Rio Kitagawa

***Rio** redirects here, if you are looking for the 16th generation member of Morning Musume with the same name, head to Rio Sakurai.*

**Rio Kitagawa** is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project. She is a fifteenth generation member of Morning Musume along with Homare Okamura and Mei Yamazaki.

## History

### Early Life

Rio Kitagawa 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 Homare Okamura and Mei Yamazaki.

She and the rest of the 15th generation members were introduced on stage during the Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER concert tour from July 13 and began performing with the group in the Morning Musume '19 Concert Tour Aki. Her member color was revealed to be Sea Blue.

On August 28, she, 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*.

### 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 cancelled in consideration of a new policy established by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It was later rescheduled.

On November 12, she released her first solo photobook, *First Time*.

### 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 29, it was announced that Miki Nonaka, Akane Haga, Rio Kitagawa and Homare Okamura 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. Miki Nonaka 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 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.

### 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 Zeep Yokohama in Kanagawa.

On June 22, she opened an official Instagram account.

## Appearance

Rio is seen wearing a light blue top, light blue trousers and light blue shoes. She has medium length black hair.

## Trivia

* 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.
* She shares the same name as sixteenth generation member Rio Sakurai and coincidentally Rio Kitagawa is also Rio Sakurai's favourite member.