Manatsu Akimoto (秋元 真夏, Akimoto Manatsu, born August 20, 1993, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress, tarento and former idol. She is a former member of the girl group Nogizaka46.

Akimoto was born in Tokyo on August 20, 1993.^[1] Her family moved to Saitama Prefecture, where she was raised, when she was 7 months old.^[2] She was the vice-president of the student council in middle school and was active in the home economics and cooking clubs. In high school, she was the student council president.^[3] In her third year of high school, she was informed about the Nogizaka46 first generation member auditions and recruitment. However, Akimoto's career goals at the time were closer towards being a television presenter or actress and she was not actively interested in becoming an idol.^[3] She ended up signing up for the auditions on the final deadline date when she stumbled upon the news on her phone.^[4]

Akimoto passed the auditions on August 21, 2011, becoming one of the first generation members and a temporary main selection member.^[5][6] However, due to her studies and obligations, she was not active with the rest of the members until she graduated from high school in April 2012.^[7][8] Akimoto enrolled in university, but against her parents' wishes she returned to Nogizaka46, training to prepare for her debut.^[9] She was present at almost all Nogizakatte, Doko? studio recordings and Nogizaka46 live concerts as a trainee.^[10][11]

In October 2012, Akimoto was selected as a main selection member for the fourth Nogizaka46 single, "Seifuku no Mannequin", during the recording of a Nogizakatte, Doko? episode, marking her unexpected debut as an official member of Nogizaka46.^[12][11] She debuted as an actress in the television drama Bad Boys J in April 2013.^[13] As of 2019^[update], Akimoto is active as a regular main selection member of Nogizaka46. She is also active as a television personality, with numerous appearances on variety shows as a panelist, guest and assistant MC.^[14][15]

On August 14, 2019, Akimoto was named the next captain of Nogizaka46, replacing Reika Sakurai.^[16]

Akimoto announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 on January 7, 2023. Her graduation concert was held on February 26, 2023. She is the last first generation member to leave the group.^[17] Third generation member Minami Umezawa took her place as captain.

On March 1, 2023, Akimoto announced her affiliation with Japan Music Entertainment.^[18]