Akane Moriya (守屋 茜, Moriya Akane, born 12 November 1997) is Japanese singer and model. She is a former member and vice captain of the idol girl groupSakurazaka46.[2] Like other members, Moriya is represented by Sony Music Labels.
Born in Miyagi Prefecture, Moriya passed her first-year member audition of Keyakizaka46 on 21 August 2015 and started her activities.[3] Her nicknames include Akanen (あかねん)[4] and Sergeant (軍曹, Gunsō), the latter due to her athleticness and competitive nature.[5]
During a handshake event on 21 January 2017, Moriya was named the vice captain of Keyakizaka46.[2] On September 16, 2017, she made her runway debut at the fashion and music event GirlsAward 2017 AUTUMN／WINTER, held at the Makuhari Messe.[6] She is also part of the subgroup Aozora to Marry (青空とMARRY) along with Rika Watanabe, Risa Watanabe, Yūka Sugai and Manaka Shida. As part of the subunit, Moriya made appearances in three songs: "Aozora Chigau" in "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai", "Wareta Sumaho" in "Fukyōwaon, and "Namiuchigiwa o Hashiranai ka?" in "Kaze ni Fukarete mo".[7][8][9]
On 8 May 2019, Shogakukan announced that they will be publishing a photo-book featuring Moriya that was photographed in Monaco.[10] She became the seventh member in Keyakizaka46 to have a photobook, behind Rika Watanabe, Neru Nagahama, Yūka Sugai, Yui Imaizumi, Yui Kobayashi, and Risa Watanabe.
In January 2021, following Keyakizaka46's rebranding into Sakurazaka46 in October 2020, it was announced that Moriya would step down as vice captain. She was succeeded by second generation member Rina Matsuda.[11]