Nako

**“Yabuki Nako”** (
矢吹 (やぶき)
奈子 (なこ) , *Yabuki Nako*?, 야부키 나코) is a Japanese singer and a former member of the Japanese girl group HKT48. She is a former member of IZ\*ONE, and participated in Produce 48, finishing in 6th place in the ranking, making her a member of the project group. She is also former a member of HKT48's Team H and a former concurrent member of AKB48's Team B.

## Official Profile

* **Birthday:** Jun 18, 2001
* **Blood type:** O (Citation needed)
* **Height:** 150cm
* **Hobby:** Watching movies
* **Talent:** Making single eyelids

## Career

### Pre-debut

Nako wa born on June 18 2001 in Tokyo, Japan. Nako made her film debut as young Minami Asakura in the coming-of-age film Touch in 2005. Two years later, she appeared in JCB and Dainichi commercials. In 2009, she appeared in the made for television films **Detective Samonji Susumu** and **My Father's Longest Day**. She appeared in a Koala's March commercial in 2011. In 2012, she appeared in the short film **On the Shinhori River**. The following year, she appeared in the tokusatsu superhero film Gatchaman. She is also gifted with the talent of ballet.

### HKT48

Nako was a big fan of Sashihara Rino. During an AKB48 handshake event, Sashihara told Nako to audition for the group. Instead, Nako auditioned for HKT48, as Sashihara was demoted and transferred to HKT48 Team H. Nako passed the audition for HKT48’s 3rd generation. She is known for being the ace of the 3rd Generation and one of the fastest members who gets promoted from kenkyuusei. On 2015 she released her single song 'Ijiwaru Chu-'. She had a concurrent position in AKB48 Team B. For the 2018 general elections, she ranked #9, which made her a member of the "World Senbatsu". In 2018 she participated in 'NO WAY MAN' alongside Sakura and Hitomi which will be their last release before participating in IZ\*ONE.

### Produce 48

Nako joined Produce 48 under HKT48. Her first grade evaluation is F and became A after being re-evaluated, she impressed the coaches and viewers for her great vocals and clean dance moves. She is referred to be the 'Hidden Gem'. She garnered attention for doing the high note in 'LOVE WHISPER' for their evaluation.

She was apart of a performance team named Memory Fabricators along with Kim Chae Won, Jang Gyu Ri, Jo Yu Ri and Na Go Eun. She finished the competition in 6th place with 261,788 votes, debuting as a member of the IZ\*ONE project group.

### IZ\*ONE

The group officially debuted on October 29, 2018 with the mini album COLOR\*IZ and its title track, La Vie en Rose.

### Post-IZ\*ONE, graduation from HKT48

On October 16, 2022, during "HKT48 11th Anniversary LIVE 2022 ~Message to the Future~" concert, Nako announced her graduation from the group. Her final theater performance was held at the HKT48 Theater on March 27, 2023 and her graduation concert Yabuki Nako Graduation Concert ~Mirai e no Tsubasa~ was held at Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall on April 1. She will be continuing her activities as an actress.

On January 28, 2023, Nako announced that her contract with Vernalossom has ended.

On June 18, 2023, coinciding her birthday, Nako announced that she has signed with TWIN PLANET ENTERTAINMENT to handle actress activities.

## Discography

### Song Credits

Story of the Swan (Japanese Ver.)
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Violeta (Japanese Ver.)
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