Rina Kawaei


Rina Kawaei is a Japanese actress and former singer. She is a former member of team A of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. She was also in a group called Anrire with AKB48 members Anna Iriyama and Rena Katō; they were featured in Rino Sashihara's single "Ikujinashi Masquerade", which charted at number one in the Japanese Oricon weekly singles chart.

Career

2012 – May 2014

Kawaei auditioned for AKB48 and was selected to join the seventh kenkyūsei generation in July 2010.
In March 2012, she was promoted to Team 4, and was transferred to Team A in August. Soon after the TV series Shiritsu Bakaleya Kōkō ended on June 30, it was announced that Kawaei would participate in its film adaptation. The movie would star several members from the groups Johnny's Jr. and AKB48.
In 2013, during a broadcast of a special episode of the comedy show Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!, it was announced that Kawaei would perform as center in a song of the special unit BKA48 that will be included on AKB48's single "Sayonara Crawl" to be released in May.
At the 2013 AKB48 general election, she placed 25th with 26,764 votes, and thus gained a place as an Under Girl for the next single "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie".

Attack

On May 25, 2014, during an event held at the Iwate Industry Culture & Convention Center in Takizawa, Iwate, she, along with Anna Iriyama and a staff member were attacked by a 24-year-old man wielding a handsaw, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. All three victims suffered wounds including bone fractures on their fingers, and were taken to a hospital for surgery. The event, as well as all other group activities on that day, were halted.

June 2014 – present

At AKB48's 2014 general election she placed 16th with 39,120 votes and thus gained a place in the promotional line-up for the next single "Kokoro no Placard".
On March 26, 2015, she announced that she would be leaving the group. She had her graduation ceremony during AKB48's Summer Concert in Saitama Super Arena on August 2 and had her last stage performance on August 4, 2015.
In November 2015, it was announced that she would star with Mitsuki Takahata in an NHK Morning Drama Toto Neechan.
She made her debut voice role in the anime film ''PriPara, voicing Minifaruru, the younger sister of Faruru.
On May 17, 2019, Kawaei announced her pregnancy and her marriage to actor Tomoki Hirose, and said she will still try to continue to work in the entertainment industry.

Discography

Singles with AKB48

YearNo.TitleRoleNotes
201120"Sakura no Ki ni Narō"Team KenkyūseiDid not sing on title track. Sang on "Ōgon Center" with Team Kenkyūsei. First appearance on an AKB48 single.
201121"Everyday, Katyusha"Team KenkyūseiDid not sing on title track. Sang on "Anti" with Team Kenkyūsei.
201123"Kaze wa Fuiteiru"Team 4+KenkyūseiDid not sing on title track. Sang on "Tsubomitachi" as Team4+Kenkyūsei
201225"Give Me Five!"Special Girls ADid not sing on title track. Sang "New Ship" with Special Girls A. Sang in chorus with Baby Blossom.
201226"Manatsu no Sounds Good!"A-sideFirst appearance on title track. She is now part of Team 4.
201227"Gingham Check"Waiting GirlsDid not place in 2012 General Election. Did not sing on title track. She sang on "Ano Hi no Furin" with the Waiting Girls.
201228"Uza"Under GirlsSang on "Tsugi no Season" and "Kodoku na Hoshizora". Moved to New Team A.
201229"Eien Pressure"B-side, OKL48Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Totteoki Christmas". Sang on "Eien Yori Tsuzuku Yō ni" as part of OKL48.
201330"So Long!"Under GirlsSang on "Waiting Room". Also sang on "Ruby" as Team A.
201331"Sayonara Crawl"A-sideAlso sang on "Ikiru Koto" as Team A, and "Hasute to Wasute" as BKA48.
201332"Koi Suru Fortune Cookie"Under GirlsRanked 25th in 2013 General Election. Sang on "Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita".
201333"Heart Electric"A-sideSang on title track with English name "Kawaey"
201334"Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono"B-sideDid not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Mosh & Dive". Sang on "Party is Over".
201435"Mae shika Mukanee"A-side
201436"Labrador Retriever"A-side
201437"Kokoro no Placard"A-sideRanked 16th in 2014 General Election. Also sang on "Oshiete Mommy".
201438"Kibouteki Refrain"A-side
201539"Green Flash"A-sideAlso sang "Majisuka Fight" and "Haru no Hikari Chikadzuita Natsu"
201540"Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai"A-sideLast Single in AKB48. Also sang "Kimi no Dai-ni shou" which was also her graduation song.
201541"Halloween Night"B-sideDid not sing on title track. Sang on "Yankee Machine Gun".

With Anrire

;Team Kenkyūsei "Theater no Megami"
  1. "Hatsukoi yo, Konnichiwa"
;Team 4 1st Stage "Boku no Taiyou"
  1. "Higurashi no Koi"
;Team A Waiting Stage
  1. "Skirt, Hirari"
  2. "Tenshi no Shippo"

    Filmography

Films