Kanna Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 環奈, Hepburn: Hashimoto Kanna; born February 3, 1999) is a Japanese actress and former singer. From 2011 to 2017, she was a member of the Fukuoka-based idol girl group Rev. from DVL. During her time with the group, in 2013, a fan-taken photo of her performing went viral on Twitter and 2channel, bringing her to nationwide attention.
As an actress, Hashimoto first appeared in I Wish (2011). Since 2013, Hashimoto has also starred in Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation (2016), of which she also released her debut single for the film. She has also starred in the films Haruta & Chika (2017), Gintama, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2017), Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019), Kingdom (2019), Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight (2019), and Violence Action (2022).
Contents
Career
2007–2012: Early career
In 2007, when Hashimoto was in third grade, she signed with the agency Active Hakata in her hometown, Fukuoka. She first worked in local commercials, and joined DVL, a co-ed dance and vocal unit under her agency, in 2009; she eventually joined DVL's all-female successor group Rev. from DVL. She made her stage debut after auditioning to be in Hirokazu Kore-eda's movie I Wish. After that, she appeared in productions by a children's theater company operated by her agency and in dramas by a local TV station. She wrote in her elementary school yearbook that her dream for the future was to be an "actress".
2013–2015: Viral photo, hosting, acting
In 2013, Hashimoto gained national attention when a photo of her taken at Rev. from DVL's live performances from November 3 to 4 went viral on 2channel and Twitter. Praised for her natural beauty, she was given titles such as "beyond cute local idol", "beyond angelic idol", and "a talent appearing once in a millennium." A post on Naver exceeded 550,000 views by November 7, 2013, and the server for her agency's official website was temporarily down due to excessive access. In the corner of NHK's late-night news program "News Web", "Tsubuyaki Big Data", which introduces trends on Twitter and Google Trends, showed that the number of searches on Google had risen rapidly, and had also spread to Chinese users. The photo was also mentioned on Good! Morning (Asahi TV) and Mezamashi TV (Fuji TV). According to her agency, in response to her viral photo, there was a flood for offers from TV commercial appearances and interviews.
Additionally, Kadokawa representative director Shinichiro Inoue who saw the photo "fell in love at first sight" and sent an email to his company saying "I want to make a movie with her"; the next weekend he went to a live performance held at a train station in Fukuoka and, struck by the excitement of the stage, said "I definitely want you to star in my next movie", thus casting her in Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation; this story was revealed at the press conference for the production of the movie.
Hashimoto herself said "I don't know even one millimeter of goodness" of the photo that triggered her breakthrough. She said, "there was frustration, and maybe I was showing it on my face".
In April 2014, she was selected as a regular on the variety show Minna no Seishun Nozokimi TV Teen!Teen!, becoming the host of the program alongside Naoki Matayoshi and Yuju Ayabe of the comedy duo Peace. Hashimoto, who became a high school student, said, "I'm excited for the start of my first regular program. I'm nervous because it's my first time as a host, but I'll do my best, so please watch it!". Additionally, she was appointed as the MC of Daiichi Kosho's online karaoke "DAM Channel", welcoming various artists as guests and serving as the 11th and also the youngest MC in the program's history. In the May issue of the fashion magazine Popteen which was released in April, she made her first cover appearance and also featured on the cover for five pages. She also featured on the cover and opening gravure of Weekly Young Magazine, released at the same time, which was her first gravure activity. In July, she made her first appearance in a nationally broadcast serial drama with Fuji TV's Water Polo Yankees. Producer Ryota Fujino said, "Having an overwhelming presence and a sense of transparency, I am confident that she will move the characters and the story." She costarred with Yuto Nakajima in Episode 6. Hashimoto said, "Yesterday and this morning, my hands were sweaty, and I was really nervous." When asked if there was a role that she would like to try in the future, she said, "I haven't done anything yet, so really anything can 'come on'!". In August, she was featured on "Too angelic MC in a town that is too exquisite! Full summer in Sacas SP" which was a live broadcast special program on TBS. In November, she was selected as the "2014 Hit Person" by Nikkei Trendy alongside actor Tsuyoshi Muro, who acted as the commentator for the "Best 30 Hit Products of 2014" and the facilitator at the presentation.
