Reika Sakurai

Reika Sakurai
桜井 玲香
waist up portrait of Sakurai wearing sequined dress, directly facing camera
Sakurai at the Yokohama International Film Festival in 2024
Born (1994-05-16) 16 May 1994 (age 30)
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
Other namesCap (キャップ)
Occupation(s)Actress
HometownYokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Years active2011–present
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
InstrumentVocals
Years active2011–2019
LabelsSony Records/N46Div
Formerly ofNogizaka46

Reika Sakurai (桜井 玲香, Sakurai Reika, born May 16, 1994), is a Japanese actress. She was a first generation member of the Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46.[1] She was also the captain of the group before her departure.[2]

Biography

Sakurai was born in her mother's hometown of Hakodate, Hokkaido, on May 16, 1994. Sometime later, her parents relocated and she was raised in Kanagawa Prefecture's, Yokohama City.[3]

Career

In 2011, Sakurai auditioned for Nogizaka46 and was chosen as one of the first generation members. Her audition song was Happiness's "Kiss Me".[4] She was chosen as one of the members performing on their debut single "Guruguru Curtain", released on February 22, 2012.[5] She took the front position for Nogizaka46's second single "Oide Shampoo", released on May 2, 2012.[6] In June 2012, she was appointed the captain of Nogizaka46.[7] After graduating from high school, she studied sociology at college.[8] In April 2013, she regularly appeared on the television drama Bad Boys J with other Nogizaka46 members.[9]

Sakurai with Nogizaka46 in Taipei, Taiwan in 2014

From October 25 to November 9, 2014, she played the heroine in the musical Mr. Kaminari, alongside former Nogizaka46 bandmate Misa Etō.[10] In 2016, she was cast as the leading role in Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō, a stage adaptation of the film Memories of Matsuko. Former Nogizaka46 bandmate Yumi Wakatsuki also played the same role.[11] In February 2017, she shot herself to promote her photo book titled Jiyu to Iu Koto which was released on March 8, 2017.[12]

On July 8, 2019, Sakurai announced that she would be graduating from Nogizaka46 on September 1, 2019,[13][14] timing her graduation to coincide with the final stop of the group's national summer tour.[15][16]

On March 1, 2021, she has opened an official web site and fan club.[17]

Discography

Singles with Nogizaka46

Year No. Title Role Notes
2012 1 "Guruguru Curtain" A-side Debut as 1st Generation member; Also sang on "Nogizaka no Uta", "Aitakatta Kamoshirenai", "Ushinaitakunai kara" and "Shiroi Kumo ni Notte"
2 "Oide Shampoo" A-side Also sang on "Kokoro no Kusuri" and "House!"
3 "Hashire! Bicycle" A-side Also sang on "Hito wa Naze Hashiru no ka" and "Oto ga Denai Guitar"
4 "Seifuku no Mannequin" A-side Also sang on "Yubi Bōenkyō"
2013 5 "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" A-side Also sang on "Shakiism", "Romantic Ikayaki" and "Psychokinesis no Kanosei"
6 "Girl's Rule" A-side Also sang on "Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover", "Hoka no Hoshi Kara" and "Ningen to Iu Gakki"
7 "Barrette" A-side Also sang on "Tsuki no Ōkisa", "Watashi no Tame ni, Dareka no Tame ni" and "Sonna Baka na…"
2014 8 "Kizuitara Kataomoi" A-side Also sang on "Romance no Start", "Toiki no Method" and "Dankeschön"
9 "Natsu no Free & Easy" A-side Also sang on "Nani mo Dekizu ni Soba ni Iru", "Mukuchi na Lion" and "Boku ga Ikanakya Dare ga Ikunda?"
10 "Nandome no Aozora ka?" A-side Also sang on "Tōmawari no Aijō", "Korogatta Kane o Narase!" and "Tender Days"
2015 11 "Inochi wa Utsukushii" A-side
12 "Taiyō Nokku" A-side Also sang on "Hane no Kioku"
13 "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" A-side Also sang on "Popipappapā", "Kanashimi no Wasurekata" and "Sukima"
2016 14 "Harujion ga Sakukoro" A-side Also sang on "Yūutsu to Fūsen Gum"
15 "Hadashi de Summer" A-side Also sang on "Boku Dake no Hikari"
16 "Sayonara no Imi" A-side Also sang on "Kodoku na Aozora"
2017 17 "Influencer" A-side Also sang on "Jinsei o Kangaetakunaru"
18 "Nigemizu" A-side Also sang on "Onna wa Hitori ja Nemurenai", "Hito Natsu no Nagasa Yori…" and "Naitatte Iijanaika?"
19 "Itsuka Dekiru kara Kyō Dekiru" A-side Also sang on "Fuminshō"
2018 20 "Synchronicity" A-side Also sang on "Against" as 1st Generation member and "Kumo ni Nareba ii"
21 "Jikochū de Ikō!" A-side Also sang on "Anna ni Sukidatta no ni…"
22 "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru" A-side Also sang on "Kokuhaku no Junban"
2019 23 "Sing Out!" A-side
24 "Yoake Made Tsuyogaranakutemoii" A-side Last single to participate; also sang on "Boku no Koto, Shitteru?", "Boku no Omoikomi" and "Tokidoki Omoidashite Kudasai" which was her graduation song.
2020 — "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo" — Charity song during the COVID-19 pandemic

