STU48 member Kai Kokoa is bringing fans her long-awaited second photo collection next month. The book, titled "Okaeritaiyou" (Welcome Back, Sun), drops July 1st and was shot across Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand—making it her first photo collection in roughly two and a half years.

The title carries special meaning for Kai. After transferring to KLP48 in Malaysia last June, she returned to STU48 in March of this year. The album's name feels like a personal welcome home, and Kai's comments reflect that sentiment. "I want to say 'I'm back' hundreds of times," she shared. "And I want to become everyone's sun."

The cover shot was taken in front of a Bangkok train station on the sunniest day of the four-day shoot—perfectly fitting the album's sunny theme. Kai noted it captures her personality well. She also reflected on how much she's grown since her first photo collection, comparing the two before the new release. "I was surprised by how different they are," she explained. "I've matured over these two years, and shooting overseas brought out more natural reactions and a wider range of expressions."

Interestingly, the same production team handled both photo books, which Kai credits with making the visual evolution even more noticeable. "Because they knew about my first shoot, they were able to create even more variety this time around," she said.

The timing of this release comes as Kai continues riding momentum in STU48. She'll take on her first-ever center position for the group's 14th single, dropping September 16th. Between the photo collection and her new role, it's clear the group is giving Kai a significant spotlight during her comeback chapter.

For fans curious about the collection's contents, Kai promises something special: "You'll probably spend a lot of time looking through it because you'll want to study every page."