Yūka Kageyama

2015–2018: Early career, acting debut

In 2015, Kageyama took part in the second AKB48 Group Draft Conference, a joint audition held by AKB48 and its Japan-based sister groups. She advanced to the final round, but was not selected to become a trainee.^[2][3]

On May 8, 2016, the same day as her fifteenth birthday, Kageyama passed the audition for Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and became a first generation member of the group. She was introduced to the public on May 11.^[4] Within the group, Kageyama was noted for her abilities in both academics and sports, which are often shown in her television appearances, in addition to her singing skills.^[5][6][7] Her fandom name is Kagesapo (カゲサポ), which is short for "Kageyama Supporters" and announced in May 2021.^[8]

In 2017, Kageyama made her acting debut in the Hiragana Keyakizaka46 drama Re:Mind, aired on TV Tokyo and Netflix.^[9] Real Sound praised her "impactful" performance as the hidden mastermind, her insane nature "flickering" as she calmly explains her plan during the reveal.^[10]

2018–2020: Hiatus

On June 1, 2018, Kageyama announced that she was going into hiatus to prepare for the University of Tokyo entrance examinations.^[10][11] During her hiatus, she won a bronze medal in the 2018 Japan Philosophy and Ethics Grand Prix.^[6][12]

In March 2019, Hiragana Keyakizaka46 was rebranded into Hinatazaka46. Kageyama did not take part in Hinatazaka46's first four singles; her first participation in a Hinatazaka46 music release was for the 2020 album Hinatazaka. However, she did make surprise appearances in the final concert of the 2018 Hashiridasu Shunkan Tour^[13] and in the group's 2019 photobook, Tachikogi.^[14] She resumed entertainment activities on May 26, 2020, with a post on her official blog.^[11]

2020–2023: Football-related appearances, feature film debut, departure from Hinatazaka46

Kageyama is an association football enthusiast and played regularly in a local boys' team before joining Hiragana Keyakizaka46. Her catchphrases include "The soccer-loving girl"^[a] and "Gegenpressing to your heart".^[b][15][16] She holds a Class 4 referee qualification^[c] and regularly wrote about the Japanese league on her blog in a series titled "Yūka Kageyama's WE LOVE J.League", which aimed to cover all 56 teams from all three league divisions.^[18][19] Her favorite teams include Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Borussia Dortmund, and Leeds United F.C.^[20][21][22]

Kageyama became a recurring guest in the TV Tokyo football talk show FOOT×BRAIN [ja]^[23] and Atsuto Uchida's Football Time on DAZN,^[24][25][26] and was appointed Special Analyst for FOOT×BRAIN in October thanks to her knowledge in football strategy.^[27] Former Japan national football team player Tsuyoshi Kitazawa named her the "number one football enthusiast in the idol world".^[23] In December, Kageyama co-hosted her first self-titled football talk show miniseries on Hikari TV Channel with former Japan national team captain Yuji Nakazawa, which was titled Yuji Nakazawa and Yūka Kageyama's Talking Football and ran for three episodes.^[28]

Kageyama had her first voice acting role as Ayame Ebina in the animated adaptation of the football manga Farewell, My Dear Cramer (2021) on Tokyo MX, and also served as the production's "support manager".^[29][30] She made her first feature film appearance in Kaguya-sama Final: Love Is War, co-starring Kanna Hashimoto and released on August 20.^[31][32] Early in her career, Kageyama had named Hashimoto and actress Erika Toda as the people she admired.^[15] Real Sound positively commented on her "funny expressions" and that her intelligent image matched that of her character, Miko Iino.^[10]

Kageyama and fellow Hinatazaka46 members Mei Higashimura and Konoka Matsuda were appointed support ambassadors for DAZN's AFC Asian Cup Qualifications "Road to Qatar" campaign, which ran from August 2021 to March 2022. Kageyama also produced football educational video content for the campaign.^[33] Also in 2021, Kageyama was appointed the Japan Ambassador for the football simulation video game FIFA 22, after having served as an ambassador for the J Club FIFA 21 Festival the previous year,^{[30][34][35][36]} and co-hosted the 2021 J. League awards with comedian Hiroyuki Yabe and announcer Akihiko Nishioka [ja].^[16][37] She went on to become a co-host for the pre-2022 FIFA World Cup talk show FIFA World Cup 64, co-produced by TV Asahi and Abema,^[38][39][40] and also co-hosted several live match broadcasts of the event itself,^[41][42] where she was noted for her game analysis and multiple accurate predictions, which earned her the moniker "Goddess of Victory".^[43][44][45] Her increased activity during that period made the hashtag "Get Some Sleep, Kageyama" (#影山寝ろ) a trending topic on social media on multiple occasions.^{[46][47][48][49]}

Kageyama placed fourth on the top ten list of rising female talents of the first half of 2022 according to Talent Power Ranking, published in July and attributed to her increasing appearances on football and quiz shows.^[50] In January 2023, she placed second on an advertising industry polling of female talents predicted to make a breakthrough that year.^[51]

