is a Japanese actress, model, and television presenter. She is a former first generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46 and a regular model for the fashion magazine sweet.
As an actress, her lead roles have included Mana Hayase in the Japanese remake of the Taiwanese film You Are the Apple of My Eye and Midori Asakusa in both the film and television adaptations of the manga Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!.
Early life Saitō was born on August 10, 1998, in Katsushika, Tokyo, to a Burmese mother and Japanese father. She has two older brothers.
When Saitō was in her latter years of elementary school, she was bullied by her classmates and, despite reaching out, received no help from her teachers, prompting her to stop attending school for a period of time. This resulted in a withdrawn personality as a consequence, which she eventually overcame after joining Nogizaka46.
Career Early career: child actress Saitō debuted as an actress in 2007 in the film Sakuran, playing the protagonist as a child. She had also appeared in a number of commercials.
2011–2023: Nogizaka46 In 2011, encouraged by her mother she auditioned for [then] an upcoming J-pop idol girl group, she successfully passed the audition for the first generation of idol group Nogizaka46, debuting as an idol on the group's first single "Guruguru Curtain" in February 2012. Saitō became the center member on the 15th Nogizaka46 single, "Hadashi de Summer", in 2016.
In 2015, Saitō became the exclusive model for the fashion magazine CUTiE published by Takarajimasha, which stopped publication in the same year. Saitō then became a regular model for another fashion magazine from the same publisher, sweet, as the magazine's youngest model since its publication.
In 2017, Gentosha published Saitō's first photobook. Titled Shiosai, the photobook sold 58,215 copies in the first week. As of December 2018, the photobook has sold over two-hundred thousand copies.
Saitō announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 on November 4, 2022. She would stay in the group until the end of 2022 and plans a graduation concert in 2023. She is the penultimate first generation member to leave the group. Asuka officially graduated from the group on December 31, 2022, and her graduation concert took place on May 17–18, 2023, at the Tokyo Dome, attended by about 100 thousand people.
Acting Saitō was active as an actress and model outside of Nogizaka46. She has played lead roles in the Japanese remake of the Taiwanese film You Are the Apple of My Eye and the NTV horror drama Zambi. After departing from Nogizaka46, Saitō returned to full-time acting. In March 2023, it was announced that she would portray Riko in the crime and suspense film Side by Side directed by Chihiro Ito.
On January 9, 2023, it was revealed that Saitō was cast for both the film and television drama live-action adaptation of the manga My Home Hero as Reika Tosu, an 18-year-old college student trapped in an abusive relationship at the start of the story and who later becomes a police investigator after a timeskip. The movie is scheduled to air in March 2024.
In January 23, 2024, it was announced that she is also set to star as Ai Hoshino for the live-action film adaptation of the manga Oshi no Ko.
On January 21, 2025, she won the Newcomer of the Year award at the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize for her role in Oshi no Ko: The Final Act. On June 8, Saitō was officially appointed as the ambassador for the "National Green and Flower Fair Katsushika," held in her hometown of Katsushika Ward. On July 5 of the same year, she launched her first solo variety talk show, , which began airing on the Nippon Television Network.
Discography Singles with Nogizaka46
Year No. Title Role Notes 2012 1 "Guruguru Curtain" A-side Debuted as a 1st Generation member; Also sang on "Nogizaka no Uta", "Aitakatta Kamoshirenai", "Ushinaitakunai kara" and "Shiroi Kumo ni Notte" 2 "Oide Shampoo" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Ōkami ni Kuchibue o" as Under Member 3 "Hashire! Bicycle" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Kairyū no Shima yo" as Under Member 4 "Seifuku no Mannequin" A-side Also sang on "Yubi Bōenkyō" and "Yasashisa Nara Ma ni Atteru" 2013 5 "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Shakiism" and "13nichi no Kinyobi" as Under Member 6 "Girl's Rule" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Senpūki" as Under Member and "Ningen to Iu Gakki" 7 "Barrette" A-side Also sang on "Tsuki no Ōkisa" and "Sonna Baka na…" 