Inaba Manaka

"I will work hard in my leader-like role for the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido, advising them while standing on-stage with them, and doing my own Hokkaido-centred activities."

- Inaba Manaka, September 2017

Inaba Manaka (稲場愛香) is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project. She is the leader of Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido, and a former member of Country Girls.

She was first introduced as a 19th generation Hello Pro Kenshuusei at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2013 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~ event on May 5, 2013. Due to health reasons, she graduated from Country Girls on August 4, 2016 after a three months absence from the group.

Prior to joining Hello! Project, she was a member of the idol group PEACEFUL, where she was the group's sub-leader.

Early Life
Inaba Manaka was born on December 27, 1997 in Hokkaido, Japan to a couple whose names are undisclosed. Since age 4, she began practicing both singing and dancing, aiming to join the entertainment industry. During her pre-idol childhood, she attended a dance school at in Sapporo.

2010-2012
In Fall 2010, she auditioned for 9th generation Morning Musume, but failed to pass the 3rd round.

In December 2010, Inaba participated in the 61st NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen as a back-dancer for EXILE.

In 2011, Inaba passed the Hokkaido Idol Project audition, and was added to a new idol group called PEACEFUL. She was assigned the sub-leader role. The group released their first and only single, "START!!", on June 8, 2011. On July 31, 2012, PEACEFUL disbanded.

2013
On May 5, Inaba was introduced as a member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei alongside Tanaka Karen, Mikame Kana, Fujii Rio, Mashiro Kana and Inoue Hikaru at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2013 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~.

On October 26, Inaba participated as a backdancer for Morning Musume Concert Tour 2013 Aki ~CHANCE!~'s Hokkaido concert.

2014
On January 25, Inaba participated in the Hello! Project 2014 WINTER ~GOiSU MODE~ concert that was held in Hokkaido.

From March 15 to May 30, Inaba participated as the opening act for Morning Musume '14 Concert Tour Haru ~Evolution~ along with 5 other Hello Pro Kenshuusei members.

On November 5, it was announced that Inaba was added to Country Musume, now called Country Girls, alongside Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta and Ozeki Mai. She concluded her trainee activities following the November/December Nama Tamago Show Concert.

2015
On December 29, Inaba celebrated her 18th birthday at a special event called Country Girls Inaba Manaka Birthday Event 2015, featuring three performances at TOKYO FM HALL.

In August, Inaba announced she would be getting her own regular corner on the music program Uta-navi!, titled "Manakan Music," which she learns and introduces various genres of music.

2016
In February, Inaba released her first blu-ray titled Greeting ~Inaba Manaka~, and a mini photobook of photographs taken during the filming was later released on July 16.

From March 25 to April 3, Inaba starred in the Engeki Joshibu musical Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru! as Hiroko.

On April 28, it was announced that after consulting doctors, it was decided Inaba would be taking a break from activities due to asthma. It was stated that she would be absent from Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~ release events, Country Girls Live Tour 2016 Haru Natsu, as well as the Hello! Project 2016 SUMMER concert tour. Additionally, the Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru! musical, which starred Inaba as the main character cancelled its remaining performances for May 28 and May 29.

On August 4, it was announced that Inaba had graduated from Country Girls due to the lack of improvement in her asthma. She is however still with and management will look into possibilities for her in the future.

2017
On September 8, it was announced on the official Hello! Project website that her asthma had stabilized, and she would be resuming activities as the leader of Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido, while also pursuing independent activities in Sapporo. She will begin her "new start" by performing at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido Teiki Kouen Vol.4 event on September 18.

Personal Life
Family= She has a younger brother.

When Inaba joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei, she was a first year high school student. She was the manager of her high school baseball team in Hokkaido for half of her first year, but unfortunately had to resign when she became too busy with her activities as a Kenshuusei.
 * -|Education=

In March 2016, Inaba graduated from high school.

The following list are notable friendships Inaba Manaka has acquired:
 * -|Friendships=
 * Miyamoto Karin: Manaka gets along well with Juice=Juice member Miyamoto Karin
 * Nakanishi Kana: She gets along well with ANGERME member Nakanishi Kana.
 * Sasaki Rikako: She is good friends with ANGERME member Sasaki Rikako.

