Manabe Nagisa

Manabe Nagisa (真鍋凪咲) is a Japanese idol and member of CUTIE STREET, where she represents the color purple. She is also a former member of the trainee group KAWAII LAB. MATES, and was promoted to CUTIE STREET on July 30, 2024, after being announced as a KAWAII LAB. MATES member on November 21, 2023.

Nagisa’s path to becoming an idol was not straightforward. During university, she was actively searching for a future direction, originally aiming to become a performer while also considering more traditional career paths. Although she had long held a passion for dance—having experienced it since early childhood—she never initially set out to become an idol. Instead, the idea gradually formed after several influences aligned: discovering idol performances online, encountering FRUITS ZIPPER’s music on TikTok, and attending a university friend’s stage performance where she saw a guest idol perform live. That moment left a strong impression on her and helped shift her perspective toward idols as a real possibility.

She eventually applied for the KAWAII LAB. audition, which became her first-ever audition experience. With no prior knowledge of how auditions worked, she approached it with uncertainty but chose to express her individuality in an unconventional way, submitting a self-introduction video filled with a series of exaggerated facial expressions. Despite her doubts, this unexpected approach aligned with the agency’s emphasis on individuality, and she successfully passed through multiple audition stages.

Before joining CUTIE STREET, Nagisa also participated in the KAWAII LAB. MATES trainee program. During that period, she felt a strong sense that this opportunity might be her “last chance” to pursue an entertainment career, especially as she was approaching adulthood and the beginning of job-hunting expectations in university. This mindset led her to approach the audition camp with intense determination, fully committed to giving everything she had.

She has spoken honestly about her lack of prior entertainment experience compared to other members, as well as her struggles with communication and expressing herself verbally. However, she also describes these challenges as part of her growth, noting that every new experience—such as appearing on variety shows or performing on larger stages—has become a source of learning and excitement.

A major turning point in her artistic development came during high school, where she transitioned from being an outspoken, leadership-oriented student to someone more reserved and observant. As vice-captain of her dance club, she shifted toward supporting others rather than taking center stage. This change was influenced both by difficult social experiences and by the highly competitive environment of her dance club, where academic performance was also strictly tied to participation in performances. Despite these challenges, she strengthened her discipline and continued to pursue dance, which remained at the center of her motivation.

Nagisa’s dance background includes hip-hop and jazz styles, and she credits this experience with helping her in CUTIE STREET’s performances, particularly in choreography execution and facial expression. She describes herself as someone who is still developing her identity as an idol, but gradually forming a clearer image of what she wants to become.

Within CUTIE STREET, she sees her role as still evolving. Rather than standing out through a single defining strength, she aims to discover her unique contribution to the group. She admires members who are skilled at self-production and continuous self-improvement, and uses them as motivation to further develop herself. She also describes the group environment as supportive and inspiring, where each member brings different strengths and helps one another grow.

One of her defining goals is to become a “shape-shifting idol”—someone who can embody both cuteness and coolness while continuing to improve her singing and performance skills. She emphasizes that while she still struggles with confidence in her abilities, she wants to steadily move closer to a level where she can express herself fully and technically as well as emotionally.

After debut, she describes her life as a series of overwhelming and surreal experiences, including appearances on major programs such as Music Station. Despite the rapid pace of events, she feels a strong sense of fulfillment and gratitude, especially toward fans whose support has deeply impacted her. She often reflects on how fan messages give her emotional strength and help her reaffirm her purpose as an idol.

One particularly memorable moment for her was receiving words of encouragement from fans who told her she could simply be herself and that her existence gave them motivation in life. These interactions reinforced her belief that being an idol is meaningful not only as a performance career but also as a form of emotional connection with others.

Looking forward, Nagisa continues to focus on improving her performance skills, communication abilities, and self-expression. She hopes to grow into an idol who can inspire others through both performance and sincerity, while continuing to refine her identity within CUTIE STREET.