Nana Okada

Nana Okada
is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actress, represented by Avex Asunaro. She is a former member of the girl groups AKB48 and STU48. She was a fixture on AKB48's major single lineups from 2016 to 2022 and is considered one of the best singers to have been part of the group.
Okada joined AKB48 in 2012, and since 2016 has been part of the group's main lineup, performing in all the title tracks of their singles, including twice as lead singer. From 2017 to 2022, she was concurrently a member of AKB48's fifth sister group STU48, based in Setouchi region, and served as captain since its founding until 2020. She was a finalist in all the AKB48 Group No. 1 Singing Competitions, taking first place in the fourth event in 2022, and has released two solo songs as part of AKB48's releases. She has held solo concerts in 2018 and 2022 and a duo concert in 2020. Her solo debut album has been scheduled for release in November 2023.
As an actress, Okada has appeared in several AKB48 television series and starred in stage productions such as Majimuri Gakuen (2018), its sequel Majimuri Gakuen: Loudness (2021), and an all-female stage adaptation of Battles Without Honor and Humanity (2019). After joining Avex Asunaro, Okada has appeared in productions outside the group, such as the television series Stolen Love, High School Teacher (2021) and the stage musical adaptation of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (2022).
Career
2012–2015: Early career
Okada joined AKB48 in 2012 as part of the 14th generation trainees, after failing to pass the 13th generation audition the previous year. On March 31, 2013, the AKB48 sub-unit was revealed, consisting of the most promising trainee members from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48. The selected members are Okada, Mako Kojima, Miki Nishino, Ryoha Kitagawa, Nagisa Shibuya, Meru Tashima and Mio Tomonaga; Okada, Kojima, and Nishino, the three AKB48 members of the unit, also became known as the The Three Musketeers were later promoted to Team 4 in August 2013, during the third day of the group's Tokyo Dome concert.
On January 29, 2014, Okada and fellow Kanagawa native members Ryoka Oshima and Rina Kawaei formed "Team Kanagawa" to promote the new trains in the Yokohama Line. Later in May, she was selected to sing AKB48's 36th single title track "Labrador Retriever".
In the sixth AKB48 Group general election to determine the lineup for their 37th single, Okada ranked for the first time in 51st place, becoming part of Future Girls which performed the song "Seikaku ga Warui Onna no Ko" in the single "Kokoro no Placard".
In September, Okada was part of the cast for the AKB48 stage adaptation of the manga AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jōrei, playing Haruko Mizuno. In the group's fifth Janken Tournament, she placed 14th and appeared in the B-side of the winner Miyuki Watanabe's solo single. For the group's 38th single "Kibouteki Refrain", Okada was not selected to sing the title track, but was assigned as one of the centers (lead performers) along with Nagisa Sakaguchi for one of the B-sides, "Ima, Happy".
In June 2015, Okada placed 29th in the seventh AKB48 Group general election.
2016–2019: Rise to prominence, appointed STU48 captain
On May 28, 2016, Okada went on hiatus due to poor health. She returned three weeks later, a day before the 8th AKB48 Group general election in which she placed 14th, thus entering the elected Senbatsu for the first time. In her acceptance speech, she revealed that her hiatus was due to functional hypoglycemia and that she had considered leaving the group. This was later elaborated in her solo documentary, aired in November on TBS as the fourth episode of the series titled
Since then, Okada has become part of AKB48's main lineup and performed in all the title tracks of their singles, as well as her first solo song "Coin Toss" in the AKB48 album Thumbnail (2017). On February 22, 2017, Okada announced that she would be holding a concurrent position in the new sister group STU48 and serve as the group's captain; she would later cite this appointment as what solidified her decision to continue in the entertainment industry. In July, Okada placed ninth in the 9th AKB48 Group general election.
On January 16, 2018, Okada held her first solo concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall, billed "Nana Okada Solo Concert: My Precious Things", in which she performed 23 songs. She also released her first photobook, titled Kazaranai Hoseki and photographed in Hawaii, on February 27, and became the center (lead performer) of an AKB48 title track for the first time in the 56th single "Jabaja", released on March 14.
Okada co-starred in the stage adaptation of the television drama Majimuri Gakuen (2018) as Nero, who seeks to start a war between two rival schools and was partly inspired by the Roman emperor Nero. She later portrayed main character Shozo Hirono in an all-female stage adaptation of Battles Without Honor and Humanity directed by Shutaro Oku, titled Battles Without Honor and Humanity ~Women's Battle to the Death~ (2019) and performed at the Hakata-za in Fukuoka in a collaboration to commemorate the theater's twentieth anniversary.
In June 2018, Okada placed fifth in the tenth AKB48 Group general election with 75,067 votes, thus becoming a Kami 7. In her acceptance speech, she encouraged the idol otakus to take pride in their support of AKB48 Group. It would be the last general election held by the group.
Okada underwent surgery for vocal cord nodules in August and was unable to speak for some time while recovering. In December, the AKB48 Group held its first spanning all six Japan-based groups. Okada earned the highest score in the qualification round, in which 155 members participated, and placed third in the finals. In the second event held in October 2019, she placed first again in the qualification round, but did not place within the top three in the finals.
