Runway de Waratte, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine, is a work themed around the fashion industry, which is unusual for a boys' manga. However, it also depicts themes of friendship and hard work, which are typical of boys' manga, and above all, its content is captivating enough to draw even people who aren't interested in fashion, which has caused a great stir. Runway de Waratte will also begin airing as an anime in January 2020, and this time we will introduce the heroine, Fujito Chiyuki. We will summarize what kind of person she is and how her relationship with Tomura Ikuto will develop.
Fujito Chiyuki's Profile
Fujito Chiyuki, the heroine of "Smile on the Runway," is 158cm tall and weighs 40kg, but she aspires to be a model. Although she feels insecure about her small stature for a model, she continues to work tirelessly toward her goal of walking the runway at Paris Fashion Week. While she appears arrogant and fearless in her speech, it's clear she strongly refuses to be looked down upon for her height.
Her Father is the President of Mille Neige
Chiyuki Fujito's father is the president of Mille Neige, a company that operates a modeling and apparel business. Although she is the daughter of a company president, at school she seems to be more proud of her modeling career than of her father's. However, behind the scenes, she repeatedly fails Mille Neige auditions, but she persists, determined to become a Mille Neige model.
The Paris Fashion Week she saw as a child was the catalyst for her desire to become a model
Chiyuki Fujito's obsession with modeling began when she saw Shizuku walking down the runway at Paris Fashion Week as a child. Shizuku, known as Mille Neige's first Paris Fashion Week model, was an idol to Chiyuki Fujito and a mentor who taught her the basics of modeling. Since then, she has continued to work hard to become a model, even at home practicing walking in high heels with a straight stride, even after she stopped growing taller.
A Very Competitive and Unyielding Personality
Chiyuki Fujito's height of 158cm is a huge advantage, and even more so in fashion shows where only tall people gather, she possesses a stronger competitive spirit than anyone else. She puts her all into her work, even against top Japanese model Seira, refusing to back down and facing her head-on. Her competitive spirit and unyielding determination to pursue her dream of walking in Paris Fashion Week are portrayed as her greatest strengths and traits.
What was Chiyuki Fujito like in high school?
The opening chapter of "Laughing on the Runway" depicts Fujito's meeting with Ikuto Tomura. It's clear that meeting him paved the way for her to become a model, and that Ikuto is an important presence in her life. However, Fujito Chiyuki and Ikuto were not always close. This article will summarize how Fujito Chiyuki was portrayed in high school, including her encounter with Ikuto Tomura.
A Popular and Standout in Her Class
Fujito Chiyuki was confident in herself as a model and stood out in her class. She is depicted spending time with her close friends, and could be described as a person at the top of the school hierarchy. Her connection with the unassuming Tomura Ikuto comes through a career survey. Because she was tasked with collecting the survey forms, it was there that she first spoke to him. She realized that their situations were similar, and their relationship deepened.
Continuing to Audition for Mille Neige
Fujito Chiyuki, who was persistently auditioning for Mille Neige, met Tomura Ikuto, who was languishing in the clothing club, and asked him to create "the clothes that would make her the most attractive." Giving her some Mille Neige clothes and leaving it up to Tomura's imagination, Shizuku, who had stubbornly refused to pass, was motivated. Seeing Fujito Chiyuki walking in Paris Fashion Week wearing Tomura Ikuto's clothes, Shizuku took a 1% chance and told him she had passed.
Slowly Becoming a Successful Model
Fujito Chiyuki, who became a model for Mille Neige, slowly began to gain experience in modeling. First, she was rushed to help out at the show for Yanagida Hajime's brand, "HAZIME YANAGIDA," but encountered a problem there. Her heel broke just before the turn of the runway, causing her to fall. However, thanks to a clever move by Ikuto Tomura, who was in charge of fittings, the result was a huge hit, and she managed to complete the big job.
Teaming Up with Kokoro Hasegawa at the Geika Festival
Initially planning to team up with Ikuto Tomura at the Geika Festival, she ended up working with Kokoro Hasegawa, an aspiring designer. While Kokoro Hasegawa exudes talent as a model, she was frustrated by her lack of confidence, and ultimately finished the show as a good partner. Chiyuki Fujito was burdened with having to wear many costumes by herself during the Geika Festival, but she overcame the pressure with determination and courage, inspired by Ikuto Tomura's performance.
Chiyuki Fujito's Post-Graduation Success
After graduating from high school, Chiyuki Fujito was finally able to take on full-time modeling work. Her performance at the Geika Festival was a major catalyst for this. While she initially participated to silence Igarashi and the audience, who mocked her, it could be said to have been a turning point in her life. The film depicts Chiyuki Fujito's rise to fame not only as a model, but also as a celebrity. Let's take a look at how she's spending her time and what she's up to.
Working as an Exclusive Magazine Model
At the Geika Festival, Chiyuki Fujito modeled clothes designed by Kokoro Hasegawa. This led to an offer to become an exclusive model for the newly launched magazine "Juvenile." Because it's a teen magazine, it may be a little removed from the world of Paris Fashion Week that Chiyuki Fujito is aiming for, but it's enough to serve as a steady stepping stone to her growth. She's attracting attention enough to be called out to on the street, indicating her gradual rise to fame.
