Anna Ishii

Anna Ishii is a multifaceted Japanese talent renowned as a dancer, actress, and model, whose career began remarkably early when she debuted as a model for the U‑15 fashion magazine nico☆puchi in 2010. Born on July 11, 1998, in Tokyo, she was encouraged by her mother to start dancing in the second year of primary school and was later scouted for the Exile Professional Gym (EXPG) in fifth grade after impressing judges in a local dance competition. Her breakthrough came when she joined the high‑energy girl group E‑girls in October 2012, contributing to the group’s third single “Follow me” and quickly becoming a fan favorite. In 2014, Ishii paused her activities with E‑girls to focus on her burgeoning acting career, a decision that highlighted her ambition and versatility. She earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Miyake Juri in the film Solomon’s Perjury (2015), a role that demanded intense emotional depth and earned her the prestigious 58th Blue Ribbon Best Newcomer Award. The following year she headlined the dance‑drama Girls Step, marking the first time an E‑girls member led a feature film, and she continued to collect accolades, including the Confidence Drama Best Newcomer Award for her performance in Aogeba Tōtoshi. Beyond the screen, Ishii has appeared in high‑profile commercials, such as a countryside girl spot for NTT DoCoMo alongside Nana Komatsu, and has ventured onto the stage with the reading drama BOOK ACT “Entertainer Exchange Diary”. As of 2023, she remains an influential figure in Japanese entertainment, continuously expanding her artistic repertoire while maintaining a close connection with her supportive family, including her younger sister Chino, who is also a dancer.