STU48's second single "Kaze wo Matsu", released in February 2019, would include , the first and only STU48 song with Okada as solo lead singer. On March 14, the training and publishing company Benesse released an original promotional anime which featured Okada in her first voice acting role and "Shukkō" as its ending song.
On July 27, Okada took part in AKB48's first ever live performance in Malaysia, which was part of the Japan Expo Malaysia 2019 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
2020–2023: YouTube channels, solo activities, departure from STU48 & AKB48
Okada stepped down as STU48 captain on January 18, 2020 and continued as a regular member until she officially left the group in March 2022, after her final single participation in "Hetaretachi yo" (2021). Her farewell concert, billed was held at the Kobe Kokusai Hall on March 18. During her time with the group, Okada had also taken on her first stage producer role for STU48's second original stage set list, titled Bokutachi no Koi no Yokan.
Okada and fellow AKB48 members Yuiri Murayama, Shinobu Mogi, and Mion Mukaichi launched their joint YouTube channel, the , on January 21, 2020. The next day, Okada and Murayama, together known as , performed in a duo concert billed "YuuNaa Independent Concert ~Irreplaceable Time~" at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. Several AKB48 members participated as guest performers, including Mogi, Mukaichi, and former Team 4 captain Minami Minegishi, and the rock band Gacharic Spin served as backup band. Backstage reporting of the concert by Mogi and Mukaichi was released on the YouTube channel.
Okada took third place in the 3rd AKB48 Group No. 1 Singing Ability Competition in December 2020 and joined the vocal group consisting of the event's top nine finalists, later named Nona Diamonds and represented by the agency . In AKB48's 58th single "Nemohamo Rumor" (2021), Okada was appointed title song center for the second time after "Jabaja". She reprised her role as Nero in the stage play Majimuri Gakuen: Loudness (2021), where in contrast to previous installments of the Gakuen series, Nero calls for peace between the opposing factions in the end; idol journalist Hana Inukai connected this to AKB48's recent trend of reducing internal rivalry to present a united front. She took first place in the fourth Singing Ability Competition in January 2022 and was rewarded with her second solo song, "Kowasanakucha Ikenai Mono", which was released as part of AKB48's 59th single "Motokaredesu" (2022). The song is a rock ballad and the music video depicted her as a "fallen angel" singing on a building rooftop against a cityscape. In April 2022, Okada was officially transferred to AKB48 Team A, leaving Team 4 after eight years and eight months of service.
In July 2021, Okada launched her individual YouTube channel and announced that she has joined the Avex Asunaro talent agency with the goal of expanding her solo activities. These include appearances in the television drama Stolen Love, High School Teacher (2021) and a stage play adaptation of Magi (2022). She also held her second solo concert in commemoration of her decade in the entertainment industry, titled "Starting Over" in English, on July 3, 2022 at the Hitomi Memorial Hall in Tokyo with an additional performance scheduled for July 10 at the Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, which would also be livestreamed. During the concert, she performed the first song for which she wrote all the lyrics, titled "Kono Yo Kara Boku Dake ga Kieru Koto ga Dekitara".
Okada wrote the lyrics for Bangkok-based group BNK48's 12th single "Believers" (2022). She had previously contributed lyrics for BNK48 and its sister group CGM48, based in Chiang Mai. Yuiri Murayama would produce the choreography for the single.
On November 7, 2022, coinciding with her 25th birthday, Okada announced her first solo national tour, titled "Timeless Flag", which would take place from January to February 2023, with eight shows in seven prefectures. Following reports published by Shūkan Bunshun alleging that she and actor Hiroki Ino were in a relationship, on November 23, 2022, Okada announced that she was leaving AKB48. Her farewell concert took place on April 1, 2023, at the Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, followed by her final performance at the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara the next day.
2023–present: Solo debut
Okada's solo debut album, titled Asymmetry, has been scheduled for release on November 7, the same day as her twenty-sixth birthday. All the lyrics were written by her, and the Blu-ray bonus content would include footage from the "Starting Over" and "Timeless Flag" concerts.
Public image
Early in her entertainment career, Okada presented a persona, such as by establishing rules of conduct for her fellow 14th generation members and consistently speaking in a formal manner. While she is still described as such, the persona has evolved into an "eccentric" image as her career progressed.
Okada is a supporter of the LGBT community.
Okada is also known for her close friendship with fellow AKB48 member Yuiri Murayama; both of them had been members of Team 4 since they became full AKB48 members, until Okada was transferred to Team A in April 2022. This relationship is often teased, discussed or even depicted as a near-romantic one in their group-related appearances. They are referred to by the blended name "YuuNaa" (ゆうなぁ), which is later officially used as their duo concert title and part of their joint YouTube channel name with Shinobu Mogi and Mion Mukaichi, themselves known as "MogiOn" (もぎおん).
