Asuka Saito

Asuka Saito is a Japanese actress, model, and television presenter born on August 10, 1998. She is best known as a former first-generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46 and as a regular model for the fashion magazine sweet. Throughout her career, Saito has established herself across music, fashion, and live-action film and television productions.

Saito was born in Katsushika, Tokyo, to a Burmese mother and Japanese father, and has two older brothers. In her later elementary school years, she experienced bullying from classmates. Receiving no assistance from her teachers after reaching out, she temporarily stopped attending school, which resulted in a withdrawn personality. She later overcame this difficulty after joining Nogizaka46.

Saito began acting in 2007, making her debut as the child protagonist in the film Sakuran and appearing in various commercials. In 2011, encouraged by her mother, she auditioned for Nogizaka46 and joined its first generation. She debuted on the group's first single, "Guruguru Curtain," in February 2012, and later served as the center member for their 15th single, "Hadashi de Summer," in 2016.

In 2015, Saito became an exclusive model for the Takarajimasha magazine CUTiE until it ceased publication that year. She then became a regular model for sweet, making her its youngest regular model. In 2017, Gentosha published her first photobook, Shiosai, which sold 58,215 copies in its first week and reached over 200,000 copies sold by December 2018.

Saito announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 on November 4, 2022, serving as the penultimate first-generation member to leave. She officially graduated on December 31, 2022. Her graduation concert was held on May 17–18, 2023, at the Tokyo Dome, drawing an attendance of around 100,000 people.

Outside of her music work, Saito developed an extensive acting filmography. She played lead roles such as Mana Hayase in the Japanese remake of You Are the Apple of My Eye, Midori Asakusa in the film and television adaptations of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and a role in the NTV horror drama Zambi. After departing Nogizaka46, she returned to full-time acting, taking on roles such as Riko in the film Side by Side and Reika Tosu in the live-action adaptations of My Home Hero.

In January 2024, Saito was cast as Ai Hoshino in the live-action film adaptation of Oshi no Ko. Her role in Oshi no Ko: The Final Act earned her the Newcomer of the Year award at the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize on January 21, 2025. On June 8, 2025, she was appointed ambassador for the National Green and Flower Fair Katsushika in her hometown, and on July 5, she launched her first solo variety talk show, Saito Asuka's Let's Drink and Go Home Tonight, on the Nippon Television Network.