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Matsunaga Riai (松永里愛) is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project as a member of Juice=Juice and a former member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei.

Biography[]

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Matsunaga Riai, June 2023

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Matsunaga Riai, October 2022

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Matsunaga Riai, March 2022

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Matsunaga Riai, October 2021

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Matsunaga Riai, April 2021

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Matsunaga Riai, December 2020

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Matsunaga Riai, June 2020

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Matsunaga Riai, March 2020

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Matsunaga Riai, July 2019

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Matsunaga Riai, June 2019

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Matsunaga Riai, March 2019

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Matsunaga Riai, December 2018

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Matsunaga Riai, August 2018

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Matsunaga Riai, June 2018

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Matsunaga Riai, December 2017

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Matsunaga Riai, September 2017

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Matsunaga Riai, June 2017

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Matsunaga Riai, March 2017

Early Life[]

Matsunaga Riai was born on July 7, 2005 in Osaka, Japan.

Prior to joining Hello Pro Kenshuusei, she was a junior model for Dream Girls magazine.

2015-2016[]

In 2015, during the summer, she participated in the 2015 ANGERME Shin Member Audition, but did not pass.[1]

In March 2016, Matsunaga was one of seven who won the Special Award in the Harajuku Mate×Juni Award model audition.[2]

In late 2016, Matsunaga participated in the Morning Musume '16 Shinseiki Audition Saiboshuu, but failed.[1]

2017[]

On March 6, it was announced that Matsunaga had joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei alongside Shimakura Rika, Hibi Marina, Eguchi Saya, Doi Rena, Okamura Minami, Yamada Ichigo, and Nakayama Natsume.[3] She was introduced at the Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2017 3gatsu ~Marching!~ on March 11.

2018[]

On July 3, Matsunaga participated in a fanclub event at Midland Square Cinema 2 titled Hello Pro Kenshuusei Special Event in Nagoya ~Hajimemashite! 4~ alongside Hibi Marina, Doi Rena, and Okamura Minami.

2019[]

Matsunaga participated in the opening act and challenge act for the Morning Musume '19 Concert Tour Haru ~BEST WISHES!~.

On May 4, Matsunaga won the best performance award with a total of 419 fan votes for her performance of "Gatamekira" at the Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2019 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~.[4]

On June 14, Matsunaga was announced as a new member of Juice=Juice alongside Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido's Kudo Yume.[5] They had their first on-stage introduction as group members in the Hello Pro Premium Juice=Juice CONCERT TOUR 2019 ~JuiceFull!!!!!!!~ FINAL Miyazaki Yuka Sotsugyou Special at Nippon Budokan on June 17,[6] following their last performance as trainees in the Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2019 6gatsu ~Midori~ show held the night before. They were also introduced on stage during the Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER concert tour from July 13.[7]

On July 2, she participated in a ENPLEX × Hello! Project Nagoya Teiki Event with Yonemura Kirara, Hashisako Rin, and Nakayama Natsume.

2020[]

On September 9, she celebrated her 15th birthday at a fanclub event titled Juice=Juice Matsunaga Riai Birthday Event 2020 with two shows at LANDMARK HALL.[8] In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, standing, and closeness in the venue were prohibited, and wearing masks were required to enter.

2021[]

On July 12, she celebrated her 16th birthday at a fanclub event titled Juice=Juice Matsunaga Riai Birthday Event 2021 with two shows at LANDMARK HALL.[9] In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, standing, and closeness in the venue were prohibited, and wearing masks were required to enter.

2022[]

On July 12, she celebrated her 17th birthday at a fanclub event titled Juice=Juice Matsunaga Riai Birthday Event 2022 with two shows at Tower Hall Funabori.[10] In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, standing, and closeness in the venue were prohibited, and wearing masks were required to enter.

On September 5, it was announced that Matsunaga Riai and Irie Risa had been diagnosed with COVID-19. On September 2, Matsunaga had symptoms of fever at night, and the next morning had tested positive by PCR test. After the other members and staff got tested that same day, Irie Risa had also confirmed to have tested positive. They will both focus on treatment under the guidance of local governments and public health centers.[11]

2023[]

On July 14, she celebrated her 18th birthday at a fanclub event titled Juice=Juice Matsunaga Riai Birthday Event 2023 with two shows at Tower Hall Funabori.