2016–2017: Acting, graduation from Rev. from DVL
On March 17, 2016, it was announced that she would play the double lead role with Katsutoshi Sato in Haruchika. Hashimoto, who will be the second main character, said, "I entered high school again and caused a stir (laugh) I graduated and entered the school at a dizzying pace, but this time I will play a life-sized high school student. Please look forward to Chika, who will play a more natural Kanna Hashimoto!". In April, she appeared as a program moderator with Tokio's Shigeru Joshima and Bakarhythm at Hanamichi of Test: New Benzemi. She made a unique video of various study methods, acted as a moderator from the perspective of a current high school student, and Hashimoto herself participated in the video production. In August, it was revealed that she would play the role of the teenage alien girl Kagura in the Gintama live-action film. In expressing the world view of Gintama, Hashimoto commented, "I'm going to shoot as a strong, lovely, self-paced Kagura. Please look forward to it!". She also became a hot topic for dying her natural hair orange. According to producer Shinzo Matsuhashi, the casting of the heroine Kagura was a bit of a headache: "Director Fukuda and Mr. Oguri told me that Kanna Hashimoto would be the only one, and I thought, 'I see,' and that's how it was decided". In October, the live-action of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K started shooting. It was revealed that she would play the role of Kokomi Teruhashi. On December 7, she appeared on the first night of 2015 FNS Music Festival, costarring with Hiroko Yakushimaru in the movie theme song "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun".
On March 3, 2017, she won the Japan Academy New Actor Award for Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation. She expressed her gratitude to the staff involved in the film, and said, "With this award an encouragement, I will continue to devote myself to the world of film and the path of acting with humility and sincerity."
She portrayed Kokomi Teruhashi in the live-action The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. film. She portrayed the title character Kaguya Shinomiya in the live-action film adaptation of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. On March 9, Haruchika was released. From that spring, she decided to focus solely on her acting career, saying "I hope that I can become someone who can give courage to others. I want to do each thing carefully and connect it to the next", setting goals for the future. That same month, she graduated from high school. On the 23rd of that month, Teen!Teen!, of which she had been a regular MC for three years, ended broadcasting. She also graduated from Hanamichi of Test: New Benzemi with Bakarhythm on the 27th. On the 31st, she graduated from Rev. from DVL with her last live performance in Fukuoka.
2018–2019: Gintama 2, official fan club
In January 2018 she appeared as the Fukuoka Central Police Station Chief Special Alert for One Day on "Tuesday 9" Final Cut. She also participated in the popular corner of the variety show Guru Guru Ninety-Nine and was confirmed to be a new member of "I Will Become a Gourmet Chicken Race Gochi! 19". In April, it was officially announced that the sequel to Gintama, which was the number one box-office hit of the previous year's live-action Japanese film, would be continued with Gintama 2: The Law is Surely There to be Broken. It was also announced that she would appear as the heroine Kyoko Hayakawa, a former Yankee gang leader, in the October NTV Sunday drama Kyo Kara Ore wa!!. This is the fourth time that she has appeared in director Yuichi Fukuda's work. On November 3, at the Rikkyo University school festival, she was scheduled to make an appearance, but due to it being flooded with spectators and safety of the outdoor special stage not being assured, police guidance was given and her appearance was cancelled. On December 20, she graduated from the corner of Guru Guru Ninety-Nine, only appearing as a regular for one year. On December 23, she was revealed to be part of the cast of Twelve Children Who Want to Die which was released on January 25 of the following year by Warner Bros.
On July 15, 2019, her official fan club "Hashimoto Junjō Naika o Hossoku" was launched. The following month, she held her first fan meetings in Osaka and Tokyo. Kaguya-sama: Love is War, which was released nationwide on September 6, became the number one weekend audience mobilization for the first time. On September 10, it was announced that she would be signing exclusively with Discovery Next. On December 10, Twitter Japan announced that she was ranked 8th in 2019 as the "actor that became a hot topic in the world".
