Riho Sayashi

**Riho Sayashi** is a former Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project. She is a former ninth generation member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume and a former member of the duo Peaberry.

Known for her wabi-sabi personality, she has been most popular out of the recent additions. Following the graduation of Niigaki Risa, she has been pushed into becoming one of the group's central figures and one of the main vocalists. She is also the adoptive mum of Robot Chicken.

Riho Sayashi graduated from Morning Musume on December 31, 2015 and took a break from Hello! Project activities to study language and dance abroad.

On December 7, 2018, it was announced that her contract with UP-FRONT PROMOTION expired at the end of November 2018 and she had subsequently graduated from Hello! Project.

Despite her departure, she made her return to entertainment activities on March 30, 2019 as a guest in Hello! Project's annual Hina Fes concert.

In late June 2019, she began performing as a support dancer for the kawaii metal band BABYMETAL.

## History

### Early Life

Riho Sayashi was born on May 28, 1998 in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.

In 2004, Riho Sayashi was enrolled in Actor's School Hiroshima (ASH), a school whose studies concentrates more on singing, dancing and acting lessons to prepare their students for an future actor career. She performed in several concerts organized by ASH as a 12th generation member and had a mentionable fanbase prior to joining Morning Musume.

In the July issue of Nakayoshi magazine in 2007, Sayashi was trying to become a fashion model. She was auditioning in Osaka.

### 2010

Riho was one of the 5 winners of the Jc&Jk Joyuu Audition and got a chance to perform in Morning Musume's Fashionable stage play.

Late in the year, Riho auditioned for the Morning Musume 9th Generation Audition and passed.

### 2011

On January 2, during the Hello! Project 2011 Winter ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~ A gana Live concert, it was announced that Sayashi was a member of Morning Musume's 9th generation, along with Mizuki Fukumura, Erina Ikuta and Kanon Suzuki. That same day, the 9th generation made their stage debut.

On March 27, it was announced Sayashi would be replacing Mano Erina for the radio show "Mano Deli," renaming it "Riho Deli." The radio show concluded on December 28, 2014.

In April, Sayashi debuted in the Morning Musume single "Maji Desu ka Ska!"

On July 29, it was revealed Sayashi would be out of events for at least six weeks due to ischium nerve pain on her right side.

Sayashi starred in a stage play titled Reborn ~Inochi no Audition~ along with Risa Niigaki, Reina Tanaka, the other 9th Generation members, and Haruka Kudo.

### 2012

On April 18, it was announced that Reina Tanaka and Morning Musume's 9th & 10th Generation members would star in a new stage play titled Stacey's Shoujo Saisatsu Kageki. The musical ran from June 6 through June 12.

On May 13, information was released about an event for the 9th and 10th generation members of Morning Musume, as well as S/mileage’s 2nd generation members, titled Mosuma FC Event ~Gachi☆Kira~. It was set to take place on June 15th, 18th, and 20th at Yokohama Blitz.

On July 20, it was announced that Sayashi and Ayaka Wada were choosen to form the duo Peaberry. The unit released an indies single, titled "Cabbage Hakusho / Forest Time" (with Harvest), on November 7.

### 2013

On March 26, a solo PV of Sayashi singing "Furusato" was featured on Hello! Project Station.

On May 28, Sayashi had a birthday event, titled Sayashi Riho Birthday Event ~Sayashi no Koto, Itsu Iwau no? Ima Desho!!~. Guests included Mizuki Fukumura, Ayumi Ishida, and Sakura Oda.

### 2014

On May 28, the fanclub event Morning Musume '14 ~Sayashi Riho Birthday Event 2014~ was held in honor of Sayashi's 16th birthday. The event featured one performance in Tokyo.

On November 22, Sayashi appeared as a guest on Youngtown Doyoubi. It was announced during the show that Sayashi would become a regular, replacing Sayumi Michishige. Her first appearance as a regular was on November 29.

### 2015

On October 29th, Sayashi announced her graduation from Morning Musume. She will graduate on December 31, 2015 at COUNTDOWN PARTY 2015. She will remain in Hello! Project, but will study English and dance abroad for some time. Six days after the initial announcement, Sayashi recorded a video in English for her overseas fans with the help of Mitsui Aika on UP-FRONT LINK.

On December 21, Sayashi held a solo live, titled Morning Musume '15 Sayashi Riho Solo Special Live, featuring two performances at Differ Ariake. Fans could win an invitation to the special live by entering a lottery when they purchased the "Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi / ENDLESS SKY / One and Only" box set via forTUNE music.

On December 26 and 27, she held her first solo bus tour, titled Morning Days Happy Holiday Sayashi Riho Fanclub Tour in Boso.

On December 31, Sayashi graduated from Morning Musume at the end of the first part of the COUNTDOWN PARTY 2015 concert at Nakano Sun Plaza.

### 2018

On December 7, an update was posted to the Hello! Project official website, announcing that Sayashi had graduated at the end of November when her exclusive contract with UP-FRONT PROMOTION came to an end. In a statement, Sayashi explained that she decided to leave the agency in order to head towards a new goal. At the moment, she still wants to absorb many things, but looks forward to seeing everyone after she has become a "new me". She is grateful for fans' continuous support in the past three years since she graduated from Morning Musume and wants to continue fulfilling her dreams of singing, dancing, and acting.

### 2019

Sayashi returned from a 3-year and 3-month hiatus to perform as a guest in the Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Premium of Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project Hina Fes 2019 on March 30.

