Matsunaga Riai

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==
===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.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yphXf2uOIwo
In March 2016, Matsunaga was one of seven who won the Special Award in the Harajuku Mate×Juni Award model audition."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.
In late 2016, Matsunaga participated in the Morning Musume '16 Shinseiki Audition Saiboshuu, but failed.
===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."ハロプロ研修生に新メンバーが加入！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2017-03-06. 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~."「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.
On June 14, Matsunaga was announced as a new member of Juice=Juice alongside Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido's Kudo Yume."Juice=Juice 新メンバー発表スペシャル" (in Japanese). Juice=Juice (via YouTube). 2019-06-14. 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,"Juice=Juice 新メンバー決定！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-06-14. 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.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.
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."★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. 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."★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. 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."★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. 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."Juice=Juice松永里愛、入江里咲に関するご報告" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2022-09-05.
===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==
==Profile==
==Works==
===Theater===
*[2019] Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6 Gaiden ~Tasogare no Kamen~ (daily guest role)
===TV Programs===
*[2020] Hello Dream. (ハロドリ。)
*[2020] Hello! Project presents... "Solo Fes!"
*[2021] Hello! Project presents... "Solo Fes! 2"
===Internet===
*[2018–] Hello! Project Station
*[2018–] Upcoming
*[2019–2021] tiny tiny
*[2019–] OMAKE CHANNEL
*[2019] Hello Pro Kouhaku Taiko THE☆BATTLE 2019
*[2020] Hello Pro no Oshigoto Challenge! 2
*[2020] Hello! Anison Bu
*[2023] Hello Pro Dance Academy
==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.Top Yell Neo. Summer 2019 issue.
*She likes people with a B blood type.
*She is the youngest member to join Juice=Juice at the age of 13 years 11 months and 7 days old.
*Her and fellow Juice=Juice member Arisawa Ichika are composing a song together.
==Honorary Titles==
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==References==
==External Links==
*Juice=Juice Profile
*Hello Pro Kenshuusei Profile (archived)
*Juice=Juice Official Blog
*Official Blog "riririroom no Blog" (archived)
fr:Matsunaga Riai
Category:27th Generation Hello Pro Kenshuusei
Category:2017 Additions
Category:2005 Births
Category:July Births
Category:Cancer
Category:Members from Osaka
Category:Hello Pro Kenshuusei
Category:Members who failed a Morning Musume audition
Category:Youngest Hello! Project Member
Category:Youngest Juice=Juice Member
Category:Debuted Kenshuusei
Category:Hello Pro Kenshuusei Formers
Category:Members born in Heisei Period
Category:Members born after Hello! Project's formation
Category:Juice=Juice
Category:Blue Member Color
Category:Blood Type A
Category:Rooster
Category:Matsunaga Riai
Category:Members who failed an ANGERME audition
Category:Members currently attending high school
Category:Hello! Project Dance Club