Artist Profile
- Full Name: Minami Hamabe
- Native Name: 浜辺 美波
- Nicknames: Beeyan, Mi-chan
- Birthday: Aug 29, 2000 (25 years old)
- Blood Type: B
- Height/Weight: 156 cm (5’1") / N/A
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Debut: 2011
- Birthplace: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
- Nationality: Japanese
- Profession: Actress
- Language Skills: Japanese (Native)
- Current Agency: Toho Entertainment
- Active Years: 2011–present (15 years)
Minami Hamabe (浜辺 美波) is a Japanese actress, born on August 29, 2000. She works in film and television under the management of Toho Entertainment. She is best known for her memorable performances in live-action adaptations of manga and novels, and is considered one of the most prominent young actresses of her generation in Japan.
Early Life
Minami Hamabe was born and raised in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. From an early age, she showed a strong passion for acting. In 2011, she participated in and won an award at the Toho Entertainment New Generation Talent Competition, which marked the beginning of her professional career.
She later moved to Tokyo to pursue acting while continuing her education. She graduated from Horikoshi High School, a well-known institution for young artists in Japan.
Career
Minami Hamabe began her acting career in 2011 after winning the New Generation Award at the 7th Toho Cinderella Audition. This achievement led her to join Toho Entertainment, officially marking the start of her professional career.
In 2012, she made her film debut as Chihiro Ayasato in the live-action adaptation of Ace Attorney. This role became the stepping stone for her subsequent projects.
In 2015, Hamabe portrayed Meiko “Menma” Honma in the live-action television drama adaptation of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, which aired on Fuji TV. The performance brought her wide recognition among television audiences.
During 2016–2017, she starred in several notable productions. In 2016, she played the lead role of Saki Miyanaga in the live-action series Saki. The following year, she starred as Sakura Yamauchi in the critically acclaimed film Let Me Eat Your Pancreas. The film ranked among the highest-grossing Japanese films of the year and earned Hamabe the Newcomer of the Year Award at the 41st Japan Academy Film Prize.
From 2018 to 2019, Hamabe continued to lead in youth and romance films such as My Little Monster and Sensei Kunshu. She also took on the role of Yumeko Jabami in the live-action adaptation of Kakegurui. In 2019, she appeared in The Great War of Archimedes, which grossed over ¥1.9 billion at the box office, as well as in Murders at the House of Death.
In 2020, Hamabe starred as Emma in the live-action adaptation of The Promised Neverland, which earned more than ¥2.1 billion at the box office. That same year, she appeared in Love Me, Love Me Not, voiced her character in its anime adaptation, and also contributed her voice to Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
In 2021, she reprised her role as Yumeko Jabami in Kakegurui 2. She also made her debut in the Detective Conan franchise, voicing Ellie Ishioka in The Scarlet Bullet.
In 2022, Hamabe played Dr. Byakuya in the television drama Dr. White and starred as Sumire in the feature film One Day, You Will Reach the Sea.
In 2023, she appeared in two major films: Shin Kamen Rider as Ruriko Midorikawa and Godzilla Minus One as Noriko Ōishi. Her performance in Godzilla Minus One earned her the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 66th Blue Ribbon Awards.
In 2024, Minami Hamabe starred in the feature film Silent Love, released in January, portraying Mika Jinnai, a conservatory student who has lost her eyesight. In the same year, she appeared in the films 6 Lying University Students and What If Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa Was to Become the Prime Minister, reprised the role of Tokino Mitani in the television special Alibi Kuzushi Uketamawarimasu, and continued her role as Ruriko Midorikawa in the short drama Shin Kamen Rider Kakuwa Format Ban.
In 2025, Hamabe appeared in the film Hodonaku, Owakare Desu, released in February, alongside Ren Meguro; featured in the television drama Pray Speak What Has Happened; was selected to participate in the video game project Physint directed by Hideo Kojima; and was confirmed to play Nene in the NHK Taiga drama Toyotomi Kyodai!, scheduled to air in early 2026.
Fun Facts
- Hates raw octopus so much she once faked a stomach ache to avoid eating it at a press event.
- Used to own a hamster named Maron and talked to it like a best friend.
- A die-hard fan of Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami — “I love Midori, but I live like Naoko,” she once said.
- Nicknamed “Hamababy” by industry friends for always asking to be carried when tipsy (?).
- Trained in traditional Japanese dance (Nihon Buyō), once performed at her high school graduation.
- Played Animal Crossing until 4 a.m. during the pandemic — even built a “love castle” on her island.
- Idolizes actress Aoi Miyazaki — once cried upon meeting her in person.
- Uses chopsticks with her left hand but writes with her right — truly ambidextrous!
- Hates selfies, only posts candid shots taken by friends — “natural beauty needs no selfies.”
- Writes handwritten letters to directors after each project — one director reportedly cried after receiving a 3-page letter from her.
Photo Gallery
