Manaka Iwami

石見舞菜香

While in middle school, Manaka Iwami was inspired to pursue a career as a seiyuu after watching Ai Kayano's performance in *Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai*. Having grown up as a girl who was not particularly articulate, Iwami believed she could not become a professional unless she began her training earlier than her peers. She convinced her father to let her attend voice acting school, stating that she would otherwise refuse to go to high school.
In 2016, Iwami was chosen through an audition to join the cast of *Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou* as the lead protagonist, Maquia. The film marks the directorial debut of Mari Okada, who also wrote the screenplay for the aforementioned *AnoHana* series. As fate would have it, *SayoAsa* also featured Ai Kayano in a supporting role, ensuring a fateful meeting between Iwami and her role model.
Although selected for *SayoAsa*, the film would not open in theaters until 2018. Consequently, Iwami made her screen debut in 2017 with the television series *Tsuki ga Kirei*.
She announced her marriage on October 13, 2026.