Ishikawa Rika

Ishikawa Rika (石川 梨華, born January 19, 1985 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan), is a Japanese pop singer formerly signed to Hello! Project, having since graduated from the label along with the rest of the Elder Club. Before her graduation, Ishikawa Rika had been a soloist within Hello! Project, having been the leader of the trio v-u-den, a member of the first Morning Musume sub-group Tanpopo, a member of Country Musume, one half of EcoMoni and a member of ROMANS.She has participated in the shuffle units 3-nin Matsuuri, Sexy 8, 7AIR and H.P. All Stars. She was also a member of the Morning Musume splinter group, Morning Musume Otome Gumi. She joined Hello! Project in 2000 as one of the four girls chosen to be the fourth generation of Morning Musume. She's apart of Morning Musume OG.

2000
Ishikawa auditioned for the japanese pop group Morning Musume while it was holding it's fourth generation auditions. She suceeded and entered the fourth generation with three other girls; Yoshizawa Hitomi, Tsuji Nozomi and Kago Ai. The fourth generation's debut single was Morning Musume's 9th single, "Happy Summer Wedding". Ishikawa Rika breifly became a replacement member for the 2000 shuffle unit, Aoiro 7.

2001
In 2001, Ishikawa was added to the then-semi-dormant Hello! Project group Country Musume. It was hoped that she could help get the fairly quiet group back onto it's feet and allow her fans to spill over to the group to aid in it's sales. At the same time as this, Ishikawa was added as a second generation member to the first official Morning Musume sub-group, Tanpopo.

As Ishikawa was working hard within both these groups, she was also performing as a full recording member of Morning Musume and in 2001 she recieved a prominent part in Morning Musume's twelth single "The Peace!". The part was not a singing part but rather a spoken part near the end that focused entirely on her. The song became a personal favorite of Ishikawa as the monologue spoken by her towards the end of the song became one of her favorite moments of being in Morning Musume.

Ishikawa also took part in her first shuffle unit recording as a part of 3-nin Matsuri alongside her fellow Morning Musume member Kago Ai and Hello! Project soloist Matsuura Aya.

2002
Ishikawa continued her duties within Morning Musume, Tanpopo and Country Musume during 2002, taking part in the 2002 shuffle unit Sexy 8. Sexy 8 won the competition that the Hello! Project shuffle units competed in every year; selling the most copies of their singles out of the three shuffle groups.

2003
In a surprise move by Tsunku, Morning Musume was split into two halfs - Morning Musume Otome Gumi and Morning Musume Sakura Gumi - so that the large group could perform in smaller towns that could not hold the larger numbers the full ensemble needed. Ishikawa was placed into Otome Gumi and released two single with the group before the groups merged together and formed Morning Musume once more. Ishikawa was included in the 2003 Elemental Shuffle Groups as a member of 7AIR.

It was in 2003 that Ishikawa ended her duties as leader within Tanpopo and as a member of Country Musume. She instead joined the short-lived ROMANS group in 2003, releasing only one single, "Sexy Night ~Wasurerarenai Kare~", on August 20, 2003 before disbanding the same year.

2004
In the second quarter of 2004, the formation of a new Hello! Project group EcoMoni was announced. Ishikawa was to be partnered with Morning Musume's Michishige Sayumi in the hopes that their group could promote enviromental awareness. The group was originally supposed to be a temporary Hello! Project group, existing only for the duration of the Acchi Chikyuu wo Samasunda (熱っちぃ地球を冷ますんだ, Cool Down the Hot Earth) environmental festival, lasting from June 19, 2004 to June 20, 2004. After the festival, instead of disbanding the group, EcoMoni started to appear on Japanese TV, especially on the program Oha Star (おはスタ).

In August, the formation of another Hello! Project group involving Ishikawa was announced. Ishikawa was going to be the leader of a new group v-u-den, alongside Hello! Pro Egg member Okada Yui and Tsunku♂ Produce Hello! Project Shin Unit Audition winner Miyoshi Erika. The group released their debut single "Koi no Nukegara" on September 23, 2004. The new group also starred in their own television show Majokko Rikachan no Magical v-u-den (魔女っ娘. 梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝) between October 4, 2004 and December 24, 2004.

2005
On May 7, 2005 Ishikawa graduated from Morning Musume to concentrate her efforts on v-u-den. The group released four more singles which was then followed by their debut album, "Suiteroom Number 1", in November 2005.

