<h2>From &#8220;cute&#8221; to &#8220;mature</h2>
<p> 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.</p>
<figure id="attachment_397692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-397692" style="width: 1365px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b7740754"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/11/a760fd35e0e72dcc70115ef8512cd604.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-397692" class="wp-caption-text"> Photographed by Kan Kumagai</figcaption></figure>
<p> &#8211;How did you feel about taking on the challenge of doing a gravure photo shoot?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
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<p> &#8211;Did you find any gap between your personality and the image you have this time around?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I myself don&#8217;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.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_397625" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-397625" style="width: 1748px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9b83c32a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/5e4e5c36a4e765b4c03b4470d324c0ea.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-397625" class="wp-caption-text"> Between takes, she communicated with the staff with a smile. The gap between her mature expression and smile is a highlight.</figcaption></figure>
<p> &#8211;You seemed to be having a lot of fun posing for the shoot.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I have always wanted to do gravure shoots in swimsuits and underwear. So it&#8217;s not so much a challenge, but more like one of my dreams finally coming true.</span></p>
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<p> &#8211;I&#8217;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?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I am grateful for the warm support I receive from my fans, who often say, &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you got to do the work you&#8217;ve always wanted to do.</span></p>
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<figure id="attachment_397691" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-397691" style="width: 1365px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5db797d9"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/11/066ba03696600950a1b64b5be1177af6.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-397691" class="wp-caption-text"> Her digital photo book is also on sale!</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DKDMFSYL/">Click here to see the</a> beautiful Hanana Nakata digital photo collection <a href="https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DKDMFSYL/">!</a></p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" It all started with Counting the Numbers."></div>
<h2>I want to leave a result as a professional mahjong player</h2>
<p> &#8211;Nakada-san, a professional mahjong player, do you have a favorite tile?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Well, I think it&#8217;s the &#8230;&#8230; &#8220;中(chun)&#8221;!　The character for &#8220;Nak&#8221; in &#8220;Nakada&#8221;. My surname is often mistaken for &#8216;Nakata,&#8217; but I don&#8217;t mind (laughs).</span></p>
<p> &#8211;In interviews, you often say that you &#8220;want to try things you like&#8221; and &#8220;want to have fun.&#8221; Was mahjong one of those things for you?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I started playing mahjong because I couldn&#8217;t understand the meaning of the word &#8216;kaeyakuyaku&#8217; 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 &#8220;Hanana Nakata&#8217;s Road to becoming a Professional Mahjong Player,&#8221; which was broadcast on TV Asahi&#8217;s official YouTube channel when I had just graduated from &#8220;Nogizaka46. In the beginning, I didn&#8217;t really have the desire to become a professional.</span></p>
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<p> &#8211;But it was too great to really become a pro, even though it was a project.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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, &#8220;If I&#8217;m going to take it anyway, why not? (laughs). I thought, &#8220;If I&#8217;m going to take this project anyway, I&#8217;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.</span></p>
<p> &#8211;You also joined the M-League last year and participated in team competitions as a professional.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> When I was selected at the draft meeting, I was told that I wouldn&#8217;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, &#8216;If I had been on the team,&#8217; or &#8216;If it had been me,&#8217; but the team members followed up, saying, &#8216;Let&#8217;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&#8217;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.</span></p>
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<p> &#8211;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?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.&#8221;</span></p>