Personal Life[]

Riai has an older brother and a younger sister. Her sister named Nanoa is also a model. She has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Chloe, and two cats named Taiga and Bibi.

When Matsunaga joined Juice=Juice, she was a second year middle school student. As of April 2021, she is currently attending her first year of high school.

Matsunaga's given name, Riai, came from a dream her mother had while she was pregnant. In the dream, the baby had already been born and the name "Riai" (里愛) was written on the bed where the baby was sleeping.[12]

Here is a list of nicknames that was used to refer to Matsunaga Riai:

  • Yafuzo (やふぞう): Used by fans. When Matsunaga first started blogging, she kept altering a letter or two until she found one she kind of liked.
  • Riai-chan (りあいちゃん)
  • Richan (りーちゃん): Used by Nakayama Natsume.

The following list are notable friendships Matsunaga Riai has acquired:

Profile[]

  • Special Skill: Tongue twisters
  • Hobbies: Playing with her dog Chloe and cat Bibi at home,[12] listening to Hello! Project music
  • Favorite Music Genre: J-pop (Hello! Project)
  • Favorite Sport: Dance
  • Favorite School Subject: Music
  • Favorite Food: Waffles made by her mother and ice cream
  • Motto: Futou fukutsu (不撓不屈; Never bend, never give in)
  • Charm Point: Her long hair
  • Favorite Color: Yellow, Emerald Green
  • Favorite Hello! Project Songs: "Do it! Now", "Koi no Jubaku", "Rock no Teigi"
  • Looks Up To: Sato Masaki[13], Sasaki Rikako[14]

  • Works[]

    Theater[]

    TV Programs[]

    Internet[]

    Trivia[]

    • She has won her school's marathon race (girls' division) for the past 5 years.
    • She had attended an ANGERME handshake event before joining Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
    • She had previously met her generation mates Doi Rena, Nakayama Natsume and Okamura Minami before they joined, the latter of which she met as a model for Dream Girls magazine.
    • She thinks both her strength and her shortcoming is being serious.
    • She is not good with being scolded, basketball, and insects.
    • She would like to perform overseas.
    • She has admired Morning Musume ever since she got into the Kenshuusei, so she wanted to join Morning Musume.[15]

    Honorary Titles[]

    Honorary Titles
    Preceded by
    Dambara Ruru
    Youngest member of Juice=Juice
    June 14, 2019 – July 7, 2021
    Succeeded by
    Ebata Kisaki
    Preceded by
    Kiyono Momohime
    Youngest member of Hello! Project
    June 14, 2019 – July 2, 2019
    Succeeded by
    Hashisako Rin

    References[]

    1. 1.0 1.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yphXf2uOIwo
    2. "グランプリは誰の手に!?ハラ塾メイト×ジュニアワードのオーディション結果発表" (in Japanese). Harajuku Mate. 2016-03-05.
    3. "ハロプロ研修生に新メンバーが加入!" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2017-03-06.
    4. "「Hello! Project 研修生発表会2019 ~春の公開実力診断テスト~」結果発表" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-05-07.
    5. "Juice=Juice 新メンバー発表スペシャル" (in Japanese). Juice=Juice (via YouTube). 2019-06-14.
    6. "Juice=Juice 新メンバー決定!" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-06-14.
    7. Kanazawa Tomoko. "♪.正解発表!イベント決定!アー写更新!メンバーカラー! 金澤朋子" (in Japanese). Juice=Juice Official Blog. 2019-07-12.
    8. "★ファンクラブ会員限定イベント★「Juice=Juice 松永里愛バースデーイベント2020」開催決定!" (in Japanese). UP-FC. 2020-08-12.
    9. "★ファンクラブ会員限定イベント★「Juice=Juice 松永里愛バースデーイベント2021」開催決定!" (in Japanese). UP-FC. 2021-05-28.
    10. "★ファンクラブ会員限定イベント★「Juice=Juice 松永里愛バースデーイベント2022」開催決定!" (in Japanese). UP-FC. 2022-05-31.
    11. "Juice=Juice松永里愛、入江里咲に関するご報告" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2022-09-05.
    12. 12.0 12.1 Matsunaga Riai. "みなさんさん。松永里愛" (in Japanese). Juice=Juice Official Blog. 2019-07-12.
    13. BOMB September 2018 Issue.
    14. https://twitter.com/tozamasan/status/840463040944332800
    15. Top Yell Neo. Summer 2019 issue.

    External Links[]

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