Albums with Nogizaka46

Year No. Title Praticipated song
2015 1 Tōmei na Iro
  • "Boku ga Iru Basho"
  • "Dareka wa Mikata"
2016 2 Sorezore no Isu
  • "Kikkake"
  • "Taiyō ni Kudokarete"
  • "Kuchiyakusoku"
2017 3 Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume
  • "Skydiving"
  • "Settei Ondo"
  • "Rewind Ano Hi"
2019 4 Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made
  • "Arigachi na Ren'ai"
  • "Pocchito"
Year Artist Title Albums / Singles
2012 Mayu Watanabe "Twin Tail wa Mō Shinai" "Otona Jellybeans"
2016 AKB48 "Mazariau Mono" "Kimi wa Melody"

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Channel Notes Ref(s)
2013 Bad Boys J Mariya Miyashita NTV [18]
Umi no Ue no Shinryōsho Fuji TV One episode [19]
2015 Tenshi no Knife Cafe worker/Ayumi Nishina Wowow [20]
Hatsumori Bemars Bunan TV Tokyo [21]
Hana Moyu NHK Taiga drama [22]
2024 Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Maimi Baisu TV Asahi

Films

Year Title Role Ref(s)
2013 Bad Boys J: Saigo ni Mamoru Mono Mariya Miyashita [23]
2017 Asahinagu Shōko Yasomura [24]
2021 Shinonome-iro no Shūmatsu Mirei Ōtsuki [25]
2025 Requiem Sae Mukai [26]

Theater

Year Title Role Venue Ref(s)
2014 Mr. Kaminari Doremi Usuki Sunshine Theatre [27]
2015 Subete no Inu wa Tengoku e Iku AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo [28]
Princess Knight Hecate Akasaka ACT Theater [29]
2016 Joshiraku 2: Toki Kakesoba Tetora Bōhatei AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo [30][31]
Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō Matsuko Kawajiri Shinagawa Prince Hotel [11]
2018-2019 Rebecca I [citation needed]
2019 The Bank Robbery
Dance of the Vampires Sarah
2020 Flashdance Gloria
West Side Story Maria
2021 Ghost Molly Jensen
2022 Flower Drum Song Mei Li
DOROTHY ~The Wizard of Oz~ Dorothy Gale
2023 First Date Casey
Jekyll & Hyde Emma Carew
2024 In This Corner of the World Rin Shiraki
2025 Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie Parker

Bibliography

Photobooks

  • Kikan Nogizaka vol.1 Sōshun (5 March 2014, Tokyo News Service) ISBN 9784863363878[32]
  • Jiyuu to Iu Koto (6 March 2017, Kobunsha) ISBN 9784334902193[33]
  • Shisen (27 November 2019, Kobunsha) ISBN 9784334902469[34]