Personal life
Okada is named after the number , the day of her birth. She lives in Kanagawa Prefecture, but was born in Neyagawa in Osaka Prefecture and lived there until she was three years old. She has two older brothers and a younger sister. Her eldest brother is a medical professional and often gives her dietary advice. Her sister, Rina, occasionally accompanies her in live streaming sessions and public appearances, notably at the 2016 AKB48 Janken Tournament where they cosplayed as characters from the anime series Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World. The family owns two Toy Poodles.
Okada has not declared her sexual orientation, but has stated that she does not have any particular gender preference for the person with whom she could be in a relationship. She has also revealed that she had made a love confession to a boy when in middle school.
Before joining AKB48, Okada had aspired to become a doctor. Her personal hero is former AKB48 Group General Manager Minami Takahashi.
Discography
Solo
Studio albums
AKB48
Okada's first participation in an AKB48 title song was in "Labrador Retriever" (2014), followed by "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" (2015), and she has been part of all title song lineups since "Tsubasa wa Iranai" (2016) until "Hisashiburi no Lip Gloss" (2022). Notable appearances include:
"Otona e no Michi" ("Uza" B-side, 2012), first appearance in a single (as trainee)
"Kimi Dake ni Chu! Chu! Chu!" ("Heart Electric" B-side, 2013), first Tentōmu Chu! song
"Ima, Happy" ("Kibouteki Refrain" B-side, 2014), first co-center
"LOVE TRIP" (2016), first appearance as elected Senbatsu
"Dare no Koto wo Ichiban Aishiteiru?" ("Shoot Sign" B-side, 2017), AKB48 Group collaboration with Sakamichi Series
"Jabaja" (2018), first title song center
"Sentimental Train" (2018), first appearance as Kami 7
"Hitsuzensei" ("Jiwaru Days" B-side, 2019), AKB48 Group collaboration with Sakamichi Series and Iz*One
"Mata Aeru Hi Made" ("Shitsuren, Arigatō" B-side, 2020), Minami Minegishi's graduation song
"Nemohamo Rumor" (2021), center
STU48
Okada has also been part of all STU48 title song lineups from "Kurayami" (2018) to "Hetaretachi yo" (2021). Notable appearances include:
"Setouchi no Koe" ("Negaigoto no Mochigusare" B-side, 2017), first STU48 original song
"Shukkō" ("Kaze wo Matsu" B-side, 2019), center
"Soshite Boku wa Boku Janaku naru" ("Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" B-side, 2021), performed with 3rd AKB48 Group No. 1 Singing Ability Competition finalists from STU48
"Kōkai Nanka Aruwakenai" ("Hetaretachi yo" B-side, 2021), farewell song
Solo songs
"Coin Toss" (Thumbnail, 2017)
"Kowasanakucha Ikenai Mono" ("Motokaredesu" B-side, 2022)
"Kono Yo Kara Boku Dake ga Kieru Koto ga Dekitara" (also songwriter, live only, 2022)
Nona Diamonds
"Hajimari no Uta" (2021), placed 14th on the Weekly Oricon Singles chart
Bibliography
Appearances
Variety and talk shows
(Nippon TV, 2014), regular cast
Mirai Monster (Fuji TV, 2022–present), co-host
AKB48 Sayonara Mōri-san (AKB48 サヨナラ毛利さん) (Nippon TV, 2022–present), irregular appearances
TV dramas
(Fuji TV, 2013–2014), herself
Majisuka Gakuen 4 (Nippon TV, 2015), Katabutsu
Majisuka Gakuen 5 (Hulu Japan, 2015), Katabutsu
AKB Horror Night: Adrenaline's Night, Ep. 34 "The Way Home" (2016)
AKB Love Night: Love Factory, Ep. 23 "The Look of the Love Sky" (2016), Manami
Kyabasuka Gakuen (Nippon TV, 2016), Katabutsu (Karei)
(TV Asahi, 2021), Akari Hoshino
Theater
AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jōrei stage adaptation (2014), Haruko Mizuno
Majisuka Gakuen: Lost in The Supermarket (2016), Katabutsu
Romeo and Juliet (2018), Juliet (Theater Renacchi production)
Majimuri Gakuen Stage Play (2018), Nero
(2019), Shozo Hirono
Majimuri Gakuen: Loudness (2021), Nero
Yayoi, Sanatsu – Kimi wo Aishita 30nen- (2022), Sakura Watanabe
Musical "Magi" – Dungeon Kumikyoku (2022), Morgiana
Solo and independent concerts
(2018)
(2020)
Nana Okada 10th Anniversary Concert "Starting Over" (2022)
Fashion show
MyNavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2021 Autumn/Winter
Production
Stage
STU48 2nd original stage set list (2020–2022)
Music
BNK48 12th single "Believers" (2022), as lyricist
Notes
References
External links
AKB48 official profile
1997 births
Living people
Japanese female idols
Japanese gravure models
21st-century Japanese actresses
AKB48 members
STU48 members
Japanese women pop singers
Actors from Kanagawa Prefecture
Singers from Kanagawa Prefecture
People from Neyagawa, Osaka
21st-century Japanese women singers
21st-century Japanese singers
Avex Group artists