Nao Kosaka

Nao Kosaka
小坂 菜緒
Nao Kosaka in 2024
Born (2002-09-07) September 7, 2002 (age 22)
Osaka, Japan
Occupations
  • Singer
  • model
  • actress
Years active2017–present
Musical career
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Japan
Member of
WebsiteHinatazaka46 profile
Modeling information
Height161.5 cm (5 ft 4 in)[1]
Hair colorblack
Eye colorblack
WebsiteSeventeen profile

Nao Kosaka (Japanese: 小坂 菜緒, Hepburn: Kosaka Nao, born September 7, 2002) is a Japanese singer, model, and actress. She is a member of the Japanese female idol group Hinatazaka46 and a former exclusive model for the fashion magazine Seventeen.[2]

Career

On August 13, 2017, Kosaka passed the auditions for new members of Keyakizaka46's subgroup Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and entered the group as a second generation member.[3] She made her debut in the song "No War in the Future", a B-side to "Kaze ni Fukarete mo".[4] On May 19, 2018, Kosaka made her runway debut at the GirlsAward 2018 SPRING/SUMMER show.[5] Seventeen announced two days later that she would be one of the magazine's exclusive models.[2]

After Hiragana Keyakizaka46 was renamed to Hinatazaka46 in February 2019,[6] Kosaka was selected to hold the center (lead performer) position in the title song of their debut single, "Kyun".[7] She continued to hold the position until the fourth single title song, "Sonna Koto Nai yo",[8] and again for the seventh single, "Boku Nanka", making her the member with the most appointments as title song center.

Kosaka was cast as the main character in the 2019 mystery film The Japanese Doll [ja] (恐怖人形, Kyōfu Ningyō).[9] She also appeared in Jump!! The Heroes Behind the Gold, a 2021 film about ski jumping at the 1998 Winter Olympics,[10] in which her character is based on ski jumper Yoshiko Yoshiizumi [ja];[11] Hominis commented that despite performing alongside more experienced cast members, she maintained a unique presence by acting "from the heart".[12]

Kosaka's solo photobook, produced by the Seventeen magazine editorial staff, was released on June 29.[13] The book placed first on Oricon's 2021 photobook sales ranking with 166,876 copies sold.[14] As a dinosaur enthusiast, she was also appointed in the same month the ambassador for Sony's DinoScience exhibition, which would be held from July to September at the Pacifico Yokohama.[15] However, she went into hiatus on June 26 for health reasons[16] and did not participate in the rest of the event; she also did not participate in Hinatazaka46's sixth single, "Tteka". Kosaka announced her resumption of activities on March 4, 2022[17] and also returned to the center position for Hinatazaka46's seventh single title track "Boku Nanka", despite her "mixed feelings" about the appointment.[18]

In a late 2021 survey by Talent Power Ranking [ja], Kosaka was ranked the seventh most popular teen actress in Japan (under twenty years old as of February 2022) based on public recognition and interest.[19] Despite that, Kosaka did not appear in any acting work since returning from hiatus until 2024, when she joined the cast for the taiga drama Dear Radiance as Heian-era poet Saiin no Chūjō,[20] and appeared as supporting character Rin Arikawa in the feature film All of Tokyo, starring the Hinatazaka46 fourth generation members.[21]

In November 2024, Kosaka ended her exclusive modelling contract with Seventeen after 6.5 years,[22] expressing her wish to be seen more as an adult woman and an idol.[23]

Personal life

Kosaka played volleyball in middle school and occasionally demonstrates her skill in her appearances. She has an older brother who is a Keyakizaka46 fan.[24]

Kosaka's main interests include dinosaurs and reptiles.[25][26][27] She also enjoys comedy shows and named Kazuya Kojima of Unjash and Audrey as her favorite comedians.[28]

Discography

See also: Hinatazaka46 discography

Kosaka has participated in all title tracks of Hinatazaka46's singles and album except "Tteka" (2021), and has been the center (lead performer) for the first four singles and "Boku Nanka" (2022).[29] Other prominent appearances include:

  • "Kirei ni Naritai" (Hashiridasu Shunkan, 2018), as a trio with Akari Nibu and Miho Watanabe[30]
  • "Footsteps" ("Kyun" B-side, 2019), performed by all of the group's exclusive magazine models at the time[31]
  • "See Through" (Hinatazaka, 2020), duet with Miku Kanemura[32][33]
  • "Sekai ni wa Thank You! ga Afureteiru" ("Kimi Shika Katan" B-side, 2021), center, second generation members song
  • "Mou Konna ni Suki ni Narenai" ("Boku Nanka" B-side, 2022), performed by all members born in 2002 at the time (Kosaka, Miku Kanemura, and Hiyori Hamagishi)[34][35]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2019 The Japanese Doll Yuri Hirai Lead role [36][37]
2021 Jump!! The Heroes Behind the Gold Yoshiko Kobayashi [38][39]
2024 All of Tokyo! Rin Arikawa [21]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2017 Re:Mind Nao Kosaka Episode 13; lead role [40]
2020 Dasada Yuria Sada Lead role [41]
2024 Dear Radiance Saiin no Chūjō Taiga drama [20]

Music video

Year Artist Title Notes Ref(s)
2019 Thinking Dogs [ja] "Spiral [ja]" The Japanese Doll theme song [42]

Bibliography

See also: Hinatazaka46 § Bibliography
Title Release Date Publisher ISBN
Kimi wa Dare? (君は誰？, Who Are You?, photobook) June 29, 2021 Shueisha ISBN 978-4087900415

References

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  2. ^ a b "けやき坂46小坂菜緒「Seventeen」専属モデル抜てき＜コメント到着＞". モデルプレス (in Japanese). May 22, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "けやき坂46、新メンバー9名決定＜プロフィール＞". モデルプレス (in Japanese). August 15, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "欅坂46 5th single: 風に吹かれても". 欅坂46公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. ^ "けやき坂46小坂菜緒、ステージでも輝く圧倒的美貌 初ランウェイに歓声飛ぶ＜GirlsAward 2018 S／S ＞". モデルプレス (in Japanese). May 19, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Hiragana Keyaki Changes Name to Hinatazaka46, Debut Single Due in March". Billboard. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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  10. ^ "眞栄田郷敦：日向坂46小坂菜緒とテストジャンパーに 田中圭主演映画「ヒノマルソウル」出演" (in Japanese). Mantan Web. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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  14. ^ "【年間本ランキング】『鬼滅の刃』最終巻が500万部越えで史上初の快挙 総合1位は『スマホ脳』、現代人への課題を提示 11ページ目". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
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  20. ^ a b "日向坂46小坂菜緒:「光る君へ」で大河ドラマ初出演 次回第35回で斎院の中将役 予告で「惟規様！」". Mantan-web. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b "ゼンブ・オブ・トーキョー". eiga.com. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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  25. ^ "日向坂46、初収録から涙…全力バラエティに挑む！＜HINABINGO！＞ - モデルプレス". モデルプレス - ライフスタイル・ファッションエンタメニュース (in Japanese). 12 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
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  42. ^ Inc, Natasha. "日向坂46小坂菜緒、Thinking Dogsが歌う「恐怖人形」主題歌MV出演（コメントあり / 動画あり / 写真14枚）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)