Himeka Nakamoto

Himeka Nakamoto (中元 日芽香, Nakamoto Himeka, born April 13, 1996) is a Japanese mental health counselor and former idol. She was a first-generation member of the idol group Nogizaka46.

Himeka Nakamoto
中元 日芽香
Born (1996-04-13) April 13, 1996
Hiroshima, Japan
Alma materWaseda University
Occupation
AgentNogizaka46, LLC
RelativesSuzuka Nakamoto (sister)
Musical career
Also known asHimetan (ひめたん)
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2009–2017
LabelsN46Div.
Associated acts
Websitenakamotohimeka.com

Career

In 2006, Nakamoto enrolled in Actor’s School Hiroshima as part of the sixteenth batch, joining her sister Suzuka who enrolled in the previous batch the same year. As students, they performed in a duet called Tween.[1] She was also a member of the idol group SPL∞ASH, which was founded by the school.[2]

Nakamoto passed the auditions for Nogizaka46 on August 21, 2011, and joined as a first generation member. Her audition song was "Aitakatta" by AKB48.[3] In the group, she was known for her special pose called the "Himetan Beam" (ひめたんびーむ), with which she supposedly transferred energy to their fans.[4][5] She was also the lead vocalist of Nogidan, the rock subunit of Nogizaka46.[6] In the sixth season of NogiBingo!, she served as assistant MC. She was also an assistant MC on the NHK Radio 1 program Radirer! Sunday.

On August 6, 2017, Nakamoto announced in a live broadcast of Radirer! Sunday that she was graduating from Nogizaka46 due to poor health.[7] Her final performance as a Nogizaka46 member took place at the Tokyo Dome on November 7–8, 2017.[8] On November 8, "Last Number", a collaboration single between her and Radio Fish, the boy band formed by Radirer! Sunday hosts Oriental Radio, was released.[9] Her final blog post on the official Nogizaka46 blog was published on December 22, 2017.[10]

Post-Nogizaka46

Nakamoto became interested in pursuing a mental health care career after she attended psychological counseling sessions while in Nogizaka46.[11] In April 2018, she enrolled into the Faculty of Human Sciences e-School of Waseda University.[11] As of May 17, she has also completed training as a hand reflexology counselor at the Heartful Life Couselor Academy in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[12]

On November 20, her official website, managed by the Nogizaka46 management, was launched.[13] She has obtained mental health counselor certification from the Japan Promotion Counselor Association and works as a counselor and trainer while continuing her studies. She provides counseling through her own Skype-based service, the "Monica and Me Counseling Salon" (カウンセリングサロン モニカと私), to accommodate those who cannot leave their homes or are concerned about the stigma around mental health issues.[11][14]

Personal life

Nakamoto is the older sister of Babymetal lead singer and former Sakura Gakuin member Suzuka Nakamoto and the middle child of three sisters. She owns a Yorkshire Terrier named Monica (モニカ).[15]

References
  1. "アクターズスクール広島発表会 2009 AUTUMN ACT[スクランブルエッグon the Web]". www.scramble-egg.com. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  2. "乃木坂46のメンバーに芸能関係者が多数加入！　秋元康のライバル発言の本気度は高い!? - メンズサイゾー". メンズサイゾー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  3. "「乃木坂46」最終オーディション取材レポート(3)【合格者一覧(後半)～会見】 [スクランブルエッグon the Web]". www.scramble-egg.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  4. Himetan Beam, 2015-12-30, retrieved 2017-11-09
  5. Nogizakatte, Koko. Episode 5. 2012-05-31.
  6. "乃木坂46&"乃木團"が本家・氣志團と初コラボ 綾小路翔も太鼓判" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  7. "Nogizaka46's Himeka Nakamoto Announces Her Graduation from The Group". Japanese kawaii idol music culture news | Tokyo Girls Update. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  8. "A Dream Come True: Nogizaka46 1st Tokyo Dome Concert Report!". Japanese kawaii idol music culture news | Tokyo Girls Update. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  9. "RADIO FISH×乃木坂46・中元日芽香の新曲「LAST NUMBER」11/8に配信リリース | Daily News". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  10. Fansub, Nogizaka46. "Beam Subs: Blog Translation: Nakamoto Himeka - Last Blog (December 22, 2017)". Beam Subs. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  11. "元乃木坂・中元日芽香、アイドル挫折を乗り越えてたどり着いた大学での学び". 早稲田ウィークリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  12. "ハンドリフレカウンセラー養成講座　開催報告　5/17(木) | ハートフルライフ カウンセラー学院". www.heartfullife.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  13. "中元日芽香 オフィシャルWEBサイトがOPEN！ | NEW | 中元日芽香オフィシャルサイト". 中元日芽香オフィシャルサイト. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  14. "元乃木坂４６・中元日芽香さんが公式サイト開設「これから心理カウンセラーとして活動します」" [Former Nogizaka46 member, Himeka Nakamoto, opened official website 'I will act as a psychological counselor from now on']. SANSPO.COM（サンスポ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  15. "Who is Monica ?". カウンセリングサロンモニカと私 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-11-30.


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