Yūka Kageyama (Japanese: 影山 優佳, Hepburn: Kageyama Yūka; born May 8, 2001) is a Japanese actress and television personality. She gained national recognition for her football expertise and commentary, particularly during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and has continued her football-related media work alongside her entertainment career, including coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kageyama began her career as a member of the girl group Hinatazaka46 (formerly Hiragana Keyakizaka46) from 2016 to 2023. She made her acting debut in the group's television drama Re:Mind (2017) and film debut in Kaguya-sama Final: Love Is War (2021). She took an extended hiatus from 2018 to 2020 for academic reasons, during which she won a bronze medal in the 2018 Japan Philosophy and Ethics Grand Prix. After resuming her entertainment activities in 2020, she began to establish herself in football media by writing a blog series covering all the teams competing in the J.League and appearing on multiple football talk shows, including a self-titled miniseries, as well as becoming a brand ambassador for the long-running FIFA football video game series. Her game analyses and multiple accurate predictions as a recurring commentator during the 2022 FIFA World Cup brought her national recognition. Aside from football, she also frequently appeared on quiz shows and became the youngest contestant to win the Q-sama!! quiz show in May 2023. She left Hinatazaka46 in 2023 due to a persistent hearing disorder, before which she released her first photobook, titled Shiranai Koto Darake. After departing from Hinatazaka46, Kageyama joined the Production Ogi agency and has since expanded her career as an actress and television personality, appearing in television dramas, films, stage productions, variety programs, and commercials. Her notable works include Hakobiya (2024), the first stage adaptation of Future Boy Conan (2024), Mr. Mikami's Classroom, Synanthrope, and Salary Man Kintaro (all 2025). She also released a best-selling essay collection in 2026, titled Kage Made Aishite.
Source: “Yūka Kageyama”, English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), excerpt