Manami Higa Shines in Variety and Drama: Stunning Looks in a Mini Dress and Frilly Skirt at Wrap Party

Her innocent charm makes her popular among women

This year, Manami Higa (38) has been making remarkable strides in her career.

On New Year’s Day, she appeared on the show “Celebrity Rank Check! 2025 New Year’s Special” (TV Asahi), teaming up with Takanori Iwata (35) of “Sandaime J Soul Brothers.” In a quiz where they had to identify high-end wines and professional performances to prove they were top-tier celebrities, Higa answered every question incorrectly. Her amusing moments, including a comment from fellow participant Toshiyuki Karasawa (61) saying, “This girl has a landmine,” added a lot of energy to the show.

“Higa won the lead role in the NHK morning drama ‘Don to Hare’ through an audition in 2007, marking her debut in her first major role. In 2008, she was cast as Haruka Saejima, a nurse at an emergency center, in ‘Code Blue – Doctor Helicopter Emergency Rescue’ (Fuji TV), and appeared in all three series. She established herself as a popular actress. Known for her model-like figure, beauty, and elegant charm, Higa is especially adored by women for her clean and graceful appeal. Her current drama, ‘Forest’ (TV Asahi), is also receiving high praise,” says a TV magazine writer.

“FRIDAY” has been following Higa since she began her career as a morning drama heroine. From attending drama wrap parties in a frilly skirt, to dating an actor three years older, to acting as a one-day police chief with a shy smile. Among these moments, one of the most memorable was when she was spotted walking through the night streets in a super mini dress. Here, we present some exclusive images from that time.

The private life of the actress is shrouded in mystery and Higa is one such figure. She was spotted near Ebisu Station (Shibuya, Tokyo) in the fall of 2014.

In a super-mini dress, she sweetly said, “Hey, what are we doing?”

Around 9 PM, I witnessed a woman with remarkably long, beautiful legs stepping out of a car that had stopped on a major street. That woman was none other than Manami Higa. She met up with a blonde woman, and they entered a nearby Japanese restaurant. Later, they were joined by two more women inside the restaurant, and two hours later, they left together. From there, Higa and the blonde woman began an incredibly long walk.

At first, they were in high spirits, chatting excitedly, but they couldn’t decide on the second place to go. Higa wrapped her arm around the woman’s arm and sweetly said, “Hey, what are we doing? Hurry up and decide!” Her surprisingly cute side took the crew by surprise. They continued walking around the alley filled with restaurants, unable to decide where to go next.

On January 31, Higa left the entertainment agency she had been with since her debut. It remains unknown whether she will go independent or join a new agency.

“People say that Higa left because she wanted to break free from her image of being pure and serious and to leap further as an actress. In 2022, she released a photo book, ‘Honshin,’ in which she showcased bold swimsuit and lingerie shots. She mentioned in an interview, ‘I want to break down the protective shell I’ve put up’ (‘Weekly Playboy,’ March 7, 2022). She might want to place herself in a new environment and take on new challenges,” says a source from the entertainment industry.

Currently, Higa is starring in the drama “Forest,” a love suspense series that intertwines love and lies. She plays a mysterious woman, showcasing her new charm. We look forward to Higa’s continued success in both variety shows and dramas.