Ririka Kato (加藤 梨里香,Katō Ririka, born March 20, 1998 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a theater actress from Japan. She debuted as a child actress in 2002 at the age four. In 2012, she joined Gekidan Her Best and graduated from the troupe in 2019. Kato is best known for her starring role as Tsukushi Makino in the musical adaptation of Boys Over Flowers.
Kato was born on March 20, 1998 in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan.[1] She is the only daughter of her parents, both local farmers in Kanagawa.[2] She began performing in musicals at the age of four. Kato studied at Hinode High School (now Meguro High School) in the performing arts course.[3] In 2020, she graduated from Meiji University.[4]
Career[]
Beginnings[]
In 2002, Kato appeared in Chance as the childhood version of the character Mai.[3] She went on to appear in Gang and Present (both 2004),[5]Anne of Green Gables (2007), and Happano Freddie: Inochi no Tabi (2009).[6] In 2011, Kato auditioned for Sony Music Artists. She and thirteen others were selected to for the theater troupe, "Gekidan Her Best" (劇団ハーベスト,"Gekidan Her Best"). It was officially announced in January 2012.[7] The troupe regularly puts on performances throughout the year.[8] The following year, she starred in the lead role of Anne in Ladybird, Ladybird.[9] She returned to the role in 2014[10] and 2015.[11] Kato was a guest in the 2017 version to celebrate the musical's five year anniversary.[12] Also in 2013, she appeared in Ghetto[13] and Rokudenashi Chorus.[14] Kato performed in Crank Up wa Mada Hayai in 2014.[15]
In 2015, Kato was chosen among of 3,000 participants to play Tsukushi Makino in Hana Yori Dango: The Musical.[16][17] It opened on January 5, 2016.[18] The same year, she appeared in Kengo Shogun Yoshiteru[19][20] which was followed by a sequel the following year.[21] In 2017, Kato performed in Big Fish[22] and Maria to Midori no Princess. She had previously starred as the titular Maria in the 2015 production.[23] Kato appeared in Star Tanjo in 2018,[24] followed by Kaijin no Tantei[25] and Ai Oshiki: Boku no Jidai (both 2019).[26] In October 2019, Kato graduated from and left Gekidan Her Best.[27] In early 2020, she was a part of the ensemble in Sunset Boulevard. She performed in it until the last few performances were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[28]
Recent work[]
Kato appeared in Ryogoku Oshare Rikishi in late 2020 and early 2021.[29] Starting in May 2021, she began a two month run of Les Misérables, in which she portrayed Cosette.[30] In early 2022, Kato played the title role in The Little Prince, rotating the part with Yuko Doi.[31] She is currently set to appear in Cinderella Story as the title character.[32]
Kato played Tsukushi at age seventeen,[34] making her the youngest actress to play her.
During the run of Hana Yori Dango: The Musical, the creator Yoko Kamio gave her a signed illustration of Tsukushi. The F4 actors also received illustrations.[35]
On April 17, 2018, Kato tweeted that she was watching Hana Nochi Hare.[37] Kamio replied thanking her for her support.[38]
In January 2019, Kato commented on one of Kamio's illustrations, wishing Tsukasa a happy birthday.[39] Further on in the thread, Kato congratulated Kamio on the Takarazuka musical and promised to go see it.[40]
Kato reposted the photo of her with Kamio's illustration to wish Tsukushi a happy birthday on December 28, 2020.[41]
On January 31, 2022, Kato posted on Instagram that she had returned to Theater Creation for The Little Prince. She had first performed there for Hana Yori Dango: The Musical.[42]