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<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/gravure/article/281911" data-friday-gold-link-title="Hanana Nakada, Beautiful Person (with other cut)" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt=" A talented woman who graduated from Nogizaka46 and is now active as a professional mahjong player. A graduate of a nationally popular idol group, this unique beauty is also active as an M-League player, and she exudes a mature sex appeal. Overwhelmingly beautiful. A strong and beautiful flower that blooms with dignity. Super noble" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2024/10/240905-6-120-30092747801670.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=skK030FprxEx6TQRGnxs3csaXGrLVEBgsVz5IgJqgkMIeI2bhU8S3ailCTrhIgYqie1vEBLqr3snKENrI27OqgdIGGRqP2MZQIQRzAATpPROVPetcGEFaIhFTma7oJvuhxnQ~G7QQCKkmLlb9eh-uCk3NoWi7fqTHxwHc7vJVoxd9QxN11eXmHPZSsTdF6bClmvPDlR6y~qBaKZcqVvtgeoAyJiCBhCo~qHyIiT6W6CiB655woejMFVKiLXUhMlQRW94Y1xqNPxhZyPWiqGOzT1ExQLvs0yzdyoKqcQro7IojB8WbfAbxOrbE2IAeruMRw-HG1ggeSNd33K7hRzBzQ__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2024/10/240905-6-120-30092747801670.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=pvH9T7RemxvTODe5WQxVLb1ICJTgJVFKPVrGxrhk6zExtpR1LzVsE4RlkCaxGxfDm7MbyOWEG-ULeGTlgJ2PXPwXt2ZZbGHwV0BUWDw9rD5SCK9d-zpGCtSI7kVe6ef3fAYypgYhL9i4EKrs1PC9Fp1zB~FL58Jsfh31pC9kJhQ2IeXAAtEc1kCrPL7lmQOY3N8698kLGEO9vqrW~uD4o4GK9R~ryZCyibW2OTQ3QihgCfktjv0epRt9ijEwbrsjaDyLsU~X6D7FHmTfI5xHLoxvaOy2vxt6vtSCMeJQUKsYaUkvHNer5JoEno-8S1oHdUFtLn8Tj5G-JRvWlJcc3Q__"></div>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Future as a sparring partner and as a gravure artist"></div>
<h2>In my 30s, I want to absorb many things</h2>
<p> &#8211;What are your goals as a professional mahjong player?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
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<p> &#8211;In terms of gravure, what challenges do you want to take on in the future?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_397626" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-397626" style="width: 1779px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a1ce3ba1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/f8341d7605d9955226dd5923cb3abda3.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-397626" class="wp-caption-text"> In the M-League, the team got off to a good start this season, taking first place within one month of the season&#8217;s opening. She has shown growth since the previous season.</figcaption></figure>
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<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/gravure/article/281911" data-friday-gold-link-title=" Hanana Nakada, Beautiful (with other cuts)" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt=" A talented girl who graduated from Nogizaka46 and is now active as a professional mahjong player. Overwhelmingly beautiful. A strong and beautiful flower that blooms with dignity. Super noble" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2024/10/240905-6-120-30092747801670.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=skK030FprxEx6TQRGnxs3csaXGrLVEBgsVz5IgJqgkMIeI2bhU8S3ailCTrhIgYqie1vEBLqr3snKENrI27OqgdIGGRqP2MZQIQRzAATpPROVPetcGEFaIhFTma7oJvuhxnQ~G7QQCKkmLlb9eh-uCk3NoWi7fqTHxwHc7vJVoxd9QxN11eXmHPZSsTdF6bClmvPDlR6y~qBaKZcqVvtgeoAyJiCBhCo~qHyIiT6W6CiB655woejMFVKiLXUhMlQRW94Y1xqNPxhZyPWiqGOzT1ExQLvs0yzdyoKqcQro7IojB8WbfAbxOrbE2IAeruMRw-HG1ggeSNd33K7hRzBzQ__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2024/10/240905-6-120-30092747801670.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=pvH9T7RemxvTODe5WQxVLb1ICJTgJVFKPVrGxrhk6zExtpR1LzVsE4RlkCaxGxfDm7MbyOWEG-ULeGTlgJ2PXPwXt2ZZbGHwV0BUWDw9rD5SCK9d-zpGCtSI7kVe6ef3fAYypgYhL9i4EKrs1PC9Fp1zB~FL58Jsfh31pC9kJhQ2IeXAAtEc1kCrPL7lmQOY3N8698kLGEO9vqrW~uD4o4GK9R~ryZCyibW2OTQ3QihgCfktjv0epRt9ijEwbrsjaDyLsU~X6D7FHmTfI5xHLoxvaOy2vxt6vtSCMeJQUKsYaUkvHNer5JoEno-8S1oHdUFtLn8Tj5G-JRvWlJcc3Q__"></div>
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<p> ◆Kana Nakada, age 30 <br>
Born in &#8217;94 in Saitama Prefecture. She passed the audition for the first stage of Nogizaka46 at the age of 17. <br>
After graduating in &#8217;20, she has been active as a TV personality, professional mahjong player, and manager. <br>
He is the owner and manager of the mahjong cafe &#8220;chun.&#8221; and has been competing as a player for BEAST Japanext (now BEAST X) in the M-League since the 2023-24 season!</p>
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<h2> My best &#8220;HOBBY&#8221; recently <br>
Tamagotchi</h2>
<p> 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 &#8220;Hakuhinkan TOYPARK&#8221; on the same day and bought it. It&#8217;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 &#8220;Mamecchi&#8221; that I am looking for, so I am looking forward to the future. It&#8217;s a breath of fresh air these days.</p>
<p> From the November 15, 2024 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Kan Kumagai

 Masao Nakabayashi

 Hanana Nakata, who graces the cover of this week's issue of FRIDAY, is currently active in horse racing and as a radio personality, but she is also a professional mahjong player and participates in the M-League. We take a closer look at the real face of this woman who says, "I want to do my best at what I'm asked to do.

 It has been four years since she graduated from Nogizaka46. Another face of this beautiful woman, who is also active as a radio personality, is that of an M-League player. We take a closer look at her true face, as she is determined to "get results.

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].

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