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Tokunaga Chinami (徳永千奈美) is a former Japanese idol, actress, and model previously managed by UP-FRONT PROMOTION. She is a former member of Hello! Project, having joined as a member of Hello! Project Kids in 2002 and later debuting as a member of Berryz Koubou in 2004. During her time in Hello! Project, she was also a member of ZYX-α, BeriKyuu, DIY♡, and Mellowquad. She graduated from Hello! Project on March 3, 2015 in a joint graduation concert with the other members of Berryz Koubou. Since then, she had been on hiatus as of November 25, 2015 to study abroad and learn English in New Zealand.

On February 28, 2021, Tokunaga’s contract with UP-FRONT PROMOTION expired, and she subsequently left the company to work a new job that made use of the English skills she had obtained while studying abroad.[1][2]

Biography[]

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Tokunaga Chinami, August 2015

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Tokunaga Chinami, January 2015

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Tokunaga Chinami, November 2014

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Tokunaga Chinami, February 2014

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Tokunaga Chinami, October 2013

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Tokunaga Chinami, January 2013

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Tokunaga Chinami, December 2012

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Tokunaga Chinami, July 2012

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Tokunaga Chinami, October 2011

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Tokunaga Chinami, March 2011

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Tokunaga Chinami, July 2010

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Tokunaga Chinami, March 2010

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Tokunaga Chinami, November 2009

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Tokunaga Chinami, January 2009

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Tokunaga Chinami, July 2008

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Tokunaga Chinami, November 2007

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Tokunaga Chinami, August 2007

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Tokunaga Chinami, December 2006

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Tokunaga Chinami, November 2005

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Tokunaga Chinami, December 2004

Early Life[]

Tokunaga Chinami was born on May 22, 1992 in Kanagawa, Japan to a couple whose names are undisclosed.

2002[]

On June 30, Tokunaga Chinami joined Hello! Project after successfully passing the Hello! Project Kids Audition along with 14 other girls.[3]

2004[]

In 2004, she was one of the eight members selected to form Berryz Koubou.[4]

She was a member of Little Gatas and Mix Gatas and was added to Gatas Brilhantes H.P. in 2007.

2008[]

In 2008, her cellphone was stolen and several pictures were leaked out to the internet.

2009[]

At the spring concert in Tokyo (Berryz Koubou Concert Tour 2009 Haru ~Sono Subete no Ai ni~), on April 5 it was reported that Tokunaga collapsed on stage. A short while after Tokunaga collapsed, fellow member Tsugunaga Momoko came out on stage and said that “Chinami just got over enthusiastic and used up too much energy, but she will be fine”. A recording of Tsugunaga’s message has confirmed the news.

In 2009, Tokunaga was assigned to be a part of the new shuffle group ZYX-α along with Niigaki Risa, Kusumi Koharu, Umeda Erika, Tsugunaga Momoko, Sudo Maasa, Wada Ayaka, and Ogawa Saki.

Tokunaga, along with four other members of °C-ute and Berryz Koubou left the Hello! Project futsal team, Gatas Brilhantes H.P.. The members left of their own violition due to feeling that they could not perform as high level players due to their level of ability.

2012[]

On July 20, it was announced that Tokunaga, Yajima Maimi, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Nakajima Saki and Iikubo Haruna were chosen to form the unit DIY♡.[5] The unit released an indies single, titled "Forefore ~Forest For Rest~ / Boys be ambitious!" (with GREEN FIELDS), on November 7.

2013[]

On March 2, at SATOYAMA e Ikou! ~Forest For Rest~, Tokunaga was announced a member of the new SATOUMI movement unit, Mellowquad, along with fellow Berryz Koubou member Natsuyaki Miyabi and ℃-ute's Yajima Maimi and Okai Chisato.

On May 22, Tokunaga had her birthday event, titled Tokunaga Chinami Birthday Event ~there My 21 Birthd Party.night~.

On May 26, Tokunaga appeared on the cover of the magazine Rod & Reel. This is her first time being on the cover of a magazine by herself.

On June 8, Tokunaga's Twitter account was closed.

2014[]

On May 22, Tokunaga celebrated her 22nd birthday. The special event was called Berryz Koubou ~Tokunaga Chinami Birthday Event 2014~, the event featured two performances in Tokyo.

2015[]

On March 3, Tokunaga graduated from Berryz Koubou and Hello! Project, along with the rest of the group. After graduating, she and Shimizu Saki became Hello! Project Advisors.[6]

On April 30, Tokunaga began co-hosting the Hello! Project show GREEN ROOM alongside fellow former Berryz Koubou member Natsuyaki Miyabi.

On May 4, she attended Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2015 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~ as a judge.

