Manatsu Akimoto (秋元 真夏, Akimoto Manatsu, born August 20, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese idol singer, actress, and television personality. She is a member of the Japanese girl group Nogizaka46, and also appears on various television variety programs.
Akimoto was born in Tokyo on August 20, 1993.[1] Her family moved to Saitama Prefecture, where she was raised, when she was 7 months old.[2] 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.[3] 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.[3] She ended up signing up for the auditions on the final deadline date when she stumbled upon the news on her phone.[4]
Akimoto passed the auditions on August 21, 2011, becoming one of the first generation members and a temporary main selection member.[5][6] 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.[7][8] Akimoto enrolled in university, but against her parents' wishes she returned to Nogizaka46, training to prepare for her debut.[9] She was present at almost all Nogizakatte, Doko? studio recordings and Nogizaka46 live concerts as a trainee.[10][11]
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.[12][11] She debuted as an actress in the television drama Bad Boys J in April 2013.[13] As of 2019[update], 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.[14][15]
On August 14, 2019, Akimoto was named the next captain of Nogizaka46, replacing Reika Sakurai.[16]
Year | No. | Title | Role | Notes |
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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" |
Year | No. | Title | Praticipated song |
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2015 | 1 | Tōmei na Iro |
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2016 | 2 | Sorezore no Isu |
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2017 | 3 | Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume |
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2019 | 4 | Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made |
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Year | Artist | Title | Albums / Singles |
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2016 | HoneyWorks | "Daikirai na Hazu Datta." | Non-album single |
Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes | Ref. |
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2015 | Hana Moyu | NHK | Taiga drama | [17] | |
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