2008
It was announced that on June 29, 2008 v-u-den would be disbanding after four years of being one of the most active Hello! Project groups in regards to single and album releases. On April 23, 2008 v-u-den released their final single, "Nanni mo Iwazu ni I Love You" and officially disbanded after their last concert during their v-u-densetsu 5 tour. Ishikawa was to go on with her career as a member of Ongaku Gatas and as a player for Gatas Brilhantes H.P.. Ongaku Gatas released their first album "1st Goodsal" on February 6 and their third single on August 10.

On October 12, 2008 it was announced that Ishikawa was going to be paired up with fellow ex-Morning Musume member Yoshizawa Hitomi in the new unit Hangry & Angry in collaboration with a Harajuku fashion store of the same name. Hangry & Angry will be making their first United States performance at Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington in April 2009.

2010
On January 1, 2010, Rika's birthday she opened up an official blog.

On February 9, 2010, It was announced Ishikawa Rika and H!P Eggs Kikkawa Yuu and Sengoku Minami will be in a stage play titled Tiger Breathing. The play wiil runn from 5/7-11.

On July 9, 2010, It was announced that Rika will have an FC-exclusive solo event titled Ishikawa Rika Casual Dinner Show.  The event will have two shows (times are only for shows, the dinner will take place much earlier) on 8/21 Flamingo the Arusha – 14:00/ 18:30.

From October 8-10, 2010, Ishikawa will appear as one half of HANGRY & ANGRY at the New York Anime Festival (NYAF). She will participate in the h.Naoto fashion show and panel.

On September 2,2010, It was announced Ishikawa Rika and Yoshizawa Hitomi will have an FC exclusive event titled Ishikawa Rika & Yoshizawa Hitomi FC Event. The event will take place at Yokohama BLITZ on the following dates: 10/25 – 19:00 and at 10/27 – 19. 

2011
On January 28, 2011, It was announced that Rika was part of the OG member group Dream Morning Musume and that they will be releasing the groups first album, called "Dreams. 1", on April 20th, 2011.

Profile

 * Name: Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華)
 * Nickname: Charmy, Rika-chan, Rikacchi, Rikami
 * Birth Date: 1985-01-19
 * Birth Place: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
 * Blood Type: A
 * Height: 157.3cm
 * Foot size: 22.5 cm
 * Hobbies: Shopping, Tennis, nail art and earrings
 * Favorite colors: Pink, white, black
 * Favorite food:: Shiratama dumplings with red beans, cheese, sweets, meat
 * Favorite season: Summer
 * Favorite flowers: Dandelions
 * Dislikes: Birds
 * Special skill: Y balance, yo-yo
 * Hello! Project Groups:
 * [2000–2005] Morning Musume
 * [2001–2003] Country Musume ni Ishikawa Rika
 * [2003] ROMANS
 * [2004–2008] v-u-den
 * [2005–2006] DEF.DIVA
 * Subgroups:
 * [2000–2002] Tanpopo
 * [2003–2004] Morning Musume Otome Gumi
 * [2005] Hello! Project Akagumi
 * Shuffle Groups:
 * [2000] Aoiro 7 (Second Generation)
 * [2001] 3-nin Matsuri
 * [2002] Sexy 8
 * [2003] 7AIR
 * [2004] H.P. All Stars
 * Current:
 * [2004–] EcoMoni
 * [2007–] Ongaku Gatas
 * [2008–] Hangry & Angry
 * [2011-] Dream Morning Musume

Morning Musume

 * Happy Summer Wedding
 * I WISH
 * Renai Revolution 21
 * The☆Peace!
 * Mr.Moonligt ~Ai no Big Band~
 * Souda! We're ALIVE
 * Do it! Now
 * Koko ni Iruzee!
 * Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima
 * AS FOR ONE DAY
 * Shabondama
 * Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~
 * Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT
 * Roman ~MY DEAR BOY~
 * Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari
 * Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago
 * THE Manpower!!
 * Osaka Koi no Uta

Morning Musume Otome Gumi

 * Ai no Sono ~Touch My Heart!~
 * Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu ni wa Naranee!~

