Mion Mukaichi (向井地 美音, Mukaichi Mion, born 29 January 1998) is a Japanese idol singer and former child actress. She is a member of the girl group AKB48,[2][3] and was the third AKB48 Group General Manager (総監督, sōkantoku). As an actress, she is best known for portraying Mio Sato in the Unfair television series and films.

Mion Mukaichi
向井地 美音
Mukaichi in 2023
Born (1998-01-29) 29 January 1998 (age 26)
Other namesMīon
Occupations
Years active2002 (2002) – present
AgentMama&Son
Notable workUnfair, Unfair: The Movie, "Tsubasa wa Iranai"
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active2013 (2013) – present
LabelsKing Records
Member ofAKB48
YouTube information
Channel
Presented by
    • Yuiri Murayama ("Yuu")
    • Nana Okada ("Naa")
    • Shinobu Mogi ("Mogi")
    • Mion Mukaichi ("On")
Years active2020–present
Genres
Subscribers143,000[1]
Total views40,115,050[1]

Last updated: 21 March 2023 Edit this on Wikidata
AKB48 Group General Manager
In office
April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01) – March 16, 2024 (2024-03-16)
Preceded byYui Yokoyama
Succeeded byNarumi Kuranoo

Biography

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Mukaichi was born in Saitama Prefecture. She played tennis from 1st grade in elementary school right up to 3rd grade in junior high school.[4]

Career

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Mukaichi was a child actress, represented by the talent agency Central G.[5] She quit in fifth grade to concentrate on her studies[4] and returned after entering junior high school, represented by talent agency Ii Concept.[6] She appeared in a number of television dramas, such as Unfair (2006), and movies, such as Unfair: The Movie (2007).

In January 2013, Mukaichi took part and passed the AKB48 15th generation auditions, joining the group as a trainee member.[7] She was promoted to Team 4 In February 2014, during the group's Daisokaku Matsuri team assignment event and concert.[8] In April 2014, Mukaichi was selected as the new center (lead performer) for the song "Heavy Rotation" after being nominated by original center Yuko Oshima, who was about to leave the group.[9][10] She joined a title track lineup, or senbatsu, for the first time for the group's 38th single title track "Kibouteki Refrain".[11]

Mukaichi appeared in the series Sailor Zombie, starring fellow AKB48 members Nana Owada, Rina Kawaei, and Juri Takahashi, as a guest role in episode 2.[10] Outside the group, she starred in the movie Unfair: The End, the final part of the Unfair series, which was released in September 2015. Producer Hirotsugu Usui [ja], who did not know Mukaichi joined AKB48, said Mukaichi's role was a very important one and that even if Mukaichi has quit the entertainment industry, he would want her to return for this role.[12]

Mukaichi was appointed as center for the group's 44th single title track "Tsubasa wa Iranai" which was released on June 1, 2016.[13] In AKB48 Group's general elections in the same year, she placed 13th with 47,094 votes and entered the senbatsu in AKB48 45th single.[14]

In June 2018, she placed 13th in that year's elections and revealed that she aimed to become the next General Manager of AKB48 Group. In December, during the 13th anniversary celebration of the group at the AKB48 Theater, current General Manager Yui Yokoyama nominated Mukaichi as her successor and stated that she would remain to guide her until she was ready to take over the position. Mukaichi officially assumed the General Manager position on April 1, 2019.[15]

On January 21, 2020, to commemorate AKB48's fifteenth anniversary, Mukaichi launched the AKB48 individual YouTube channels project, where members would produce their own YouTube channels to express their individual appeal to the general public, following the cancellation of long-running AKB48 television shows such as AKBingo! and AKB48 Show![16][17] Her joint channel with fellow AKB48 members Nana Okada, Yuiri Murayama, and Shinobu Mogi, the YuuNaaMogiOn Channel (ゆうなぁもぎおんチャンネル), was launched the same day.[18]

On December 8, 2021, she was appointed the new captain of Team A during AKB48's 16th Anniversary performance, which she will serve in addition to her role as General Manager.[19]

On December 31, 2023, Mukaichi announced that she will be stepping down as General Manager on March 16, 2024, and that Narumi Kuranoo will take her place.[20][21]

