Yamaki Risa

Yamaki Risa (山木梨沙) is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project as a member of Country Girls and College Cosmos. She first joined Hello! Project as a Hello Pro Kenshuusei member in September 2013.

Early Life
Yamaki Risa was born on October 14, 1997 in Tokyo, Japan.

2013
In 2013, Yamaki participated in the Morning Musume 12ki Member "Mirai Shoujo" Audition for an opportunity to join Morning Musume. She made it up to the final round, but on August 24, it was announced that she failed to joined the group in the end along with the 6 other finalists.

In September, Yamaki joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei along with the other Mirai Shoujo finalists, becoming the 20th generation. On September 22, an introduction of Yamaki was uploaded to the Hello Pro Kenshuusei YouTube channel.

On December 7, Yamaki was officially introduced as a Hello Pro Kenshuusei at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2013 ~12gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~, alongside Yokogawa Yumei, Niinuma Kisora, Oura Hirona, Dambara Ruru, Haga Akane and Funaki Musubu. All seven girls did a dance performance of Juice=Juice's debut single "Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne".

2014
From March 14 to March 23, Yamaki participated in the musical Bokutachi Karen na Shounen Gasshoudan along with Yasuda Kei, Ogawa Makoto and 7 other trainees. On opening day, the Hello Pro Kenshuusei single "Karen na Gasshoudan" was released to promote the musical.

On November 5, it was announced that Yamaki was added to Country Musume, now called Country Girls, alongside Inaba Manaka, Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta and Ozeki Mai. She concluded her trainee activities following the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2014 ~11gatsu・12gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~.

From December 3 to December 11, Yamaki participated in the stage play Kurukuru to Shi to Shitto, along with Niigaki Risa, Kikkawa Yuu, Hello Pro Kenshuusei member Yamagishi Riko and S/mileage 3rd generation member Aikawa Maho.

2015
On October 15, Yamaki celebrated her 18th birthday at a fanclub event was titled Country Girls Yamaki Risa Birthday Event 2015, featuring two shows at TOKYO FM HALL.

On December 11, Yamaki released her first solo e-Hello! Blu-ray, Greeting ~Yamaki Risa~.

2016
On February 20, Yamaki appeared in Shizuoka Asahi TV's annual music documentary program ch223 music pinkiss ~Ponyo Trio Nihon Ichi no Sotsugyou Ryokou!?~ with Hakoiri♡Musume member Wagatsuma Momomi.

On October 14, Yamaki celebrated her 19th birthday at a fanclub event titled Country Girls Yamaki Risa Birthday Event 2016, featuring two shows at TOKYO FM HALL.

2017
On October 16, Yamaki celebrated her 20th birthday at a fanclub event titled Country Girls Yamaki Risa Birthday Event 2017, featuring two shows at Mt.RAINER HALL.

On December 5, Yamaki held the Yamaki Risa to Tanoshimu! Real Dasshutsu Game in collaboration with SCRAP, the creators of the REAL ESCAPE GAME. The theme was "Escape from JoJo's Bizarre Mansion", based on the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series.

2018
On February 14, Yamaki released her first visual photobook, titled sketch me.

On August 31, Yamaki held her second escape room event with SCRAP, titled the Yamaki Risa to Tanoshimu! Real Dasshutsu Game Dai 2 Dan. The theme was "Escape from Shin Godzilla".

On October 3, it was announced that Yamaki had joined College Cosmos, an idol group made up of female university students which was created as a joint project between Space Craft Group and. Because the group was formed on the basis of balancing idol activities and university studies, Yamaki decided to join since she would not be overwhelmed by the amount of work. At the press conference it was also revealed that she would be double centers with Matsui Mari.

On September 25, Yamaki announced that from October forwards, she would be a Tuesday regular MC on the Radio Nippon program 60TRYbu, alternating with ANGERME member Takeuchi Akari who has been the regular MC since late 2015.

On October 15, she celebrated her 21st birthday at a fanclub event titled Country Girls Yamaki Risa Birthday Event 2018, featuring two shows at TOKYO FM HALL.

On November 30, former Morning Musume member Takahashi Ai published the Ai Takahashi MAKE-UP BOOK in which Yamaki and five other active Hello! Project members appear as models.

