HYPECELEB - Yui Nagase (永瀬ゆい) is a former Japanese Adult Video (JAV) actress. With her petite height of 149 cm, cute appearance, and natural charisma, she built a short but iconic career before retiring at a young age. Born on October 15, 1999, in Tokyo, Japan, she was also known by her former idol name, Rina Iijima (飯島里奈). After retiring from the AV industry at the end of 2021, she started a new life as a hotel manager in Kyoto. Her biography reflects a winding journey: from idol dreams, disappointments, to financial success and the pursuit of peace.
Yui Nagase Profile
- Name: Yui Nagase (永瀬ゆい)
- Other Names: Rina Iijima (飯島里奈)
- Nationality: Japan
- Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
- Date of Birth: October 15, 1999
- Age: 26 Years Old
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Height: 149 cm
- Blood Type: A
- Bust: 77 cm
- Waist: 54 cm
- Hips: 85 cm
- Bra Size: A-65
- Profession: JAV Actress
- JAV Debut: May 2019
- Years Active: May 2019 - September 7, 2021
- Hobbies: Dancing
Early Life and Teenage Years
Yui Nagase was born and raised in Tokyo. From a young age, she was drawn to the entertainment world. Her main hobby was dancing, and she had exceptional flexibility. She was also a big fan of Japanese outlaw-style rap music, such as A$AP Rocky, Japanese hip-hop tracks, and she dreamed of the city of Paris.
At the age of 16 (in 2016), Yui decided to pursue her dream of performing in public. Inspired by AKB48, she joined the underground idol group Bakusute Gaikanda Ichinome (バクステ外神田一丁目, also known as AKIHABARA Backstage pass) as a 4th-generation member under the name Rina Iijima (飯島里奈). At the time, she hoped the idol world would be as glamorous as she imagined. However, reality turned out to be very different.
Short and Disappointing Idol Career
In the group, Yui (as Rina) faced a strict senior-junior hierarchy, intense competition for popularity, and even practices like “pillow business” (intimate relationships for career advancement). Her income was extremely low, only about 100,000 yen per month after deductions for lessons and other expenses. “The world wasn’t as bright as I imagined,” she said in various post-retirement interviews. In less than a year, she decided to leave the idol world, feeling that “performing in public wasn’t right for me”.
This bitter experience became a turning point. Yui learned that fame doesn’t always bring happiness, and she began searching for another path to financial stability.
AV Industry Debut (2019) and the Reasons Behind It
In May 2019, Yui officially debuted as an AV actress under the name Yui Nagase (永瀬ゆい) with the label Moodyz. The debut attracted attention because she was promoted as a “real idol transitioning to AV”.
The main reason she entered the industry was money. Her idol experience had left her worried about finances. “I just wanted to live comfortably,” she said. Initially, she planned to appear in only 4 titles and then retire. However, she was surprised to find that the AV industry was “cleaner than expected”, with managers, clear contracts, and a safe working environment. She decided to continue, aiming to retire after 3 years.
Yui became one of the prominent “petite” actresses. She was active as a solo actress with major studios like kawaii*, Moodyz, and others. She appeared in more than 160 titles, including innovative VR works.
One of her biggest achievements was being the first actress to use the “Tenchou Tokka Angle” (天井特化アングル, ceiling-specialized angle) technique in a VR production in December 2019. This technique later became a major trend in the Japanese adult VR industry.
Yui was known for her professionalism, flexible body, and great chemistry with co-stars. She often played roles as schoolgirls or cute characters. She was personally close to other actresses like Nagase Mizuki and especially Ichika Matsumoto, who remains a close friend to this day.
Retirement from AV (2021)
On September 7, 2021, Yui announced her retirement via Twitter (now X) with a unique reason: “I want to join Nadeshiko Japan (Japan’s women’s national soccer team) after watching the Olympics.” The statement went viral, but she later admitted it was just a “gimmick” or joke to attract attention. In reality, she had no soccer experience, she just enjoyed watching matches.
Her official retirement occurred in December 2021. In an XCITY interview, she said that AV had given her tremendous confidence: “I used to have complexes about my face, voice, and breast size. Now, all of those have become my unique traits.”
Post-Retirement Life: Hotel Manager in Kyoto
After retiring, Yui didn’t completely disappear from the public eye. In September 2022, she and her friend Ichika Matsumoto launched a YouTube channel called “AdAchil”. They ran a crowdfunding project for an MV titled “Adaruto Chirudoren” (produced by Samoari), which became a sweet memory for fans.
Initially, she worked as front desk staff at a hotel. Later, she moved to Kyoto and was promoted to hotel manager. In the latest update from September 2024 (via an AV rumor account), Yui admitted that life in Kyoto is “very boring and lonely”. She doesn’t have close friends there yet, so she hasn’t fully settled in.
Personally, after retiring, she briefly married her boyfriend from her active AV days. However, the marriage didn’t last long and ended in divorce. She still maintains a good relationship with Ichika Matsumoto, though they rarely meet due to the distance. They last met at director Samoari’s birthday party.
Conclusion
Yui Nagase was active in the AV industry for only about 2.5 years, but she left a strong mark as an authentic “idol AV” figure. She proved that someone can transform from disappointment to confidence, and then choose a normal life. From small idol stages to hundreds of AV titles, and now as a hotel manager in Kyoto, her journey is full of inspiration about the courage to take risks and seek true happiness.
For fans, Yui is still remembered as a cheerful, professional, and sincere petite girl. Even though she retired long ago, her name is still frequently searched and admired. Who knows, one day she might return to entertainment, perhaps as a dancer or content creator, but for now, she is enjoying the peaceful life she had always sought.