# Manatsu Akimoto

Manatsu Akimoto (秋元 真夏, Akimoto Manatsu, born August 20, 1993, in Tokyo) is a Japanese television host, actress, and tarento. She is a former first generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46.
Akimoto was the last first generation member to graduate Nogizaka46 after being in the group for over 11 years since its debut on February 22, 2012. Her graduation concert was held on February 26, 2023.

## Biography

Akimoto was born in Tokyo on August 20, 1993. Her family moved to Urawa (now part of Saitama City), Saitama Prefecture, when she was 7 months old, and she was subsequently raised there. When her parents were deciding on her name, her mother suggested naming her "Miruku" or "Hikari," but after much thought, her father decided to name her "Manatsu" as she was born in the summer. She has a younger brother three years her junior.

## Career

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. 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. She ended up signing up for the auditions on the final deadline date when she stumbled upon the news on her phone.
Akimoto passed the auditions on August 21, 2011, becoming one of the first generation members and a temporary main selection member. 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. Akimoto enrolled in university, but against her parents' wishes she returned to Nogizaka46, training to prepare for her debut. She was present at almost all Nogizakatte, Doko? studio recordings and Nogizaka46 live concerts as a trainee.
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. She debuted as an actress in the television drama Bad Boys J in April 2013. As of 2019, 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.
On August 14, 2019, Akimoto was named the next captain of Nogizaka46, succeeding Reika Sakurai.
Akimoto announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 on January 7, 2023. Her graduation concert was held on February 26, 2023. She is the last first generation member to leave the group. Her position was succeeded by third generation member Minami Umezawa [ja] as the new captain for Nogizaka46.
On March 1, 2023, Akimoto announced her affiliation with Japan Music Entertainment.

## Public image

While Akimoto was part of Nogizaka46, she was adored by her members and was known for her tenacious and patient personality. She was also known as a "people person" because of her exceptional communication skills, as she also hangs out and goes out to eat with many of the Nogizaka members.
Within Nogizaka46, she is close [and still remains] friends with Ikuta Erika, Shiraishi Mai, Asuka Saitō, Nishino Nanase, Reika Sakurai, Sayuri Matsumura, and Rena Matsui.
Despite being in a musical ensemble, she has admitted that she can hardly sing or dance, and her singing voice has been criticized by their group manager, with Akimoto saying, "I'm about the worst in the group in both dancing and singing.".

## Discography
### Singles with Nogizaka46

| Year | No. | Title | Role | Notes |
| 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" |
| 2013 | 6 | "Girl's Rule" | A-side | Also sang on "Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover" and "Ningen to Iu Gakki" |
| 2013 | 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" |
| 2014 | 9 | "Natsu no Free & Easy" | A-side | Also sang on "Nani mo Dekizu ni Soba ni Iru" and "Sono Saki no Deguchi" |
| 2014 | 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" |
| 2015 | 12 | "Taiyō Nokku" | A-side | Also sang on "Muhyōjō" and "Hane no Kioku" |
| 2015 | 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" |
| 2016 | 15 | "Hadashi de Summer" | A-side | Also sang on "Boku Dake no Hikari" |
| 2016 | 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" |
| 2017 | 18 | "Nigemizu" | A-side | Also sang on "Onna wa Hitori ja Nemurenai", "Hito Natsu no Nagasa Yori…" and "Naitatte Iijanaika?" |
| 2017 | 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 |
| 2018 | 21 | "Jikochū de Ikō!" | A-side | Also sang on "Soratobira" and "Anna ni Sukidatta no ni…" |
| 2018 | 22 | "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru" | A-side | Also sang on "Kokuhaku no Junban" |
| 2019 | 23 | "Sing Out!" | A-side | |
| 2019 | 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" |
| 2020 | — | "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo" | — | Charity song during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020 | — | "Route 246" | — | |
| 2021 | 26 | "Boku wa Boku o Suki ni Naru" | A-side | Also sang on "Ashita ga Aru Riyū" and "Wilderness World" |
| 2021 | 27 | “Gomen ne Fingers Crossed” | A-side | Also sang on “Zenbu Yume no Mama” |
| 2021 | 28 | “Kimi ni Shikarareta” | A-side | Also sang on “Tanin no Sora ni” |
| 2022 | 29 | “Actually…” | A-side | Also sang on “Fukayomi” and Suki ni Natte Mita” |
| 2022 | 30 | “Suki to Iu no wa Rock da ze!” | A-side | |
| 2022 | 31 | “Koko ni wa Nai Mono” | A-side | Last single to participate |

### Albums with Nogizaka46

| Year | No. | Title | Participated song |
| 2015 | 1 | Tōmei na Iro | "Boku ga Iru Basho" "Kakumei no Uma" |
| 2016 | 2 | Sorezore no Isu | "Kikkake" "Taiyō ni Kudokarete" "Kuchiyakusoku" |
| 2017 | 3 | Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume | "Skydiving" "Settei Ondo" "Bōkyaku to Bigaku" |
| 2019 | 4 | Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made | "Arigachi na Ren'ai" "Hozue o Tsuite Nemurenai" "Mosugu ~Zambi Densetsu~" |

### Other featured songs

| Year | Artist | Title | Albums / Singles |
| 2016 | HoneyWorks | "Daikirai na Hazu Datta." | Non-album single |
| 2023 | Nogizaka46 | "Bokutachi no Sayonara" | Hito wa Yume wo Nido Miru |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
| 2013 | Bad Boys J: The Movie [ja] | Mariko Kamijo | | |
| 2014 | The Three Members of the Paranormal Research Club [ja] | Ryoko Yamazaki | Lead role | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes |
| 2013 | Bad Boys J | Nippon Television | Mariko Kamijo | |
| 2015 | Burning Flower | NHK | Okugoten | Taiga drama |
| 2015 | Hatsumori Bemars | TV Tokyo | Harvard | |
| 2019 | Zambi | Hulu | Saijo Asumi | |
| 2019 | The Headhunter [ja] | Wowow | Minami Tokuro | |
| 2023 | Isn't That Plagiarism?: The Work of a Newbie Intellectual Property Club Member [ja] | Nippon Television | Mizuki Shinoyama | |
| 2024 | Aoshima-kun is Mean [ja] | TV Asahi | Rika Kimura | |