Ayaka Umeda

is a Japanese former idol and singer from the girl group NMB48, in which she is the co-captain of Team BII. She was also a member of the AKB48 and its subunit DiVA.

Biography

2004–2007: Early career, debut, injury In 2004–2005, Umeda took part in the Morning Musume Lucky 7 Audition for the idol group Morning Musume, but only advanced to the second round.

On February 26, 2006, Umeda passed the second generation auditions for AKB48, and became one of 19 founding members for the group's Team K. Her on-stage debut was on April 1. She performed on the title track for AKB48's first single on a major label, "Aitakatta", released on October 26, 2006. As part of Team K 1st Stage, she was a front member for the song "Skirt, Hirari", along with Sayaka Akimoto, Yuko Oshima, Sae Miyazawa, and Kana Kobayashi.

Later in the year, Umeda developed a stress fracture in her foot, and was recommended by her manager to take a break from her performances to rehabilitate, starting December 23. Her rehabilitation took about a year, during which she was active on TV in Fukuoka Prefecture.

2008–2011: Return to AKB48 On May 31, 2008, Umeda returned to public performances with the premiere of a new seasonal Team K's show at the AKB48 Theater, titled Team K 4th Stage "Saishū Bell ga Naru". Prior to her injuries, she was one of the faces of Team K, but after her return, she was placed at the very end of the stage, extremely far from the center position where she used to stand.

In February 2009, Umeda was chosen as the D1 Grand Prix image girl.

In April, she was named the Tokyo Tower image girl for the year 2009, succeeding fellow AKB48 member Ayumi Orii.

In the AKB48 general election for 2010, Umeda placed 32nd, with 2,499 votes.

2011: Diva, rise in AKB48 On February 27, 2011, it was announced to the public that a new pop group named DiVA, consisting of Sayaka Akimoto, Yuka Masuda, Sae Miyazawa, and Ayaka Umeda had been formed. The group's debut single "Tsuki no Uragawa", whose release was originally scheduled for April 27, and postponed until May 18 due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, reached number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

In the annual election, she placed 22nd, and headlined the Under Girls on the single's coupling track. In the AKB48 rock-paper-scissors tournament, which took place on September 20, she finished in the top 16, which earned her a spot on the title track. The song "Ue kara Mariko" became her first A-side of an AKB48's single in three and a half years, since "Baby! Baby! Baby!".

2012: Team B captain On June 6, in the AKB48 general election, she placed 16th and landed a spot on the title track for "Gingham Check".

On August 24, AKB48 announced a major reorganization, where Umeda moved to Team B and became the team's captain.

In the third AKB48 rock-paper-scissors tournament, which took place in September 2012, Umeda advanced to the top 16, and secured a title track spot on the group's 29th single, "Eien Pressure".

2013: Senbatsu Election

Umeda ranked 19th in AKB48's general election, placing her in Undergirls and subsequently giving her a spot on the main B-side track of the election single, Koi Suru Fortune Cookie.

2014: Transfer to NMB48

On February 24, 2014, in the AKB48 Dai Sokaku Matsuri Shuffle, Umeda was completely transferred to NMB48 and became co-captain of Team BII.

2016: Departing NMB48

On January 23, 2016, at AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2016, Umeda announced of leaving NMB48. On March 20, she graduated from the group and her graduation ceremony was hold on March 31, 2016, at Zepp Namba.

Singles with AKB48

Year No. Title Role Notes 2006 1 "Aitakatta" A-side Debut with Team K. 2007 5 "Boku no Taiyō" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Mirai no Kajitsu". 2008 9 "Baby! Baby! Baby!" A-side 2009 14 "River" Theater Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Hikōkigumo" 2010 16 "Ponytail to Shushu" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Boku no Yell" 2010 17 "Heavy Rotation" B-side Ranked 32nd in 2010 General Election. Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Namida no Sea-Saw Game" 2010 18 "Beginner" Diva Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Nakeru Basho" as Diva (not to be confused with Diva 2010 19 "Chance no Junban" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Alive" as Team K. 2011 20 "Sakura no Ki ni Narō" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Area K" as Diva. 2011 – "Dareka no Tame ni – What can I do for someone?" – charity single 2011 21 "Everyday, Katyusha" Under Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Hito to Chikara" as Under Girls. 2011 22 "Flying Get" Under Girls Ranked 22nd in 2011 General Election. Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Dakishimecha Ikenai". 2011 23 "Kaze wa Fuiteiru" Under Girls Yurigumi Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Gondola Lift" as Under Girls Yurigumi 2011 24 "Ue kara Mariko" A-side Placed in top 16 in rock-paper-scissors tournament; She sang on "Zero-sum Taiyo" with Team K. 2012 25 "Give Me Five!" Special Girls B Did not sing on title track. Sang "Hitsujikai no Tabi" with Special Girls B. 2012 26 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" Special Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Mitsu no Namida" as Special Girls. 2012 27 "Gingham Check" A-side Ranked 16th in 2012 General Election. Sang on "Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita". 2013 33 "Heart Electric" Under Girls Sang on :Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku" 2013 34 "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Mosh & Dive". 2014 37 "Kokoro no Placard" Next Girls Ranked 35th in 2014 General Election. Did not sing on main track. Sang "Hito Natsu no Hankouki" instead. 2014 38 "Kibōteki Refrain" B-Side Sang "Utaitai". 2015 39 "Green Flash" B-side Sang "Punkish"

Singles with NMB48 Year No. Title Role Notes 2014 10 "Rashikunai" A-Side 2015 11 "Don't Look Back!" A-Side Also sang "Romantic Snow" 2015 12 "Durian Shōnen" A-Side 2015 13 "Must Be Now" A-Side Last single to participate as NMB48 member.

Singles with SKE48 Year No. Title Role Notes 2016 19 "Chicken Line" B-side Sang on "Tabi no Tochū". Participated as graduated member.

AKB48 stage units Team K 1st Stage "Party ga Hajimaru yo" "Skirt, Hirari" Team K 2nd Stage "Seishun Girls" "Ame no Dōbutsuen" "Fushidara na Natsu" Team K 3rd Stage "Nōnai Paradise" "Maria" Team K 4th Stage "Saishu Bell ga Naru" "Return Match" Team K 5th Stage "Sakaagari" "End Roll" Team K 6th Stage "Reset" "Kokoro no Sofa" "Kiseki wa Maniawanai"

Filmography

TV series (Ep. 1, January 13. 2010, MBS) Majisuka Gakuen (Last ep., March 26, 2010, TV Tokyo) Kankyō Chōjin Ecogainder (June 26 – November 1, 2010, Kids Station) Majisuka Gakuen 2 (Last ep., July 1, 2011, TV Tokyo) — Ayaka

Musicals In the Heights (as Nina Rosario) (2014) The Wiz (as Dorothy Gale) (2015) Endless SHOCK (as Rika) (2019-2021) EDGES the musical (Red Team) (2020) Galaxy Express 999 THE MUSICAL (as Claire) (2022) Sister Act (as Sister Mary Robert) (2023-2026) Tick, Tick... Boom! (as Susan) (2024)