Umika Kawashima

Umika Kawashima (川島 海荷, Kawashima Umika; born March 3, 1994) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer.^[1][2] She is a former member of the Japanese girl group 9nine. Her solo single "Maji de Koi Suru 5 Byō Mae/Ichigo Iro no Kimochi", on the Watashi no Yasashikunai Senpai soundtrack, reached #46 on the Oricon chart.^[3] As an actress, she played in numerous Japanese TV series and movies.

Umika Kawashima
川島 海荷
Born	(1994-03-03) March 3, 1994 (age 31) Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Alma mater	Meiji University
Occupations	Actress voice actress singer
Years active	2006–present
Height	155 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Spouse	Katsumi Nakamura ​ (m. 2024)​
Musical career
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2005–2019
Labels	Sony Music Japan
Formerly of	9nine meg rock

Biography

Umika Kawashima was born in the Saitama Prefecture. She was scouted in Shibuya when she was in 6th grade and joined Lespros Entertainment. The actresses she idolizes are Aoi Miyazaki, Yui Aragaki and Kou Shibasaki. She has stated that she would like to collaborate with Masaharu Fukuyama.^[4] She graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Letters at Meiji University with a degree in psychology in 2016.^[5]

Career

Since 2006, Kawashima has appeared in numerous television dramas and movies. In 2007 she joined the female idol group 9nine, however she announced her graduation from the group in 2016 to focus on her acting career. She appeared for her final performance with the group during "9nine LIVE 2016", BEST 9 Tour" after being with the group for nine and a half years.^[6] Early 2016, it was announced that Kawashima would become a regular alongside Masu Taichi on the television program ZIP!. Kawashima commented, "Now is the time to move forward. I want to present an exciting program without any accidents."^[7] She receives her first leading role as a voice actress in the 2017 summer anime series, Nana Maru San Batsu.^[8]

Personal life

In December 23, 2024, Kawashima and Olympic competitive swimmer Katsumi Nakamura, jointly announced that they had married.^[9][10]

Filmography

TV dramas

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2006	Dare Yorimo Mama wo Ai su	Tomo Sanada
	Yakusha Damashii	Sakurako Fukada
2007	Iryu 2	Kana Takami
	Code Blue	Miki Kuriyama
2008	Bloody Monday	Haruka Takagi
2009	Kiina	Yukino Fukada
	Aishiteru	Mihoko Ozawa
2010	Bloody Monday 2	Haruka Takagi
	Kaibutsu-kun	Utako Ichikawa
	99-nen no Ai ~ Japanese Americans	Sachie Hiramatsu
2011	Heaven's Flower	Ai
	Hanawake no Yon Shimai	Mai Yonemoto
	Kokosei Restaurant	Ume Hanawa
	Kaibutsu-kun Special	Utako Ichikawa
2012	Hanayome	Yoko Katakura
	Papadol!	Mei Hanamura
2013	Pintokona	Ayame Chiba
	Keizoku 2: SPEC~Rei	Maho Ueno
2014	Kabuka Boraku	Yuki Todo
2016	Arechi no Koi	Yuariko Kitazawa
	Asa ga Kuru	Hikari Katakura
2017	Blazing Transfer Students	Hikari
2019	Idaten	Yasuko	Taiga drama	[11]
2022	One Night Morning	Komugi	Lead role; episode 6	[12]

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2007	Life: Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara	Iijima Konatsu
2009	Keitai Kareshi	Satomi Ueno
2010	Watashi no Yasashikunai Senpai	Yamako Iriomote
2011	Hoshi Mamoru Inu	Yuki Kawamura
	Kaibutsu-kun The Movie	Pirari / Utako Ichikawa

Television animation

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2017	Nana Maru San Batsu	Mari Fukami

Dubbing

• Hotel Transylvania, Mavis Dracula^[13]
• Hotel Transylvania 2, Mavis Dracula^[14]
• Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, Mavis Dracula^[15]
• Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, Mavis Dracula^[16]

Awards

• 2009: The 2nd Tokyo Drama Awards: Best Newcomer Award^[2][17]
• 2010: The 23rd Japan Best Dressed Eyes Awards Special Prize^[18]
• 2013: The 24th Best Jewery Dresser in Japan (section of teens)