Ashida Mana Profile - Biography, Age, Fun Facts

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Ashida Mana’s Profile

Real Name: Mana Ashida
Native Name: 芦田愛菜
Nicknames: Tensai Kodomo Joyū, Kokumin-teki Kodomo Joyū
Birthday: Jun 23, 2004 (21 years old)
Blood type: A
Gender: Female
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Debut: 2009
Birthplace: Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Education: Keio University (Faculty of Law)
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: Actress, Singer
Languages: Japanese, English (Fluent)
Current Agency: Jobbykids
Active Years: 2010 – present
Notable films: Confessions (2010), Bunny Drop (2011), Pacific Rim (2013), BL Metamorphosis (2022)

📝 Profile Summary

Born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo—a spot famous for Nadagogo sake and the Hanshin Koshien stadium—Ashida Mana grew up in a place obsessed with baseball and boozy traditions. Not sure if that’s why a three-year-old kid turned into one of the most legit child actors of the 2010s, but Mana’s path wasn’t just about being cute on TV and calling it a day.

Her breakout in Mother (2010)—playing an abused six-year-old with haunting stillness—locked her into the lineage of Japanese cinema child trauma, where young actors shoulder the emotional weight adults can’t. One scene, no dialogue, no music, just her sitting still, tears falling—and Japan held its breath. She didn’t act like she was “taught to act”; she performed like she’d seen that pain somewhere real. Grown-ups were shook, like, “Yo, a kid acting that good feels kinda wrong.”

Of course, nobody’s just born that dope. Mana was trained at Jobbykids, a top-tier talent factory churning out child stars who work like adults before they lose their baby teeth. And she wasn’t just in movies—she was everywhere: commercials, TV shows, even dropping music. She even dropped a kiddie pop hit, Maru Maru Mori Mori! (2011), which sold over 250,000 copies. While other kids were learning the alphabet, she was on variety shows, acting and singing like a pro.

In 2013, Mana snagged a few minutes in Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro’s Hollywood blockbuster. No one expected much from a Japanese kid actor running from monsters for a hot second. But, plot twist: critics abroad called her scene the most “gut-punching” part of the film. People were like, “Hold up, this elementary schooler did that?”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing like some Disney flick. In 2014, Mana starred in Ashita, Mama ga Inai, a drama about an orphanage. When it aired, Japanese welfare groups clapped back, saying the show misrepresented orphaned kids, making things too dark, too dramatic. Mana didn’t write or direct it, but as the star, her name got dragged into the mess. At not even 10 years old, she still had to show up on TV, smile, bow, and keep every word in check. Most kids that age can barely write a three-sentence paragraph.

Maybe that’s why Mana dialed it back after the TV frenzy. Not ghosting the scene entirely, but slowing down. No more five films a year—she took smaller roles or did voice work. Just when people thought she’d fade out, she hit them with a flex: enrollment at Keio University, one of Japan’s top schools, studying law. While there, she voiced Riley in the Japanese dub of Inside Out and became an ambassador for climate change and sustainable consumption campaigns.

There was some chatter about Mana getting “bullied” at school. Her mom confirmed stuff like her pencils disappearing—think a dozen pencil cases gone in a year. No need to make it a soap opera, but it tracks: fame that early either isolates you or makes you a target. Rumors also swirled about her dating some famous artist’s son. Both sides stayed quiet, no confirmation. But Japan’s netizens lost it, like, “Mana with a boyfriend? Nah, that’s not cool.” The expectations piled on her for nearly two decades didn’t let up even when she grew up.

People still call her the “scandal-free child star.” That’s true on paper. But dig into her career, and you see the cost of staying “clean” was freedom. No rebelling, no off-script rants, no overly spicy TV moments. She’s always been sharp, just cute enough, just polite enough, just chill enough. That “just enough” is what kept her from melting down like so many other child stars.

Ashida Mana isn’t out here chasing some Oscar-worthy role to shake things up. She’s not clawing for old glory with a reality show or a samurai drama marathon. She just keeps moving—films, school, sustainable development forums. Still a pro, still calm, no fluff. Not a child actor anymore. Doesn’t need pity. Doesn’t need anyone slapping an “icon” label on her for clout.

Fun Facts

Mana loves udon noodles—she once ate three bowls in one go on set
Japanese fans affectionately call her “Mana-chan”
Starred in JUJU’s music video “Yasashisa de Afureru You ni,” where she acted using only her eyes
Enjoys collecting fairy tale picture books and reading before bed
A devoted fan of Spirited Away—she once mimicked Chihiro’s voice in an interview
Has said she’d like to try becoming a chef if not an actress
Collaborated with young designers in a Tokyo children’s fashion project
Despite being a child actress, she has appeared in over 40 television talk shows
Very close with fellow child actor Suzuki Fuku; they’re often dubbed Japan’s “golden duo”
Owns a Shiba Inu dog named Koma