Kitagawa Rio

Kitagawa Rio (北川莉央) is a Japanese pop singer and dancer under Hello! Project as a 15th generation member of Morning Musume.
==Biography==
===Early Life===
Kitagawa Rio was born on March 16, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan.
===2019===
On June 22, she was announced as a winner of the Morning Musume '19 LOVE Audition and would join Morning Musume '19 as a 15th generation member alongside Okamura Homare and Yamazaki Mei."ようこそ！モーニング娘。'19 新メンバーお披露目特番！" (in Japanese). Morning Musume (via YouTube). 2019-06-22."モーニング娘。'19 第15期メンバー決定！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-06-22. They were introduced on stage during the Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER concert tour from July 13 and will begin performing with the group in the Morning Musume '19 Concert Tour Aki."モーニング娘。’19：15期新メンバーは3人　岡村ほまれ、北川莉央、研修生から山崎愛生が加入" (in Japanese). MANTANWEB. 2019-06-22.
On August 28, Kitagawa, Okamura, and Yamazaki held their debut fanclub event, Morning Musume '19 15ki Member FC Event, at Yamano Hall.
On September 5, the 15th generation members began a fanclub-exclusive web talk show, titled Three stations."モーニング娘。’18 15期メンバーWebトーク「Three stations（vol.1）」！本日18時より配信♪" (in Japanese). UP-FC. 2019-09-05.
===2020===
On March 25, she was scheduled to celebrate her 16th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '20 Kitagawa Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at LANDMARK HALL. However, it was canceled in consideration of a new policy established by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19."【3/11更新】ファンクラブイベント・コンサート　開催中止のお知らせ" (in Japanese). UP-FC. 2020-03-11. It was later rescheduled.
On November 12, she released her first solo photobook, First Time."北川莉央ファースト写真集に関するお詫びとお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2020-09-07.
===2021===
On March 16, Kitagawa celebrated her 17th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '21 Kitagawa Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at KT Zepp Yokohama in Yokohama.
===2022===
On March 23, Kitagawa celebrated her 18th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '22 Kitagawa Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at Katsushika Symphony Hills Mozart Hall in Tokyo.
On July 8, it was reported that Kitagawa had been feeling pain in the back of her left foot, and as the pain was not going away after a few days she did an examination at the hospital, which diagnosed her with Lisfranc joint injury. She required at least 2 weeks of medical treatment, rest, and recuperation. Due to this, she was restricted to singing only while being sit in a chair at the first concert of the Hello! Project 2022 Summer CITY CIRCUIT Morning Musume '22 CONCERT TOUR ~Never Been Better! Encore~ on July 10."モーニング娘。'22北川莉央 パフォーマンス制限に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2022-07-08.
On July 29, it was announced that Nonaka Miki, Haga Akane, Kitagawa Rio, and Okamura Homare were diagnosed with COVID-19. On July 25, Haga, Kitagawa, and Okamura were in poor health and the next day reported symptoms of fever and subsequently tested positive for the virus. Nonaka Miki tested positive twice during regular routine antigen tests and was subsequently diagnosed at the hospital. They will all focus on treatment under the guidance of local governments and public health centers. As a result, the July 30 concert of the Hello! Project 2022 Summer CITY CIRCUIT Morning Musume '22 CONCERT TOUR ~Never Been Better! Encore~ in Miyagi was cancelled."モーニング娘。'22メンバーの新型コロナウイルス感染についてのご報告" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2022-07-29.
===2023===
On April 17, Kitagawa celebrated her 19th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '23 Kitagawa Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at KT Zepp Yokohama in Kanagawa.
On June 22, she opened an official Instagram account."モーニング娘。'23 15期メンバーオフィシャルInstagramスタート！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2023-06-22.
===2024===
On March 19, Kitagawa celebrated her 20th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '24 Kitagawa Rio Birthday Event, featuring two shows at Yamano Hall.
On June 22 and 23, she participated in a fanclub bus tour titled Morning Days Happy Holiday 15ki Member Kitagawa Rio・Okamura Homare・Yamazaki Mei Fanclub Bus Tour in Narago alongside her 15th generation mates Okamura Homare and Yamazaki Mei to celebrate the 5th anniversary of their addition to the group.
On August 16, it was announced that Kitagawa is absent due to bacterial pneumonia. Kitagawa has been visiting the hospital and receiving medical treatment. While she is on the mend, she will not perform at the Hello! Project 2024 Summer ALL OF US and group events.
==Personal Life==
==Profile==
==Publications==
===Solo Photobooks===
*[2020.11.12] First Time
*[2021.11.06] Rio・17th summer
*[2022.11.10] 18's Vacation
*[2023.08.09] Refreshing season
*[2024.10.01] 20th proof
==Works==
===TV Programs===
*[2020] Hello! Project presents... "Solo Fes!"
*[2021] Hello! Project presents... "Solo Fes! 2"
=== Internet===
*[2019–] Hello! Project Station
*[2019–] Upcoming
*[2019–2021] tiny tiny
*[2019–] OMAKE CHANNEL
*[2019] Hello Pro Kouhaku Taiko THE☆BATTLE 2019
*[2020] Hello Pro ONE×ONE
*[2020] Hello Pro no Oshigoto Challenge! 2
*[2020] Kimi ni Tsutaetai Monogatari
===Radio===
*[2019–] Morning Musume '19 no Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~ (モーニング娘。'19のモーニング女学院〜放課後ミーティング〜)
*[2019–] Three stations (fanclub exclusive)
==Trivia==
*She shares the same surname with former Hello Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido member Kitagawa Ryo.
*She had been wanting to work in the entertainment industry for eight years before she joined Morning Musume."【レポート】モーニング娘。 ’19、新メンバー15期に岡村ほまれ、北川莉央、山﨑愛生が加入！" (in Japanese). Pop'n'Roll. 2019-06-22.
*During her first interview as a member of Morning Musume, she stated her desire was to be able to keep up and perform well despite not having much experience."モーニング娘。'19 新メンバー最速出演 譜久村&石田と「人生Blues」初披露【アイドルもういっちょプラス #13】" (in Japanese). Mou Icchou TV (via YouTube). 2019-06-22.
*When she joined Morning Musume, she said she would like to sing Oda Sakura's solo part in "Help me!!". She also said in another interview that her favorite song is "Ai no Gundan" because it has a powerful dance and many noticeable singing parts.
*She is bad at sports, except for golfing. Her best golf score is 98 as of June 2019.
*She loves water. Her favorite water bottle brand is Volvic.
*She began supporting female idols in the fifth grade when she started liking the K-pop group Girls' Generation (known as Shoujo Jidai in Japan).
*She is the third Morning Musume member to attend university while active in the group after Sato Masaki and Nonaka Miki.
==References==
==External Links== 
*Morning Musume Profile
*Morning Musume 15ki Official Blog
*Instagram
fr:Kitagawa Rio
Category:2019 Additions
Category:Morning Musume
Category:15th Generation Morning Musume
Category:Kitagawa Rio
Category:Members born in Heisei Period
Category:Members born after Hello! Project's formation
Category:Monkey
Category:Pisces
Category:Sea Blue Member Color
Category:Members currently attending university
Category:Members who are an only child