Wakana Aoi (葵 わかな, Aoi Wakana, born June 30, 1998 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese actress and former idol. In March 2017, she landed the lead role in NHK's 97th Asadora, Warotenka, which aired from October 2017 to March 2018.[1][2]
Wakana Aoi | |
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葵 わかな | |
![]() Aoi in 2018 | |
Born | (1998-06-30) June 30, 1998 (age 23) Kanagawa, Japan |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2009–present |
Agent | Stardust Promotion |
Height | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) |
Website | Official website |
Aoi was scouted in Harajuku, Tokyo, in her fifth year of elementary school. She had been taking photos to send with her audition documents at the time.[3][4] She made her television debut in 2009 through a FamilyMart commercial and made her acting debut in the TV series Samurai High School.[5][6] Her next appearance came in January 2010, where she played young Mamako Ino in an episode of the TV series Angel Bank.[3] The following month, she played Caroline Izumi in TV Asahi's 2 hour long television special Kasai Chōsakan Renjirō Kurenai. She reprised her role as Caroline Izumi in November 2010, January 2012, and November 2012. Her character then returned to America.
In December 2012, Aoi was chosen to be a member of the new idol group Otome Shinto, along with Chika Arakawa, Yurika Takahashi, and Ayame Tajiri.[7][8] The group made their CD debut two months later with the single "Mousou☆Koukan Nikki".[9] Aoi left the group in July 2014 to focus on acting.[10][11]
In 2013, she played small roles in Aibō Season 11 and Taberu Dake. Later that year, she played young Mao Waratai in Takahiro Miki's fantasy romance film Girl in the Sunny Place.[12] The film received positive reviews and Aoi gained attention for her performance.[13][14][15][16] The following year, she played a supporting role in the adventure film Samurai Pirates, portraying the main character's classmate.[17] Next, she played small roles in the TV series Divine Retribution: Punisher of Darkness, Aoi Honō, Binta!, and Woman won't allow it. Aoi gained attention for her appearances in commercials for Tokio Marine Nichido and Yamazaki Biscuits.[18] In March 2014, she placed 3rd place in the 35th Kodansha Advertising Awards for the category "New Talent".[19]
In 2015, she played supporting roles in films Kuchibiru ni uta o and Tsumi no Yohaku, and in the TV series Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu!.[20] In March 2016, she starred alongside Yoko Moriguchi in the TV series Joyu Ochi.[21] The following month, she starred in the horror film Horror no Tenshi.[22] She was named the new "CM queen" in November.[22]
In March 2017, she landed the lead role in NHK's 97th Asadora Warotenka, portraying Ten Fujioka. Warotenka is set during the late Meiji era to post-World War II period. Her character was modelled after Sei Yoshimoto, the founder of entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo.[1][2] On December 12, 2017, she hosted the year-end music program Waga Kokoro no Osaka Melody.[23] From April to June 2018, Aoi played nurse Miwa Hanabusa in the TBS medical drama series Black Pean, appearing alongside Kazunari Ninomiya and Ryoma Takeuchi.[24] Her performance earned her a Television Drama Academy Award nomination.[25]
Aoi will make her stage debut in February 2019 at the Tokyo International Forum, as Juliet in the musical version of Romeo and Juliet.[26] She will then play Anya in the musical Anastasia.
