Ishikawa Manahiro is an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Men's Non-no(Shueisha), and last year he made his acting debut. Born and raised in the naturally rich environment of Kochi Prefecture, this 185cm tall young man is working hard to balance his university life with his entertainment career, while also gaining experience. We spoke to him about his future goals at a formal wear photo shoot held by his agency, Avex Management Agency.
Ishikawa is 20 years old, born on September 25, 2005. He won the runner-up prize at the 39th Men's Non-no Model Audition in 2024 and became an exclusive model for the magazine. He is known for his refreshing looks and tall stature.
His height was already around 180cm when he was in the second year of junior high school. "My father is tall, so it's genetic. There were about 20 students in my grade at school, so I was the only one who stood out," he laughs. You'd think he'd be popular, but "I was on the baseball team, so I had a shaved head and I was skinny, so I wasn't popular at all... I went to a slightly bigger high school, but I never got a Valentine's Day gift (laughs)."
She was a TV addict from a young age and had always dreamed of being in the glamorous world. She also liked being in the spotlight, so she aimed for the entertainment industry and began auditioning in middle school. "I get bored easily, but my desire to be in the entertainment industry never changed."
He moved to Tokyo to attend university. At that time, he won second place in an audition for Men's Non-no and joined his current agency. "Of course, I've failed auditions before, but I've always been lucky. I kept going and didn't give up, so I was able to come across opportunities," he recalls.
Last year, she had her first experience as a main cast member in the July drama "Renai Kinshi" (Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV), and also walked the runway at fashion shows such as Tokyo Girls Collection and Girls Award. "At first I was so nervous, but after walking there many times, I started to enjoy it."
His goal is to become a "two-sword wielder" as both an actor and a model. His predecessors at Men's Non-no-no include Hiroshi Abe and Osawa Takao, but he says with enthusiasm, "Like these legends, I would like to gain the skills to appear in historical dramas and Asadora one day."
He also has strong feelings for his hometown of Kochi. "Moving to Tokyo has made me appreciate the good things about my hometown even more. I hope that one day I can help liven up the town through my entertainment activities," he said with a smile. When asked if he would like to play the role of Sakamoto Ryoma, a famous Kochi native, he expressed his excitement, saying, "I did escape (from the Tosa domain) (laughs). Today I was wearing a hakama (traditional Japanese formal trousers) and I felt like Sakamoto Ryoma."
Behind his quiet words, we could see his determination to continue taking on new challenges. The steps that began in Kochi are likely to expand even further this year.
