70 kg bank employee transforms into ‘Japan’s body queen’

Once self-conscious about her weight, Yuri Yasui became a world champion by persistently pursuing a training philosophy that combines "internal organ anti-aging."

According to News Yahoo, at the gold’s gym japan cup 2025 event held on 21/12, Yuri Yasui continued to be the focus of media and fan attention. At the age of 40, Japan’s "Bikini Fitness Queen" made a strong impression not only with her toned physique and captivating aura but also through her insights into maintaining peak physical condition for a decade.

Yuri Yasui in a 2024 interview with Japan Sports Journey. Photo: JSJ

Yasui currently holds the record for 9 consecutive national championships and is the first Japanese to win the fit-model category at the IFBB world championship in 2023. She believes that the beauty of a bikini fitness athlete lies not only in muscle mass but in the overall harmony of skin, charisma, and internal health. The athlete asserts that women’s endurance and beauty largely depend on the "youthfulness" of their internal organs.

The athlete from Aichi province suggests that the waistline most accurately reflects the condition of internal organ health. A bloated stomach or a less toned waist are "distress signals" from the digestive system. To address this, Yasui not only trains but also follows a strict diet to reduce pressure on the intestines. Her unwavering principle is to always combine meat with protease-rich foods such as pineapple, onion, or ginger to help break down protein into amino acids, making them easier for the body to absorb.

During competition seasons, Yasui consumes large amounts of koji enzymes and pineapple each month. She strictly consumes protein only after it has been marinated with shio koji enzymes – a traditional Japanese method that helps protect the gut microbiome. This philosophy of internal health care has helped her achieve ideal body proportions, dispelling stereotypes about the small bone structure of East Asians in the international arena.

Yasui’s journey to glory did not begin with innate talent. At 30, when she was an international bank employee, she weighed 70 kg and lived with constant self-consciousness about her appearance. The motivation for change came from her mother, who successfully lost 20 kg in middle age, inspiring Yasui to step into the gym. Instead of immediately engaging in heavy weightlifting, Yasui chose a scientific approach, starting with massage and stretching to adjust her skeletal frame.

Her persistence yielded results after 10 months when she lost 10 kg, completely alleviated chronic dermatitis, and unexpectedly won the All Japan Bodybuilding Championship. "Bodybuilding is a sport for all ages, where anyone can create the best version of themselves if they know how to listen to their body", she shared.