Takumi Mitani

2.1. Birth and Family

Takumi Mitani was born on May 8, 1986, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She is the youngest of three siblings, with an older brother who is 11 years her senior and an older sister who is 7 years her senior. Mitani's height is 65 in ^{(164 cm)}, and her blood type is O. Her personal interests include watching movies and playing the piano. She enjoys foods such as chocolate, potato, and ice cream, but dislikes tomato. Her favorite mode of transportation is a motorcycle.

2.2. Education and Musical Training

Mitani began learning to play the piano at the age of three. Her musical training expanded in high school when she started studying vocal music. She further pursued her passion by enrolling in the Music Vocal Course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. While still a student at the university, in the autumn of 2007, she successfully passed the audition for the "Uta no Onēsan" role on NHK's Okaasan to Issho. She graduated from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in March 2009, approximately one year after beginning her tenure on the television program.

3.1. "Okaasan to Issho" Tenure

Takumi Mitani officially began her role as the 20th "Uta no Onēsan" on NHK Educational TV's Okaasan to Issho on March 31, 2008. Her first appearance as the new "Uta no Onēsan" was on March 28, 2008, during a handover segment with her predecessor, Shoko Haida. She continued in this position until April 2, 2016, marking an impressive tenure of eight years. This duration set a record for the longest service by an "Uta no Onēsan" in the program's history, a record she shares with the 7th "Uta no Onii-san," Osamu Sakata, and Miki Kamada from BS Okaasan to Issho. Her graduation from the program also marked the departure of all "Uta no Onēsan" born in the Shōwa period.

3.2. Key Co-stars

During her eight-year tenure on Okaasan to Issho, Takumi Mitani collaborated with several key co-stars who also became iconic figures on the program:

• Daisuke Yokoyama**: He served as the 11th "Uta no Onii-san" (Song Brother) and was her primary singing partner throughout her entire tenure.
• Yoshihisa Kobayashi**: He was the 11th "Taisō no Onii-san" (Gymnastics Brother), leading the physical exercise segments.
• Mayu Ito**: She was the 4th "Karada Hyōgen no Onēsan" (Physical Expression Sister) for the first four years of Mitani's tenure, from March 31, 2008, to March 31, 2012.
• Risa Uehara**: She succeeded Mayu Ito as the 5th "Karada Hyōgen no Onēsan" for the latter four years of Mitani's tenure, from April 2, 2012, to April 2, 2016. Notably, Uehara was a junior from the same university as Mitani, though they studied in different courses.

4.1. Singles

• "Donsuka Panpan Ōendan" (March 18, 2009)
• "Yukidaruma no Rou" (January 7, 2015)

4.2. Albums

• Okaasan to Issho: Saishin Best: Manmaru Smile (October 15, 2008)
• Okaasan to Issho: Special 50 Selection (July 15, 2009)
• Okaasan to Issho: Memorial Album ~Kitakaze Kozou no Kantarou / Banana no Oyako (September 16, 2009)
• Okaasan to Issho: Saishin Best: Bokura no Uta (October 21, 2009)
• Okaasan to Issho: Saishin Best: Koronpa (October 20, 2010)
• Okaasan to Issho: Saishin Best: Sore ga Tomodachi (October 19, 2011)
• Okaasan to Issho: Saishin Best: Pan Papa Pan (October 17, 2012)
• Okaasan to Issho: Special 60 Selection (October 16, 2019)

4.3. DVDs

• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Tomodachi Hajimete Hajimemashite! (August 6, 2008)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Omatsuri Concert o Surikaero! (February 4, 2009)
• Okaasan to Issho Saishin Song Book: Atchikotchi March (April 15, 2009)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Monoranmonoran Konichiwa! (August 5, 2009)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Hoshizora no Merry-Go-Round -50 Shūnenkinen Concert- (February 3, 2010)
• Okaasan to Issho Saishin Song Book: Arigatō no Hana (April 21, 2010)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Special Stage: Aozora Wonderland (June 2, 2010)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Monoranmonoran to Kumo no Ki (August 4, 2010)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Mori no Ongaku Restaurant (February 2, 2011)
• Okaasan to Issho Saishin Song Book: Dokonokonokinoko (April 20, 2011)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Special Stage: Oideyo! Yume no Yuenchi (May 18, 2011)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Family Concert: Pote iji ma e yōkoso!! (August 3, 2011)
• Okaasan to Issho Winter Special: Minna de Party! (November 2, 2011)
• NHK Okaasan to Issho Special Stage: Minna Issho ni! Fanfan Smile (November 21, 2012)

Additionally, she made numerous appearances on other Okaasan to Issho related DVDs.

5.1. "Okaasan to Issho" Family Concerts

Mitani participated in a wide range of "Okaasan to Issho" Family Concerts, which were popular live events featuring songs, dances, and interactions with the program's characters.