmes in her dormitory that the people around her became concerned. Everything in Tokyo felt exciting and new, and she later recalled having little time to feel homesick. There is something fitting about a girl who loved television so much eventually becoming the host of one of Japan's longest-running entertainment specials.

4. Goishicha Tea, Soy Milk, Green Juice and Home Cooking: Her Approach to Food

One of the most interesting recent discoveries about Wakako Shimazaki's daily diet is her affection for Goishicha, a traditional fermented tea from her home prefecture of Kochi.

In an interview with Sponichi Annex published on 27 September 2026, she revealed that she drinks approximately two cups of Goishicha every day.

Goishicha is a distinctive fermented tea traditionally produced in Otoyo, Kochi Prefecture. Its production involves fermentation, and the finished tea is known for its characteristic sour flavour.

Discovering a Taste for Goishicha in Her Early Twenties

Shimazaki knew about Goishicha as a child, but its pronounced sourness did not appeal to her at the time.

That changed in her early twenties, when work took her to Otoyo, the area where the tea is produced. A producer encouraged her to try it again, and she was surprised by how much she enjoyed the taste.

The sourness that had seemed unpleasant when she was younger had become part of the tea's appeal.

Goishicha eventually became a regular part of her life. In 2026, she said she usually drinks it warm or at room temperature, having about two cups a day.

In Tokyo, she buys tea bags at a shop specialising in products from Kochi Prefecture. When she returns home to Kochi, she sometimes stocks up on the tea in packaged form.

She also enjoys its tart taste during long hours in television studios. According to Shimazaki, drinking it between work sessions gives her a refreshing change of pace.

She has expressed interest in fermented foods and the lactic-acid bacteria associated with this style of tea, while describing Goishicha primarily as something she enjoys drinking every day.

Although Shimazaki is often associated with her love of alcohol, her long-standing appreciation for tea from Kochi adds another dimension to her food and drink habits. It also connects her present-day lifestyle with memories of her hometown.

Approximately 30 Years of Soy Milk and 25 Years of Green Juice

Goishicha is only one of several drinks that have featured in Shimazaki's routine.

In a 2025 BiST interview, she said she had been drinking unsweetened, unadjusted soy milk for around 30 years and had incorporated green juice and fermented-food products into her life for approximately 25 years.

She discussed choosing organic-style green juice and mentioned products sold by Kinokuniya and Ohsawa, as well as paste and drink products from Manda Koso.

She also said that sweets and sugary soft drinks were not generally part of her everyday habits, suggesting that she has developed clear personal preferences about what she eats and drinks.

Her interest in food products goes back many years. In a 2015 interview with andGIRL, she mentioned taking Ebios, Cobon and concentrated ume plum extract at that time.

She described taking Ebios after meals and diluting Cobon with water before squeezing in lemon juice to drink in the morning. She also spoke about the distinctive sour and bitter taste of concentrated ume extract and how it had taken some getting used to.

In 2011, during a promotional event for a collagen-containing beauty food, she discussed adding a powdered product to tea, coffee, miso soup and other soups. This was a product promotion at the time, but it provides another glimpse of her interest in food-related beauty routines in her late thirties.

In a May 2023 appearance on Tsukai! Akashiya TV, Shimazaki also revealed that she drinks herbal tea. The remark came during a humorous exchange with comedian and presenter Sanma Akashiya about her reputation for enjoying alcohol.

She has also spoken about drinking water alongside alcoholic drinks and eating seaweed with her hair in mind. Together, these comments reveal a broad interest in drinks, traditional foods and everyday eating habits.

Cooking at Home Since Her Thirties: Steamed Vegetables and Slow-Simmered Dishes

Another distinctive aspect of Shimazaki's lifestyle is her enjoyment of home cooking.

In an interview published by Elle Vue, she explained that a busy television schedule could mean eating catered boxed meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even late-night work sessions.

Although convenient, those meals could include a lot of fried food. Around the age of 30, she began making a greater effort to prepare her own food.

