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Wakana Aoi

Wakana Aoi
葵 わかな
Aoi in 2018
Born (1998-06-30) June 30, 1998 (age 26)
Kanagawa, Japan
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
AgentStardust Promotion
WebsiteOfficial website

Wakana Aoi (葵 わかな, Aoi Wakana, born June 30, 1998 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese actress and former singer. In March 2017, she landed the lead role in NHK's 97th Asadora, Laugh It Up!, which aired from October 2017 to March 2018.[1][2]

Career

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2009–2012: Early career

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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.

2013–present

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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 2015, she played supporting roles in films Have a Song on Your Lips and Tsumi no Yohaku, and in the TV series Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu!.[19] In March 2016, she starred alongside Yoko Moriguchi in the TV series Joyu Ochi.[20] The following month, she starred in the horror film Horror no Tenshi.[21] She was named the new "CM queen" in November.[21]

In March 2017, she landed the lead role in NHK's 97th Asadora Laugh It Up!, portraying Ten Fujioka. Laugh It Up! 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.[22] From April to June 2018, Aoi played nurse Miwa Hanabusa in the TBS medical drama series Black Forceps, appearing alongside Kazunari Ninomiya and Ryoma Takeuchi.[23][24]

Aoi made her stage debut in February 2019 at the Tokyo International Forum, as Juliet in the musical version of Romeo and Juliet, sharing the role together with Erika Ikuta and Haruka Kinoshita.[25] She along with Haruka Kinoshita then played Anya in the musical Anastasia in 2020 and 2023.[26] She has also played Emma Nolan in the musical The Prom.[27]

Personal life

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Aoi was born in Kanagawa, Japan.[4] In January 2017, Aoi was accepted to Keio University. She is studying policy studies.[28]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Girl in the Sunny Place young Mao Watarai [12]
2014 Samurai Pirates Aiko Miyamoto [29]
2015 Have a Song on Your Lips Chinatsu Sekiya [30]
Assassination Classroom Ayaka Saitō [31]
The Edge of Sin Nanao Sasagawa [32]
2016 Horror no Tenshi Herself Lead role [33][34]
2017 Survival Family Yui Suzuki [35]
Lights of Kyoto Mikoto Lead role [36][37]
2018 Midnight Bus Akina Takamiya [38]
Lost in Ramen Kojima [39][40]
Ao-Natsu Rio Lead role [41]
2019 Ninkyō Gakuen Chihiro [42]

Television drama

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 Samurai High School young Ai Nagasawa Episode 1 [2][6]
2010 Angel Bank young Mamako Ino Episode 1 [3]
2014 Woman won't allow it. Mayu Misawa Episode 7 [43][44]
Aoi Honō Hiroyuki's sister Episode 6 [45]
2015 Kageri Yuku Natsu Mio [46]
High School Chorus Kyoko Hasumi [47]
Itsumo Majika ni Ayaka Hayase Television film [48]
2016 Money no Tenshi Madoka Sugawara [49]
Joyu Ochi Rui Kiyoshima Lead role [20]
2016 Mae! Kagura Hime Sakiko Kodama Lead role [50][51]
2017 Kin no Tono Suzu Hoshino [52]
Survival Boy and Girl Yui Suzuki [53]
Konya mo LL Episode 2 Hikari Lead role [54]
& Bishōjo: Next Girl meets Tokyo Misako Episode 3 [55]
2017–18 Laugh It Up! Ten Fujioka Lead role; Asadora [1][2]
2018–24 Black Forceps Miwa Hanabusa 2 seasons [56]
2021 Influence Maho Miniseries [57]
2025 Changes of Heart Koyori Hoshi Lead role [58]

Other television

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2012 Yōkoso! Higashi Ikebukuro Himawari Sō 12 episodes [59]
2014 100% Takarazuka Episode 6 [60]
2015 Tsūkai TV Sukatto Japan 6 episodes [61][62][63][64]
2017 17th Waga Kokoro no Osaka Melody Main host [22]
68th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen Guest [65]

Dubbing

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2019 43rd Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Won [67]

