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, Laugh It Up!, which aired from October 2017 to March 2018.

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. She made her television debut in 2009 through a FamilyMart commercial and made her acting debut in the TV series Samurai High School. Her next appearance came in January 2010, where she played young Mamako Ino in an episode of the TV series Angel Bank. 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, then returned to America.

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. The group made their CD debut two months later with the single "Mousou☆Koukan Nikki". Aoi left the group in July 2014 to focus on acting.

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. The film received positive reviews and Aoi gained attention for her performance. The following year, she played a supporting role in the adventure film Samurai Pirates, portraying the main character's classmate. 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.

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!. In March 2016, she starred alongside Yoko Moriguchi in the TV series Joyu Ochi. The following month, she starred in the horror film Horror no Tenshi. She was named the new "CM queen" in November.

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. On December 12, 2017, she hosted the year-end music program Waga Kokoro no Osaka Melody. 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.

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. 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.

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

• Cats, Victoria the White Cat (Francesca Hayward)

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