Reika Sakurai
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Reika Sakurai | |
|---|---|
桜井 玲香 | |
Sakurai at the Yokohama International Film Festival in 2024 | |
| Born | 16 May 1994 Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Other names | Cap (キャップ) |
| Occupations | Actress |
| Hometown | Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2011–2019 |
| Label | Sony Records/N46Div |
| Formerly of | Nogizaka46 |
Reika Sakurai (桜井 玲香, Sakurai Reika; born May 16, 1994) is a Japanese actress. She was a first generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46.[1] She was also the captain of the group before her departure.[2]
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]

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 | Participated song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | Tōmei na Iro |
|
| 2016 | 2 | Sorezore no Isu |
|
| 2017 | 3 | Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume |
|
| 2019 | 4 | Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made |
|
Other featured songs
| 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] | ||
| 2024-2025 | 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 |