Ayaka Tanihara (谷原 絢香, Tanihara Ayaka), born Ayaka Kimura (木村 絢香, Kimura Ayaka) October 30, 1981[1] and known professionally as Ayaka Nagate (長手 絢香, Nagate Ayaka), is a Japanese actress and former singer. From 1998 to 2008, Nagate was part of Hello! Project as a member of the Japan-based girl groupCoconuts Musume.
History
Nagate joined Hello! Project in 1999 after being discovered by Makoto [ja], fellow Sharan Q bandmate of Tsunku, with four other girls, forming Coconuts Musume. Having lived most of her teenage years in Hawaiʻi and attending English schools in Japan, Nagate is fluent in both Japanese and English. She is best known by foreign fans for her "Ayaka no Totsugeki Eikaiwa" (Ayaka's Surprise English Lessons) TV segment, where she would test the English skills of Morning Musume members.
^"ココナッツ娘。アヤカに関してのお知らせ" [Hello! Project Announcement] (in Japanese). helloproject.com. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008.
^"ココナッツ娘。"最後の砦"アヤカがハロプロ卒業 今後は女優へ" [Coconuts Musume Ayaka has graduated from Hello Pro as a future actress] (in Japanese). MSN. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008.