She has described cooking steamed vegetables and simmered dishes, sometimes bringing them with her to work. She particularly enjoyed simmering daikon radish slowly in broth and preparing burdock root with umeboshi, or pickled plums, over a long period.

The cooking process itself also appealed to her. Focusing on cutting ingredients, stirring a pot and preparing a dish gave her time to shift her attention away from work.

Her television personality is energetic and outspoken, yet at home she has enjoyed quietly preparing slow-cooked food and packing her own meals. It is an appealing contrast that makes her everyday life more relatable.

She also knows how to make convenient ingredients enjoyable. On television in 2026, she mentioned keeping frozen seafood chijimi, a Korean-style pancake, in her freezer. When she wants an extra dish, she likes frying it in a little sesame oil.

Some days she makes a carefully simmered meal; on others, she adds a personal touch to prepared food. These small decisions reflect an approach to cooking that fits the demands of her schedule.

She also has great affection for the flavours of Kochi. At an event in Osaka in July 2026, she said she likes eating seared bonito with salt. She spoke about Shimanto seaweed, which she enjoys with rice and also recommends using with pasta.

Another nostalgic favourite is chiku-kyu, cucumber stuffed inside a tube of chikuwa fish cake. Shimazaki recalled often finding it in her lunchbox as a child.

She has also spoken fondly about the difference between spring and autumn bonito and seasonal citrus fruits such as konatsu and buntan.

For Shimazaki, food connects practical everyday habits with memories of family, local produce and the changing seasons in Kochi.

Wakako Trivia 4: Cooking Is Also a Way for Her to Unwind

Shimazaki has explained that she enjoys the process of cooking itself. Slowly simmering daikon, chopping vegetables and concentrating on stirring ingredients can give her a change of pace from television work. Her patient approach to homemade dishes offers a rather different picture from the lively personality viewers know on screen.

5. Her Beauty Book Bijin, Exercise and Posture: A Personal Challenge at Age 39

In March 2012, around the age of 39, Wakako Shimazaki published Bijin ("Beauty") through the Japanese publisher Shufu to Seikatsusha.

The book presented a range of her personal experiences with beauty and body care, including food, facial exercises, physical activity and posture.

Its promotional description discussed a three-month period during which Shimazaki recorded a 15-centimetre change in her waist measurement. This was her personal experience from 2012 and serves as a record of a period when she devoted considerable attention to her own beauty routine.

The book extended well beyond body measurements. It covered facial exercises, ways of standing, posture variations and daily habits. Shimazaki was exploring beauty as something that involved how she carried herself as well as how she cared for her face and skin.

Japanese television personality Matsuko Deluxe appeared at the book's publication event. The two had also held a conversation for the book and entertained the audience with humorous exchanges about beauty and marriage.

At the time, Shimazaki said she hoped her experiences would encourage other women around her age to feel positive about trying something new.

She also visited a fasting retreat in the mountains around the age of 39. In a 2022 BiST interview, she recalled the experience with humour. The episode reflects her curiosity about trying different approaches to personal care during that period of her life.

Walking, Acupuncture and Body Maintenance

As she moved through her forties, Shimazaki also spoke about trying to walk regularly as part of everyday life.

In a 2022 interview with CHANTO WEB, she mentioned visiting practitioners for body acupuncture and manual body treatments on her days off. She clarified that the acupuncture she was referring to was for her body rather than her face.

Because her work can involve long hours on set, she also appreciates spending a quiet day at home when her schedule allows.

Her approach has therefore evolved from the concentrated exercise programme she undertook around age 39 to a mix of walking, body-care appointments and adequate rest.

Rather than following one fixed routine throughout her life, Shimazaki has adapted her habits to her age, workload and circumstances.

Wakako Trivia 5: Her Dream of Wearing a Bikini at 60

In a 2022 BiST interview, when she was 49, Shimazaki talked about the idea of wearing a bikini when she reached 60. She was inspired by older women who continued to enjoy life with confidence and energy, and wanted to keep looking forward to new experiences herself. It was a characteristically cheerful way of approaching the years ahead.