Here is a list of nicknames that have been used to refer to Inaba Manaka:
 * -|Nicknames=
 * Ma~nyan (ま～にゃん): Given to her in PEACEFUL.
 * Manakan (まなかん): Official nickname, given to her since joining Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Inabaccho (いなばっちょ): Given to her in Country Girls

Profile
Stats=
 * Name: Inaba Manaka (稲場愛香)
 * Nicknames: Manaka (まなか), Manakan (まなかん), Inabaccho (いなばっちょ), Ma~nyan (ま～にゃん)
 * Birthdate:
 * Birthplace: Hokkaido, Japan
 * Blood type: B
 * Height: 151cm
 * Hello! Project Status:
 * 2013-05: Hello Pro Kenshuusei member
 * 2014-11-05: Country Musume member
 * 2016-04-28: Hiatus
 * 2016-08-04: Graduated
 * 2017-09-08: Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido member
 * Country Girls Color: Italian Red (2014-2016)
 * PEACEFUL Color: Yellow
 * Hello! Project groups:
 * Hello Pro Kenshuusei (2013–2014)
 * Country Girls (2014–2016)
 * Hello! Project Station Dance Club (2015-2016)
 * Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido (2017-)
 * Other groups:
 * PEACEFUL (2011-2012)
 * -|Q&A=
 * See Also: List:Inaba Manaka Other Q&As


 * Specialty: Dance (jazz, hip-hop), Memorizing dances, Making people laugh, English level 5, Make-up and hair arrangement
 * Hobbies: Reading, Painting/Drawing, Having wild ideas, listening to music,  watching movies, Sky appreciation, Studying Korean
 * Motto: "Kanzen nenshou" (完全燃焼; Complete burning), "Jibun rashiku" (自分らしく; Be yourself)
 * Favorite Food: Fruits
 * Favorite Flowers: Rose, Carnations
 * Favorite Color: Pink, White, Black
 * Favorite Sports: Baseball, Football (Soccer), Badminton
 * Treasured Item: Her dreams
 * Favorite Hello! Project songs: "Toki wo Koe Sora wo Koe", "Wagamama Ki no Mama Ai no Joke", "Ren'ai Revolution 21", "Suki yo, Junjou Hankouki.", "Uchouten LOVE", "Suki-chan", "Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne"
 * Looks Up To:  Sayashi Riho, Miyamoto Karin, Kudo Haruka

Discography

 * See Also: List:Inaba Manaka Discography Featured In

Solo DVDs/Blu-rays

 * [2016.02.20] Greeting ~Inaba Manaka~

Photobooks

 * [2016.07.16] Inaba Manaka Mini Photobook "Greeting -Photobook-"

Magazines

 * [2014.05.20] CD Journal (with Tanabe Nanami, Yoshihashi Kurumi, Sasaki Rikako)
 * [2015.02.06] Top Yell
 * [2015.02.09] BOMB (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)
 * [2015.02.20] CD Journal (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)
 * [2015.02.24] B.L.T (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)
 * [2015.02.28] Gekkan Entame (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)
 * [2015.03.06] BIG ONE GIRLS (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)
 * [2015.03.19] Shukan Famitsu (with Yamaki Risa, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, Ozeki Mai)

Theater

 * [2016] Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!

TV Programs

 * [2014–] The Girls Live
 * [2015–] Uta-navi! (うたなび！)

Internet

 * [2014–] Hello! Project Station

Trivia

 * She was the second Hello Pro Kenshuusei member who came from a non-H!P idol group.
 * She was the first Hello Pro Kenshuusei member to be from Hokkaido.
 * She was ranked best dancer in Hello Pro Kenshuusei. (Gekkan Entame magazine)
 * She wants to be the kind of idol that brings happiness and dreams to others.
 * She doesn't want to lose to anyone in dancing.
 * She wants to get better at facial expressions.
 * She had said that her dream was to join Morning Musume, and debut in 2014.
 * During her time in Hello Pro Kenshuusei, she said that if she saw a shooting star, she'd wish to debut.
 * She wants to try singing "Uchouten LOVE" by S/mileage, and "Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne" by Juice=Juice.
 * Her rival in Hello Pro Kenshuusei was Fujii Rio. As generation-mates they had a sense of wanting to work hard together, but her dancing is powerful and they had been challenging each other to do better.
 * She says that because she lives in Hokkaido, it was difficult for her to attend Kenshuusei lessons and events, so she put all her strength into the ones she could attend.
 * Tsunku's comments: "Your dancing is amazingly good. Your legs are improving beautifully. For expressions you have a nice smile. Because you're from Hokkaido I don't think you'll be able to attend everything, so I hope that you'll watch videos in your normal life and regularly copy the dances and singing so as not to fall behind. "
 * Aol published an article on Inaba, suggesting she would be Satoda Mai's successor and join Country Musume. They also mentioned Inaba's high skill and good dancing.
 * She is one of only three Hello! Project members to rejoin after previously graduating, the others being Kominato Miwa and Konno Asami.