Akiko Hinagata

Akiko Hinagata  (born January 27, 1978) is a Japanese actress and former gravure idol. She made her acting debut in 1992 in the TBS drama Obenkyō. In 1994, she was chosen Fuji Television Visual Queen. In the same year she was selected for the Best Dresser award and special prize. Two years later, Akiko received the Golden Arrow Graph prize. Akiko has appeared in at least 25 television roles, including the Fuji Television production Ring: Kanzenban. In film, Akiko had the assignment of playing herself in a voice role in a Crayon Shin-chan movie. She appeared in a Gokudō no Onna-tachi film, and in the 2004 Ghost Shout. Additionally, she has hosted five radio programs. She regularly appears on television variety shows, and has acted on stage. In commercials, she has represented Nissin Foods' ramen and udon, Mitsubishi (now Nippon) Oil, Asahi Soft Drinks' Sawayaka Budō, Pola Cosmetics, and Japan Tobacco's Yamucha-rō beverages. She has released five photo books and published two collections of essays.