6. Sleep, Bathing and Health Checkups: How Her Priorities Changed in Her Forties

Sleep has become an increasingly important part of Wakako Shimazaki's personal routine.

During a May 2023 appearance on Tsukai! Akashiya TV, she explained that she had become more conscious of sleep after turning 40.

She feels that insufficient sleep shows in the condition of her skin, so on her days off she aims for at least about seven hours. When she has the opportunity, she enjoys getting a generous amount of rest.

Earlier in her career, a day without work could make her anxious. She worried about whether she was still needed in the entertainment industry and found it difficult to relax.

By her forties, however, she had come to appreciate the importance of arriving at work feeling rested.

In a 2022 CHANTO WEB interview, she joked that if she appeared on set with dark circles under her eyes, people might assume she had been drinking the night before.

Additional makeup to cover signs of tiredness could also create more work for makeup artists and lighting staff. She came to see rest as part of preparing responsibly for a television recording.

Taking a Bath Every Day, Even for Five Minutes

Bathing is another familiar part of Shimazaki's routine.

In a 2025 interview with BiST, she explained that she tries to soak in the bathtub every day, even when she has only about five minutes to spare.

Her preferences in bath products have changed over time. Earlier in life she enjoyed products with colour and fragrance, while in her forties she developed a preference for simpler bath salts.

One favourite she has mentioned is a bath salt associated with Tano-ya Shiojiro and Hannan in Kochi Prefecture. A former classmate from her hometown introduced it to her.

Even this small part of her evening routine reflects her continuing connection with Kochi and the recommendations of people she has known for many years.

Annual Comprehensive Health Checkups Since Her Forties

Shimazaki has also said that she began attending an annual comprehensive medical checkup, known in Japan as a ningen dock, in her forties.

Television production involves many performers, technicians and other staff members. She considers looking after her own condition part of her responsibility to everyone involved in a programme.

In 2022, she also presented Wakako Shimazaki: How Are You Dealing with Menopause? (Shimazaki Wakako no Doshiteru? Konenki), a programme exploring questions relevant to women in midlife.

Guests included actress Rimi Tezuka and writer Yuzuki Muroi, alongside specialists who discussed topics such as hair concerns and changing approaches to beauty with age.

Through that programme, Shimazaki helped create an approachable setting for conversations about midlife experiences and personal care.

Her own interviews likewise show an evolving attitude towards health: regular sleep, baths, checkups and appropriate rest have become familiar features of her lifestyle.

Wakako Trivia 6: A 4 a.m. Phone Call from Shingo Yanagisawa

In 2025, Shimazaki shared a funny story about her friendship with entertainer Shingo Yanagisawa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he sometimes called because he was concerned about her living alone and wanted to check whether she was eating and sleeping properly. The surprising part was the timing: some calls came around four in the morning, after Yanagisawa had woken early and visited a convenience store. Shimazaki appreciated the thoughtfulness while laughing about the extremely early hour.

7. Family in Kochi, Her Mother's Laughter and Views on Marriage

Wakako Shimazaki's cheerful and unpretentious personality is closely connected to her upbringing in Kochi Prefecture.

In interviews, she has described growing up surrounded by nature, with the freedom to be herself.

Her mother, she says, is a bright, cheerful woman who laughs just as heartily as she does. Other family members also have lively personalities, and Shimazaki grew up in a household where laughter was familiar.

After moving to Tokyo at 15, she noticed how delicately some of the other young idols smiled and initially became more conscious of her own laughing style.

As she found her place in variety television, however, her distinctive full-hearted laugh became one of her strengths.

In a 2022 interview with CHANTO WEB, she described another change in the way she thought about smiling after turning 40.

As a senior performer, she sometimes wondered whether younger colleagues found her intimidating. A narrowed gaze or a serious-looking expression could give an impression different from what she intended.

She therefore began making a more deliberate effort to smile.

Shimazaki felt that smiling made it easier for people to approach her and helped conversations develop more naturally. The laughter she inherited from her mother had become not only a signature part of her screen personality but also a way of connecting with other people.