2020-present: Spirited Away, Banpaku no Taiyo
On January 17, 2020, it was announced that she had received the 2020 Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year which is given to the most promising new actor who has been most active throughout the year. On February 6, the award ceremony was held at the Keo Plaza Hotel in Tokyo, and director Hiroazu Kore-eda of the movie I Wish, her screen debut, was the presenter and congratulated her.
On February 26, it was announced that Hashimoto would be making her stage debut in the stage adaptation of Spirited Away, written and directed by John Caird, in February 2022, with Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi doubly playing the role of the main character, Chihiro. On the variety program 130 million people's Show Channel broadcast on June 12, she challenged "the largest number of facial tissues pulled out of the box in one minute", achieving the record of 157 and exceeding the previous record of 140, becoming the Guinness World Record holder. However, the record was later broken. On August 20, the movie Kaguya-sama Final: Love is War starring Hashimoto with Sho Hirano was released.
In December 2023, it was announced that Hashimoto would be starring in the TV Asahi 65th anniversary drama Banpaku no Taiyo, its story based on the 1970 Osaka Expo. The theme song for the show was provided by Ayumi Hamasaki, being a cover of hit song "Jidai" by Miyuki Nakajima—the Osaka Expo's original theme. The show aired in March 2024.
In the revival of the Japanese version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? aired January 1, 2026, Hashimoto became the first person to win the 10 million yen grand prize in 13 years.
Personal life
Hashimoto was born on February 3, 1999, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Her family consists of her mother, father, an older brother seven years her senior, and her twin brother. Ryōko Morooka, an organist, is her aunt.
Public image
Beginning with her viral photo in 2013, Hashimoto has been labelled as cute and angelic. This affected her casting in films as well as endorsements. Juichi Uehara, a producer at Fuji TV, cited Hashimoto's "miraculous presence that combines perfection and cuteness" as the reason she was cast as Ritsu in Assassination Classroom. Oki Miichi, one of the directors of Hashimoto's "Devilish Kanna" advertisement for Rohto Pharmaceutical's "Lip Baby Crayon", stated that he came up with the idea after thinking that Hashimoto, "with the 'exceedingly angelic' image" would become a hot topic as a devil, the opposite, in a commercial.
Other ventures
Endorsements
Hashimoto has appeared in numerous commercials for Rohto Pharmaceutical, NTT Docomo, UHA Mikakuto, Timee, Gyu-Kaku, and Nissin Foods. In 2015, her "Devilish Kanna" advertisement for Rohto Pharmaceutical's "Lip Baby Crayon" helped the product reach 200% of its sales target. Throughout 2020 in the Kantō region for on-air commercials, she ranked first in terms of the number of companies and second in terms of the number of advertisements, after Ryoko Yonekura. Also, in the first three days of 2021, she appeared in the most commercial broadcasts.
Ambassadorship
Hashimoto was appointed as the ambassador of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival "to convey the appeal of films to young people of the same generation", attending the red carpet and opening ceremony on the first day of the festival.
In December 2017, Hashimoto served as the one-day police chief for the Prefectural Central Police Station in Fukuoka, her hometown, publicizing special precautions for the year-end and New Year holidays.
Discography
Music videos
"Little Star ~KANNA15~" (February 3, 2015)
Filmography
Commercials
Jibannet Holdings – Jiban Second Opinion (2013)
SoftBank Mobile – White Family (2014)
TV Tokyo – 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships (2014)
Cyber Agent – Ameba Girl Friend Beta (2014)
Megmilk Snow Brand Company, Limited – Neosoft "Koku Aru Butter Fūmi" (2014)
Bandai – Aikatsu! (2014)
Nissin Foods – Cup noodle (2015)
Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. – Lip Baby Crayon/Lip Baby Fruits (2015)
Recruit – Townwork (2016)
Publications
Photobooks
Hashimoto Kanna Mook (December 18, 2013, Kaiohsha) ISBN 9784796460897
Little Star: Kanna 15 (November 14, 2014, Wani Books) ISBN 9784847046926
Yume no Tochū: Hashimoto Kanna in the movie "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation" (March 5, 2016, Kadokawa) ISBN 9784041040157
Naturel (February 3, 2019, Kodansha) ISBN 9784065150351
Kaleidoscope (February 3, 2024, Kodansha) ISBN 9784065339268