References

  1. ^ "桜井 玲香 メンバー紹介 乃木坂46公式サイト" [Reika Sakurai, member introduction, Nogizaka46 official website]. Nogizaka46 LLC. Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  2. ^ "【JAPAN EXPO】乃木坂46、パリで初海外ライブ 『NARUTO』OPで盛り上げる" [Nogizaka46 hold their first overseas live in Paris]. ORICON NEWS. 2014-11-05. Archived from the original on 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  3. ^ 桜井玲香ファースト写真集『自由ということ』特設ページ | 写真集 | 光文社.
  4. ^ 「乃木坂46」最終オーディション取材レポート(2) [Nogizaka46 The final audition report] (in Japanese). Scramble-Egg Inc. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  5. ^ "Nogizaka46 to make their CD debut in February". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  6. ^ メンバー紹介（2ndシングル『おいでシャンプー』の選抜メンバー）｜ 乃木坂46公式サイト (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  7. ^ 乃木坂センター生駒里奈、成長ほめられ喜ぶ (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  8. ^ （乃木坂４６日々是勉強）桜井玲香 アイドルからつながる場所へ (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  9. ^ 伝説のヤンキーマンガドラマ化でAKB板野、乃木坂橋本共演 (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  10. ^ インタビュー チケットぴあ [Interview] (in Japanese). PIA Corporation. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  11. ^ a b 乃木坂46桜井、若月が舞台「嫌われ松子―」挑戦 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  12. ^ "Nogizaka46's Sakurai Reika shoots first photo book in Malaysia". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Nogizaka46 Sakurai Reika Graduation Concert - Yoakemade Tsuyogaranakutemoii, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HoFdzg9JRs
  14. ^ Sakurai Reika Graduation - Sign Out Nogizaka46, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7pKav8P-w
  15. ^ "乃木坂46キャプテン・桜井玲香、卒業発表「新たな道標を」 9・1神宮球場がラスト". Oricon News (in Japanese). 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  16. ^ Overture, Jikochudeikou, Taiyou Knock, Free & Easy, Hadashide Summer - Sakurai Reika Graduation, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCyNSF99ID0
  17. ^ "桜井玲香のオフィシャルサイト兼ファンクラブがオープン！会員限定グッズの販売も開始に". WWS channel (in Japanese). March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  18. ^ TV BAD BOYS J. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  19. ^ TV 海の上の診療所. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  20. ^ キャスト＆スタッフ 連続ドラマW 天使のナイフ [Tenshi no Knife cast and staff] (in Japanese). WOWOW Inc. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  21. ^ TV 初森ベマーズ. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  22. ^ 乃木坂46生駒・白石ら十福神『大河』初出演 生田「まさかのオファー」 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  23. ^ 映画 劇場版 BAD BOYS J -最後に守るもの-. allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  24. ^ "あさひなぐ". eiga.com. eiga.coms. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  25. ^ "元乃木坂46の桜井玲香、映画「シノノメ色の週末」で岡崎紗絵＆三戸なつめと共演". Natalie. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  26. ^ "REQUIEM". eiga.com. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  27. ^ 乃木坂46・桜井玲香＆衛藤美彩がSET「Mr.カミナリ」でお互いの演技をほめ合い!? (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on 2015-08-22. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  28. ^ 乃木坂46生駒里奈ら、ナイロン100°Cの名作舞台リメイクに挑戦 (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  29. ^ 乃木坂46・生田＆桜井が意気込み ミュージカル『リボンの騎士』 (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  30. ^ 乃木坂46が再び落語家に！生駒里奈らも参戦の「じょしらく弐」舞台は2066年 (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  31. ^ "Joshiraku Manga Gets New Stage Play With Nogizaka46 Idols". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  32. ^ 季刊乃木坂 vol.1 (in Japanese). National Diet Library. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  33. ^ 自由ということ : 桜井玲香ファースト写真集 (in Japanese). National Diet Library. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  34. ^ 桜井玲香2nd写真集 視線 (in Japanese). National Diet Library. Retrieved 2019-12-28.

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