Rika Watanabe

Biography

Rika Watanabe (渡辺 梨加, Watanabe Rika; born 16 May 1995) is a former member of the Japanese girl group Sakurazaka46. She also served as a regular model for the fashion magazine LARME and an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Ray.

== Biography == Born on 16 May 1995 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Watanabe passed first generation member audition of Keyakizaka46 on August 21, 2015, and started her activities. On 6 May 2017, she made her runway debut at the fashion and music event GirlsAward 2017 SPRING ／ SUMMER, held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium. She is also part of the subgroup Aozora to Marry (青空とMARRY) along with Risa Watanabe, Akane Moriya, Yūka Sugai and Manaka Shida. As part of the subunit, Watanabe made appearances in three songs: "Aozora Chigau" in "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai", "Wareta Sumaho" in "Fukyōwaon, and "Namiuchigiwa o Hashiranai ka?" in "Kaze ni Fukarete mo". On 10 July 2017, LARME announced that she will be one of the magazine's regular model. On 16 November 2017, Ray announced that she will be one of the magazine's exclusive model.

== Personal life ==

Watanabe announced her marriage in March 2026 and her first pregnancy in September that year. She is nicknamed Berika (ベリカ), Rika (りか), and Pe-chan (ペーちゃん). She is close with Risa Watanabe, who from also from Ibaraki and shares the same family name. Fans call them collectively as "W Watanabe" or "Beri Beri". and is also close with Nagasawa Nanako and Neru Nagahama, and are well known among fans as Hotoke-zu. She has a shy and clumsy disposition, and her treasure Whale Shark Plush "AOKO" of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is popular among the fans.

=== Skills === Her special skills are playing the piano and Japanese calligraphy (shodō).

=== Hobbies === Her hobbies are visiting neko cafes, shopping, sleeping, and looking up a place with good food and eating there. She has decided to eat curry on Thursdays. She prefers dogs over cats.

== Discography ==

=== Singles === Keyakizaka46