Enjoying Single Life While Staying Open to the Future

In a 2025 interview with BiST, Shimazaki said that she enjoyed living on her own.

At the same time, she spoke openly about the possibility of marriage later in life. She referred to Japanese writer and television personality Sawako Agawa, who married at 63, as an example of how new relationships can begin at different stages of adulthood.

In 2023, Shimazaki appeared at an event with enka singer Hiroshi Miyama, who is also from Kochi Prefecture, and had an opportunity to wear formal wedding attire. She joked about the occasion as something like a rehearsal, while referring to her unmarried status at the time.

Her comments suggest a relaxed approach to the future: enjoying her current lifestyle while remaining open to new encounters and unexpected developments.

Growing Up with the Culture of Hospitality Towards Pilgrims

Shimazaki has also spoken about her childhood memories of Buddhist pilgrims travelling through Shikoku.

On her way to school, she would sometimes see pilgrims dressed in traditional white clothing. Some would stop at local homes to ask for water or permission to use a telephone.

Offering help to someone passing through was part of the community culture she grew up with.

Shimazaki has wondered whether that environment helped shape her own tendency to look after younger colleagues in the entertainment industry.

She has served as a Kochi Prefecture Tourism Ambassador since 2005 and has also taken on a promotional role for the 2026 Yosakoi Kochi Cultural Festival.

Although her career has kept her in Tokyo for many years, her affection for Kochi's people, food, traditions and local communities remains an important part of her life.

Wakako Trivia 7: Twelve Years of Supporting Kochi Through Hometown Donations

Shimazaki has made a tradition of contributing to Kochi Prefecture through Japan's hometown tax-donation programme when she returns during the Yosakoi festival season. In 2026, she made her twelfth such contribution and received a certificate of appreciation from the prefectural governor. She expressed a wish for her donation to support earthquake-preparedness initiatives, showing her commitment to her hometown beyond her public promotional activities.

8. Her Friendship with Alisa Mizuki and Her Outlook on Life in Her Fifties

Wakako Shimazaki has built many lasting relationships during her years in entertainment.

One particularly important friendship is with actress Alisa Mizuki.

The two met while working on the 1991 film Super Girl REIKO and have remained close ever since.

During a January 2024 appearance on the television programme Gyoretsu no Dekiru Sodanjo, they visited an inn together, enjoying food and drinks while talking about their early careers and beauty routines.

Mizuki recalled how excited she had been when she first met Shimazaki because she had watched her starring in Magical Girl Chukana Ipanema! on television.

Shimazaki, meanwhile, remembered being impressed by Mizuki's striking proportions and the excitement of meeting someone she recognised from television and magazines.

More than three decades later, they continue to enjoy meals and travel together as close friends.

Travelling Together and Sharing Beauty Stories

During television appearances in 2024, Shimazaki shared amusing details about Mizuki's enthusiasm for travel.

The two have travelled together, and Shimazaki described Mizuki as someone who likes to organise detailed plans.

Mizuki also enjoys visiting secluded hot springs and remote destinations, sometimes going to places with little or no mobile phone reception. Shimazaki joked about suddenly being unable to contact her and wished Mizuki would let her know before disappearing off on another adventure.

They also talk naturally about skincare and fitness. Mizuki has discussed her own beauty routine and gym visits, while Shimazaki once amused viewers with a story about Mizuki heading to the gym despite having had drinks the night before.

Those stories reflect the familiarity that comes with decades of friendship. Both women have developed their own approaches to beauty and wellness, and they are comfortable teasing each other about their habits.

A Greater Sense of Responsibility at Work

In a 2025 interview, Shimazaki explained that she began approaching each job with greater care after turning 40.

Early in her career, mistakes were part of learning. With experience came more opportunities to work with younger performers and production staff, along with a deeper appreciation for professional relationships.

An episode from the early years of All-Star Kanshasai illustrates that attitude.

Shimazaki later learned from a programme producer that she had made a favourable impression by naturally helping to tidy the set even when the cameras were off.

