is a Japanese

idol Idol or Idols may refer to: Religion and philosophy * Cult image, a neutral term for a man-made object that is worshipped or venerated for the deity, spirit or demon that it embodies or represents * Murti, a point of focus for devotion or medit ...

singer, actress and a former member of the

Japanese idol An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in acting, dancing, and modeling. Idols are commercialized through merchandise and endorsements b ...

girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...

Nogizaka46 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, created as the of the group AKB48. They are the first group from the Sakamichi Series, which also includes sister groups Sakurazaka46 (formerly Keyakizaka46), Yoshimotozaka46, and ...

. She was also the captain of the group before her departure.

Career

In 2011, Sakurai auditioned for Nogizaka46 and was chosen as one of the first generation members. Her audition song was

Happiness Happiness, in the context of Mental health, mental or emotional states, is positive or Pleasure, pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishin ...

's "Kiss Me". She was chosen as one of the members performing on their debut single "

Guruguru Curtain is the debut single by Japanese girl group Nogizaka46, released on February 22, 2012. It reached number two in the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold 136,309 copies in the first week. It reached number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Release ...

", released on February 22, 2012. She took the front position for Nogizaka46's second single "

Oide Shampoo is the second single by Japanese girl group Nogizaka46, released on May 2, 2012. It reached number one in the Oricon Weekly Chart. It sold 156,000 copies. It reached number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Release This single was released ...

", released on May 2, 2012. In June 2012, she was appointed the captain of Nogizaka46. After graduating from high school, she studied

sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...

at college. In April 2013, she regularly appeared on the television drama '' Bad Boys J'' with other Nogizaka46 members. From October 25 to November 9, 2014, she played the heroine in the musical ''Mr. Kaminari'', alongside former Nogizaka46 bandmate

Misa Etō is a Japanese gravure idol, singer, actress, ''tarento'' and former member of the idol groups Nogizaka46 and Chimo. On February 14, 2019, Etō announced that she would be graduating from Nogizaka46, that her graduation concert would be held at ...

. In 2016, she was cast as the leading role in ''Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō'', a stage adaptation of the film ''

Memories of Matsuko is a 2006 Japanese musical film written and directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. It is based on a Japanese novel by Muneki Yamada. It has not yet received North American distribution, though in its North American premiere at the 2007 New York Asian Fi ...

''. Former Nogizaka46 bandmate Yumi Wakatsuki also played the same role. In February 2017, she shot herself to promote her photo book titled ''Jiyu to Iu Koto'' which was released on March 8, 2017. On July 8, 2019, Sakurai announced that she would be graduating from Nogizaka46 on September 1, 2019, timing her graduation to coincide with the final stop of the group's national summer tour. On March 1, 2021, she has opened an official web site and fun club.

Discography

Singles with Nogizaka46

Albums with Nogizaka46

Other featured songs

Filmography

Television

Films

Theater

Bibliography

Photobooks

* ''Kikan Nogizaka vol.1 Sōshun'' (5 March 2014, Tokyo News Service) * ''Jiyuu to Iu Koto'' (6 March 2017,

Kobunsha Kobunsha ( ja, 光文社 ''Kōbunsha'') is a Japanese publishing company. It publishes literature, manga novels, and women's magazines. Company history Kobunsha was established on October 1, 1945, and belongs to the Kodansha group. The company h ...

) * ''Shisen'' (27 November 2019, Kobunsha)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sakurai, Reika Nogizaka46 members 1994 births Living people Japanese idols J-pop singers Musicians from Kanagawa Prefecture 21st-century Japanese singers 21st-century Japanese women singers Japanese television actresses Japanese film actresses