Risako Sugaya

Risako Sugaya (菅谷 梨沙子, Sugaya Risako, born 4 April 1994 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese pop singer, idol, and former member of the musical group Berryz Kobo.

History

In 2002, Sugaya successfully passed the Hello! Project Kids 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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 Cute.

In mid-2009, Sugaya became a member of new unit Guardians 4.

On August 2, 2014, it was announced that Berryz Kobo would be going on an indefinite hiatus from the 3rd of March, 2015. Further, Sugaya announced she would be taking a break from show business following the cessation of group activities.

Hello! Project groups and units

• Hello! Project Kids
• Berryz Kobo (2004–2015)
• H.P. All Stars (2004)
• Guardians 4 (2009–2010)
• Hello! Project Mobekimasu (2011)

Singles

DVDs

• "Making Of Mini Moni. the Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!" (メイキング・オブ ミニモニ。じゃムービー お菓子な大冒険!) (January 21, 2003)
• "Mini Moni. the Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!" (ミニモニ。じゃムービー お菓子な大冒険!) (June 18, 2003)
• "Hello! Morning. Mini Moni. Kappa no Kadō" (ハロー!モーニング。ミニモニ。河童の花道) (June 30, 2004)
• "Hotaru no Hoshi" (ほたるの星) (December 22, 2004)
• "Shōnan Kawara-yane Monogatari" (湘南瓦屋根物語 vol.1 - 3) (December 7, 2005)
• "Musume Dokyu! vol.2" (娘DOKYU! vol.2) (December 14, 2005)
• "Hello Kids! vol.2" (ハローキッズ! vol.2) (February 22, 2006)
• "Hello Pro Hour Vol. 5" (ハロプロアワー Vol.5) (January 24, 2007)

Solo DVDs

Limited edition DVDs

• "Go→50 Vol. 2-4" (ゴ→50 Vol.2・4) (December 13, 2005, March 15, 2006)
• "Bishōjo Kyōiku II ~Mori no Obenkyō Kaihen~ (美少女教育II 〜森のお勉強会編〜) (February 14, 2006)
• "Risako Sugaya DVD on Hello! Project Sports Festival 2006" (July 1, 2006)
• "Risako Sugaya on Berryz Kōbō Summer Concert Tour 2006 [Natsu Natsu! ~Anata wo Suki ni Naru Sangekusō] (菅谷梨沙子 on Berryz工房サマーコンサートツアー2006 『夏夏!〜あなたを好きになる三原則〜』) (December 16, 2006)
• "Berryz Kōbō DVD Magazine Vol. 8 Risako Sugaya" (Berryz工房 DVD MAGAZINE Vol.8 菅谷梨沙子) (April 1, 2007)
• "Risako Sugaya on Berryz Kōbō Concert Tour 2007 Summer ~Welcome! Berryz Kyūden~" (菅谷梨沙子 on Berryz工房コンサートツアー2007夏 〜ウェルカム!Berryz宮殿〜) (January 26, 2008)
• "Ura Uta Dokii! Vol.2" (ウラ歌ドキッ! Vol.2) (March 16, 2008)
• "Risako Sugaya Shashinshū Ring 3 ~Ring Ring Ringg!~ -Making DVD Special Edition-" (菅谷梨沙子写真集 Ring3〜リンリンリンッ!〜 -Making DVD Special Edition-) (April 1, 2008)

Radio

• "Berryz Kobo Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!" (Berryz工房 起立! 礼! 着席!) (March 30, 2005 - March 31, 2009)
• "Tsuukai! Berryz Okoku" (痛快! Berryz王国) (July 3, 2009 – March 30, 2012) (Co-hosts: Miyabi Natsuyaki and Yurina Kumai)

Photobooks

• "1st Solo Photobook 'Risako' (1stソロ写真集「Risako」) (October 12, 2006, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-2964-6
• "2nd Solo Photobook 'pure+' (2ndソロ写真集「pure+」) (July 20, 2007, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-4019-1
• "3rd Solo Photobook 'Ring 3 ~Ring Ring Ringg!~'" (3rdソロ写真集「Ring3〜リンリンリンッ!〜」) (February 6, 2008, Kadokawa Group Publishing) ISBN 978-4-04-895013-8
• "4th Solo Photobook 'Risō'" (4thソロ写真集「梨想」) (November 27, 2009, Wani Books) ISBN 978-4-8470-4215-7

References

External links

• Berryz Kobo: Official Hello! Project profile (Japanese)
• Risako Sugaya at the Internet Movie Database
• Kpopwiki:Risako Sugaya