Also Active as a Celebrity
As an exclusive model, Chiyuki Fujito has been receiving offers for TV shows and movies. This has led to increased media exposure, and she has now grown to the point where she's widely recognized as a promising young talent. However, Chiyuki Fujito's goal remains: to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week. She's still only halfway through her dream, and her modeling career still has a long way to go, so she seems to be working hard every day.
Arranging for Ikuto Tomura to Live Alone
Though Chiyuki Fujito has become a real celebrity, her encounters with Ikuto Tomura have decreased since graduating from high school. When they finally meet again after a long time, she learns that he's considering living alone, and offers him the room that Mille Neige used as company housing at a discount. Her father, Kenji, is also involved, but now that they live in the same apartment building, he is often seen hanging out at Ikuto's room.
Appearance at Tokyo Girls Collection Confirmed
Around the time Ikuto Tomura shows off his impressive performance in "Aphrodite," Chiyuki Fujito is confirmed to appear at Tokyo Girls Collection. The organizers offer him the role, and Tomura is overjoyed that his talent has been recognized. Chiyuki Fujito then tells him of her big goal: to appear at Paris Fashion Week together. It's also worth noting that they are working together to climb the ranks, as seen inquiring with relevant parties about whether they can invite Ikuto Tomura to Tokyo Girls Collection.
Fujito Chiyuki's Evaluation as a Model
Since childhood, Fujito Chiyuki has dreamed of walking the runway at Paris Fashion Week as a Mille Neige model. However, her height of 158cm, a fatal shortness for a model, has hindered her progress, making her future difficult. However, her modeling skills are abundant, and audiences at her shows are captivated. Let's take a look at how Chiyuki Fujito has been evaluated as a model.
A model who's 158cm tall is a rare find
Chiyuki Fujito is considered short for a female model, standing at 158cm, and is often met with cold stares from those around her. In fact, Shin Hasegawa is 181cm tall, and the height difference between them was even highlighted at the Geika Festival. However, to compensate for the height difference, she wears high heels to make herself look comparable to other models. High heels are difficult to balance on, so even if you've mastered the model walk, it can be quite a strain.
Shizuku Watches Her Walk on the Paris Runway
Chiyuki Fujito was able to work as a model despite her height because her manager, Shizuku, saw her potential. Having actually walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week, seeing her wearing her "most attractive outfit" conjures up images of her walking through Paris. It's said to be a rare sight even among models, and Shizuku recognizes Chiyuki Fujito's hidden potential, so she re-employs her as a Mille Neige model.
A presence so strong that it overshadows top model Seira
Chiyuki Fujito returned to the modeling world after graduating from high school, where she demonstrated remarkable success. Starting out as an exclusive magazine model, she eventually began appearing on TV shows and other media, eventually landing the opportunity to work alongside top model Seira. Seira is a top-notch model with an incredible presence, but Chiyuki Fujito surpasses her. Her overwhelming presence meant that she was relegated to the corner of the stage during recording, but this also meant that everyone was aware of Chiyuki Fujito's talent.
Relationship with Ikuto Tomura
"Smile on the Runway" depicts Chiyuki Fujito and Ikuto Tomura competing with each other. Though they are different professions—model and designer—they share the same world of fashion, and so they set a lofty goal of one day appearing together at the Paris Collection. This article explores what Ikuto Tomura means to Chiyuki Fujito and how she feels about him.
From Just a Classmate to a Benefactor
For Chiyuki Fujito in high school, Ikuto Tomura was a classmate she had no connection with. However, when he made her "the most attractive outfit," she passed the Mille Neige audition, which she had been failing until then. He gave her the opportunity to re-enter the world of modeling, so to Chiyuki Fujito, he is more than just a benefactor.
She Approached Him Since High School, But...
After coming into contact with Ikuto Tomura through a series of unexpected events, Chiyuki Fujito supported his dream of becoming a designer. With the help of her father, Kenji, she helped him learn how to work at Yanagida Hajime's atelier and even arranged for him to live on his own after graduating from high school. She had had feelings for him since high school, but Ikuto Tomura, who was so focused on becoming a designer, ignored her. Therefore, she would often try to get him to notice her, but his reactions each time were so endearing that it made us want to watch his future.
Frequently Visiting Ikuto Tomura's Room
Fujito rents a room in the Mille Neige company housing to Ikuto at a low price, while Chiyuki Fujito lives on the top floor of the same apartment building, so the two live in close proximity. Although both are working adults, Chiyuki Fujito frequently visits his room and keeps him updated on her latest developments. Despite her usual assertiveness, Ikuto Tomura remains unaware of her feelings.
The Motivation That Drives Her to Work Hard as a Model
For Chiyuki Fujito, Ikuto Tomura is the driving force behind her modeling career. Not only does wearing his "most attractive clothes" conjure up memories of him walking the runway at Paris Fashion Week, but he even flashed a gentle smile during promotional photos. And because Ikuto Tomura is working hard to become a designer, Chiyuki Fujito feels compelled to not let herself be outdone. Her strong desire to grow as a model, so that she can one day read Tomura Ikuto's book and appear in a fashion show together, is evident.
Summary
In "Laughing on the Runway," Fujito Chiyuki doesn't have many scenes in which she's modeling. However, in all of them, she exudes a tremendous presence, and you'll find her cool and completely different from her private life. Her relationship with Tomura Ikuto, and her love for him, are truly girlish, and her determination as a model is enough to make you root for her. They appeared on such a big stage as Tokyo Girls Collection, and it just makes my heart warm to think that one day they might appear together at Paris Collection.
