Minami Umezawa
Japanese singer, model and actress (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minami Umezawa (Japanese: 梅澤 美波, romanized: Umezawa Minami; born January 6, 1999) is a Japanese singer, model and actress. She is a third generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46 and is the third captain of the group. She is also an exclusive model for the fashion magazine "with" and a regular model for "Classy".
Minami Umezawa | |||||
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Umezawa in Taiwan in 2019 | |||||
| Born | January 7, 1999 | ||||
| Occupations |
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| Musical career | |||||
| Genres | J-pop | ||||
| Instrument | Vocals | ||||
| Years active | 2016–present | ||||
| Label | Nogizaka.LLC | ||||
| Member of | Nogizaka46 | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 梅澤 美波 | ||||
| Hiragana | うめざわ みなみ | ||||
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| Signature | |||||
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Early life and career
Umezawa was born on January 7, 1999 in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.[1] She has a younger brother seven years her junior.[2]
On September 4, 2016, Umezawa successfully passed the audition for Nogizaka46's third generation.[3] After the announcement of all the new third generation members, they were revealed on the "Nogizaka46 Third Generation Selection Special" live broadcast on LINE LIVE.[4] On December 10, she made her first appearance to fans at the "Nogizaka46 Third Generation Meet and Greet" held at Nippon Budokan.[5] On December 19, the official Nogizaka46 third generation blog was launched.[6]
From February 2 to 12, 2017, the third generation members' first performance, "Three Principals," was held for fifteen shows.[7] From May 9 to 14 of the same year, they appeared in the "Nogizaka46 Third Generation Solo Live," and held eight shows.[8]
In the May 2018 issue of the information magazine Nikkei Entertainment!, Umezawa's column began its serialization, succeeding senior member Rina Ikoma, and was released on April 4, 2018.[9][10] Then on April 3, She made her first solo stage appearance in the role of Elizabeth in the stage play The Seven Deadly Sins: The Stage, which began its performances on August 3.[11] She also appeared as Sailor Jupiter in the Nogizaka46 version of the musical Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, which ran from June 8 to 24 and from September 21 to 30 of the same year.[12] On July 2, she was selected for the first time to perform in the 21st single "Jikochū de Ikō!".[13] She also served as the center position for the first time for the song "Soratobira", which is included in the title song.[14]
On September 29, 2020, Umezawa released her first photo book, "Near the Dream," published by Kodansha.[15] On November 29, 2021, during an online mini-live, first generation senior member Manatsu Akimoto announced that Umezawa had been appointed as the group's "vice-captain"[16] – this was the first time the vice-captain system had been introduced since the group's inception.[16][17]
On February 22, 2023, at the Nogizaka46 11th founding anniversary live held at Yokohama Arena, it was announced that she would become the new designated "captain" of the girl group, succeeding Manatsu Akimoto.[18]
At the "Nogizaka46 Thanksgiving Festival" held on December 14, 2024, Umezawa officially appointed fifth-generation member Satsuki Sugawara as the group's new "vice-captain".[19] This means that when Umezawa graduates from Nogizaka46, Sugawara will automatically assume the role of "captain", leading the group by maintaining strong, positive relationships with members and providing encouragement during public appearances and similar events.[20]
On February 3, 2026, her second photobook entitled "Transparent Resolve" was released.[21] Then on February 25, Umezawa announced that she would be graduation from Nogizaka46 after their activities for the 41st single, "Saigo ni Kaidan o Kakenota no wa Itsuda?".[22] She is scheduled to hold her graduation concert on the last day of their "14th Year Birthday Live".[23]
Discography
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!: The Movie | Sayaka Kanamori | [24][25] | |
| 2025 | Kowloon Generic Romance | Yang Ming | [26][27] |
Television
Stage
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon | Makoto Kino | [33][12] | |
| The Seven Deadly Sins: The Stage | Elizabeth Liones | [11] | ||
| 2023 | Kingdom | Yang Duan He | [34][35] | |
| 2025 | Itaewon Class: The Musical | Oh Soo-ah | [36] |
