Nana Suganuma’s Dual Challenge: Balancing Golf and Idol Work, Spreading Extra Happy With Her Music
Her singing and dancing skills have attracted a lot of attention, and her debut single is now available!
“If we’re going to do it, we’ll make it great!”
“Endlessly~~ continuing into the future~~”
Christmas Eve in Tokyo, filled with festive cheer. In a pastel-colored studio packed with countless balloons and dreams, a high-tone voice rang out clearly. The pop melody line was that of a “classic idol song.” But the person holding the microphone was an unexpected one: professional female golfer Nana Suganuma (25).
She has three wins on the domestic women’s tour. Known for her aggressive putting and cheerful, sunny personality, she is now taking on an unprecedented dual career in the golf world. On February 18, she will release her first single, “Kimi no Kyūseishu ni Naritakute!”, marking her debut as an idol. On this day, the music video was being filmed in a Tokyo studio.
Between takes, Suganuma repeatedly checked her dance moves on the monitor. When the choreographer advised, “When holding a long note, try to stretch your arms as much as possible. It makes the dance look better,” she silently nodded and repeatedly traced the same motions to perfect them. Her expression was as serious as it is on the golf course.
Honestly, I thought, “Even as a top athlete, her dancing will be at a beginner level,” but that preconception was overturned within minutes. Even the way she moved her arms was precise, down to the fingertips, full of vitality. Her timing was exact.
The choreographer said, “At first, I prepared a simple dance focusing on hand movements, but Ms. Suganuma told me, ‘Make it more difficult’ (laughs). So we made it a full-body routine. She learned it after just a few takes—truly amazing.”
Suganuma herself, slightly embarrassed, said:
“I learned dance for six years starting in first grade, but I really had no sense for it. Now, I just pick up moves from my favorite idols here and there. But if I’m going to do this, I wanted it to be the very best.”
The shoot began at 9:30 a.m. and continued until 8:00 p.m., changing sets along the way. She must have been tired, yet whenever the camera turned to her, she responded with a smile. The divine responsiveness she shows as a popular golfer didn’t change, even with the field swapped for a studio.
Heartless criticism from the detractors
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Heartless Criticism from Detractors
After finishing the music video shoot, Suganuma finally showed a relieved expression and laughed, “Wow, I was so nervous! Singing and dancing are even harder than golf!”
“For example, on a par-5 course, you can make up for a few mistakes, but with singing and dancing, you can’t make a single error. The hardest part was putting emotion into my singing. I could get the pitch quickly, but conveying feelings—wow, that’s really difficult! My vocal coach told me, ‘Sing a little exaggeratedly, and that’s fine,’ and I gradually got the hang of it.”
It all started in January 2025, when Suganuma performed a song by Nogizaka46, which she loves, at a fan meeting. A record company that heard her sing reached out with an offer last September. From the end of the season, she began taking vocal lessons alongside her training, polishing her singing skills. “If I’m going to do this, I don’t want to do it halfway,” she says, revealing the determined mindset of a competitor.
Her personal touch extends to the costumes and sets as well.
“For the outfit, I imagined a neat, uniform-like style similar to what the Sakamichi groups wear. The set was unified in my favorite pink. Since the lyrics mention eclairs, we included a scene where I’m baking sweets in a kitchen.”
Suganuma also feels that singing helps her release stress, and stabilizing her mental state has positively affected her golf. “In fact, my practice during off days has been going really well. Taking on new challenges has increased my sense of responsibility toward golf, and surprisingly, there’s a synergy effect.”
She also noticed her father’s reaction, who travels with her on the pro tour. He was initially hesitant about the CD debut, but lately, it seems like he listens to my song every day.
Behind this challenge lies a realization she gained during a difficult season. In 2024, her shots were inconsistent, which affected even her strong putting. After repeated failures to make the cut, she shed tears of frustration. Yet in May 2025, at the Panasonic Open Ladies, she won for the first time in two years, marking her comeback.
“I talked a lot with my father. We decided to revisit the fundamentals of my swing. I filmed my practice to check every little detail. Above all, the support from my fans really gave me strength. Even when results weren’t coming, people stayed by my side. That made me realize I couldn’t just stay stuck—I had to move forward.”
She’s felt the weight of her fans’ support. While heartless comments like “You’re weak because you’re distracted by singing” sometimes appear, they don’t bother her.
“I knew from the start that criticism would come, and I was prepared for it. I love golf, and I don’t cut corners in practice. I’m confident about that. There are far more people supporting me than criticizing me, and that’s what keeps me going.”
New Possibilities
On January 17, she will hold a solo live performance to showcase her debut single.
“I chose a venue for 500 people to really get fired up. Someday, maybe even Budokan… well, that might be impossible, but I hope to at least fill Zepp DiverCity. By seriously pursuing being an idol, I want to show, for example to junior players, that it’s okay to enjoy things outside of golf and present new possibilities.”
“Of course, I will also keep aiming for results in golf. My goal is multiple wins! I want to take revenge at the Earth Mondamin Cup, where I was frustrated finishing second last year. And in November, there was a near hole-in-one where the ball got stuck on the edge of the cup, so this year I really want to make it.”
Suganuma declared, “I will give my all to both golf and being an idol!” She didn’t forget to promote her music either: “Please support me! And buy lots of CDs (laughs).”
Victory on the fairway, cheers on the stage—this challenge may bring new critics, but Suganuma confidently said, inspired by her lyrics:
“In my song, there’s the word ‘Extral Happy.’ It means even more happiness, and I’d be happy if my song could increase everyone’s happiness.”
Could Japan see her become, like Shohei Ohtani, a dual career star in golf who energizes the nation?
From the January 30/February 6, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”
Interview and text： Sportswriter Myung-Woo Kim PHOTO.： Takehiko Kohiyama, Afro (4th)