INTRODUCTION
Manaka Nishihara (西原愛夏) is a Japanese former actress, gravure idol, television personality, and licensed dental hygienist who gained attention for her rare dual career combining healthcare professionalism with entertainment industry success. Known for her elegant yet approachable beauty and cheerful personality, she built a strong fan base during the 2010s through gravure modeling, film appearances, variety shows, and stage performances.
Often described by Japanese media as a “beautiful dental hygienist gravure idol,” Nishihara stood out for balancing medical training with public entertainment activities. Her career included modeling, television appearances, stage acting, and gravure DVD releases, making her a recognizable figure among fans of Japanese gravure culture.
In 2022 she married actor Katsuki Nishina, bringing further public attention to her private life. In December 2023 she officially announced her retirement from the entertainment industry after temporarily suspending activities due to health concerns. Despite leaving show business, her work remains widely remembered by fans of Japanese gravure and television culture.
PROFILE / BASIC INFORMATION
Full Name : Manaka Nishihara (西原愛夏)
Also Known As : Manachan (まなちゃん)
Nationality : Japanese
Profession : Actress, Gravure Idol, TV Personality, Dental Hygienist
Industry Category : Entertainment, Television, Gravure Modeling, Healthcare
Years Active : 2011 – 2023
Date of Birth : November 17, 1995
Age : 30
Birthplace : Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Current Residence : Tokyo, Japan
Zodiac Sign : Scorpio
Blood Type : AB
Height : 161 cm
Measurements : 90 - 58 - 90 cm
Hair & Eye Color : Brown Hair, Brown Eyes
Ethnicity : Japanese
Agency / Management : BBE (Big Booking Entertainment)
Debut : 2011, Scouted in Takeshita Street, Harajuku, Tokyo
Notable Works : Angel Is Not!! (2018), Revenge Girl (2017), Tonde Saitama (2019), Grey Zone (2021)
LATEST NEWS
Latest News : December 2023 retirement announcement from the entertainment industry after several months of activity suspension due to health concerns, Fan club closed on December 26, 2023, Social media accounts remained online after retirement
Public Reaction : Fans expressed support and appreciation for her work, especially recognizing her unique dual career as both a healthcare professional and entertainment personality
CAREER
Career Overview : Manaka Nishihara entered the entertainment industry after being scouted while shopping with her mother on Takeshita Street in Harajuku, one of Tokyo’s most famous youth fashion districts. Her natural charm and photogenic appearance quickly attracted attention from talent agencies and modeling scouts.
Career & Achievements : After moving to Tokyo for high school, she began working as an idol and gravure model. Her early career included event appearances, modeling shoots, and television guest roles. She gradually expanded into acting in films, television dramas, stage productions, and variety shows.
Career Highlights : Successfully balancing two professions as a certified dental hygienist and a gravure idol, Winning the “Gera Queen Championship” on the Japanese variety show God Tongue, Appearing in popular Japanese films and stage productions, Releasing multiple gravure DVDs that attracted strong fan interest
Awards & Recognition : Winner of the “Gera Queen Championship” on TV Tokyo variety program God Tongue (2018)
EARLY LIFE / BACKGROUND
Early Life : Manaka Nishihara was born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Her father is a dentist, which influenced her decision to pursue a healthcare-related profession alongside her entertainment activities.
Education : Hinode Gakuen High School (Tokyo), Dental Hygienist Training School
Major : Dental Hygiene
After graduating from high school in 2014, she temporarily paused her entertainment career to focus on professional training. She entered a specialized college to become a dental hygienist and later passed the national licensing examination in 2017.
Languages : Japanese
FILMOGRAPHY / WORKS / PUBLICATIONS
Filmography : Revenge Girl (2017), Angel Is Not!! (2018), Angel Is Not!! 2 (2018), Tonde Saitama (2019), Horror Channel The Movie (2019), Grey Zone (2021), Sairen (Role: Mami)
Acting : Film roles, TV drama appearances, stage theater performances, variety show appearances
Gravure : Active gravure modeling career including photobooks and DVD releases
Publications : Lovely Summer ~Fly Me To Love~ (2018 DVD), My Summer Lady (2019 DVD), Mitsumerarete… (2020 DVD), Itoshikute… (2020 DVD), Kagami no Naka no Watashi (2021 DVD)
TV / MEDIA APPEARANCES
TV Shows : Detective Yugami Episode 1 (Fuji TV), Princess Jellyfish Episode 4 (Fuji TV), Babel Kyusaku Episode 5 (Nippon TV), Ariyoshi Japan, Please Ranking
Variety Shows : God Tongue (TV Tokyo), Tomorrow’s Show (TOKYO MX Assistant MC), NagiSuke! 2 (Amazon Prime), Miyako Island Zero Yen Travel (Okinawa TV)
Web Programs : Gekidan Summers (GYAO!), WinTicket Midnight Keirin (AbemaTV), All Japan Gravure Contest Ability (AbemaTV)
MAGAZINE FEATURES / RUNWAY / EVENTS
Magazine Features : Gravure photo spreads in Japanese entertainment magazines, Weekly gravure publications, online gravure platforms
Runway Appearances : Promotional modeling events and brand photo exhibitions
Event Appearances : Kickboxing event “Knock Out” Round Girl, Nikon Fan Meeting model, Shin Yamagishi Photo Exhibition model, Tokyo Idol Festival appearances
BRAND COLLABORATIONS / ENDORSEMENTS
Brand Collaborations : Nikon fan event modeling, entertainment promotional campaigns
Endorsements : TBS BlitzIndex campaign “Blitz × Beer”, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association promotional video, Tiffany Blue short film collaboration
PUBLIC IMAGE / CULTURAL INFLUENCE
Public Image : Known for her “beauty with intelligence” image as both a medical professional and entertainment personality
Cultural Influence : Part of the trend of multi-career Japanese entertainers who maintain professional qualifications outside the entertainment industry
Visual Signature : Elegant gravure styling, soft smile, classic Japanese beauty aesthetics
Fashion Style : Feminine casual style, gravure swimwear photography, elegant event dresses
PERSONAL LIFE / HOBBIES / INTERESTS
Personal Life : Married Japanese actor Katsuki Nishina in October 2022, Marriage publicly announced December 2022
Hobbies : Traveling, Watching movies, Watching TV dramas, Watching anime
Special Skills : Classical ballet, Sports activities
Personal Interests : Japanese cuisine, Matcha desserts, Korean cuisine
Languages : Japanese
TRIVIA / FUN FACTS / BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Fun Facts : Never had a cavity in her life despite working in the dental field, Studied classical ballet for approximately ten years starting in kindergarten
Behind-the-scenes notes : Participated in ballet competitions such as the Tohoku Ballet Competition and NBA Ballet Competition
Lesser-known details : Temporarily paused her entertainment career to complete professional healthcare education, which later contributed to her distinctive public image
SNS / SOCIAL MEDIA / ONLINE PRESENCE
Official Website : Private
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/manakanishihara
X (Twitter) : https://x.com/ManakaNishihara
TikTok : Private
YouTube : Private
Other Platforms : Official Blog (Diamond Blog), LINE Official Stickers