Instead of showing up in her usual sexy photoshoots or entertainment events, Yua Mikami recently surprised fans by trying out a completely different job.
In a vlog just released by her team, the 32-year-old beauty took on the role of a barista at a coffee shop, personally serving customers throughout the day.
This was a collaboration between Yua Mikami and a local coffee brand, not just a promotional photoshoot.
Wearing the shop’s familiar apron, the former SKE48 idol stood behind the counter, taking orders, making drinks, and personally handing them to customers. What caught many people’s attention was that Yua Mikami communicated almost entirely in Chinese during her shift. From greetings to confirming orders and delivering coffee, she made an effort to use the language instead of Japanese. Although her pronunciation still carried a strong hometown accent, her seriousness and attentive listening earned plenty of praise.
Since she had never worked as a barista before, Yua Mikami was understandably a bit clumsy at first. The video shows her carefully learning how to use the coffee machine and getting familiar with each step before gradually becoming more skilled.
The most shared moment in the vlog was when she tried latte art for the first time. Lacking experience, the design on the coffee was a bit wonky. Seeing the imperfect result, Yua Mikami laughed and shyly covered her face with her hand, creating a cute expression fans said was so her.
The customers’ reactions were another highlight. Some came in just to order drinks as usual, but when they looked up and realized Yua Mikami was behind the counter, they couldn’t hide their surprise. Some paused for a few seconds before laughing, while others kept glancing back as they received their coffee from the idol herself.
After the vlog went live, the video quickly spread across Japanese social media platforms. Most comments praised Yua Mikami’s friendly attitude and willingness to try something new. Many also noted her Chinese had improved a lot and joked that any cafe with an employee like her would definitely attract more customers.
Even though it was just a one-day experience, Yua Mikami’s career switch created a positive buzz. It showed the 32-year-old star’s dynamic side and her readiness to explore new fields instead of sticking only to entertainment activities like before.
