Wakana Aoi

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, Warotenka, which aired from October 2017 to March 2018.^[1][2]

Wakana Aoi
葵 わかな
Aoi in 2018
Born	(1998-06-30) June 30, 1998 (age 26) Kanagawa, Japan
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2009–present
Agent	Stardust Promotion
Height	1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Website	Official website

Career

2009–2012: Early career

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

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 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.^[26] She along with Haruka Kinoshita then played Anya in the musical Anastasia in 2020 and 2023. She has also played Emma Nolan in the musical The Prom.

Personal life

Aoi was born in Kanagawa, Japan.^[4] In January 2017, Aoi was accepted to Keio University. She is studying policy studies.^[27]

Filmography

Film

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]
	The Edge of Sin	Nanao Sasagawa	Yuki Otsuka		[31]
2016	Horror no Tenshi	Herself	Toshikazu Nagae	Lead role	[32][33]
2017	Survival Family	Yui Suzuki	Shinobu Yaguchi		[34]
	Lights of Kyoto	Mikoto	Keiichi Kobayashi	Lead role	[35][36]
2018	Midnight Bus	Akina Takamiya	Masao Takeshita		[37]
	Lost in Ramen	Kojima	Yūki Kumagai		[38][39]
	Ao-Natsu	Rio	Takeshi Furusawa	Lead role	[40]
2019	Ninkyō Gakuen	Chihiro	Hisashi Kimura		[41]

Television drama

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes	Ref.
2009	Samurai High School	young Ai Nagasawa	NTV	Episode 1	[2][6]
2010	Angel Bank	young Mamako Ino	TV Asahi	Episode 1	[3]
2014	Woman won't allow it.	Mayu Misawa	TBS	Episode 7	[42][43]
	Aoi Honō	Hiroyuki's sister	TV Tokyo	Episode 6	[44]
2015	Kageri Yuku Natsu	Mio	Wowow		[45]
	High School Chorus	Kyoko Hasumi	TBS		[46]
	Itsumo Majika ni	Ayaka Hayase	Imagica BS	Television film	[47]
2016	Money no Tenshi	Madoka Sugawara	YTV, NTV		[48]
	Joyu Ochi	Rui Kiyoshima	BS Asahi	Lead role	[21]
2016	Mae! Kagura Hime	Sakiko Kodama	NHK BS-P	Lead role	[49][50]
2017	Kin no Tono	Suzu Hoshino	CBC		[51]
	Survival Boy and Girl	Yui Suzuki	BS Eiga		[52]
	Konya mo LL Episode 2	Hikari	Tokyo MX	Lead role	[53]
	& Bishōjo: Next Girl meets Tokyo	Misako	Fuji TV	Episode 3	[54]
2017–18	Laugh It Up!	Ten Fujioka	NHK	Lead role, Asadora	[1][2]
2018	Black Pean	Miwa Hanabusa	TBS		[55]
2021	Influence	Maho	Wowow	Miniseries	[56]

Other television

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes	Ref.
2012	Yōkoso! Higashi Ikebukuro Himawari Sō	Herself	NTV	12 episodes	[57]
2014	100% Takarazuka	Herself (guest)	NOTTV 1	Episode 6	[58]
2015	Tsūkai TV Sukatto Japan	Herself	Fuji TV	6 episodes	[59][60][61][62]
2017	17th Waga Kokoro no Osaka Melody	Main host	NHK G	Music program	[23]
	68th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen	Guest	NHK	Music program	[63]

Dubbing

• Cats, Victoria the White Cat (Francesca Hayward)^[64]

Awards and nominations

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	[65]
2017	Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Actress (Winter)	Warotenka	2nd Place	[66]
	Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Actress (Final)		9th Place	[67]
2018	Television Drama Academy Awards	Best Actress		4th Place	[68]
	Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Supporting Actress (Spring)	Black Pean	2nd Place	[69]
	Television Drama Academy Awards	Best Supporting Actress		2nd Place	[25]
2019	43rd Elan d'or Awards	Newcomer of the Year	Herself	Won