Aoi was born in Kanagawa, Japan.[4] In January 2017, Aoi was accepted to Keio University. She is studying policy studies.[27]
Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Girl in the Sunny Place | young Mao Watarai | Takahiro Miki | [12] | |
2014 | Samurai Pirates | Aiko Miyamoto | Kenichi Ōmori | [28] | |
2015 | Have a Song on Your Lips | Chinatsu Sekiya | Takahiro Miki | [29] | |
Assassination Classroom | Ayaka Saitō | Eiichirō Hasumi | [30] | ||
Tsumi no Yohaku | Nanao Sasagawa | Yuki Otsuka | [31] | ||
2016 | Horror no Tenshi | Herself | Toshikazu Nagae | [32] [33] | |
2017 | Survival Family | Yui Suzuki | Shinobu Yaguchi | [34] | |
The Time of Backlights | Mikoto | Keiichi Kobayashi | Lead role with Mahiro Takasugi | [35] [36] | |
2018 | Midnight Bus | Akina Takamiya | Masao Takeshita | [37] | |
Ramen Kuitee! | Kojima | Yūki Kumagai | [38] [39] | ||
Ao-Natsu | Rio | Takeshi Furusawa | Lead role with Hayato Sano | [40] | |
2019 | Ninkyō Gakuen | Chihiro | Hisashi Kimura | [41] | |
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Samurai High School | young Ai Nagasawa | AX | Episode: "Gakuen Aki no Jin Ijime Manbiki Futodoki Senban" | [2] [6] |
2010 | Angel Bank | young Mamako Ino | EX | Episode: "Kachi 0-yen no Onna!! Riko Shufu no Sai Shushoku" | [3] |
2010–2012 | Kasai Chōsakan Renjirō Kurenai | Caroline Izumi | EX | Main cast (4 episodes), TV Special | |
2011 | Barairo no Seisen | young Sara Nakanishi | EX | Episode: "Stage.4" | |
2012 | Yōkoso! Higashi Ikebukuro Himawari Sō | Herself | AX | Main cast (12 episodes) | [42] |
2013 | Aibō Season 11 | Natsu Takamura | EX | Episode: "Valentine Keikaku" | |
Taberu Dake | Kazusa Domon | TX | 2 episodes | ||
2014 | Divine Retribution: Punisher of Darkness | Kanako Murata | CX | ||
Shitemiru Terebi! Kyōkun no Susume | Herself | CX | 19 episodes | ||
Aoi Honō | Hiroyuki's sister | TX | Episode: "Gakuen ka? SF ka?" | ||
100% Takarazuka | Herself (guest) | NOTTV 1 | Episode: "6" | [43] | |
Binta! | Aiko Takatsu | YTV, AX | 2 episodes | ||
Woman won't allow it. | Mayu Misawa | TBS | Episode: "Case 07" | [44] [45] | |
2015 | Kageri Yuku Natsu | Mio | Wowow | [46] | |
Tsūkai TV Sukatto Japan | Herself | CX | 6 episodes[47][48][49][50] | ||
LIFE! Jinsei ni Sasageru Conte | Herself (guest) | NHK | 2 episodes | ||
Omotesando Kōkō Gasshōbu! | Kyoko Hasumi | TBS | [51] | ||
Itsumo Majika ni | Ayaka Hayase | IMAGICA BS | Main cast, TV special | [52] | |
2016 | Money no Tenshi | Madoka Sugawara | YTV, AX | Main cast | [53] |
Joyu Ochi | Rui Kiyoshima | BS Asahi | Lead role | [21] | |
2016–2017 | Vocaburider | Herself | ETV, NHK Radio 2 | 16 episodes | |
2016 | Mae! Kagura Hime | Sakiko Kodama | NHK BS P | Lead role | [54] [55] |
2017 | Kin no Tono | Suzu Hoshino | CBC | [56] | |
Survival Family | Yui Suzuki | BS Eiga | [57] | ||
Konya mo LL Episode 2 | Hikari | Tokyo MX | Lead role with Boys Republic's Suwoong | [58] | |
& Bishōjo: Next Girl meets Tokyo | Misako | CX | Episode 3: "Akihabara×AM5:42" | [59] | |
2017–2018 | Warotenka | Ten Fujioka | NHK | Lead role, Asadora | [1] [2] |
2017 | 17th Waga Kokoro no Osaka Melody | Main host | NHK G | Music program | [23] |
68th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen | Guest | NHK | Music program | [60] | |
2018 | Black Pean | Miwa Hanabusa | TBS | [61] | |
2021 | Influence | Maho | Wowow | Miniseries | [62] |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Kodansha Advertising Awards | New Talent | 3rd Place | [19] | |
2016 | Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Money no Tenshi | Nominated | [64] |
2017 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Actress (Winter) | Warotenka | 2nd Place | [65] |
Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Actress (Final) | 9th Place | [66] | ||
2018 | Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actress | 4th Place | [67] | |
Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actress (Spring) | Black Pean | 2nd Place | [68] | |
Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | 2nd Place | [25] | ||
2019 | 43rd Elan d'or Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Herself | Won | |