2014 8 "Kizuitara Kataomoi" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Toiki no Method" and "Umareta Mama de" as Under Member 9 "Natsu no Free & Easy" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Koko ni Iru Riyū" as Under Member 10 "Nandome no Aozora ka?" B-side Does not sing on title track. Sang on "Watashi, Okiru" and "Ano Hi Boku wa Tossa ni Uso o Tsuita" as Under Member 2015 11 "Inochi wa Utsukushii" A-side Also sang on "Arakajime Katarareru Romance" 12 "Taiyō Nokku" A-side Also sang on "Hane no Kioku" and "Seifuku o Nuide Sayonara o…" 13 "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" A-side Also sang on "Popipappapā" and "Kanashimi no Wasurekata" 2016 14 "Harujion ga Sakukoro" A-side Also sang on "Harukanaru Bhutan" 15 "Hadashi de Summer" A-side, center Also sang on "Boku Dake no Hikari" 16 "Sayonara no Imi" A-side Also sang on "Kodoku na Aozora" and "Ano Kyōshitsu" 2017 17 "Influencer" A-side Also sang on "Another Ghost" 18 "Nigemizu" A-side Also sang on "Onna wa Hitori ja Nemurenai", "Hito Natsu no Nagasa Yori…" and "Naitatte Iijanaika?" 19 "Itsuka Dekiru kara Kyō Dekiru" A-side, center Shared center position with Nanase Nishino; Also sang on "Fuminshō" 2018 20 "Synchronicity" A-side Also sang on "Against" as 1st Generation member 21 "Jikochū de Ikō!" A-side, center Also sang on "Chikyū ga Maruinara " and "Anna ni Sukidatta no ni…" 22 "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru" A-side Also sang on "Caravan wa Nemuranai" and "Shiritai Koto " 2019 23 "Sing Out!" A-side, center Also sang on "No Yō na Sonzai" 24 "Yoake Made Tsuyogaranakutemoii" A-side Also sang on "Boku no Koto, Shitteru?", "Romendensha no Machi" and "Boku no Omoikomi" 2020 25 "Shiawase no Hogoshoku" A-side Also sang on "Sayonara Stay With Me", "Romendensha no Machi" and "Fantastic Sanshoku Pan" — "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo" — Charity song during the COVID-19 pandemic — "Route 246" Center 2021 26 "Boku wa Boku o Suki ni Naru" A-side Also sang on "Ashita ga Aru Riyū" and "Wilderness World"27"Gomen ne Fingers Crossed"A-sideAlso sang on "Zenbu Yume no Mama"28"Kimi ni Shikarareta"A-sideAlso sang on "Dorodarake" and "Tanin no Sora ni" —"Saigo no Tight Hug"A-side202229"Actually..."CenterShared center position with Mizuki Yamashita; Also sang on "Fukayomi" and "Suki ni Nattemita"30"Suki to Iu no wa Rock da ze!"A-side31"Koko ni wa Nai Mono"CenterLast single to participate
Albums with Nogizaka46
Year No. Title Participated song 2015 1 Tōmei na Iro "Nazo no Rakugaki" "Jiyū no Kanata " 2016 2 Sorezore no Isu "Kikkake" "Taiyō ni Kudokarete" "Threefold Choice" 2017 3 Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume "Skydiving" "Settei Ondo" "Katai Kara no Yō ni Dakishimetai" 2019 4 Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made "Arigachi na Ren'ai" "Mosugu ~Zambi Densetsu~"
Other featured songs
Year Artist Title Albums / Singles 2017 AKB48 "Dare no Koto o Ichiban Aishiteru" "Shoot Sign" Mondo Grosso "Wakusei Tantra" Nando Demo Atarashiku Umareru 2018 AKB48 "Kokkyo no Nai Jidai" "Jabaja" 2019 "Hitsuzensei" "Jiwaru Days"2021Nogizaka46"Hard to Say""Time Flies"2022Mondo Grosso"Stranger"Big World
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes2007SakuranTomeki2018You Are the Apple of My EyeMana HayaseLead role2020Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! The MovieMidori AsakusaLead role2023Side by SideRiko2024My Home Hero: The MovieReika TosuOshi no Ko: The Final ActAi Hoshino2025UnforgettableYuri Umino2026The Keeper of the Camphor TreeYumi Saji (voice)
Television drama Year Title RoleNotes2016A Girl's DreamNanami HidakaTales of the Unusual: Summer Special 2016 "Another Elevator"Kimiko Shishido2019ZambiKanade YamamuroLead role2020Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!Midori AsakusaLead roleMurdered RemotelyYumiko Tamura2023My Home HeroReika TosuMy Beloved FlowerKonomi Ushio2024Oshi no KoAi HoshinoLight of My LionMio Makimura2025Murderous EncounterMikuru ShitaraEpisode 1 and 52026Themis' Uncertain CourtAki YoshizawaEpisode 4Until the T-shirt DriesMiki
Variety show Year Title RoleNotes2026Another SkyCo-host
Music video appearances Year Title Artist2023"Life"Gen Hoshino2024"Fujin"Vaundy
Bibliography
Photobooks Kikan Nogizaka vol.3 Ryōshū (4 September 2014, Tokyo News Service) Shiosai (25 January 2017, Gentosha) Museum (23 May 2023, Kodansha)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work(s) Result202548th Japan Academy Film PrizeNewcomer of the YearOshi no Ko: The Final Act
References
External links
at Nogizaka46
at Nogizaka.LLC