Manami Higa

Higa Manami was born in Uruma, Okinawa in Southern Japan on 14.06.1986. She has two younger sisters. Uruma is under American occupation and the site of multiple US bases. She graduated from the Okinawa Prefectural Central High School. Her first role was in the film Letters From Kanai Nirai, which featured Aoi Yu. Her school teacher connected with the president of an entertainment agency allowing her to go into modelling as of 2003 while at school. She was chosen in an audition from a selection of 2,156 budding actresses to appear in NHK's Asadora Dondo Hare ('Happy End') in 2006. This title uses Iwate Prefecture's dialect. The producer explained to her that her regional dialect and fresh demeanour fit the vibe of the serial. She joined her mother, who was a model, in the entertainment business and moved to Tokyo upon graduation from high school. Her parents made her promise to return to Okinawa within one year if she has not found success in that time. She had flowing long hair until being forced to cut it to appear in GTO in 2014. She is friends with Aragaki Yui and Toda Erika her Code Blue co-stars. She has two picture books. Manami is managed by Rising Production.