Sakurai Rio (櫻井梨央) is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project as the sole 16th generation member of Morning Musume.
Biography[]
Sakurai Rio, May 2025
Sakurai Rio, October 2024
Sakurai Rio, June 2024
Sakurai Rio, September 2023
Sakurai Rio, July 2023
Sakurai Rio, December 2022
Sakurai Rio, November 2022
Sakurai Rio, July 2022
Sakurai Rio, June 2022
Early Life[]
Sakurai Rio was born on November 11, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan.
2020[]
Sakurai participated in the ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~, but did not pass.
2022[]
On June 29, it was announced on a special video of the Hello! Project Station that Sakurai had passed the final round of the Hello! Project "Morning Musume '22" "Juice=Juice" Goudou Shin Member Audition, becoming a member of Morning Musume.[1]
On November 17, she celebrated her 17th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '22 Sakurai Rio Birthday Event with two shows at LANDMARK HALL.
2023[]
On June 29, she released her first solo photobook, Rio 17sai.
On November 13, she celebrated her 18th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '23 Sakurai Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at LANDMARK HALL.
2024[]
On April 30, she appeared in CTV's Omouma alongside Makino Maria and Fujimoto Miki.[2]
On November 7, she celebrated her 19th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '24 Sakurai Rio Birthday Event with two shows at Yamano Hall.
On December 24, she released her second solo photobook, natural-ly.
2025[]
On March 31, she opened up an official Instagram account.[3]
On October 31, she released Mei Kenchiku ni Koiwazurairi~, a book compiling a series on famous architecture featuring Sakurai Rio initially published in 12 parts through JUNON.[4]
On November 10, she celebrated her 20th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '25 Sakurai Rio Birthday Event with two shows at Shibuya-Ku Bunka Sougou Center Oowada Sakura Hall.
Personal Life[]
She has a younger brother, and she has a pet medium poodle named 'Knight' that can also be called 'Night' because of its black color.[5]
When Sakurai joined Morning Musume, she was in her second year of high school. As of March 2024, she graduated from high school.
Sakurai gets along best with Nonaka Miki, her mentor in the group, and they often hang out together.
Here is a list of nicknames that was used to refer to Sakurai Rio:
- Riley (らいりぃ): Her nickname as a member of Morning Musume. Given to her by Oda Sakura.
- Rii-chan (りーちゃん): Another nickname as a member of Morning Musume.
Profile[]
- Name: Sakurai Rio (櫻井梨央)
- Nicknames: Riley (らいりー), Rii-chan (りーちゃん)
- Birthdate: November 11, 2005
- Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
- Blood Type: O
- Western Zodiac:
Scorpio - Eastern Zodiac: Rooster
- Hello! Project Status:
- 2022-06-29: Morning Musume member
- UP-FRONT PROMOTION Status:
- 2022-06-29: Member
- Morning Musume Member Color:
- Milk Tea
- Hello! Project Groups:
- Morning Musume (2022-present)
- Hobbies: Admiring idols, playing games, singing, piano, typing, being able to sleep anywhere
- Favorite Music Genre: J-pop
- Favorite Food: Rice, Gyudon, Curry (butter chicken type), Loco moco[6]
- Favorite Sport: Dodgeball
- Motto: Hibi zenshin aru nomi (日々前進あるのみ; There is only progress every day)
- Favorite Morning Musume Songs: "Mukidashi de Mukiatte", "Nanchatte Renai", "Seishun Kozou ga Naiteiru", "Kono Mama!", "Jiyuu na Kuni Dakara"
- Looks Up To: Kitagawa Rio
Discography[]
- Main article: Sakurai Rio/Discography
Solo DVDs[]
- [2024.07.xx] Morning Musume '24 16ki Member Web Talk RadiRio ~Sakurai no Jikan～
- [2025.02.xx] Morning Musume '24 16ki Member Web Talk RadiRio ~Sakurai no Jikan～ Part 2
Publications[]
- Main article: Sakurai Rio/Publications
Solo Photobooks[]
- [2023.06.29] Rio 17sai
- [2024.12.24] natural-ly
Books[]
- [2025.10.31] Mei Kenchiku ni Koiwazurairi~ (名建築に恋わずらいり～)
Works[]
Internet[]
- [2022–] Hello! Project Station
- [2022–] Upcoming
- [2022–] OMAKE CHANNEL
Radio[]
- [2022.08.27-] Morning Musume no Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~ (モーニング娘。のモーニング女学院〜放課後ミーティング〜)
- [2024.06.29-] Young Town Doyoubi (ヤングタウン土曜日)
Trivia[]
- She shares a birthday with former Morning Musume member Tanaka Reina.
- Her given name Rio uses the same exact kanji as former Kobushi Factory member Fujii Rio.
- Her audition number was 174.
- Despite curry rice being her favorite food, she prefers butter chicken curry rice since she can't eat hot curries.
- She lived in Hyogo for 5 years, during elementary school, before permanently moving to Tokyo.
- She loves dogs.
Honorary Titles[]
| Honorary Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Yamazaki Mei |
Youngest member of Morning Musume June 29, 2022 – May 23, 2023 |
Succeeded by Yumigeta Ako |
References[]
- ↑ "「モーニング娘。'22」「Juice=Juice」新メンバー決定のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2022-06-29.
- ↑ "4月30日の放送内容" (in Japanese). CTV. 2024-04-30.
- ↑ "モーニング娘。'25 櫻井梨央 オフィシャルInstagramスタート！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2025-03-31.
- ↑ "モーニング娘。'25 櫻井梨央『名建築に恋わずらいり〜BOOK（仮）』10月31日（金）発売決定！" (in Japanese). JUNONTV. 2025-08-28.
- ↑ "愛犬登場" (in Japanese). Sakurai Rio's Official Blog. 2022-07-15
- ↑ A message from Rio Sakurai (Video). Uploaded by Hello! Project Link Official Facebook Page. 2022-12-21