Meet the Artists: YUMI and MANAMI at NURU NAIL Shinjuku

The People Behind the Nails

Every great nail salon is built around great nail artists. At NURU NAIL Shinjuku, the team is small and the talent is concentrated. YUMI and MANAMI bring complementary creative strengths that together cover a range of design directions most salons cannot offer. Understanding what each brings to the table helps guests arrive with a clearer sense of what to ask for.

YUMI: Salon Manager, Nuance Specialist

YUMI is the salon manager at NURU NAIL Shinjuku and the artist most often cited by name in guest reviews. Reynolds Family flew in from overseas and wrote specifically: “Yumi is the best nail technician in Shinjuku!” That kind of name recognition, earned through individual appointments rather than marketing, reflects the impact she makes on guests.

Her design strength is nuance — the subtle, layered, tonal work that Japanese nail culture does at its most refined. She reads a guest’s aesthetic quickly and translates it into something personal and precise. Her approach is warm, focused, and technically exacting. For guests who want something that feels individual without being overtly bold, YUMI is the artist to request.

Designation rate surcharge: 550 yen.

MANAMI: Former Art Teacher, Colorful and Expressive

MANAMI came to nail art from a background as an art teacher — and it shows in her work. Where YUMI leans toward the refined and precise, MANAMI brings an expressive, painterly quality that makes her particularly strong with colorful, artistic designs. She approaches each nail as a small canvas, and the results reflect that.

For guests who want something bold, colorful, or creatively experimental, MANAMI’s background in visual art gives her an edge that is difficult to find at most salons. Her work with hand-painted designs and expressive color combinations represents some of NURU NAIL’s most distinctive output.

Designation rate surcharge: 550 yen.

How to Choose (Or Not Choose)

Guests can request a specific artist by name — the 550 yen designation surcharge applies to both YUMI and MANAMI. If you have a strong preference for a particular design direction, nominating an artist makes sense. If you are open to either and simply want the best match for your design, the team will guide the assignment based on your consultation.

Both artists work comfortably with international guests using Google Translate. Reference photos are always welcome and genuinely helpful in narrowing down what you want.

What the Artists Have Built

Together, YUMI and MANAMI have contributed to a salon with a 4.8 Google rating, a 59.79% repeat customer rate, over 3800 annual visitors, and a growing international following. Every five-star review in the Google listing is a reflection of their work. The experience Reynolds Family flew across the world for, the chrome nails Fauve Bouwman left delighted with, the third visit nori keeps coming back for — all of it traces back to these two artists and what they consistently create.

NURU NAIL is 6 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station West Exit. Open daily, 10am to 9pm.

NURU NAIL SHINJUKU
7-16-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (4F Shida Building)
6 min walk from JR Shinjuku Station West Exit
Hours: 10:00–21:00 (Sun until 19:00)
Book: Hot Pepper Beauty | Instagram @nuru_nailsalon_official