Discography

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AKB48 singles

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Year No. Title Role Notes
2013 33 "Heart Electric" B-side Sang 'Kimi no Hitomi wa Planetarium' together with the trainee members.
2014 35 "Mae Shika Mukanee" B-side Sang 'Himitsu no Diary' as part of one-shot unit 'Baby Elephants'.
36 "Labrador Retriever" B-side Sang 'Heart no Dasshutsu Game' as part of Team 4.
38 "Kibouteki Refrain" A-side Mukaichi's first A-side. Also sang 'Me wo Akete Mama no First Kiss' as part of Team 4.
2015 39 "Green Flash" B-side Sang "Haru no Hikari Chikadzuita Natsu" and "Yankee Rock".
40 Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai A-side Also sang "Kafka to Dendenmu Chu!"
41 Halloween Night B-side Sang "Mizu no Naka no Dendouritsu", "Ippome Ondo", and "Yankee Machine Gun".
42 Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby B-side Sang "Kimi wo Kimi wo Kimi wo...", "Madonna no Sentaku", "Senaka Kotoba", and "Oneesan no Hitorigoto"
2016 43 "Kimi wa Melody" A-side Marked as the 10th Anniversary Single. Also sang "LALALA Message".
44 "Tsubasa wa Iranai" A-side, Center First solo center. Also sang "Aishū no Trumpeter".
45 "Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai" A-side Also sang "Black Flower".
46 "High Tension" A-side Also sang on "Happy End".
2017 47 "Shoot Sign" A-side Also sang on "Accident Chū" as AKB48 U-19 and "Dare no Koto wo Ichiban Aishiteru?" as Sakamichi AKB.
48 "Negaigoto no Mochigusare" A-side Also sang on "Tenmetsu Pheromone"
49 "#SukiNanda" B-side Sang "Darashinai Aishikata" and "Give Up wa Shinai"
50 "11gatsu no Anklet" A-side
2018 51 "Jabaja" A-side Also sang on "Position" as AKB48 Wakate Senbatsu, and on "Kokkyo no Nai Jidai" as Sakamichi AKB.
52 "Teacher Teacher" A-side Also sang "Romantic Junbichuu" as Team A.
53 "Sentimental Train" A-side Placed 13th in the 2018 Senbatsu Sousenkyo. Also sang "Yuri wo Sakaseru ka?".
54 "No Way Man" A-side
2019 55 "Jiwaru Days" A-side
56 "Sustainable" A-side Also sang on "Nagareboshi ni Nani wo Megaeba Ii no Darou".
2020 57 "Shitsuren, Arigatō" A-side Also sang on "Mata Aeru Hi Made" and "Aisuru Hito"
2021 58 "Nemohamo Rumor" A-side Also sang on "Hanareteitemo"

Appearances

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Stage units

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AKB48 Kenkyusei Stage "Pajama Drive" (パジャマドライブ)
  1. "Tenshi no Shippo" (天使のしっぽ)
Team 4 3rd Stage "Idol no Yoake" (アイドルの夜明け)
  1. "Zannen Shōjo" (残念少女)

TV variety

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  • SMAP X SMAP (2005)
  • AKBingo! (2013–2019)
  • AKB48 no Anta Dare? (AKB48のあんた、誰?) (2013-2016)
  • Ariyoshi AKB Kyowakoku (有吉AKB共和国) (2014-2016)
  • AKB Nemousu TV (AKBネ申テレビ) (2014– )
  • AKB de Arubaito (AKBでアルバイト) (2014)
  • AKB Shirabe (※AKB調べ) (2014-2015)

