Ishii Rika

Ishii Rika promoting la mer (2013)

Ishii Rika is a Japanese singer and actress. She started her career as Peachy, under the management of Okui Kaori in 2000, before joining as a soloist within Hello! Project in 2001, from which she graduated in 2002. In 2003 she re-debuted as a singer using her real name.

Profile

• Real name: Ishii Rika (石井里佳)
• Stagenames: Ishii Rika (石井リカ), Peachy
• Birthdate: February 26th, 1980
• Birthplace: Hiroshima, Japan
• Blood type: O
• Favorite colors: White, blue
• Favorite food: Ice
• Favorite season: Spring
• Favorite artists: Carole King, Carpenters, Jane Birkin, Janis Ian, Rickie Lee Jones, Matsutoya Yumi, Yamashita Tatsuro, Takeuchi Mariya, Kizugi Takao, EPO
• Favorite words: Aoi Kuma (あおいく; Blue Bear), Jirasenai (焦らない; Don't get irritated), Okoranai (怒らない, Don't offend), Igeranai (威張らない; Don't be arrogant), Kusaranai (くさらない; Don't feel down), Makenai (負けない; Don't give up)

• Shuffle groups:
  • 2002: Odoru 11

Information

Ishii Rika (2009)

Ishii Rika's debut in the music scene was in October of 2000 under the name "Peachy". She released three singles the following two years, all with a bubblegum-pop sound. A few months after the release of her third single, in October 2001, Ishii transfered to the Up-Front Agency. She started working in the offices of UFA (probably to test her working ethics and working morals) before becoming a regular in the TV Tokyo mini-drama "Shin Bishoujo Nikki" (which also starred Fujimoto Miki).

In November 2001, she participated in her first Hello! Project album, The Douyou Pops 1 Christmas to Fuyu no Uta Shuu. Her first concert performance was at "Hello! Project 2002 ~Kotoshi mo Sugoizo!~" in January 2002. Here she was introduced as a new member along with Fujimoto Miki and Satoda Mai. Ishii continued to appear in various Hello! Project releases, and was a member of the 2002 shuffle unit Odoru 11.

In December 2002, after the release of Shinsaku Douyou Pops 1, Ishii Rika graduated from Hello! Project. No official reason was given, but in an interview in a French magazine (in 2009) she stated that she no longer wanted to be an idol, but wanted to release songs with words and music made by herself.

In 2003, Ishii held her first live performance, and shortly after she signed to the record company bm.3 and released her first single in September. It would be three more years before she'd release her second single "Ao". It was used in the movie "Zoku", in which Ishii had a role in as one of the main characters.

For unknown reasons she left the record company after this release, and kept focusing on live performances as an indies artist. In 2007 and 2008 she released four indies singles, only available at her live events. Her fifth indies single was released under the label mona records.

In 2008, an interview with the popular Japanese girl group Perfume revealed that they have covered her song "Super Jet Shoes ~Mirai wo Aruku Kutsu~" ever since they started in 2000. They said it suited them since the song was happy and up-beat, and they have performed it at concerts together ever since.

In 2009 she released her fifth indies single, "blue", under mona records. In the fall the same year, a promotion video for the movie "Asahi Daigaku" with Ishii singing the theme song "Boku no Michi", was released. Another song, "Wedding Story", is also featured in the movie. Her song "Kokoro" was used in a commercial for Olympics pen, and a promotional video was made. "Wedding story" and "Boku no Michi" also have Promotional videos.

Other promotional appearances include writing a theme song for Asahi University in Gifu Prefecture and providing music for a commercial for the Akita View Hotel. In addition to all her latest promotion tie-ins, her long-awaited debut album, Aoi Kuma, was released on September 3rd, 2010. Her second album was released in April 2013, followed by her third album in September the same year.

Discography

Ishii Rika promoting Aoi Kuma (2010)

Albums

• [2010.09.03] Aoi Kuma (あおいくま; Blue Bear)
• [2013.04.24] Slow Love
• [2013.09.25] la mer

Singles

• [2000.10.25] Super Jet Shoes ~Mirai wo Aruku Kutsu~ (スーパージェットシューズ～未来を歩くくつ～; Super Jet Shoes ~Shoes That Walk To The Future~) (Peachy)
• [2000.12.06] Snow Paradise (スノーパラダイス) (Peachy)
• [2001.04.18] Yume Miru Chikara (ユメミルチカラ; The Power to Dream) (Peachy)
• [2005.03.17] Kotoshima (琴島; Harp Island)
• [2006.08.09] Ao (蒼; Blue)
• [2008.08.14] Blue

Event Singles

• [2007] Kimi wo Sagashiteru (君を探してる; I've Been Searching For You)
• [2007] Kagetsu Yoru (花月夜; Moonlight Night Flower)
• [2007] Fuyu no Ashioto (冬の足音; Footsteps of Winter)
• [2008] Nijiiro Button (虹色ボタン; Rainbow Colored Button)

Digital Singles

• [2008] Autumn Selection 2008
• [2008] Winter Selection 2008

Compilation Albums

• [2009.01.21] Such a Beautiful Girl Like you

Hello! Project releases

With Odoru 11:

• [2002.07.03] Shiawase Kyouryuu Ondo (幸せきょうりゅう音頭; Happy Dinosaur Ondo)

With other members of Hello! Project:

• [2001.11.29] The Douyou Pops 1 Christmas to Fuyu no Uta Shuu (ザ・童謡ポップス１クリスマスと冬のうた集)
• [2002.02.20] The Douyou Pops 2 Haru no Uta Shuu (ザ・童謡ポップス２春のうた集)
• [2002.05.22] FOLK SONGS 2
• [2002.06.05] The Douyou Pops 3 Natsu no Uta Shuu (ザ・童謡ポップス３夏のうた集)
• [2002.07.10] Hawaiian de Kiku Morning Musume Single Collection (ハワイアンで聴くモーニング娘。シングルコレクション)
• [2002.09.04] The Douyou Pops 4 Aki no Uta Shuu (ザ・童謡ポップス４秋のうた集)
• [2002.11.27] Ai no Merry Christmas (愛のメリークリスマス)
• [2002.12.04] Shinsaku Douyou Pops 1 (新作・童謡ポップス一)
• [2002.12.18] Petit Best 3 (プッチベスト3)
• [2008.12.10] Hello! Project Shuffle Units Mega Best ( ハロー! プロジェクト シャッフルユニット メガベスト)

Filmography

Television

• [2001.10 - 2001.12] Shin Bishoujo Nikki
• [2002.04 - 2002.09] Bishoujo Kyouiku II
• [2002] Hello Land

Movies

[2003] Zoku

External links

• Official Website
• Official Blog
• Official MySpace
• Official Twitter
• Japanese Wikipedia: 石井里佳