Risako Sugaya
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese pop singer, idol
, and a member of Japanese musical group Berryz Kobo.
Audition. Her debut within the Hello! Project
world came with the premiere of the first Minimoni feature film, as part of 4Kids, a shuffles group formed exclusively for the movie.
In 2003, Sugaya starred in the movie Hotaru no Hoshi (蛍の星), as Hikari, a fragile elementary school student who, with the help of her caring teacher, has a chance to be momentarily reunited with her deceased mother and overcome her emotional problems. She also starred in the drama, Shonan Kawarayane Monogatari.
That year also marked her first appearance on Kōhaku Uta Gassen
, as one of Aya Matsuura
's backup dancers, during the 54th edition of the renowned NHK
New Year program.
In early 2004, Sugaya became part of the newly formed group Berryz Kobo. Since joining the group, she has also participated in the band's weekly radio show Berryz Kobo Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!.
She has also, like other Hello! Project members, appeared in the Musume Dokyu! segments, namely episodes 39, 40, 54, 55, and 56.
Additionally, Sugaya has done a commercial for the Nihon Shokuniku Shōhi Sōgō Center in October 2003.
In August 2006, Sugaya was interviewed by MC Maki Goto
in the 12th installment of the online only show Hello! Pro Hour. She later re-appeared alongside Momoko Tsugunaga
on the 20th and final episode.
On October 12, 2006, Sugaya became the first member of Berryz Kobo, and the youngest of all the Hello! Project members, to release a solo photobook. Even prior to its release, the photobook was met with mixed feelings both by Japanese and overseas fans. Sugaya herself admitted, in an interview with Sanspo.com, to initially having doubts regarding the photoshoot, but claims to have had a pleasant experience and hopes her fans enjoy the various facets of her personality.
On December 31, 2006, Sugaya once again took the stage at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen
as a backup dancer in Morning Musume
's performance of Aruiteru
, along with the remaining members of Berryz Kobo, Country Musume
and C-ute.
In mid-2009, Sugaya became a member of new unit Guardians 4
.
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
, and a member of Japanese musical group Berryz Kobo.
History
In 2002, Sugaya successfully passed the Hello! Project KidsHello! Project Kids
is a Japanese music group of fifteen young girls chosen out of 27,958 applicants in 2002. The group was formed as a part of the Hello! Project. The group has so far published a number of records under both group names and the Hello! Project Kids title....
Audition. Her debut within the Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
world came with the premiere of the first Minimoni feature film, as part of 4Kids, a shuffles group formed exclusively for the movie.
In 2003, Sugaya starred in the movie Hotaru no Hoshi (蛍の星), as Hikari, a fragile elementary school student who, with the help of her caring teacher, has a chance to be momentarily reunited with her deceased mother and overcome her emotional problems. She also starred in the drama, Shonan Kawarayane Monogatari.
That year also marked her first appearance on Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
, as one of Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
's backup dancers, during the 54th edition of the renowned NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
New Year program.
In early 2004, Sugaya became part of the newly formed group Berryz Kobo. Since joining the group, she has also participated in the band's weekly radio show Berryz Kobo Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!.
She has also, like other Hello! Project members, appeared in the Musume Dokyu! segments, namely episodes 39, 40, 54, 55, and 56.
Additionally, Sugaya has done a commercial for the Nihon Shokuniku Shōhi Sōgō Center in October 2003.
In August 2006, Sugaya was interviewed by MC Maki Goto
Maki Goto
is a Japanese singer, lyricist and former actress. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, Goto began her musical career in 1999 when she joined Morning Musume as the only third generation member. Her first single with the group, "Love Machine", topped the Oricon singles charts and sold over a million...
in the 12th installment of the online only show Hello! Pro Hour. She later re-appeared alongside Momoko Tsugunaga
Momoko Tsugunaga
is a J-pop singer. Her career began in 2002 when she successfully auditioned for the Hello! Project Kids followed by 15 other girls, and was selected as one of the eight members of Berryz Kobo. Since then, she has continued to sing in that group and has become a part of three smaller groups...
on the 20th and final episode.
On October 12, 2006, Sugaya became the first member of Berryz Kobo, and the youngest of all the Hello! Project members, to release a solo photobook. Even prior to its release, the photobook was met with mixed feelings both by Japanese and overseas fans. Sugaya herself admitted, in an interview with Sanspo.com, to initially having doubts regarding the photoshoot, but claims to have had a pleasant experience and hopes her fans enjoy the various facets of her personality.
On December 31, 2006, Sugaya once again took the stage at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen
57th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
The , referred to from hereon as "Kōhaku," aired on December 31, 2006. This event was filmed and aired from NHK Hall in Japan. Air time was from 19:20 to 23:45 . All times are JST...
as a backup dancer in Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
's performance of Aruiteru
Aruiteru
is the thirty-first single of J-pop idol group Morning Musume, released on November 8, 2006. "Aruiteru" sold approximately 55,694 copies and reached number one in both the daily and weekly Oricon charts....
, along with the remaining members of Berryz Kobo, Country Musume
Country musume
is an all-female Japanese pop group within Hello! Project.- History :Country Musume was formed in 1999 and was billed as "Country Girls from Hokkaidō". The initial group consisted of members and Hokkaidō natives Rinne Toda, Azusa Kobayashi, and Hiromi Yanagihara....
and C-ute.
In mid-2009, Sugaya became a member of new unit Guardians 4
Guardians 4
is a Hello! Project unit consisting of leader Aika Mitsui from Morning Musume, Yurina Kumai and Risako Sugaya from Berryz Kobo, and Saki Nakajima from C-ute. It was formed for the sake of performing music for the Shugo Chara! anime...
.
Radio
(March 30, 2005 - March 31, 2009) (July 3, 2009 – present) (Co-hosts: Miyabi Natsuyaki and Yurina Kumai)DVD
(January 21, 2003) (June 18, 2003) (June 30, 2004) (December 22, 2004) (December 7, 2005) (December 14, 2005) (February 22, 2006) (January 24, 2007)Limited Edition DVD
(December 13, 2005, March 15, 2006) (February 14, 2006)- "Risako Sugaya DVD on Hello! Project Sports Festival 2006" (July 1, 2006) (December 16, 2006) (April 1, 2007) (January 26, 2008) (March 16, 2008) (April 1, 2008)
Singles
(as "Mini Moni. with Ai Takahashi + 4Kids") (as "Ibu Himuro (CV: Sugaya Risako/Berryz Kobo)")Photobooks
(October 12, 2006, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-2964-6 (July 20, 2007, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-4019-1 (February 6, 2008, Kadokawa Group Publishing) ISBN 978-4-04-895013-8 (November 27, 2009, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-4215-7External links
- Berryz Kobo: Official Hello! Project profile
- Kpopwiki:Risako Sugaya