Aside from football, Kageyama was appointed the "fair character" (event ambassador) for the twentieth anniversary fair of book publisher Kobunsha's "Kobunsha New Books" (光文社新書, Kobunsha Shinshō) product line in October 2021. Fellow Hinatazaka46 member Manamo Miyata would also participate in the "Kobunsha Classics" fifteenth anniversary fair.^[52] As a philomath, she revealed in 2022 that she had obtained qualifications in several fields, including world heritage [ja], news and current affairs, real estate, pharmaceuticals, as well as certifications for dental assistant and psychological counselor professions.^[53]

In 2023, she revealed her membership in the Japan chapter of Mensa International, remarking that she wished to utilize the parts of her thinking that become "chaotic" from having too many perspectives.^{[54][55][56][57]} She also received the Cotton Award from the Japan Spinners Association, which cited her "natural" and "refreshing" image and wide range of activities and qualifications as qualities reflecting the versatility of cotton.^[58]

On February 17, 2023, Kageyama announced that she was planning to leave Hinatazaka46 after promotions for the group's ninth single have concluded, due to a persistent hearing disorder.^[60] Her photobook, titled Shiranai Koto Darake (知らないことだらけ, lit. 'Full of the Unknown')^[61] and published by Fusosha, was released on May 9 and sold 49 thousand copies in its first week, placing it first on the Oricon Weekly Book Ranking.^[62][63][64] The photography took place in Tokyo, Nagano, and Okinawa prefectures.^[65] She held her "graduation" ceremony on July 19 at the Tokyo International Forum, Hall A, before officially leaving Hinatazaka46 two days later.^[59][66]

2023–present: Solo career

In October 2023, Kageyama announced her affiliation with the talent agency Production Ogi and launched her official website, Kagesapo no Oseki (かげさぽのお席; lit. 'Kagesapo's Seats').^[67]

Kageyama was a regular cast member, with the title of "Special Supporter", for the sports talk show Abema Sports Time on Abema from July 2023 to December 2024.^[68] Her visit to the Emirates Stadium in London in October 2024 to interview Arsenal F.C. defender Takehiro Tomiyasu and the club's supporters was particularly well-received.^[69][70]

In 2024, Kageyama co-starred in the television drama Hakobiya on TV Tokyo^[71] and played a supporting role in Haru ni Nattara on Fuji TV.^[72] From May to June 2024, she portrayed female lead Lana in the first ever stage adaptation of the 1978 animated series Future Boy Conan, held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.^[73] She also started co-hosting Wellmi & Nessko, a short drama and talk show series about health and wellness on Nippon TV.^[74]

In 2025, Kageyama appeared in both installments of the two-part film Salary Man Kintaro, as well as the television dramas Mr. Mikami's Classroom, Musashino Rondo, The Asayama Family, Escape, Synanthrope, and Scandal Eve. Bayashi of Real Sound praised her range in portraying diverse characters, from the timid Riri in Escape to reserved intellectuals Yume and Nana in Mr. Mikami's Classroom and Synanthrope respectively, noting her use of subtle gestures and mannerisms to differentiate each role.^[75] Yuki Orita, writing for the same publication, remarked that within the large cast of Mr. Mikami's Classroom, she was able to be "conspicuous" while not overshadowing others, and to use both technical and emotional depth to express Yume's returnee background through subtle variations in her speech pattern, concluding that Kageyama is a "surprisingly excellent actor" who could sway those skeptical of former idols who transitioned to acting.^[76]

Kageyama participated in the tribute concert commemorating the 43rd debut anniversary of J-pop legend Akina Nakamori, titled Meikyō (明響)^[d] and held on May 1–2, 2025 at the Line Cube Shibuya. She covered "Second Love" (1982) and "Southern Wind" (1984), remarking that she was "unusually nervous" as it was her first time singing solo at a concert. She also met fellow football enthusiast Shiori Tamai of Momoiro Clover Z, who also performed solo.^[78][79][80]

The audition and entertainment information site Deview placed Kageyama first on its 2026 Next Breakout Ranking for actresses, released on January 30, 2026, noting her "natural" acting style as displayed in various drama appearances throughout 2025, as well as her anticipated participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup commentary. Fellow former Hinatazaka46 member Kyōko Saitō also appeared on second place.^[81]

Feature film

Television series

Web video

Variety and talk shows

Commercials

• Match (Otsuka Pharmaceutical) (2022)^[110]
• Uniqlo (2023)^[121]
• d Smartphone Loan (NTT Docomo) (2023)^[122]
• Puma Palermo (2024)^[123][124]
• SMAS (SMBC Group) (2024)^[125][126]
• Winner (Japan Sports Council) (2024)^[127]
• Kanadevia (2024–2026)^{[128][129][130]}
• Town Housing (Town Group)^[131][132]
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare (2024)^[133]
• Nihongo Partners (Japan Foundation) (2025)^[134]
• Sarigena (Disney) (2025)^[135]
• Digital Positive Action (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) (2025)^[136]
• McDonald's Japan (2026)^[137]

Music video

• Omoinotake, "Wonderland" (2026)^[138]

Radio