Ayaka Nishiwaki (西脇 綾香, Nishiwaki Ayaka), nicknamed A~chan (あ～ちゃん, stylized as a-chan), is a Japanese singer and dancer. She is known as one of the members of the Japanese electropop group Perfume.

Biography

Nishiwaki was born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan, where she attended Actor's School Hiroshima with friends and current Perfume members Yuka Kashino and Ayano Ōmoto.

She formed Perfume in 2000 with Kashino and former member Yūka Kawashima, who left shortly after to focus on her schoolwork. After discussing the issue with her mother, who believed that a three-piece group had more stage presence than a duo, Nishiwaki asked Ōmoto to join the group.

Her younger sister Sayaka is a member of the group "9nine".

In March 2011, Nishiwaki graduated from Asia University with a degree in Economics.

Solo works

In 2008, Nishiwaki starred in the movie "Kanata Kara no Tegami", the first feature work made at the completion of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, winner of Chairman Special Encouragement Prize at 2008 Tokyo International Film Festival.

On 18 April 2008 Perfume made a special guest appearance performing "Ceramic Girl" at the ending of the drama "Sumire ♡ 16 sai!!".

On 23 March 2012 Perfume made a special guest appearance performing "Baby Cruising Love" in the movie "Moteki".

In 2014 Nishiwaki, along with Haruichi Shindo, co-wrote the song "Sore o Tsuyosa to Yobitai" (それを強さと呼びたい, "I Want to Call That Strength"), theme of the Amuse Fes 2014 BB in Tsumagoi event, performed by 13 artists: Perfume, Porno Graffitti, Flumpool, Begin, Skoop On Somebody, Yu Takahashi, Weaver, Mihiro, Monobright, Rihwa, Haku, Sakura Fujiwara & Cross Gene).

In April 2014 and March 2016, Nishiwaki presented the radio program "A 〜-chan no tadatada rajio ga suki ja ke n" (あ〜ちゃんのただただラジオがスキじゃけん, "A-chan's I Just Simply Love Radios") at JFN Shikoku 4 stations.

On 20 June 2016 debuted "A ~ chanchā pon no! " West Side Story"" (あ～ちゃん　ちゃあぽんの！"West Side Story", "A – chan! "West Side Story""), a radio program hosted by the Nishiwaki sisters on JFN PARK.

On 18 January 2017, A-chan played the voice of an imaginative creature "Liva" (red) in NTV drama 'Tokyo Tarareba Girls'.

On 31 March and 1 April 2017, A~chan played the character "Don-chan" on the TV Tokyo Special drama 'Pensées'.

In September 2017, A-chan dubbed "the rescue squad" on "FASTENING DAYS 3" mini-series.

In January 2020, A-chan starts serving as a studio MC of "Falling in love like a romantic TV drama ~Bang Ban Love~" on AbemaSPECIAL! The first episode starts at 11:00 p.m. on 25 Jan..