References

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  1. ^ a b c NEWS 葵わかな、NHK朝ドラ「わろてんか」ヒロインに決定 「少しずつ成長しながら笑顔を」 (in Japanese). The Huffington Post Japan. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  2. ^ a b c d 葵わかな「夢のよう」今秋朝ドラ「わろてんか」でヒロイン (in Japanese). The Hochi Shimbun. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  3. ^ a b c 葵わかな「女優堕ち」井元三津子（清嶋ルイ）役 (in Japanese). The Mainichi Newspapers. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  4. ^ a b １５歳・葵わかな、目標は「歌える女優」柴咲コウ (in Japanese). Sankei Digital Inc. 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  5. ^ 葵わかな SPECIAL INTERVIEW 女優とアイドル、“天が二物”を与えた少女 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  6. ^ a b 【今月の映画美少女】永野芽郁、久保田紗友らをチェック！ (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  7. ^ "ポジティブな2軍" 中学生アイドル、乙女新党がマニフェスト発表 (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. 2012-12-27. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  8. ^ 乙女新党の葵わかな、デビューを前にして「来年の紅白に出る!」と宣言 (in Japanese). Mynavi Corporation. 2012-12-27. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  9. ^ 乙女新党が直筆で自己紹介！ いよいよ2月20日に『もうそう★こうかんにっき』でデビュー！ (in Japanese). Lawson HMV Entertainment. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
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  19. ^ 朝ドラ新ヒロインはこんな人！ かつての主演作が自信に 慶応大入学の予定も…… (in Japanese). The Mainichi Newspapers. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  20. ^ a b 河原れん氏の『女優堕ち』ドラマ化 森口瑤子と葵わかなが2人1役 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
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  22. ^ a b 葵わかな：「わが心の大阪メロディー」で初司会 藤井隆と「わろてんか」コンビで (in Japanese). Mantan Inc. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  23. ^ ブラックペアン撮影の裏側語る “卵かけご飯”秘話も！ 念願の器械出しは… (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. 2018-06-10. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  24. ^ 二宮和也主演ドラマ「ブラックペアン」に竹内涼真、葵わかなが出演 (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  25. ^ "葵わかな、ミュージカル「ロミオ＆ジュリエット」で初舞台…来年2月開幕" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  26. ^ 葵わかな・木下晴香「アナスタシア」3年越しの開幕に「本当に幸せ」作詞作曲家コンビも語る. Natalie (in Japanese). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  27. ^ 第96回:「『The PROM』Produced by 地球ゴージャス」で同性カップルを演じる葵わかな＆三吉彩花が、元気をチャージ!. eiga.com (in Japanese). 8 March 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  28. ^ 葵わかな慶大合格! AO入試で一足早くサクラサク「苦じゃなかった」 (in Japanese). Sankei Digital inc. 2017-01-29. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  29. ^ 『瀬戸内海賊物語』柴田杏花&葵わかな&大森研一監督インタビュー (in Japanese). Movie Collection. 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  30. ^ くちびるに歌を(2014) (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  31. ^ 葵わかな、実写『暗殺教室』オリジナルキャラクターで出演 主人公の幼なじみ役 (in Japanese). oricon ME Inc. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  32. ^ 『罪の余白』初日舞台挨拶に吉本実憂ら登壇「闇のある役はすごく難しかったです」 (in Japanese). realsound.jp. 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  33. ^ 「ホラーの天使」葵わかな、沖縄国際映画祭でフェイクドキュメンタリーの苦労を回想 (in Japanese). Natashi, Inc. 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  34. ^ 葵わかな主演「ホラーの天使」が11月に公開、京都国際映画祭での上映も決定 (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  35. ^ 小日向文世＆深津絵里の夫婦が電気のない世界を旅、矢口史靖「サバイバルファミリー」 (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  36. ^ タナカカツキ原作映画『逆光の頃』 ヒロイン役は次期朝ドラ主演・葵わかな (in Japanese). Cinra. 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  37. ^ "Trailer: 'The Time of Backlights'". Far East Films. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  38. ^ 原田泰造が主演！家族の再生を描く映画製作 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  39. ^ 伝説のラーメン漫画「ラーメン食いてぇ！」映画化決定！中村ゆりか＆葵わかなが共演 (in Japanese). eiga.com. 2017-12-26. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  40. ^ 映画『ラーメン食いてぇ！』. Broadmedia Corporation (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
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  42. ^ 任侠学園. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  43. ^ 葵わかな (in Japanese). Twitter. 2014-11-25. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
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  52. ^ トップ 記事須賀健太：徳川宗春役で連ドラ主演 ヒロインは葵わかな SKE高柳明音もゲスト出演 (in Japanese). Mantan Inc. 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
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