2019
On February 20, Yamaki held her third escape room event with SCRAP, Yamaki Risa to Tanoshimu! Real Dasshutsu Game Dai 3 Dan. The theme was a SCRAP-original production titled "Sayounara, Bokura no Magic Hour".

On June 12, she opened an official Instagram account.

On August 17, orders opened for fanclub-exclusive inkan seals of Hello! Project members that were hand-illustrated by Yamaki Risa herself, starting with Juice=Juice and Country Girls. The second round of inkan seals of the Morning Musume '19 and Kobushi Factory members opened for orders on September 20.

On September 28, she held her fourth escape room event with SCRAP, Yamaki Risa to Tanoshimu! Real Dasshutsu Game Dai 4 Dan, which participants had to escape from a Detective Conan collaboration room, titled "Real Escape Game×Detective Conan 'Escape from the Prussian Blue Art Museum'".

On October 15, she celebrated her 22nd birthday at a fanclub event titled Country Girls Yamaki Risa Birthday Event 2019 at Yamano Hall.

On November 15, she and Ishida Ayumi will hold a joint fanclub event titled Morning Musume '19 Ishida Ayumi &amp; Country Girls Yamaki Risa FC Event ~#Tsui ni Yamaki to Ishida ga Event Suru tte yo~, featuring two shows at Mynavi BLITZ Akasaka.

Personal Life
Family= Yamaki has an older brother and owns 2 pet cats.

When Yamaki joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei in September 2013, she was a first year student at Keio Girls Senior High School. When she joined Country Girls, she was a second year high school student.
 * -|Education=

She graduated from high school in March 2016 and entered Keio University's Faculty of Business and Commerce. Yamaki has also taken Spanish courses.

The following list are notable friendships Yamaki Risa has acquired:
 * -|Friendships=
 * Makino Maria: She is close friends with Morning Musume member Makino Maria since their trainee days.
 * Aikawa Maho: She is good friends with ANGERME member Aikawa Maho since Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Niinuma Kisora: Yamaki is good friends with Tsubaki Factory member Niinuma Kisora.
 * Fukumura Mizuki: She is close friends with Morning Musume member Fukumura Mizuki.
 * Ishida Ayumi: She is good friends with Morning Musume member Ishida Ayumi.

Yamaki's given name, Risa, means "Japanese pear" (梨; ri) combined with "sand" (沙; sa). Her parents wanted a name that was easy to understand and easy to remember if she traveled abroad, and her mother also likes Japanese pear fruit.
 * -|Name Meaning=

Here is a list of nicknames that was used to refer to Yamaki Risa:
 * -|Nicknames=
 * Yamakki (やまっき): Official nickname, given to her in Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Risa-chan (りさちゃん): Second official nickname, given to her in Country Girls.

Profile
Stats=
 * Name: Yamaki Risa (山木梨沙)
 * Nicknames: Yamakki (やまっき), Risa-chan (りさちゃん)
 * Birthday:
 * Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
 * Blood type: B
 * Height: 155cm
 * Western Zodiac: Libra
 * Eastern Zodiac: Ox
 * Hello! Project Status:
 * 2013-09-22: Hello Pro Kenshuusei member
 * 2014-11-05: Country Girls member
 * Country Girls Color: Lime
 * Hello! Project Groups:
 * Hello Pro Kenshuusei (2013–2014)
 * Country Girls (2014-present)
 * Other Groups:
 * College Cosmos (2018-present)
 * -|Q&A=
 * See Also: List:Yamaki Risa Other Q&As


 * Specialty: Horseback riding, Drawing, Piano, Painting
 * Hobbies: Piano, Hello! Project appreciation, Visiting cafes, Reading manga
 * Motto: "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" (ハングリーであれ､愚か者であれ)
 * Favorite Colors: Pink, red x black
 * Favorite Sport: Swimming
 * Favorite Hello! Project songs: "ROCK Erotic", "Kimagure Princess", "C\C (Cinderella\Complex)", "Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai Darou?", "Lalala no Pipipi", "Fantasy ga Hajimaru", "HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN? ~Nihon wa Donna Kanji Dekka?~"
 * Looks Up To: Michishige Sayumi

Discography

 * See also: List:Yamaki Risa Discography Featured In

Solo DVDs/Blu-rays

 * [2015.12.11] Greeting ~Yamaki Risa~

Solo Photobooks

 * [2017.03.25] Yamaki Risa Mini Photobook "Greeting -Photobook-"
 * [2018.02.14] sketch me