References

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 【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.
10. 乙女新党、新メンバー4人加入で6人編成に (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. 2014-07-05. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
11. 乙女新党、荒川ちか&葵わかなが7月卒業 今後は女優業注力 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2014-03-23. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
12. 松本潤＆上野樹里にソックリ!? 『陽だまりの彼女』出演の若手俳優に注目！ (in Japanese). Pia Corporation. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
13. 清水 節 さんの『陽だまりの彼女』短評 (in Japanese). Cinematoday. 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
14. 森 直人 さんの『陽だまりの彼女』短評 (in Japanese). Cinematoday. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
15. ファン大賞は「陽だまりの彼女」／映画大賞 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
16. 葵わかな「大好きな思い、まだ言えてなくて」 『陽だまりの彼女』で上野樹里と共演 (in Japanese). Kyodo News. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
17. 乙女新党の卒業控える葵わかな、アイドルと女優の間で揺れる本音と決断…そして覚悟「もっと上のレベルに行くために」 (in Japanese). Mynavi Corporation. 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
18. 今秋朝ドラ“ヒロイン”に葵わかな「まだ夢のよう」 97作目『わろてんか』 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
19. ツボ娘 2014/03/06 (木) 放送 (in Japanese). WireAction. 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 注目のCM美少女・葵わかな、初主演作で恐怖顔連発！ (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 助演女優賞 受賞結果 1位：木村多江. The Television Drama Academy Awards (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
26. "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.
27. 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.
28. 『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.
29. くちびるに歌を(2014) (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
30. 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.
31. 『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.
32. 「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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. "Trailer: 'The Time of Backlights'". Far East Films. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 葵わかな＆佐野勇斗W主演『青夏』映画化！夏限定の恋物語 (in Japanese). Cinematoday. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
41. "任侠学園". eiga.com. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
42. 葵わかな (in Japanese). Twitter. 2014-11-25. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
43. 火曜ドラマ『女はそれを許さない』 (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
44. "アオイホノオ". TV drama database. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
45. 連ドラ『翳りゆく夏』の女優陣9人発表、ヒロインの門脇麦、風俗嬢役の前田敦子ら (in Japanese). Cinra. 2014-11-21. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
46. 金曜ドラマ『表参道高校合唱部！』 (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
47. イマジカBS開局20周年オリジナル制作ドラマ『いつも まぢかに』 (in Japanese). IMAGICA TV Corp. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
48. 小籔千豊、ドラマ初主演に弱気「メチャメチャ演技ヘタ」 片瀬那奈と金銭トラブル解決 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
49. 葵わかなが舞った！広島伝統芸能「神楽」題材ドラマ (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
50. 葵わかな、伝統芸能・神楽に吹き替えなしで挑戦「筋肉痛になりながら頑張った」 (in Japanese). eiga.com. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
51. 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.
52. 『サバイバルファミリー』サイドストーリー「サバイバルボーイ＆ガール」 (in Japanese). Nihon Eiga Broadcasting Corp. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
53. Boys Republicスウンと葵わかなの純愛描く新感覚ドラマ (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
54. › 最新ニュース › スクープ › 記事古畑星夏＆葵わかな＆山本舞香ら次世代の若手女優が主役！ オムニバスドラマ「＆美少女～NEXT GIRL meets Tokyo～」 (in Japanese). IID. 2017-03-25. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
55. 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.
56. 橋本環奈：初のWOWOWドラマで主演 葵わかな＆吉川愛と殺人の秘密を共有 三つの事件を巡るサスペンス (in Japanese). MANTANWEB. December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
57. ようこそ！東池袋ヒマワリ荘 (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
58. 100%宝塚 (in Japanese). Twitter. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
59. 痛快TV スカッとジャパン-第15回オンエア情報 (in Japanese). Fuji Television Network. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
60. 痛快TV スカッとジャパン-第24回オンエア情報 (in Japanese). Fuji Television Network. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
61. 痛快TV スカッとジャパン-第33回オンエア情報 (in Japanese). Fuji Television Network. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
62. 痛快TV スカッとジャパン-第35回オンエア情報 (in Japanese). Fuji Television Network. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
63. スペシャル演出 & ゲスト決定 (in Japanese). NHK. 2017-12-27. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
64. "映画「キャッツ」吹替版に葵わかな、山崎育三郎、森崎ウィン、大竹しのぶら出演". Natalie. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
65. マネーの天使～あなたのお金、取り戻します！～ ノミネート作品詳細. The Television Drama Academy Awards (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
66. "第21回日刊スポーツ・ドラマグランプリ 冬投票結果". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
67. "第21回日刊スポーツ・ドラマグランプリ 年間決選結果". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
68. 主演女優賞 受賞結果 1位：石原さとみ. The Television Drama Academy Awards (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
69. "第22回日刊スポーツ・ドラマグランプリ 春投票結果". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2018-07-12.

External links

• Official profile (in Japanese)
• Wakana Aoi on Twitter
• Wakana Aoi at IMDb