Up Close & Personal: Hiromi Oshima

Tokyo-born Hiromi Oshima might well be one of the best Japanese products available stateside. She easily surpasses the PSP, any Honda and all four of Gwen's dancing Harajuku girls (as individuals but not as a group). Hiromi is hot like a mouthful of wasabi at a July picnic in Death Valley,Calif. That's hot.

If Uncle Hef says you're hot then by golly you may well be. But if 2NR says it's so, grab that extinguisher and be ready to put out some flames. Playboy's Ms. June is now heating up your September 2NR. Rip it out and pin it up, boys.

2NR: Hi, Hiromi. Are you done for the day?
Hiromi Oshima: Yeah. I just did a Playmate test.

2NR: Aren't you already a Playmate?
HO: Yes, but I also work for Playboy. For the past year and a half I've been doing production work. About twice a week I'm busy setting up photo shoots for testing. I'll be doing the 2006 Playmate calendar on Monday.

2NR: So you go both ways.
HO: What do you mean?
2NR: You can either be in front of the camera or behind it. Which do you prefer, the front or the back?
HO: Most of the time I'm behind. But there are different issues in both cases. When I'm in front I'm physically tired-like standing for a long time on my tippy-toes. But I get mentally tired behind the camera. I run around taking care of everything behind the scenes, like making sure lunch is there, preparing the location, making the sure the model is doing a great job. It's more rewarding for me.

2NR: What do you do to relax or to have fun?
HO: I go shopping or I watch the Food Network when I'm home. I love cooking. I even tried to go to a wine and food show in Miami, Fla. I went really early in the morning but I turned back and went home after I found out the event was sold out.

2NR: Do you have a favorite Iron Chef?
HO: I don't watch that show too often. Sometimes they cook things that are kind of gross.

2NR: What food makes you happy?
HO: Usually I'm on a diet. Not a lot of carbs, but I have one candy a week. I'll eat chocolate or cheesecake apple crepes. I think I have a high metabolism, but Food Network doesn't help.

2NR: What turns you on about a guy?
HO: The typical stuff: sense of humor, ambition, honesty.
2NR: Every girl wants an honest man. How can you tell if a guy is honest?
HO: Good question. I think it's his eyes, his vibe. You can tell when a guy sounds fake. When he starts talking about how great he is-like where he lives, what he drives, what he does after a few dates-you will know what kind of person he is.

2NR: How about physically?
HO: What do you call people who aren't muscular? Toned?
2NR: Yes. Toned. Who would you choose: a guy with a swimmer's body or a guy with a body builder's body?
HO: The swimmer. I don't like beefcakes.

2NR: How do you like being romanced?
HO: A dinner at a nice, outside restaurant with a great atmosphere would be nice.
2NR: Me taking you to McDonalds would be nice?
HO: Maybe not McDonalds. A nice grill place is better.

2NR: What would be a turn-off?
HO: Liars, bad teeth, bad breath. A lot of the guys I know smell good, and that's a turn-on. But if they had bad breath it would be a real turn-off.

2NR: Do you like any sports?
HO: Baseball-but not in this country. In Japan I grew up with baseball so I know a lot of the players over there. I am a fan of Matsui, who plays for the Yankees. I watched his games so much in Japan and now he's in this country. I'm happy for him.
2NR: I guess a guy can take you to a baseball game.
HO: Actually I take guys to baseball games. Boys in this country aren't interested in baseball. Everyone here in Miami is talking about the Heat.

2NR: What wouldn't you mind doing for the rest of your life?
HO: Cooking? I guess you have to do that to live.

2NR: How do you like being a Playmate?
HO: The first time I posed for Playboy was a year and a half ago, and I became a Playmate in June 2004. I love it. They treat everyone like family. They really take care of you.

2NR: Do you have to visit the mansion?
HO: I don't have to, but if I want to, I can. All I have to do is tell them I'm coming, and they'll accommodate me.
2NR: Do you get noticed now?
HO: Yeah, sometimes. All I can say is thank you for talking to me! I like that people know who I am and are brave enough to come up to me. I don't get that too much so I appreciate it.
2NR: Where can a person find you?
HO: You can check my Web site for updates. But when I'm in Los Angeles I'm usually hanging out with my friends in Hermosa Beach. If I were to live [in California], I'd live there.

2NR: So if you could chose to live anywhere ...
HO: It would be Los Angeles or Tokyo. It has to be a big city. I like New York but it gets too cold in the winter. I love snow but not that much.

2NR: Before you were a model what did you do?
HO: I worked at American restaurants, like steakhouses or diners, in Japan to help me learn English. I was forced to study the language because the foreigners couldn't speak Japanese. I could have gone to school, but I preferred to make money while learning the language.

2NR: What would you have been if you had never modeled?
HO: I would have been working for an advertising company making commercials. I actually wanted to do these things really bad. After I posed for Playboy I asked the photographer to give me a chance to be his producer. They noticed that I did well and so they still continue to hire me.

2NR: What model do you remember the most?
HO: The first Playmate who comes to mind is Penelope Jimenez. You have to understand that I'm from a very conservative country. I thought she had such a beautiful body, and I wondered why she had to take her clothes off. Now I understand she didn't take her clothes of to do porn. She shot tasteful pictures that really showed off her gorgeous body. Being nude is an art.

2NR: What is the best part of your body; the part that needs the most improvement, and your home phone number?
HO: My waist. My thighs.
2NR: And ...
HO: And, I'm trying to get muscular. I want tone up. I still want to have curves.

2NR: Do you get to travel a lot?
HO: Yeah. I got used to it. I hate unpacking the most. I have luggage from a shoot two weeks ago that's still sitting there.

2NR: You could just say you are prepared for the next trip. Speaking of unpacking ... how did you feel taking off your clothes for the first time?
HO: I was so nervous. I had never done anything like that before. I didn't know how to pose either. I pretended to know what I was doing but I blanked out.
2NR: Wow. Every man's dream: a beautiful, naked woman that you get to pose any way you want!
HO: Yeah. All I really wanted to do that day was act cool. I didn't want the photographer to end up hating me. I am lucky I have a background in jazz dance. I'm really flexible and limber. I can do any pose they ask me to do.
2NR: Yet another shining point.
HO: In the end the pictures came out really good.