TV dramas

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  • Toshiie and Matsu (利家とまつ) (2002), young Hatsu
  • Wedding Planner (ウエディングプランナー) (2002), Yumi's Daughter
  • Unfair (2006), Sato Mio[22]
  • Iryu (医龍) (2006), Fujiyoshi Juri
  • Papa no Namida de Ko wa Sodatsu (パパの涙で子は育つ) (2007), Kawamura Kaya
  • Flight Panic (フライトパニック) (2007)
  • Hataraki Man (働きマン) (2007)
  • Sailor Zombie (セーラーゾンビ) (2014), Giant zombie (Ep 2)[23]
  • Majisuka Gakuen 4 (マジすか学園4) (2015), Jisedai (Team Hinabe)[24]
  • Majisuka Gakuen 5 (マジすか学園5) (2015), Jisedai (Team Hinabe)[25]
  • AKB Horror Night: Adrenaline's Night (AKBホラーナイト アドレナリンの夜) Ep.21 - Big Sister (2015), Ikuko
  • Gekijōrei Kara no Shōtaijō (劇場霊からの招待状) Episode 8 (2015) as Mayu Izumi[26]
  • AKB Love Night: Love Factory (AKBラブナイト 恋工場) Ep.37 - Dangerous Two-seaters (2016), Mirai
  • Crow's Blood (クロウズ ブラッド) (2016), Nami Katayama
  • Cabasuka Gakuen (キャバすか学園) (2016), Jisedai (Fugu)
  • Tofu Pro-Wrestling (豆腐プロレス) (2017), Mion Mukaichi/Strawberry Mukaichi, Blackberry Mukaichi
  • Majimuri Gakuen (マジムリ学園) (2018), Bara/Ikumi Kuwabara

Movies

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Educational

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  • NHK Koko Koza (NHK高校講座) (2014- )

Magazines

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About YuuNaaMogiOn Channel". YouTube.
  2. ^ 向井地美音のプロフィール (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  3. ^ 向井地美音 (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  4. ^ a b "(AKB的人生論)向井地美音 まずは殻を破らなきゃ" (in Japanese). Asahi Shinbun. 2014-08-15. Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  5. ^ "Talent profile" (in Japanese). Central G. Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
  6. ^ "向井地美音" [Mion Mukaichi] (in Japanese). Japan Music Entertainment. 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
  7. ^ a b 11年目のAKB48、新センター抜擢の向井地美音とは?「アンフェア」子役に大島優子が"後継者"指名…"逸材"がグループの顔に (in Japanese). modelpress. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  8. ^ "峯岸みなみキャプテン2年目/大組閣祭り" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  9. ^ "大島優子、「ヘビロテ」後継者指名 15期生・向井地美音" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2014-04-06. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  10. ^ a b ""AKB48向井地美音、"巨大オシャレゾンビ"役でドラマ出演" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  11. ^ ""渡辺美優紀"無欲"の勝利「最高のプレゼント」" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2014-09-18. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  12. ^ "元子役・現AKBの向井地美音、『アンフェア』新作で美央役を続投". Cinema Today (in Japanese). 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  13. ^ "This year's 'AKB48 General Elections' to be held in Niigata + Mukaichi Mion announced center for 44th single". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  14. ^ "「AKB48 45thシングル 選抜総選挙」開票結果" (in Japanese). AKB48 Official Blog. 2016-06-18. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  15. ^ "AKB48グループ総監督、4月から向井地美音が担当". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  16. ^ "ツッコミは承知の上? AKB48柏木由紀ら10人がYouTuberデビューの勝算". Asagei Biz-アサ芸ビズ (in Japanese). 28 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  17. ^ AKB48 (2020-01-21). 【お知らせ】AKB48グループメンバー単独YouTubeチャンネル開設!! [[Notice] AKB48 group members launch individual YouTube channels!!].{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "AKB向井地・茂木・村山・岡田がYouTuberに、村山「体を張りたい」". MusicVoice (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  19. ^ "AKB48、4年ぶり組閣 新キャプテンは向井地美音、田口愛佳、浅井七海、倉野尾成美". Oricon Music (in Japanese). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  20. ^ "AKB48グループ総監督に関するお知らせ". AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  21. ^ "AKB48グループ、4代目総監督に倉野尾成美 向井地美音が交代発表&指名". Modelpress (in Japanese). 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  22. ^ TV アンフェア. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  23. ^ TV セーラーゾンビ. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  24. ^ TV マジすか学園4. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  25. ^ TV マジすか学園5. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  26. ^ TV 劇場霊からの招待状. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  27. ^ 元子役のAKB48向井地美音、『アンフェア』復帰への思い (in Japanese). Cinematoday Inc. September 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  28. ^ 映画 アンフェア the movie. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  29. ^ 映画 ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 千年呪い歌. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  30. ^ 映画 アンフェア the end. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
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