Hanana Nakata: “I want to do my best to do what is required of me” [This Week’s Cover Girl: What’s On Her Mind].

From “cute” to “mature

Former Nogizaka46 member Hanana Nakada showed her charm as an adult woman in the October 31 (Fri.) issue of FRIDAY. In this special interview, the heroine, who is currently active as a professional mahjong player, speaks candidly about the breadth of her activities.

–How did you feel about taking on the challenge of doing a gravure photo shoot?

It was a great photo shoot to mark my 30th birthday. This time, the theme is an adult image. Rather than cute, many of the outfits are a bit daring and mature, and I think those who know me from my idol days will feel a huge gap between the two.

–Did you find any gap between your personality and the image you have this time around?

I myself don’t have a very cute personality (laughs). (Laughs.) So I felt like I was able to show my true self in this theme, and it was very easy for me to do.

–You seemed to be having a lot of fun posing for the shoot.

I have always wanted to do gravure shoots in swimsuits and underwear. So it’s not so much a challenge, but more like one of my dreams finally coming true.

–I’m sure you receive a lot of support from your fans on a daily basis, but did you receive any positive reactions when you decided to do gravure?

I am grateful for the warm support I receive from my fans, who often say, “I’m glad you got to do the work you’ve always wanted to do.

Click here to see the beautiful Hanana Nakata digital photo collection !

I want to leave a result as a professional mahjong player

–Nakada-san, a professional mahjong player, do you have a favorite tile?

Well, I think it’s the …… “中(chun)”!　The character for “Nak” in “Nakada”. My surname is often mistaken for ‘Nakata,’ but I don’t mind (laughs).

–In interviews, you often say that you “want to try things you like” and “want to have fun.” Was mahjong one of those things for you?

I started playing mahjong because I couldn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘kaeyakuyaku’ in a line from a play I was in, so I looked it up. I decided to take the professional test because of a project called “Hanana Nakata’s Road to becoming a Professional Mahjong Player,” which was broadcast on TV Asahi’s official YouTube channel when I had just graduated from “Nogizaka46. In the beginning, I didn’t really have the desire to become a professional.

–But it was too great to really become a pro, even though it was a project.

When I accepted the project, I was only lightly thinking that I would be happy to learn a lot of mahjong, but a few months later, I decided to become a pro (laughs). (Laughs.) I thought, “If I’m going to take it anyway, why not? (laughs). I thought, “If I’m going to take this project anyway, I’d better study hard, and above all, I wanted to do my best because it was a project I was given on the job. I am still not good enough, but because I studied hard to become a pro at that time, I was able to fall in love with the game of mahjong.

–You also joined the M-League last year and participated in team competitions as a professional.

When I was selected at the draft meeting, I was told that I wouldn’t do well, so I fought to get as good a result as I could, but in the end, I did as I said, and my performance was disappointing, and it caused trouble for everyone on the team. Normally, I would have wanted to complain, saying, ‘If I had been on the team,’ or ‘If it had been me,’ but the team members followed up, saying, ‘Let’s get stronger together. The atmosphere of the team is really good. We never run out of things to talk about, and we have friendly chats during the team’s program, which is aired live every Wednesday between shootings. For the sake of the team members who are so kind to me, I definitely want to achieve results this season.

–You had a disappointing season last year, but this season you are doing well, with a best score of over 50,000 points and a batting average of over 9,000 points (as of October 25, 2012). Is there anything you are conscious of?

I am learning from the customers at the Mahjong Café I manage in order to play more often. The cafe is open from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm, so no matter how early the next morning is, I try to show up and play if I have time. I will work hard every day so that I can repay the favor as soon as possible without losing my temper.”

In my 30s, I want to absorb many things

–What are your goals as a professional mahjong player?

I would like to win a title someday as a professional mahjong player. Furthermore, as long as I am allowed to participate in the M-League, I would like to win the MVP award, and I would like to win something I can be proud of.

–In terms of gravure, what challenges do you want to take on in the future?

I have been able to do what I wanted to do in my twenties, and I was able to wear all the clothes I wanted to wear in the photo book I published at the time of my graduation from Nogizaka46. Like mahjong, I have always had the character of wanting to work hard at what I am asked to do, so I hope to absorb even more new things in the future. I also created a mobile fan club this year, so if there is a costume or theme that fans would like to see, I would be happy to take on the challenge.

◆Kana Nakada, age 30
Born in ’94 in Saitama Prefecture. She passed the audition for the first stage of Nogizaka46 at the age of 17.
After graduating in ’20, she has been active as a TV personality, professional mahjong player, and manager.
He is the owner and manager of the mahjong cafe “chun.” and has been competing as a player for BEAST Japanext (now BEAST X) in the M-League since the 2023-24 season!

My best “HOBBY” recently
Tamagotchi

I always wanted to have a pet, but I gave up on it because I was away from home most of the time. Then, when I was having dinner with a friend from school in Ginza, he recommended it to me, and I went to “Hakuhinkan TOYPARK” on the same day and bought it. It’s the latest model that can be worn like a wristwatch. I have now raised it to the sixth generation, but it has not yet grown into the “Mamecchi” that I am looking for, so I am looking forward to the future. It’s a breath of fresh air these days.

From the November 15, 2024 issue of FRIDAY