Minami Kato (加藤美南, Katō Minami, born January 15, 1999 in Niigata Prefecture) is a Japanese idol. She is a former member of AKB48's sister group NGT48 as a kenkyūsei and was the 2nd captain of the former Team NIII (pronounced N-Three).[1]

Minami Kato
加藤 美南
Born (1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 25)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • model
AgentStandby3 (2021-present)
Height152 cm (5 ft 0 in)
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
Years active2015–present

Career

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On January 25, 2015, at the "AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 1035 2015" concert, it was announced that AKB48 would form a new sister group under the name NGT48. Auditions to become a member would be starting in March.[2] The auditions actually held place from April 5 until May 18 and on July 25 the first generation members were announced, one of them being Kato.[3]

She was officially promoted from a Kenkyuusei (Research Student) to a member of NGT48 Team NIII (along with 13 other members) on January 10, 2016, which was the day of the NGT48 Theater Opening. On that day she was cast as the female lead for a television series adaptation of Higurashi When They Cry,[4] which was premiered from May 20 on BS Sky PerfecTV!. She made her A-side participation debut for AKB48's 44th Single Tsubasa wa Iranai which was released on June 1, 2016.

Later that month, Kato was the first and only member of NGT48's first generation to rank in AKB48's annual General Election (選抜総選挙, Senbatsu Sousenkyo) ranking 76th with 13,571 votes.[5]

In December 2016, Kato was announced as one of the cast members for the TV drama "Tofu Pro-Wrestling," which premiered on TV Asahi on January 21, 2017. Her pseudonym in the show was "Baton Katomina."[6] On September 7, 2017, she was also announced as a participant in "Tofu Pro-Wrestling, The REAL 2017 CLIMAX", a live wrestling event based on the drama.[7] On January 17, 2018, she was once again listed as a participant for the follow-up event, "Tofu-Pro Wrestling, The REAL 2018 QUEENDOM," to be held on February 23, 2018.[8]

Kato was part of NGT48's 1st Single Seishun Dokei which was released on April 12, 2017. She centered the B-Side Song on the track Kurayami Motomu with Moeka Takakura and was a part of the song Akigan Punk.[9] She wa also part of the 2nd single "Sekai wa Doko Made Aozora na no ka?", which was released on December 6, 2017. Together with Ayuka Nakamura she also centered the B-side song Gikochinai Tsuugaku Densha on the Theater Edition.[10]

On June 17, 2017, she improved her ranking in the 2017 Senbatsu Sousenkyou as she rose by a steady number to spot 71 (with 16,641 votes).[11] During her speech, Kato thanked her fans for getting her this rank and said that she hopes she will gain many international fans.

During AKB48's annual Request Hour in 2018, her duet with Noe Yamada ranked 33rd, which made it the highest ranking song from NGT48's most recent stage show, "Hokori no Oka."[12]

Following NGT48's 2019 scandal, on May 21, Kato was demoted to kenkyūsei after posting an Instagram story of Maho Yamaguchi's graduation with the caption, "I'm doing my nails over here. I wish someone would change the channel."[13][14][15][16]

Discography

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Singles with NGT48

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Year No. Title Role Notes
2017 1 "Seishun Dokei" Senbatsu and B-side Part of Senbatsu for "Seishun Dokei".

Part of the B-side song "Akigan Punk".

Center of the B-side song "Kurayami Motomu" together with Moeka Takakura.

2017 2 "Sekai wa Doko Made Aozora na no ka?" Senbatsu and B-side Part of the Senbatsu for "Sekai wa Doko Made Aozora na no ka?".

Part of the B-side song "Boku no Namida wa Nageranai".

Part of the B-side song "Nani ka ga Ira".

Center of the B-side song "Gikochinai Tsuugaku Densha" together with Ayuka Nakamura.

2018 3 "Haru wa Dokokara Kurunoka?" Senbatsu and B-side Part of the Senbatsu for "Haru wa Dokokara Kurunoka?".

Center of the B-side song "Ato de" together with Moeke Takakura.

2018 4 "Sekai no Hito e" Senbatsu and B-side Part of the Senbatsu for "Sekai no Hito e".

Center of the B-side song "Kokoro ni Taiyo".