Featured as a model

 * [2018.11.30] Ai Takahashi MAKE-UP BOOK

Cover girl

 * [2016.11.07] Weekly Big Comic Spirits No.50

Featured on the cover

 * [2018.09.22] Young Magazine 2018 No.43 (with Makino Maria, Yanagawa Nanami, Funaki Musubu, Inoue Rei, Yamagishi Riko)

Theater

 * [2014] Bokutachi Karen na Shounen Gasshoudan
 * [2014] Kurukuru to Shi to Shitto
 * [2016] Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!
 * [2019] Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6 Gaiden ~Tasogare no Kamen~ (daily guest role)

TV Programs

 * [2014.04.05~09.20] ~Onedari Entame!~ Hapi★Pure
 * [2016.02.20] ch223 music pinkiss ~Ponyo Trio Nihon Ichi no Sotsugyou Ryokou!?~ (ch223 music pinkiss 2016 ～ポニョトリオ 日本一の卒業旅行!?～)
 * [2015–2019] The Girls Live
 * [2019–] AI・DOL PROJECT (AI・DOL プロジェクト)

Internet

 * [2015–] Hello! Project Station

Radio

 * [2015] Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Kenshuuchuu!! (カントリー・ガールズの只今ラジオ研修中!!)
 * [2015-] Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Housouchuu!! (カントリー・ガールズの只今ラジオ放送中!!)
 * [2018-] 60TRYbu (60TRY部) (Tuesday regular MC)

Music Videos

 * [2014] Wonderful Hachikun (as a back-up dancer)
 * [2017] ℃-ute - To Tomorrow (as a back-up dancer)
 * [2019] ANGERME - Koi wa Accha Accha ("Koushiki Accha Accha Ouentai" PV)

Trivia

 * She wants to be an idol that makes people say that the group wouldn't go on without her.
 * She thinks she won't lose to any other member in her vocal quality and hand-groomed hair.
 * According to Haga Akane, Yamaki is very trustworthy and used to watch over her, Dambara Ruru, Yokogawa Yumei, Funaki Musubu and Oura Hirona when they were in Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * She wanted to join Hello Pro Kenshuusei because she wanted to join Hello! Project, but she only had eyes for Morning Musume. She doesn't have interest in any other idols.
 * Her audition number for the 2013 Morning Musume 12ki Member "Mirai Shoujo" Audition was #6509.
 * She sang ℃-ute's "Kanashiki Amefuri" for her audition.
 * She is not into idols and was surprised that she auditioned for Morning Musume.
 * For her, the best thing about being a Hello Pro Kenshuusei was standing on stage and seeing the members perform.
 * For her, the hardest thing about being a Hello Pro Kenshuusei was not being able to keep up with her seniors at lessons.
 * She doesn't have a rival yet, she wants to find someone who will inspire her to improve.
 * When she was younger she played volleyball a little and was very flexible, she was shocked at how stiff she had become once she started dancing.
 * She likes the manga Fruits Basket.
 * Before going on stage for the first time, she was the most nervous she'd ever been in her life, to the point where she almost cried. Once she saw the faces in the crowd, though, all she could do was have fun. She's glad to have joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Tsunku's commented towards Yamaki: "I want to teach you more dancing strength. I want you to dive right into the rhythm, especially 16-beat. I also want you to have a pattern in smiling or expressions."
 * She was the MC for ℃-ute DVD Magazine Vol.40.
 * In Hapi Pure episodes 24 and 25 she revealed her good drawing skills and even was awarded by drawing instructor for technique.
 * She thinks of Morning Musume as artists, not idols.
 * When she was about to say the senior member she looked up to was Michishige Sayumi during Country Girls' introduction MC in the Hello! Project 2015 WINTER concert tour, Tsugunaga Momoko stopped her and Yamaki answered Tsugunaga instead.
 * She said on her blog that she likes the pattern of trump cards, and a red and black combination in general.
 * When she was in elementary school, Yamaki was often mistaken as a hafu (half-Japanese). She wrote in the Country Girls 1st OFFICIAL BOOK that her treasured secret was that she is half-Canadian, but due to the number of fans asking her if it was true, Yamaki had to clarify in a blog post that it was a joke.
 * She used to like the game Dark Chronicle.
 * As of July 2018, Yamaki has a level 3 horseback riding license.