It had been an ordinary gesture to her, but someone had noticed.

In September 2026, she reflected on the importance of valuing professional opportunities as they arise and remaining open to work she might never have imagined for herself.

Her path from teenage singer to actress, variety entertainer and long-running presenter demonstrates how her career has evolved through those opportunities.

Her Flip Phone and Her Approach to Social Media

Another interesting detail about Shimazaki's lifestyle is how she uses technology.

In a 2025 interview, she said she was still using a Japanese-style flip phone and was not actively running accounts on platforms such as Instagram or YouTube.

She had previously discussed social media with staff but ultimately decided to continue focusing on television work and the lifestyle that suited her.

Although curious about new ideas, she prefers to choose which ones fit naturally into her everyday life.

In September 2026, Shimazaki also spoke about appreciating the fact that she remains healthy enough to work. Over a long career, she has experienced changing opportunities, new friendships and the passing of people around her.

She continues to place importance on the people she works with and on doing her best in the opportunities available to her.

She has also described how laughter at work can make her feel genuinely happier herself. That uncomplicated pleasure in sharing a good moment with other people is one of the qualities that has sustained her television career.

Wakako Trivia 8: Saving a Wedding Dress for a Special Day

On Gyoretsu no Dekiru Sodanjo in 2024, Shimazaki explained to Alisa Mizuki why she was reluctant to wear a wedding dress simply for a job. She liked the idea of keeping that experience for a special wedding day. Mizuki was surprised by the sentiment, revealing a rather romantic side to the entertainer known for her hearty laugh and outspoken humour.

Conclusion: Wakako Shimazaki's Approach to Beauty, Wellness and Ageing Naturally

Looking at Wakako Shimazaki's beauty and wellness routines over the years reveals an approach built around habits that suit her life and change as her circumstances change.

Sheet masks became part of her routine in her thirties, while a familiar milk cleanser and moisturising cream for the eye area have remained important to her personal skincare. Her approach to sun protection reflects lessons learned during her earliest years in the entertainment industry.

Her food and drink habits are just as varied. She has spoken about drinking soy milk, green juice and fermented-food products over many years, as well as enjoying approximately two cups of Goishicha each day. She finds pleasure in slow-cooked vegetables and homemade meals, while also making convenient food enjoyable with a few personal touches.

At around 39, she published Bijin and explored exercise and posture. In her forties, sleep, bathing, rest and regular medical checkups became increasingly important to her. Now in her fifties, she speaks with appreciation about being able to remain active and continue working.

Her life has also been enriched by relationships: the skincare advice she received from Towako Kimijima, her enduring friendship with Alisa Mizuki, the hearty laugh she inherited from her mother and the affection she feels for her home prefecture of Kochi.

Shimazaki embraces the expressions that come with age while enjoying work, food, friendship and the everyday routines she has developed over time.

Behind the warm and energetic personality familiar to television audiences is someone who has spent years building a thoughtful, practical approach to living well and enjoying life on her own terms.

References

  1. BiST ONLINE — Wakako Shimazaki on sheet masks, skincare, food, bathing and health habits (2025, Japanese).
  2. Sponichi Annex via Livedoor News — Wakako Shimazaki discusses Goishicha tea, health and her career (27 September 2026, Japanese).
  3. Elle Vue Official Web Magazine — Wakako Shimazaki on beauty, home cooking and her professional life (Japanese).
  4. andGIRL — Wakako Shimazaki's beauty habits and three favourite wellness products (2015, Japanese).
  5. CHANTO WEB — Wakako Shimazaki on ageing alongside television audiences and her outlook on life (2022, Japanese).
  6. BiST ONLINE — Wakako Shimazaki on beauty products, movement, rest and everyday living (2022, Japanese).
  7. TBS Radio / radiko news — Wakako Shimazaki discusses sun protection and smiling (2024, Japanese).

Note: This article is based on publicly available information, interviews and statements made by Wakako Shimazaki. Some routines and products reflect what she described at the time of the original interviews.

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