In November 25, it was announced by UP-FRONT PROMOTION's representative director that Tokunaga would halt her position as a Hello! Project advisor to study abroad and learn English.[7] Tokunaga herself stated in a blog post that she would be leaving in mid-December.[8]

2017[]

On June 12, Tokunaga returned to Japan in order to get a driver's license so she would able to drive while living abroad, but she failed the exam on her first try. It was not until November 1, that she announced she had finally received her license and would study abroad once more.[9][10]

2018[]

On February 6, Tokunaga announced she was in New York City training as an official NBA ambassador for RakutenTV, who made a deal with the NBA for exclusive online distribution rights in Japan.[11] She would be working alongside Morning Musume '18 member Nonaka Miki, who was revealed to be an ambassador the day before.[12] On February 18, she announced she was the ambassador for the Cleveland Cavaliers.[13]

2020[]

On July 23, after several years of studying abroad in New Zealand, she revealed that she had returned home to Japan about a month prior, but had not publicly disclosed her return back then due to COVID-19 precautions.[14]

2021[]

On February 28, Tokunaga’s contract with UP-FRONT PROMOTION expired and was not renewed.[1] She revealed that she had been building her resume and applying to jobs since her return to Japan in mid-2020, and had landed a job that made use of the English skills she had obtained while studying abroad.[2]

2022[]

On March 3, Berryz Koubou's major debut 18th anniversary, Tokunaga Chinami announced that she had gotten married in early spring 2021 to someone she had been dating to a while, and that she had given birth to her first child, a baby boy.[15]

Personal Life[]

Tokunaga's parents are divorced and she uses her mother's maiden name. Her birth name is rumoured to be Suzuki Chinami (鈴木千奈美). She has an older sister and two younger sisters.

She also has a pet dog named Root.

When Tokunaga joined Hello! Project Kids, she was a fourth year elementary school student.[3] She graduated from high school in March 2011.

Tokunaga's given name, "Chinami", means thousand (千; chi), a kind of plant (奈; na) and beauty (美; mi). It's a feminine Japanese given name and surname.

Here is a list of nicknames that was used to refer to Tokunaga Chinami:

  • Chii-san (ちーさん): Official nickname, given her since joining Berryz Koubou. Used by members and fans.

Profile[]

  • Favorite Brand/Designer: Kaparua
  • Favorite English Phrase: "Member of Society".
  • Special Skill: Badminton.
  • Strong Point: Laughing.
  • Weak Points: Being fickle.
  • Favorite Subject: Homeroom.
  • Favorite Animal: Dogs and Elephants.
  • Favovite Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange.
  • Favorite Songs in the Past: "Dango 3 Kyoudai" by Hayami Kentarou and Shigemori Ayumi (with Hidamari Kids and Dango Chorus), "Zurui Onna" by Sharam Q, "Ai no Shirushi" by PUFFY.
  • Current Favorite Songs: "Stay" by Miley Cyrus, "GOOD LUCKY!!!" By Gucky, "Aitai" by Yuzu
  • Rival: Yajima Maimi

  • Hello! Project Daihyakka (2004) Details
    • Hobby: Sleeping
    • Special skill: Badminton, making crossed eyes, laughing
    • Strong point: I laugh everyday!
    • Weak point: I get mad as soon as I don't like something
    • Habit: My eyes are half-open when I'm sleeping
    • Favorite color: Pink, orange, black, gray, white
    • Favorite flower: Sunflower
    • Disliked thing to do: Handicrafts, ice-skating
    • Scared of: Ghosts!
    • Favorite movie: "The Tigger Movie" (Winnie the Pooh)
    • Favorite book: "The Tigger Movie" book (Winnie the Pooh)
    • Favorite word: "Happy!" "Arigatou!" (thank you) "Daisuki!" (I love you) "Genki!!" (energetic)
    • Favorite season: Summer. Because you can really play all you want
    • Favorite food: Sushi, fruits, spaghetti, nattou, figs
    • Least favorite food: Green bell peppers, green peas, mushrooms
    • Favorite song: "Momoiro Kataomoi" (Matsuura Aya)
    • Charm point: Eyes, smiling face
    • [2010.01] Nation Junior Magazine (Thailand)
    1. Is it hard for teenagers working in the entertainment industry?:
    I don't find it hard because I really love what I am doing. The only difficult thing is waking up early in the morning.
    2. What has been the most impressive moment of your career?:
    We've had many great experiences since we started the band but my most impressive moment was our concert at Saitama Super Arena (one of the best stadiums in Japan). It was such a very happy moment for me
    3. What are your goals?:
    To play our own concert at Budoukan, one of the greatest stadiums in Japan.
    4. Where do you see yourself in 50 years?:
    Still living a colorful life: fashion, my smile and my feelings will all be colorful.

    Discography[]

    Main article: Tokunaga Chinami/Discography

    Solo DVDs[]

    Publications[]

    Main article: Tokunaga Chinami/Publications

    Solo Photobooks[]

    1. [2009.09.11] Chinami
    2. [2012.10.12] Metamorphose (メタモルフォーゼ)

    Works[]

    Movies[]

    250px-Koinu Dan no Monogatari CoverOusama game

    • [2002] Koinu Dan no Monogatari (仔犬ダンの物語)
    • [2004] Promise Land ~Clovers no Daibouken~ (Promise Land ~クローバーズの大冒険~)
    • [2011] Ousama Game (王様ゲーム) (as Kamoshita Akemi)

    TV Programs[]

    TV Dramas[]

    New drama

    Theater[]

