Mirei Sasaki
Japanese actress, reporter, and model
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Mirei Sasaki (Japanese: 佐々木 美玲, Hepburn: Sasaki Mirei) is a Japanese actress, reporter, and model. She has appeared in dramas such as Women's Gourmet Burger Club (2020) and Kakegurui Twin (2021), and starred in Koeharu! (2021) and Piece of Cake! (2022). Her theater appearances include portraying Yor Forger in the stage adaptation of Spy × Family (2023). She has been a lifestyle reporter for the Nippon TV morning show Zip! since 2020.
- Actress
- reporter
- model
Mirei Sasaki | |
|---|---|
佐々木 美玲 | |
Sasaki in September 2024 | |
| Born | December 17, 1999 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Formerly of |
|
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 164.9 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Website | Official website  |
Sasaki was a founding member of the girl group Hinatazaka46 (formerly Hiragana Keyakizaka46) from 2016 to 2025 and made her acting debut in the group's drama series Re:Mind (2017). She was the lead performer for "Kitai Shiteinai Jibun" from the album Hashiridasu Shunkan (2018) and "Azatokawaii" from Hinatazaka (2020). As a model, she was an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Non-no from 2019 to 2025.
Career
2013−2018: Early career
In 2013, Sasaki became a founding member of the Osaka-based local idol group choco☆milQ. She left the group on November 1, 2015.[1][2][3]
In May 2016, Sasaki passed the auditions for new members of girl group Keyakizaka46's subgroup Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and joined the group as the "first generation".[4] Her first concert occurred on 28 October at Akasaka Blitz, where she performed Keyakizaka46's songs "Silent Majority" and "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai", as well as Hiragana Keyakizaka46's own "Hiragana Keyaki".[5] She made her television acting debut in the group's drama series Re:Mind (2017) on TV Tokyo and Netflix, portraying a character named after herself,[6] and theater debut in the group's stage play Ayumi (2018).[7]
Sasaki served as center (lead performer) for the main song on Hiragana Keyakizaka46's debut album Hashiridasu Shunkan (2018), titled "Kitai Shitenai Jibun" (期待していない自分; lit. 'I Don't Expect Anything').[8] The album also included her solo song, "Wazukana Hikari" (わずかな光; lit. 'A Little Light').[9]
2019−2025: Hinatazaka46, expanding activities
Sasaki portrayed the main character in the music video of Aimer's "Hanabiratachi no March", released in January 2019.[10] She started modelling work in earnest by becoming an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Non-no in February.[11][12]
In March 2019, Hiragana Keyakizaka46 was spun off from Keyakizaka46 and rebranded into Hinatazaka46. Sasaki was one of five members representing Hinatazaka46 in "Hatsukoi Door", a collaboration track between the AKB48 Group and Sakamichi Series franchises released on the 2019 AKB48 single "Jiwaru Days".[13] She again served as center for the main song of Hinatazaka46's second studio album (first under the Hinatazaka46 name) Hinatazaka (2020), "Azato Kawaii" (アザトカワイイ; transl. "Cunningly Cute").[14]
On September 18, 2019, Sasaki hosted the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards Japan along with fellow Hinatazaka46 members Kumi Sasaki, Nao Kosaka, and Miho Watanabe.[15]
As a bread lover, Sasaki hosted her first self-titled special program Kaiten! Mīpan Bakery (開店!みーぱんベーカリー; lit. 'Open for Business! Mīpan Bakery') (2019) on TV Asahi CS 1.[16] In April 2020, she became a regular lifestyle reporter for the "Kiterune!" (キテルネ！; transl. This is trending!) segment of the long-running Nippon TV morning show, Zip!.[17] Her work in television acting continued with appearances in the TV Tokyo drama Japan Women's Gourmet Burger Club (2020)[18] and as Mikura Sado in the live-action series adaptation of Kakegurui Twin (2021),[19][20] as well as lead roles in the Hinatazaka46 drama Koeharu! (2021)[21] and Piece of Cake (2022) on Nippon TV.[22] She also headlined two stage plays in 2023, namely the stage adaptation of Piece of Cake[22] and as double cast for Yor Forger in the stage adaptation of best-selling manga Spy × Family.[23][24]
