Manatsu Akimoto

Manatsu Akimoto
秋元 真夏
Akimoto in 2020
Born (1993-08-20) August 20, 1993 (age 31)
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesManattan (まなったん)[1]
Occupations
HometownSaitama, Saitama Prefecture
Years active2011– present
AgentJapan Music Entertainment
Known forCaptain of Nogizaka46 (2019–2023)
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
Years active2011–2023
LabelsSony Records/N46Div
Formerly ofNogizaka46
Signature

Manatsu Akimoto (秋元 真夏, Akimoto Manatsu, born August 20, 1993, in Tokyo) is a Japanese television host, actress, and tarento. She is a former first generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46.

Biography

Akimoto was born in Tokyo on August 20, 1993.[2] Her family moved to Urawa (now part of Saitama City), Saitama Prefecture, when she was 7 months old, and she was subsequently raised there.[3] When her parents were deciding on her name, her mother suggested naming her "Miruku" or "Hikari," but after much thought, her father decided to name her "Manatsu" as she was born in the summer.[4] She has a younger brother three years her junior.[5]

Career

She was the vice-president of the student council in middle school and was active in the home economics and cooking clubs. In high school, she was the student council president.[6] In her third year of high school, she was informed about the Nogizaka46 first generation member auditions and recruitment. However, Akimoto's career goals at the time were closer towards being a television presenter or actress and she was not actively interested in becoming an idol.[6] She ended up signing up for the auditions on the final deadline date when she stumbled upon the news on her phone.[7]

Akimoto passed the auditions on August 21, 2011, becoming one of the first generation members and a temporary main selection member.[8][9] However, due to her studies and obligations, she was not active with the rest of the members until she graduated from high school in April 2012.[10][11] Akimoto enrolled in university, but against her parents' wishes she returned to Nogizaka46, training to prepare for her debut.[12] She was present at almost all Nogizakatte, Doko? studio recordings and Nogizaka46 live concerts as a trainee.[13][14]

In October 2012, Akimoto was selected as a main selection member for the fourth Nogizaka46 single, "Seifuku no Mannequin", during the recording of a Nogizakatte, Doko? episode, marking her unexpected debut as an official member of Nogizaka46.[15][14] She debuted as an actress in the television drama Bad Boys J in April 2013.[16] As of 2019, Akimoto is active as a regular main selection member of Nogizaka46. She is also active as a television personality, with numerous appearances on variety shows as a panelist, guest and assistant MC.[17][18]

Akimoto with Nogizaka46 for a performance in Taipei, Taiwan in 2019

On August 14, 2019, Akimoto was named the next captain of Nogizaka46, succeeding Reika Sakurai.[19]

Akimoto announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 on January 7, 2023. Her graduation concert was held on February 26, 2023. She is the last first generation member to leave the group.[20] Her position was succeeded by third generation member Minami Umezawa [ja] as the new captain for Nogizaka46.

On March 1, 2023, Akimoto announced her affiliation with Japan Music Entertainment.[21]

Public image

While Akimoto was part of Nogizaka46, she was adored by her members and was known for her tenacious and patient personality.[22] She was also known as a "people person" because of her exceptional communication skills, as she also hangs out and goes out to eat with many of the Nogizaka members.[23][24]

Within Nogizaka46, she is close [and still remains] friends with Ikuta Erika,[25] Shiraishi Mai,[26] Asuka Saitō,[27] Nishino Nanase, Reika Sakurai, Sayuri Matsumura, and Rena Matsui.

Despite being in a musical ensemble, she has admitted that she can hardly sing or dance, and her singing voice has been criticized by their group manager, with Akimoto saying, "I'm about the worst in the group in both dancing and singing.".[28]

