Manaka Iwami Announces Marriage and Birth of First Child

Voice actress Manaka Iwami announced her marriage and the birth of her first child on Tuesday. She shared the news at the beginning of her weekly radio program, "Manaka Iwami's Radio Tekuteku." A handwritten letter was later published on the website of her agency, Raccoon Dog.

Career highlights and roles

Iwami is widely recognized for her leading role as Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket and as Rice Shower in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby. Her performance as Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket: The Final earned her first place in the Spring 2021 Seiyuu of the Season poll. She has voiced a wide range of other popular characters across multiple genres.

Her notable roles include Mahiru Shiina in The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Euphyllia Magenta in The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, and Akane Kurokawa in Oshi no Ko. For her role as Akane, she won the Best Supporting Voice Actor Award at the 2024 Seiyu Awards. She also won in the Winter 2023 Seiyuu of the Season poll for her dual performances as Mahiru Shiina and Euphyllia Magenta.

Other significant roles include Umi Asanagi in Class de 2-banme ni Kawaii Onnanoko to Tomodachi ni Natta, Reirin Kou in Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga: Suuguu Chouso Torikae Den, Rin Sawaki in DAN DA DAN, Mirai Shishio in Dr. Stone: New World, and Miori Hitō in Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus.

Agency and message details

The handwritten message posted by her agency included a rough translation dated October 13, 2026. "This is a personal matter, but I have gotten married and given birth to my first child," the message stated. It expressed her happiness at safely giving birth after initial anxieties.

Iwami apologized for any inconvenience caused by her pregnancy and childbirth. She thanked everyone for their warmth and support. The message concluded with her hope to continue growing as both a person and an actress, asking for continued support from her fans.

Public response and personal reflections

During her radio broadcast, Iwami elaborated on her announcement. She confirmed her spouse is not involved in the entertainment industry. She expressed deep regret for missing events and causing difficulties for recording sessions and programs during her time away.

I am deeply sorry that personal circumstances prevented me from appearing at some of them, she said regarding missed events. She posted the announcement on her personal X account, where it received over 31,000 likes and 1,000 replies, most of which were congratulations from fans and colleagues.

In her message, she thanked her fans directly, calling their support an irreplaceable treasure. She explained her desire to share major life decisions in her own words to those who support her, which is why she chose her radio program for the formal announcement.

Background and career path

Manaka Iwami is 28 years old. She decided to pursue voice acting after being moved by Ai Kayano's performance in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. She graduated from the Pro-Fit Voice Actor Training School and began her career in 2016 under Pro-Fit. She made her debut in 2017, with her first starring role as Teresa Wagner in Tada Never Falls in Love. Her first leading role in a film was as Maquia in Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou.

In 2019, she received the Best New Actress Award at the 13th Seiyuu Awards. She transferred to the agency Raccoon Dog in April 2022 following the closure of Pro-Fit's management division. Reflecting on her decade-long career, Iwami stated she feels grateful for the productions, characters, and people she has worked with. She vowed to continue giving her all to acting, hoping this new life chapter will enrich her as a person and performer.