On June 28 at Yokohama Arena, BABYMETAL held their first concert of the year, BABYMETAL AWAKENS -THE SUN ALSO RISES-, where a support dancer took the place left by third member Mizuno Yui (YUIMETAL), who quit due to health reasons in October 2018. Although the support dancer was not introduced during the concert, news sites and audience members on social media identified her as Sayashi. *Sponichi Annex* reported that one of three support dancers would be chosen for each of BABYMETAL's performances, and Sayashi was chosen for that day. Before they debuted, Sayashi was rivals with the band's main vocalist Nakamoto Suzuka (SU-METAL) when they attended Actor's School Hiroshima together. She later accompanied the band to their following gigs in England at the Glastonbury Festival on June 30 and at the O2 Academy Brixton in London on July 2.

While discussing Sayashi's recent activity in the July 6 broadcast of the radio show *Young Town Doyoubi*, Iikubo Haruna revealed that Sayashi has been working freelance since she left UP-FRONT PROMOTION.

### 2020

On April 30, she opened up an Instagram account.

On July 1, it was announced that she would have a regular column on Wani Books starting on July 10.

On July 15, it was announced that she was cast as the lead role in the musical *Kuro Sekai*, the newest installment of Suemitsu Kenichi's series of vampire-themed musicals, *TRUMP*. The musical followed the character Lily after the events of *LILIUM -Lilium Shoujo Junketsu Kageki-*, and Sayashi reprised her role as the main protagonist for *Kuro Sekai*. The musical ran from September 20 to October 4 in Tokyo, and from October 14 to October 20 in Osaka.

On September 3, it was announced that after working freelance since 2019, Sayashi has now signed with the agency Japan Music Entertainment.

On September 8, it was announced that she was one of ten actresses cast to appear in an episode of a drama series set to air on TV Tokyo.

On October 2, she was cast in the musical *35MM: A MUSICAL EXHIBITION*, which ran from October 31 to November 1 at Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo.

On October 21, she opened up her official website.

On October 24, she opened up her official fanclub, which is titled "Sayashii Hito-tachi" (さやしい人たち).

On December 5 she started her new Radio show "Sayashi Riho to 〇〇 to"on MBS Radio.

### 2021

On January 11, Sayashi's first self-written Song *Ano Hi Yakusoku Shita Kara* (あの日約束したから) was streamed on Terminal.  This marks her debut as a soloist, and her debut as a lyricist.

On May 28, which is the date of her 23rd birthday, Sayashi wanted to hold her first one-man live solo concert since leaving Hello! Project. However, it was postponed to August 9th due to the declaration of the state of emergency.  RIHO SAYASHI 1st LIVE 2021 DAYBREAK took place on August 9. During the Concert she announced her RIHO SAYASHI 1st LIVE TOUR 2022 Reflection Solo tour.

On July 13, it was announced that Sayashi would release her first solo mini album, "DAYBREAK", under her own label "Savo-r" on August 4th.

On November 27 her 2nd EP Reflection was announced.

### 2022

A new Dance show featuring Riho will start in February on Dance Channel, called Sayashi Riho no One Step

Riho participated at THE DANCE DAY Kanto Tournament in March

Starting on March 25, Riho will be the TV host for NHK High School Course - English Communication I" (Level 1) on NHK-E

On March 28, Riho announced on her Instagram that she will play recurring role on the Ore no Kawaii wa Mousugu Shohikigen!? TV Drama.

On May 28, her 24th Birthday A Fanclub Event called "RIHO SAYASHI BIRTHDAY Fan Meeting -PLAYGROUND!- vol.1" will be held at Shinagawa Intercity Hall.

From August 6, till August 26 she will be playing the role of Chloe in the Stageplay Surumegaoka produced by *Parco Produce*.

On April 23, she announced her 2nd Live Tour 2022.

On December 19 the Sayashii After Party ~ Riho Sayashi "UNISON" Fan Meeting will be held in Hiroshima.

### 2023

She's playing the supporting role of Kiuchi Shizue in the Drama Watashitte Sabasabashi Terukara.

On January 4th, it was announced that Sayashi would collaborate with Billboard to host a Billboard Live concert in Osaka on June 4 and in Tokyo on June 18. The title of the concert has not yet been announced.

She will play the supporting role of Haraguchi Maimi in the Drama Ore no Bijoka ga Tomaranai?!.

She will play the main role in the Drama Mentsuyu Hitorimeshi.

On April 23, the VS SAYASHI 2023 Fanclub Event will be held at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Annex Tower.

On May 28, her 25th Birthday A Fanclub Event called "RIHO SAYASHI BIRTHDAY Fan Meeting -PLAYGROUND!- vol.2" will be held at EX THEATER ROPPONGI.

Her third solo tour RIHO SAYASHI 3rd LIVE TOUR 2023 ran from September 24 to November 3 2023.

### 2024

On January 20th and January 21st Sayashii Bus Trip vol.1 ~Tokyo Edition~ took place somewhere in Tokyo.

She will play the main role in the Drama Oshi wo Meshiagare: Kōhō Girl no Maroyaka na Hibi.

## Appearance

Riho wears a red shirt and a red pair of shorts, with a red pair of trainers to go. She has a black ponytail.

## Trivia

* She was the third from last member to be killed by Homer's Ickle Pickle curse in Homer Kills Morning Musume/Gets Grounded.
* Her official YouTube username is SayashiGirl1998.