Discography

Singles with Nogizaka46

Year No. Title Role Notes
2012 4 "Seifuku no Mannequin" A-side First single to practicipate; Also sang on "Yubi Bōenkyō"
2013 5 "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" A-side Also sang on "Shakiism", "Romantic Ikayaki" and "Psychokinesis no Kanosei"
6 "Girl's Rule" A-side Also sang on "Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover" and "Ningen to Iu Gakki"
7 "Barrette" A-side Also sang on "Tsuki no Ōkisa" and "Sonna Baka na…"
2014 8 "Kizuitara Kataomoi" A-side Also sang on "Romance no Start" and "Toiki no Method"
9 "Natsu no Free & Easy" A-side Also sang on "Nani mo Dekizu ni Soba ni Iru" and "Sono Saki no Deguchi"
10 "Nandome no Aozora ka?" A-side Also sang on "Korogatta Kane o Narase!" and "Tender Days"
2015 11 "Inochi wa Utsukushii" A-side Also sang on "Tachinaorichū"
12 "Taiyō Nokku" A-side Also sang on "Muhyōjō" and "Hane no Kioku"
13 "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" A-side Also sang on "Popipappapā" and "Kanashimi no Wasurekata"
2016 14 "Harujion ga Sakukoro" A-side Also sang on "Yūutsu to Fūsen Gum"
15 "Hadashi de Summer" A-side Also sang on "Boku Dake no Hikari"
16 "Sayonara no Imi" A-side Also sang on "Kodoku na Aozora" and "2dome no Kiss Kara"
2017 17 "Influencer" A-side Also sang on "Jinsei o Kangaetakunaru"
18 "Nigemizu" A-side Also sang on "Onna wa Hitori ja Nemurenai", "Hito Natsu no Nagasa Yori…" and "Naitatte Iijanaika?"
19 "Itsuka Dekiru kara Kyō Dekiru" A-side Also sang on "Fuminshō" and "Māiika?"
2018 20 "Synchronicity" A-side Also sang on "Against" as 1st Generation member
21 "Jikochū de Ikō!" A-side Also sang on "Soratobira" and "Anna ni Sukidatta no ni…"
22 "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru" A-side Also sang on "Kokuhaku no Junban"
2019 23 "Sing Out!" A-side
24 "Yoake Made Tsuyogaranakutemoii" A-side Also sang on "Boku no Koto, Shitteru?" and "Boku no Omoikomi"
2020 25 "Shiawase no Hogoshoku" A-side Also sang on "Sayonara Stay With Me"
— "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo" — Charity song during the COVID-19 pandemic
— "Route 246" —
2021 26 "Boku wa Boku o Suki ni Naru" A-side Also sang on "Ashita ga Aru Riyū" and "Wilderness World"
27 “Gomen ne Fingers Crossed” A-side Also sang on “Zenbu Yume no Mama”
28 “Kimi ni Shikarareta” A-side Also sang on “Tanin no Sora ni”
2022 29 “Actually…” A-side Also sang on “Fukayomi” and Suki ni Natte Mita”
30 “Suki to Iu no wa Rock da ze!” A-side
31 “Koko ni wa Nai Mono” A-side Last single to participate

Albums with Nogizaka46

Year No. Title Praticipated song
2015 1 Tōmei na Iro
  • "Boku ga Iru Basho"
  • "Kakumei no Uma"
2016 2 Sorezore no Isu
  • "Kikkake"
  • "Taiyō ni Kudokarete"
  • "Kuchiyakusoku"
2017 3 Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume
  • "Skydiving"
  • "Settei Ondo"
  • "Bōkyaku to Bigaku"
2019 4 Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made
  • "Arigachi na Ren'ai"
  • "Hozue o Tsuite Nemurenai"
  • "Mosugu ~Zambi Densetsu~"
Year Artist Title Albums / Singles
2016 HoneyWorks "Daikirai na Hazu Datta." Non-album single
2023 Nogizaka46 "Bokutachi no Sayonara" Hito wa Yume wo Nido Miru

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2013 Bad Boys J: The Movie [ja] Mariko Kamijo [29]
2014 The Three Members of the Paranormal Research Club [ja] Ryoko Yamazaki Lead role [30]

Television

Year Title Network Role Notes Ref(s)
2013 Bad Boys J Nippon Television Mariko Kamijo [31]
2015 Burning Flower NHK Okugoten Taiga drama [32]
Hatsumori Bemars TV Tokyo Harvard [33]
2019 Zambi Hulu Saijo Asumi [34]
The Headhunter [ja] Wowow Minami Tokuro [35]
2023 Isn't That Plagiarism? ~The Work of a Newbie Intellectual Property Club Member~ [ja] Nippon Television Mizuki Shinoyama [36]
2024 Aoshima-kun is Mean [ja] TV Asahi Rika Kimura [37]

Bibliography

Photobooks

  • Manatsu no Kiatsu Haichi (July 28, 2017, Tokumashoten) ISBN 9784198643751[38]
  • Shiawase ni Shitai (April 8, 2020, Takeshobo) ISBN 9784801922440[39]

References

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    秋元真夏 (2012-10-12). "アメイジングな発表♪4". 乃木坂46 秋元真夏 公式ブログ. 乃木坂46運営委員会. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
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  37. ^ Movie, Natasha. "渡辺翔太×中村アン「青島くんはいじわる」に戸塚純貴、秋元真夏、小林涼子が出演". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
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  39. ^ "秋元真夏、ランジェリーに手をかけて… 写真集からインパクト抜群カット公開". Oricon News (in Japanese). April 2, 2020.

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