    Edo Kara Chakushin!? ~Timeslip to Kengai!~Reverse! ~ Watashi no karada doko desu ka?Berryz Koubou VS Berryz KoubouThank You Very BerrySanokuen ShoujoSengoku Jieitai (Stage Play)
    CAT'S♥EYEsugarWarera Jeanne ~Shoujo Seisen Kageki~Musical Sengoku Jieitai

    Internet[]

    Radio[]

    • [2004–2009] Berryz Koubou Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki! (Berryz工房 起立! 礼! 着席!)
    • [2009–2012] Berryz Koubou Beritsuu! (Berryz工房 べりつぅ!)
    • [2012–2015] BZS1422

    Music Videos[]

    Trivia[]

    • Her favorite artists are Inui Hiroshi, misono, AAA, Nakamura Ataru and Miley Cyrus.
    • Entertains herself by doing an "eyeball relay" (shuffling her eyeballs side-to-side).
    • Chinami has a dog named Ruuto, who is of the same breed of Shimizu Saki's dog Kurumi.
    • Known within other Hello! Project members for doing one-shot gags often. Ishikawa Rika singled her out on some of her past gags on Gyao's Hello Pro Hour.
    • Collects small stuffed animals. Her favorite is a small green dinosaur, from the Chobin series of stuffed animals.
    • In Berryz Koubou's latest DVD magazine, Tokunaga has claimed she wants to make an all around the world trip with all of Berryz Koubou. She said "When we land we can say 'We are Berryz Koubou' and then fly to the next country".
    • She appears on the pv of Boogie Train '03 along with Sudo Maasa, Tsugunaga Momoko, and Umeda Erika.
    • Hello! Project Kids Audition song: Momoiro no Kataomoi by Matsuura Aya
    • From Sono ~Sono Subete no Ai ni~: her good subject is Physical Education and her favorite food is Ume.
    • During the trip to Hawaii, she shared room with Shimizu Saki.
    • Sometimes calls Natsuyaki Miyabi her "girlfriend."
    • In a recent Berryz Koubou DVD Magazine, she said her favorite Berryz member was Kumai Yurina.
    • She hates perfumes that have a too sweet scent.
    • People often says that her voice is loud.
    • Back when she first started in Berryz, when they did their self-introductions and were asked what was their favorite food, even though she liked sushi the best she gave a different answer because she thought sushi wasn't a cute answer. After some prompting they find out it is spaghetti. Tokunaga said she doesn't find spaghetti cute anymore, so she gives her real answer (sushi) nowadays.
    • Berryz Koubou members call her "granny" because she does things like eat umeboshi and she has had a bag of them on the train (which is like old people food).
    • She's usually in a high tension, that's why is really easy to tell when she's feeling down. When something troubles her, she's really lost in thoughts.
    • On a magazine, she stated that live events are places where she can reaffirm her own objective point of growth.
    • Only when she look at seals or dolphins (or something like this), she can say that she calm down, and that all her worries go away.
    • She's in charge of comedy in Berryz Koubou because she says puns all the time.
    • In 4th grade, she ranked 3rd at the prefectural tournament of Badminton.
    • In Yorosen!, she taught Berryz Koubou about Ecology.
    • She can recite pi to 45 decimal places.
    • She mentioned on Hello Pro Time that she has been sleeping alot lately.
    • When Berryz Koubou first debuted, Tokunaga had the longest hair within the group. Although, in 2005, she decided to cut her hair short.
    • Tsugunaga Momoko says she gets really angry when she's hungry.
    • She wants to learn English so she could talk to Barack Obama, former president of the United States.
    • When she was asked which smile of all Hello! Project members she likes the most she answered it would be Suzuki Kanon's.
    • Considers Yajima Maimi as her greatest rival in Hello! Project.
    • Once in a special interview she said that her favorite song is Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi.[16]


    References[]

    1. 1.0 1.1 https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202102220000736.html
    2. 2.0 2.1 "2021/02/22" (in Japanese). Tokunaga Chinami Official Blog. 2021-02-22.
    3. 3.0 3.1 Hello! Morning. Broadcast Date: 2002-06-30.
    4. Tsunku. "『Berryz工房』(ベリーズこうぼう)誕生について" (in Japanese). Tsunku Official Website. 2003-01-15.
    5. "Two new Hello! Project units formed". tokyohive. 2012-07-21.
    6. "Berryz工房について" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2015-02-27.
    7. "徳永千奈美に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2015-11-25.
    8. "未来のお知らせ!" (in Japanese). Tokunaga Chinami Official Blog. 2015-11-25.
    9. "Japan" (in Japanese). Tokunaga Chinami Official Blog. 2017-06-12.
    10. "楽しみ〜♩" (in Japanese). Tokunaga Chinami Official Blog. 2018-11-01.
    11. https://www.instagram.com/p/Be0JeNQgDNI/
    12. https://www.instagram.com/p/Be1Lk-RnUby/
    13. https://www.instagram.com/p/BfW-2PIgDLN/
    14. "ただいま" Tokunaga Chinami Official Blog. 2020-07-23.
    15. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoJRHWlOn2
    16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8iUNBSuv0

    External Links[]

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