Singles with AKB48

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Year No. Title Role Notes
2016 43 "Kimi wa Melody" B-Side Together with other members of NGT48, she sang on the single's D Type the song "Max Toki 315go".
44 "Tsubasa wa Iranai" Senbatsu and B-Side She performed as a part of the AKB48 Senbatsu the main song "Tsubasa wa Iranai."

Together with other members of NGT48, she sang on the single's Theater Edition the song "Kimi wa Doko ni Iru". She was the center for this song.

45 "LOVE TRIP/Shiawase o Wakenasai" B-side and Upcoming Girls Sang with other members the song "Hikari to Kage no Hibi".

Ranked 76th in the General Election and became part of the Upcoming Girls unit. They performed the song "2016nen no Invitation".

2017 47 "Shoot Sign" B-Side Together with other members of NGT48, she sang on the single's D Type the song "Midori to Mori no Undokuen".
48 "Negaigoto no Mochigusare" B-Side Sang with other members on the Type C Edition the song "Tenmetsu Pheromone".
49 #Sukinanda Upcoming Girls Ranked 71st in the General Election and became part of the Upcoming Girls unit. They Performed the song "Tsuki no Kamen".

Albums with AKB48

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Thumbnail

  • Dare ga Watashi wo Nakaseta?

Appearances

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Stage Units

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NGT48 Team NIII 1st Stage "Party ga Hajimaru Yo"

NGT48 Team NIII 2nd Stage "Pajama Drive"

  • Temodemo no Namida
  • Pajama Drive

NGT48 Team NIII 3rd Stage "Hokori no Oka"

  • Gesuna Yume

TV Variety

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Dramas

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  • Higurashi When They Cry (2016) as Rena Ryuugu [17]
  • Higurashi When They Cry Kai (2016) as Rena Ryuugu [18]
  • Tofu Pro-Wrestling (2017) as herself/Baton Katomina

References

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  1. ^ "NGT48 Mobile". NGT48 Mobile (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  2. ^ "AKB48 is recruiting for a new sister group – NGT48". SBS PopAsia. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  3. ^ "NGT48 Debuts Its First Generation Members | ARAMA! JAPAN". ARAMA! JAPAN. 2015-08-22. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  4. ^ "NGT48 Idols Star in Live-Action When They Cry - Higurashi Horror Show". Anime News Network. January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  5. ^ 【第8回AKB総選挙】1位~80位までの開票結果. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). 5 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  6. ^ ワールド・アイドル・プロレスリング. ワールド・アイドル・プロレスリング (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. ^ AKB48『豆腐プロレスThe REAL 2017 WIP CLIMAX 記念写真販売のお知らせ』. AKB48 Official Blog 〜1830mから~ Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  8. ^ AKB48『「豆腐プロレスThe REAL 2018 WIP QUEENDOM」/チケット先行発売のご案内』. AKB48 Official Blog 〜1830mから~ Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  9. ^ NGT48、4・12にCDデビュー決定 センターは中井りか. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). 6 June 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  10. ^ NGT48・荻野由佳 初センターの2ndシングル、タイトルは「世界はどこまで青空なのか?」 | Musicman-NET. www.musicman-net.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  11. ^ 『第9回AKB48選抜総選挙』完全レポート『全80位メンバーコメント&会場フォト』 5ページ目. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  12. ^ AKB48公式サイト|AKB48グループ「リクエストアワー セットリストベスト100 2018」 (in Japanese). AKB48. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  13. ^ "NGTメンバー、山口真帆を批判? 真偽不明の「インスタスクショ」が拡散". J-Cast (in Japanese). 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  14. ^ "NGT48加藤美南が不適切投稿で研究生に降格処分、NGTメンバーSNSの運用停止が決定". Natalie (in Japanese). 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  15. ^ "NGT運営「SNSの指導を徹底」 メンバーの運用は一旦停止へ". Oricon (in Japanese). 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  16. ^ Morrissy, Kim (2019-05-22). "NGT48 Idol Minami Katō Demoted After 'Inappropriate' Instagram Post About Maho Yamaguchi". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  17. ^ TV ひぐらしのなく頃に. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  18. ^ ドラマ『ひぐらしのなく頃に』続編、11月放送開始 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 2016-06-26.