Umeda Erika

Umeda Erika (2013)

Umeda Erika (梅田えりか) is a singer and talent signed to Peach and Our Songs Creative agencies. She was formerly a model, and an Japanese pop idol who was a member of Hello! Project as a member of °C-ute.

Profile

• Name: Umeda Erika (梅田えりか)
• Nicknames: Ume-san (梅さん), Eri (えり), Erika (えりか), Umeeri (うめえり)
• Birthday: May 24, 1991 (1991-05-24)
• Blood type: A
• Birthplace: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
• Height: 170 cm
• Hello! Project groups:
  • Hello! Project Kids (2002–2005)
  • ZYX (2003)
  • H.P. All Stars (2004)
  • Hello! Project Akagumi (2005)
  • °C-ute (2005–2009)
  • Wonderful Hearts (2006–2009)
  • ZYX-α (2009)
• Other:
  • Little Gatas (2004–2007)
  • Mix Gatas (2006–2007)
  • Gatas Brilhantes H.P. (2007–2009)

History

Umeda Erika joined Hello! Project as one of fifteen members of Hello! Project Kids in 2002. In 2003, she was a member of special unit ZYX. It wasn't until 2005 that she and the five remaining Kids would form °C-ute. Although Umeda was the eldest, she did not feel that she had the responsibility of being leader, so the leader position was given to Yajima Maimi.

Within °C-ute, Umeda was not so prominently featured in songs, but in concerts, she would play as Tension Ageko, a character in skits where she would

In 2009, Umeda returned to ZYX, now named ZYX-α, when all the members of Hello! Project participated in several special units. In August of the same year, she announced her graduation from °C-ute and Hello! Project. Umeda graduated on October 25, 2009, to pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion model.

In March of 2010, Umeda signed to model agency ILLUME. Later in 2011 she moved to the modeling agency Peach, and is in some capacity under the agency Our Songs Creative as an actress and talent.

On October 25, 2013, the four year anniversary of her departure from °C-ute, Umeda announced that she would switch careers and would leave modeling to become a solo singer.

Works

Filmography

• [2002] Koinu Dan no Monogatari (仔犬ダンの物語)

Radio

• [2006–2007] CUTIE PARTY (with Murakami Megumi (2006), with Yajima Maimi (2006-2007))
• [2008–2009] °C-ute Cutie☆Paradise (キューティー☆パラダイス) (with Suzuki Airi)

Trivia

• She has three Shih Tzus (RAMU-chan, MUU-chan, RUNA-chan.)
• More recently, she has named her favorite food as yakiniku, her least favorite food as bitter melon, and her charm point as "a row of 3 moles on the right of my cheek."
• Yaguchi Mari gave her the nickname Ume-chan.
• Is good friends with Natsuyaki Miyabi and Sato Natsuki
• Umeda Erika was named after her mother's favorite flower, the erica . Coincidentally, Arihara was also named after her mother's favorite flower, the canna.

External Links

• Official Website
• ILLUME Profile
• Peach Profile
• Our Songs Creative Profile
• Official Blog: Erika no SWEET DIARY (えりかのSWEET DIARY)
• Twitter
• Wikipedia Profiles: Japanese: 梅田えりか | English: Erika Umeda