Rie Kitahara (北原 里英, Kitahara Rie; born June 24, 1991) is a Japanese singer and actress formerly associated with the Japanese idol girl group NGT48 and former member of AKB48 and SKE48. She debuted in 2008 in Team A and was later co-captain of Team K (2014). In March 2015, it was announced Kitahara would be transferred to NGT48 as captain of the group. She has sung on many of the groups' main singles, having been voted number 13, 16, 13, 13, 21, 19, 11 and 12 in AKB48's General Elections. In 2017, for her final participation, she was voted number 10 which is her best rank ever. Kitahara was also a member of the AKB48 subgroup Not Yet, active from 2011 to 2015.
She is currently represented by Ohta Production.
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Early life and career
Kitahara was born in Ichinomiya, Aichi. In 2009, she was placed 13th overall in AKB48's general election to determine the participants in its next single.
On August 13, 2010, Kitahara debuted as a voice actress in the anime series Gakkō no Kowai Uwasa: Shin Hanako-san ga Kita!!.
In AKB48's 2012 general election, Kitahara placed 13th with 26,531 votes. She made her acting debut in the movie Graffreeter Toki, which was released on July 14, 2012 in Japan. At the end of the year, she was a cast member on the first season of the reality television show Terrace House: Boys × Girls Next Door, where she lived together with five other people.
On August 24, 2012, the first day of AKB48's 3-Tokyo-Dome-concert series, the group announced a reorganization, which placed Kitahara from Team B to Team K, and also made her a concurrent member of AKB48 and SKE48. She debuted with Team S on February 13, 2013. She was transferred from Team S to Team KII, but did not debut with the new team. In April, SKE48 announced it was ending Kitahara's concurrency with the group, which leaves her only with AKB48's Team K.
As a member of the sub-group Not Yet, she is credited for the lyrics of "Guilty Love" (part of the Suika Baby single)
Kitahara starred in the Japanese horror movie Joker Game, released on December 22, 2012. She also appeared in the drama remake, Kazoku Game, which aired on Fuji TV starting April 2013, as a girlfriend of a son of a prominent family member.
On August 21, 2017, she announced she will be leaving NGT48. She graduated on April 18, 2018.
Personal life
On September 29, 2021, Kitahara announced her marriage to actor Hideyuki Kasahara. On July 11, 2024, Kitahara announced through her official social media account that she is expecting her first child, which is said to be due within this year. On November 29, she announced the birth of her first child, a baby girl.
Discography
Filmography
Films
Documentary of AKB48: To Be Continued (2011) - herself
Documentary of AKB48: Show Must Go On (2012) - herself
Graffreeter Toki (2012)
The Joker Game (2012) - Chinatsu Akasawa
Documentary of AKB48: No Flower Without Rain (2013) - herself
Documentary of AKB48: The Time Has Come (2014) - herself
9tsu no Mado (2016) - segment "Odenwa Arigatou Gozaimasu"
Ninkyo Yaro (2016)
Sunny/32 (2018)
Toshimaen: Haunted Park (2019)
Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger The Movie: Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic!! (2019)
Rise of the Machine Girls (2019)
Hero 2020 (2020)
Trap Girl (2021)
Detective of Joshidaikoji (2023)
Love is Outdated (2024)
Dramas
Majisuka Gakuen (2010) - Unagi
Majisuka Gakuen 2 (2011) - Unagi
Rokudenashi Blues (2011) - Kazumi Mai
Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko (2012) - Momoko
Majisuka Gakuen 3 (2012, ep1,12) - prisoner
Kazoku Game (2013) - Asuka Mogami
AKB Horror Night: Adrenaline's Night Ep.29 - Prenatal care (2016) - Mizuki
AKB Love Night: Love Factory Ep.5 - Grilled Meat Date (2016) - Moeno
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (2016) - Takano Miyo
Sherlock: Untold Stories (2019, ep. 11) - Hitomi Kasuga
TV movies
Minna! Esupa Dayo! Bangaihen - Esupa, Miyako e Iku (2015) - Shizuka Tachibana
Anime
Gakkō no Kowai Uwasa: Shin Hanako-san ga Kita!!. (2010)
Variety shows
AKBingo!
Naruhodo High School
AKB 600sec.
AKB-Kyuu Gourmet Stadium
AKB48+10
AKB 1/48
AKB to XX!
Bimyo-na Tobira AKB48 no GachiChallenge
AKB48 Nemōsu TV (AKB48ネ申テレビ?)
Terrace House: Boys × Girls Next Door
AKB Kousagi Dojo
AKB48 no Anta, Dare?
HKT48 vs. NGT48 Sashikita Gassen
NGT48 no Niigata Furendo!
Radio shows
AKB48 no All Night Nippon
PORT DE NGT
NGT48 no Minna Kamitaiou!! Radio Akushukai!!