Trivia

 * Ishikawa has been in the most Hello! Project units out of all the members.
 * Her Morning Musume mentor was Yasuda Kei.
 * She considers her mother her rival because she always said to Ishikawa that she used to be cuter.
 * One of her nicknames as a child was "Chimu", due to the fact that she used to be chubby (muchimuchi).
 * Her favorite baseball team is the Hanshin Tigers.
 * She previously suffered from severe ornithophobia (fear of birds), which was frequently made fun of during her appearances on Utaban. During a 2005 New Year's Day special, however, she seemed to respond well to hypnotherapy, and she has mostly outgrown her fear since then.
 * Best friends with Shibata Ayumi. Also known to get along well with Yasuda Kei and Yaguchi Mari. Ayaka has also stated that they often hang out together, along with Yoshizawa Hitomi and Satoda Mai.
 * Hates injections, and stated that she has it tough, since she has small, hard-to-find blood vessels.
 * Is known amongst members to have a very noticeable chin. Abe Natsumi sometimes calls her "Ago-chan" ("Ago" means Chin). Yoshizawa Hitomi constantly teases her about her chin as well.

Films

 * [2000] Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー)
 * [2002] Tokkaekko (とっかえっ娘. )
 * [2003] Koinu Dan no Monogatari (子犬ダンの物語 )
 * [2003] 17sai ~Tabidachi no Futari~ (17才 旅立ちのふたり)
 * [2004] Tottoko Hamtaro Hamu Hamu Hapa Radaicho!
 * [2006] Sukeban Deka Codename Asamiya Saki) (スケバン刑事 コードネーム=麻宮サキ)

Theater

 * [2010.05.07-11] Tiger Breathing (タイガーブリージング)

TV

 * [2002.01.02] Haikara-san ga Tooru (はいからさんが通る)
 * [2002.08.17] Tou-san no Natsu Matsuri (父さんの夏まつり)
 * [2002.12.28] Ore ga Aitsu de Aitsu ga Ore de (おれがあいつであいつがおれで)
 * [2003.12.21] LAST PRESENT (ラストプレセント )
 * [2003.02.23] Ranpo R (乱歩Ｒ)
 * [2004.08.04 – 2004.12.24] Majokko Rika-chan no Magical v-u-den (魔女っ娘. 梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝?)
 * [2005.01.02] Shinshun Wide Jidaigeki "Kunitori Monogatari" (新春ワイド時代劇『国盗り物語』)
 * [2005.05.09] Musume Dokyu! (娘Dokyu!)
 * [2006.06.18] Shin Dōmoto Kyōdai (新堂本兄弟)

DVDs

 * [2003.9.21] Rika & Miki Sugao no 17sai ~Making Of "17sai ~Tabidachi no Futari~"~
 * [2007.03.07] Alo-Hello! Ishikawa Rika
 * [2009.02.11] Rika Ishikawa MOST CRISIS! in Hawaii
 * [2010.01.06] RIKA

Commercials

 * Eeruseeme
 * [2003] J Beef "Oniku Suki Suki"

Radio

 * [2003.04.03 – 2004.03.27] MBS Young Town Dōyōbi
 * [2004.04.02 - 2006.09.21] v-u-den☆Ishikawa Rika no Chanka☆Charmy!
 * [2005.02.18 – 2005.03.11] Hello Pro Yanen!!
 * [2005.04.03 – 2005.04.10 / 2005.05.8- ] B.B.L.
 * [2006.08.06] v-u-den Beauty Hour 21

Solo

 * [2001.08.02] Rika Ishikawa (石川梨華写真集)
 * [2002.06.22] Ishikawa Rika (photobook) (石川梨華)
 * [2003.12.24] I
 * [2004.12.10] hana-bi (華美)
 * [2005.07.01] Ishikawa Rika Shiawase no Ashiato Happy! (石川梨華 幸せのあしあと ハッピー！)
 * [2006.12.16] Oui, mon amour
 * [2007.08.22] Abyuu (アビュー)
 * [2008.02.20] Kazahana (風(かざ)華(はな))
 * [2009.01.19] KAREN (華恋)

Group

 * [2003.09] Pocket Morning Musume. (Volume. 1) (ポケットモーニング娘. 〈Vol.1〉) (With Yoshizawa Hitomi, Tsuji Nozomi, Kago Ai)
 * [2005.11.16] Angels (エンジェルズ) (With Michishige Sayumi)

Movie

 * [2003]17sai ~Tabidachi no Futari~ (With Fujimoto Miki)
 * [2003] Seishun Haka-san Ryōri Jyuku & 17sai ~Tabidachi no Futari~ ( 「青春ばかちん料理塾」&「17才～旅立ちのふたり」ビジュアルブック?) (with Goto Maki & Fujimoto Miki)

Concerts

 * [2007.01.28] Rika Ishikawa Hello! Project 2007 Winter Concert