is a Japanese actress. She was a first generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46. She was also the captain of the group before her departure.
Biography Sakurai was born in her mother's hometown of Hakodate, Hokkaido, on May 16, 1994. Sometime later, her parents relocated and she was raised in Kanagawa Prefecture's, Yokohama City.
Career In 2011, Sakurai auditioned for Nogizaka46 and was chosen as one of the first generation members. Her audition song was Happiness's "Kiss Me". She was chosen as one of the members performing on their debut single "Guruguru Curtain", released on February 22, 2012. She took the front position for Nogizaka46's second single "Oide Shampoo", released on May 2, 2012. In June 2012, she was appointed the captain of Nogizaka46. After graduating from high school, she studied sociology at college. In April 2013, she regularly appeared on the television drama Bad Boys J with other Nogizaka46 members.
From October 25 to November 9, 2014, she played the heroine in the musical Mr. Kaminari, alongside former Nogizaka46 bandmate Misa Etō. In 2016, she was cast as the leading role in Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō, a stage adaptation of the film Memories of Matsuko. Former Nogizaka46 bandmate Yumi Wakatsuki also played the same role. In February 2017, she shot herself to promote her photo book titled Jiyu to Iu Koto which was released on March 8, 2017.
On July 8, 2019, Sakurai announced that she would be graduating from Nogizaka46 on September 1, 2019,Nogizaka46 Sakurai Reika Graduation Concert - Yoakemade Tsuyogaranakutemoii, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HoFdzg9JRsSakurai Reika Graduation - Sign Out Nogizaka46, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7pKav8P-w timing her graduation to coincide with the final stop of the group's national summer tour.Overture, Jikochudeikou, Taiyou Knock, Free & Easy, Hadashide Summer - Sakurai Reika Graduation, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCyNSF99ID0
On March 1, 2021, she has opened an official web site and fan club.
Discography Singles with Nogizaka46
Year No. Title Role Notes 2012 1 "Guruguru Curtain" A-side Debut as 1st Generation member; Also sang on "Nogizaka no Uta", "Aitakatta Kamoshirenai", "Ushinaitakunai kara" and "Shiroi Kumo ni Notte" 2 "Oide Shampoo" A-side Also sang on "Kokoro no Kusuri" and "House!" 3 "Hashire! Bicycle" A-side Also sang on "Hito wa Naze Hashiru no ka" and "Oto ga Denai Guitar" 4 "Seifuku no Mannequin" A-side Also sang on "Yubi Bōenkyō" 2013 5 "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" A-side Also sang on "Shakiism", "Romantic Ikayaki" and "Psychokinesis no Kanosei" 6 "Girl's Rule" A-side Also sang on "Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover", "Hoka no Hoshi Kara" and "Ningen to Iu Gakki" 7 "Barrette" A-side Also sang on "Tsuki no Ōkisa", "Watashi no Tame ni, Dareka no Tame ni" and "Sonna Baka na…" 2014 8 "Kizuitara Kataomoi" A-side Also sang on "Romance no Start", "Toiki no Method" and "Dankeschön" 9 "Natsu no Free & Easy" A-side Also sang on "Nani mo Dekizu ni Soba ni Iru", "Mukuchi na Lion" and "Boku ga Ikanakya Dare ga Ikunda?" 10 "Nandome no Aozora ka?" A-side Also sang on "Tōmawari no Aijō", "Korogatta Kane o Narase!" and "Tender Days" 2015 11 "Inochi wa Utsukushii" A-side 12 "Taiyō Nokku" A-side Also sang on "Hane no Kioku" 13 "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" A-side Also sang on "Popipappapā", "Kanashimi no Wasurekata" and "Sukima" 2016 14 "Harujion ga Sakukoro" A-side Also sang on "Yūutsu to Fūsen Gum" 15 "Hadashi de Summer" A-side Also sang on "Boku Dake no Hikari" 16 "Sayonara no Imi" A-side Also sang on "Kodoku na Aozora" 2017 17 "Influencer" A-side Also sang on "Jinsei o Kangaetakunaru" 18 "Nigemizu" A-side Also sang on "Onna wa Hitori ja Nemurenai", "Hito Natsu no Nagasa Yori…" and "Naitatte Iijanaika?" 19 "Itsuka Dekiru kara Kyō Dekiru" A-side Also sang on "Fuminshō" 2018 20 "Synchronicity" A-side Also sang on "Against" as 1st Generation member and "Kumo ni Nareba ii" 21 "Jikochū de Ikō!" A-side Also sang on "Anna ni Sukidatta no ni…" 22 "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru" A-side Also sang on "Kokuhaku no Junban" 2019 23 "Sing Out!" A-side 24 "Yoake Made Tsuyogaranakutemoii" A-side Last single to participate; also sang on "Boku no Koto, Shitteru?", "Boku no Omoikomi" and "Tokidoki Omoidashite Kudasai" which was her graduation song. 2020 — "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo" — Charity song during the COVID-19 pandemic
Albums with Nogizaka46
Year No. Title Participated song 2015 1 Tōmei na Iro "Boku ga Iru Basho" "Dareka wa Mikata" 2016 2 Sorezore no Isu "Kikkake" "Taiyō ni Kudokarete" "Kuchiyakusoku" 2017 3 Umarete Kara Hajimete Mita Yume "Skydiving" "Settei Ondo" "Rewind Ano Hi" 2019 4 Ima ga Omoide ni Naru made "Arigachi na Ren'ai" "Pocchito"
Other featured songs
Year Artist Title Albums / Singles 2012 Mayu Watanabe "Twin Tail wa Mō Shinai" "Otona Jellybeans" 2016 AKB48 "Mazariau Mono" "Kimi wa Melody"
Filmography
Television +YearTitleRoleChannelNotes2013Bad Boys JMariya MiyashitaNTVUmi no Ue no ShinryōshoFuji TVOne episode2015Tenshi no KnifeCafe worker/Ayumi NishinaWowowHatsumori BemarsBunanTV TokyoHana MoyuNHKTaiga drama2024-2025Bakuage Sentai BoonboomgerMaimi BaisuTV Asahi
Films +YearTitleRole2013Bad Boys J: Saigo ni Mamoru MonoMariya Miyashita2017AsahinaguShōko Yasomura2021Shinonome-iro no ShūmatsuMirei Ōtsuki2025RequiemSae Mukai
Theater +YearTitleRoleVenue2014Mr. KaminariDoremi UsukiSunshine Theatre2015Subete no Inu wa Tengoku e IkuAiiA 2.5 Theater TokyoPrincess KnightHecateAkasaka ACT Theater2016Joshiraku 2: Toki KakesobaTetora BōhateiAiiA 2.5 Theater TokyoKiraware Matsuko no IsshōMatsuko KawajiriShinagawa Prince Hotel2018-2019RebeccaI2019The Bank RobberyDance of the VampiresSarah2020FlashdanceGloriaWest Side StoryMaria2021GhostMolly Jensen2022Flower Drum SongMei LiDOROTHY ~The Wizard of Oz~Dorothy Gale2023First DateCaseyJekyll & HydeEmma Carew2024In This Corner of the WorldRin Shiraki2025Bonnie and ClydeBonnie Parker
Bibliography
Photobooks Kikan Nogizaka vol.1 Sōshun (5 March 2014, Tokyo News Service) Jiyuu to Iu Koto (6 March 2017, Kobunsha) Shisen (27 November 2019, Kobunsha)
References
External links