Sasaki's first photobook, titled Hizashi no Parade (陽射しのパレード; lit. 'Sunshine Parade'), was published on December 17, 2024, her twenty-fifth birthday, by Shueisha (publisher of Non-no). It was photographed in Da Nang, Vietnam, and made with the theme of "sparkling happiness".[25] It placed sixth on the Oricon 2025 First Half-year Photobook Rankings with 41,840 copies sold.[26]
On 6 January 2025, Sasaki and fellow first generation members Kumi Sasaki and Mana Takase announced that they would part ways with Hinatazaka46 after the promotions for the upcoming 13th single have concluded, marking the end of the founding first generation's tenure in the group.[27] Her graduation ceremony took place on April 6 at the Yokohama Stadium as part of the 6th Hinatansai anniversary concert.[28]
2025−present: Solo career
In June, Non-no magazine announced that Sasaki would end her exclusive modeling contract after 6.5 years, with a final appearance in its September 2025 issue.[29] On July 1, Sasaki announced that she had joined the Queen-B talent agency, which had also represented fellow former Hinatazaka46 member Miho Watanabe since 2022.[30]
In January 2026, the sequel to Piece of Cake, Piece of Safe, was announced, with Sasaki and the other cast members playing different characters. It would again include both a drama series and stage play; Nippon TV noted that all 17 performances of the previous stage play were sold out despite being shown during the COVID-19 pandemic.[31]
Personal life
Sasaki was born in Kanagawa Prefecture and raised in Hyōgo Prefecture. She lived in Taiwan for four years as a child and can speak Mandarin Chinese.[32][33] She enjoys fishing with her family and holds a class 2 small boat license.[34][35]
Filmography
Drama series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Re:Mind | Mirei Sasaki | [36] | |
| 2020 | Dasada | Ichigo Okada | [37] | |
| Japan Women's Gourmet Burger Club | Emi Moribayashi | [18] | ||
| 2021 | Kakegurui Twin | Mikura Sado | [19] | |
| Koeharu! | Meiko Hinowa | Lead role | [21][38] | |
| 2022 | Piece of Cake | Nao Nakamura | Lead role | [22] |
| 2026 | We're Worse at Love Than Pandas | Rina Takagi | [31] | |
| Piece of Safe | Megumi Haibara | Lead role | [31] |
Variety and talk shows
Music video
Theater
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Venue(s) | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ayumi | Various | AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo | Part of Team Castanets | [7] |
| Magia Record | Nanami Yachiyo | Akasaka ACT Theater | |||
| 2023 | Piece of Cake | Nao Nakamura | Tennōzu Galaxy Theater | Lead role | [22] |
| Spy × Family | Yor Forger | Imperial Theater, Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Hakata-za | Lead role | [23][24] | |
| 2026 | Piece of Safe | Megumi Haibara | Lead role | [31] |
Discography
The following are Sasaki's notable participations in Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and Hinatazaka46 discography.
- "Kitai Shitenai Jibun" (期待していない自分; lit. 'I Don't Expect Anything') (2018, main song of Hashiridasu Shunkan), center (lead performer)[8][40]
- "Wazukana Hikari" (わずかな光; lit. 'A Little Light') (2018, released on Hashiridasu Shunkan), solo song[9]
- "Hatsukoi Door" (2019, released on "Jiwaru Days"), collaboration between Sakamichi Series and AKB48 Group[13]
- "Azatokawaii" (2020, main song of Hinatazaka), center[14]
- "Koe no Ashiato" (2021, released on "Kimi Shika Katan"), double center (with Akari Nibu), Koeharu! theme song[41]
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Hoimīpan (formerly Kosaka-na Radio)[a] | Host (originally substituting for Nao Kosaka) | Tokyo FM | [42][43] | |
| 2022–2025 | Lawson presents Hinatazaka46 no Hotto Hitoiki! (ローソン presents 日向坂46のほっとひといき!) | Host (alternating with Suzuka Tomita and Hina Kawata) | Tokyo FM | [44][45] |
Notes
- Hoimi is a healing spell from the Dragon Quest game series, referring to the program's sponsor, the now-discontinued mobile game Dragon Quest of the Stars; Mīpan is Sasaki's nickname.
