Sasaki Rikako

"I want to aim for the top with this line-up."

- Sasaki Rikako, October 2014

Sasaki Rikako (佐々木莉佳子) is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project as a third generation member of ANGERME. She first joined Hello! Project in March 2013 as a member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei, being introduced as a member during the March 2013 recital concert.

Prior to joining Hello! Project, she was a member of the local idol group SCK GIRLS. She graduated from SCK GIRLS on March 31, 2013.

Early Life
Sasaki Rikako was born on May 28, 2001 in Kesennuma, Miyagi to Sasaki Toshishige and Estella.

2011-2012
On March 11, 2011, Sasaki and her family lost their home to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. After the earthquake, her father sent an application in for her to join the local idol group SCK45, now called SCK GIRLS, because he thought it would cheer her up.

In summer 2012, Sasaki participated in the Morning Musume 11ki Member "Suppin Utahime" Audition for an opportunity to join Morning Musume, but was not chosen to enter the group.

2013
On March 1, Sasaki joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei. She was introduced as the sole 18th generation member at the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2013 ~3gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~ event on March 31. On the same day, she graduated from SCK GIRLS. She blogged on April 2 thanking staff members of SCK GIRLS for supporting her.

On June 13, Sasaki participated in a release event for Ten Made Nobore! at Ikebukuro Sunshine city with Juice=Juice, Tanabe Nanami, Hamaura Ayano and Murota Mizuki.

2014
From March 14 to March 23, Sasaki 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 May 31, it was revealed that Sasaki had won the Pichilemon audition for new models. She will be featured in the fashion magazine, which releases on the first day of every month.

From June 5 to June 15, Sasaki participated in the musical LILIUM -Lilium Shoujo Junketsu Kageki- along with selected Morning Musume '14 members, S/mileage, and fellow trainees Tanabe Nanami and Kaga Kaede. She played the role of "Mimosa", one of the followers of Princess Marguerite (played by Sato Masaki).

On October 4, it was announced that Sasaki was selected to join S/mileage as the 3rd generation, along with Murota Mizuki and Aikawa Maho, subsequently leaving Hello Pro Kenshuusei.

Personal Life
Family= Her father, Sasaki Toshishige, works in the fishing industry in Sendai. Her mother, Sasaki Estella is a Filipino who immigrated from the Philippines to Japan 19 years prior to the day her daughter joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei. She has an older sister named Sasaki Aiko and an older brother named Sasaki Yousuke.

After losing her home to the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, she lived in temporary housing. As of April 2013, she is living in Tokyo with her mother and sister.

When Sasaki was introduced as a Hello Pro Kenshuusei member on March 31, 2013, she was about to begin her 6th year in elementary school. When she debuted in S/mileage in October 2014, she was a first year middle school student.
 * -|Education=

The following list are notable friendships Sasaki Rikako has acquired:
 * -|Friendships=
 * Murota Mizuki: She gets along best with ANGERME member Murota Mizuki since Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Makino Maria: She is good friends with Morning Musume member Makino Maria.

Here is a list of nicknames that was used to refer to Sasaki Rikako:
 * -|Nicknames=
 * Rikako (りかこ): Official nickname, given her since Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Rikako-tan (りかこたん)
 * Ricchan (りっちゃん)

Profile
Stats=
 * Name: Sasaki Rikako (佐々木莉佳子)
 * Official Nickname: Rikako (りかこ)
 * Birthdate:
 * Birthplace: Kesennuma, Miyagi, Japan
 * Height: 157cm
 * Blood type: A
 * Hello! Project Status:
 * 2013-03-01: Hello Pro Kenshuusei Member
 * 2014-10-04: S/mileage Member
 * Hello! Project groups:
 * Hello Pro Kenshuusei (2013-2014)
 * ANGERME (2014-)
 * Other groups:
 * SCK GIRLS (2011-2013)
 * -|Q&A=
 * Specialty: Break an egg with one hand, Dancing, Foot race, Running
 * Hobbies: Listening to music, sports, collecting Koibito Dukan goods
 * Motto: "Shoshi kantetsu" (初志貫徹; Carrying out one's original intention)
 * Favorite Colors: Orange, Pink
 * Favorite Food: Sticky rice cakes
 * Favorite Subject: Physical Education
 * Worst Subject: Arithmetics
 * Favorite Sports: Volleyball, Athletics, Soccer (Football)
 * Favorite S/mileage Song: "Watashi, Choito Kawaii Urabanchou"
 * Other Favorite Songs: "Bokura no Kagayaki"
 * Looks up to: Kudo Haruka

Theater

 * [2014] Bokutachi Karen na Shounen Gasshoudan
 * [2014] LILIUM -Lilium Shoujo Junketsu Kageki- (LILIUM －リリウム 少女純潔歌劇－)

TV Programs

 * [2012] Tsuntube
 * [2012.07.19] Sakigake Ongaku Banzuke Eight
 * [2012.08.16] ZIP!
 * [2012.12.04] Star☆Draft
 * [2013~2014] ~Onedari Entame!~ Hapi★Pure

Internet

 * [2013.06.16~08.16] Hello! Pro Kenshuusei no Tadaima Kenshuuchuu!
 * [2014-] Hello! Project Station (ハロ！ステ)

Music Videos

 * [2014] Wonderful Hachikun

Trivia

 * She is the first Hello Pro Kenshuusei member who came from an idol group outside of Hello! Project.
 * She gained media attention, and a following for resembling Maeda Atsuko and Oshima Yuko.
 * She was invited to the television show Star☆Draft where she danced to AKB48's "Heavy Rotation" and "Flying Get".
 * She often wears band T-shirts, such as KISS, AC/DC and IRON MAIDEN T-shirts.
 * She wants to try singing "Jishin Motte Yume wo Motte Tobitatsu Kara" by Takahashi Ai.
 * For her, the hardest thing about being a Hello Pro Kenshuusei was not receiving any lines in Oheso no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa.
 * Her rival in Hello Pro Kenshuusei was Murota Mizuki. She says that Murota is good at singing and dancing and is very energetic and emotional during MCs, so she wants to be like her and someday exceed that.
 * Her dream is to become a top idol. She wants her name to be spoken whenever someone mentions "Hello! Project" or "idol".
 * She's always dreamed of being an idol or being on TV, and she thinks that it's important for idols to have actual skill.
 * She is the third Hello Project member of Filipino decent (along with Chelsea Ching and Lehua Sandbo
 * She wants to work as a model and idol at the same time.
 * Tsunku's comments: "Your dancing has gotten better. Because of that, I want your singing to get better, too. Within that, the details in feeling the rhythm, like we always say, and the feeling of conscientiously putting your heart into it. That feeling might be the part you're lacking the most. Your expressions are big, like "look at me!" and that's a good thing."
 * According to an interview in JUNON Magazine released in July 2014, Sasaki hopes on getting an orange member color.
 * She said that she was often scolded for her trouble by Kaneko Rie.
 * She admires Kudo Haruka because even with her husky voice she does her best to sing.
 * She is the first ANGERME member to be born in the 21st century.
 * The first CD she ever bought was "The☆Peace!" by Morning Musume.
 * She bought a copy of "Wakuteka Take a chance", "Help me!!" and "13 Colorful Character".