Rico Sasaki (佐々木 李子, Sasaki Riko, born November 10, 1997) is a Japanese actress and singer who is affiliated with Honeycomb Entertainment. Her entertainment career began in 2008 when she was selected to play Annie in a musical production of Annie in 2008. She started a music career in 2014 under the stage name Rico, before reverting to using her real name in 2016. That same year, she started a voice acting career. As a voice actress, she is known for her roles as Poporon in Dropkick on My Devil!, Daia in Kiratto Pri Chan, and Ayako Yamada in Kageki Shojo!!, while her music has been featured in anime series such as Danchi Tomoo, Duel Masters, and Bofuri. She is also a guitarist for the band Ave Mujica of the BanG Dream! multimedia franchise, which includes portraying the character Doloris/Uika Misumi.

Rico Sasaki
佐々木 李子
Born (1997-11-10) November 10, 1997 (age 27)
Occupations
Years active2008–present
AgentHoneycomb Entertainment
Notable work
Websitesasakirico.com

Biography

edit

Sasaki was born in Akita Prefecture on November 10, 1997.[1] She had an interest in music from an early age, partly under the influence of her grandmother, and she began taking voice lessons while in elementary school.[2][3] While in her third year of elementary, she watched a Japanese production of the musical Annie, which inspired her to pursue a career in theater.[1] Partly at the suggestion of her teacher, she auditioned for a role in Annie, and out of around 9,000 applicants, she was selected to play the titular role Annie; she began appearing in productions in late 2008.[3][1]

In 2013, Sasaki launched a music career after winning a competition held by Teichiku Records as part of its 80th anniversary, beating 3,836 other applicants; she debuted under the stage name Rico.[4] Her first single, "Come and Get It!", was released on July 23, 2014.[3] That same year, she joined Honeycomb Entertainment.

Sasaki studied music at the Tokiwagi Gakuen High School in Sendai and graduated from the school in 2016.[5][1] That same year, she started using her real name for entertainment activities and released the single "Kasabuta/Omoi no Kakera/Dream Climber" (カサブタ/想いのかけら/ドリームクライマー).[3] She also started a voice acting career, a decision she originally made while still in junior high school at the urging of a friend and one of her agency's staff members.[1][3] Among her early roles was as the character Nanami in the anime television series Clione no Akari.[6]

In 2018, she formed the music duo Re-connect together with singer Kyoco; the duo was forced to suspend activities in 2019 after Kyoco's contract with her agency was terminated.[7] Her song "Ashita e no Kaze" (明日への風), released on February 21 of that year, was used as an ending theme to the anime series Duel Masters.[8] She was also cast as the character Poporon in the anime television series Dropkick on My Devil!.[9] In 2019, she played the role of Daia in Kiratto Pri Chan.[3]

In 2020 Sasaki released the single "Play the world"; the title song was used as the ending theme to the anime series Bofuri.[8] In 2021, she played the role of Ayako Yamada in the anime series Kageki Shojo!.[10]

Filmography

edit

Anime

edit
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2023
2024
2025

Video games

edit
2020
2022
2023
2024
  • Gunvolt Records Cychronicle as Luxia[15]

Discography

edit

Singles

edit

As Rico Sasaki:

  • "Kasabuta/Omoi no Kakera/Dream Climber" (カサブタ/想いのかけら/ドリームクライマー) (Release date: July 22, 2016)[8]
  • "Recollections" (Release date: June 21, 2017)[8]
  • "Ashita e no Kaze" (明日への風) (Release date: February 21, 2018)[8]
  • "Tsumugu Logic Music Selection Type A (Blooming!) (紡ロジック Music Selection【Type A】(Blooming!)) (Release date: January 9, 2019)[8]
  • "Tsumugu Logic Music Selection Type B (Freedom) (紡ロジック Music Selection【Type A】(Freedom)) (Release date: January 9, 2019)[8]
  • "Tsumugu Logic Music Selection Type C (Blooming!/Freedom) (紡ロジック Music Selection【Type A】(Blooming!/Freedom)) (Release date: January 9, 2019)[8]
  • "Curtain Cull o Yurashite" (カーテンコールを揺らして, Kātenkōru o yurashite) (Release date: November 20, 2019)[8]
  • "Play the world" (Release date: February 26, 2020)[8]
  • "Start!" (スタート!, Sutāto!) (Release date: November 10, 2020)[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "2016年、アニメ界話題騒然!声優としても活躍する、まさに"二刀流"の10代女性シンガー佐々木李子、6月22日リリースのトリプルA面シングルでデビュー決定!!" (in Japanese). LisAni. May 16, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Profile". Rico Sasaki official website (in Japanese). Honeycomb Entertainment. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "佐々木李子:「キラッとプリ☆チャン」で話題の歌手&声優 「唯一無二の存在になりたい!」". Mantan Web (in Japanese). May 19, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "テイチク80周年記念新人オーディション" (in Japanese). Teichiku Records. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "第38回音楽科コンサート 未来への翼" (in Japanese). Tokiwagi Gakuin High School. April 30, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Clione no Akari TV Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, July Premiere". Anime News Network. April 26, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Re-connect(リコネクト)佐々木李子とKyocoによるパワフルボーカルユニット" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "佐々木李子のシングル作品" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Dropkick on My Devil! Anime Reveals Promo Video, Main Cast". Anime News Network. February 8, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Kageki Shoujo!! The Curtain Rises TV Anime's 1st Full Promo Reveals Cast, Opening Song Artists, July Debut". Anime News Network. April 16, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "World Dai Star Project About Aspiring Stage Actresses Gets Spring TV Anime, Summer Game App". Anime News Network. November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rinkai! Women's Cycling Anime's Video Unveils Opening Song, Staff, April 9 Debut". Anime News Network. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "'Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!' TV Anime Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs, January 2025 Debut". Anime News Network. October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Death end re;Quest2(デス エンド リクエスト2)| CHARACTERS (in Japanese). Compile Heart. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  15. ^ Romano, Sal (September 13, 2023). "Rhythm game Gunvolt Records Cychronicle announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Retrieved September 15, 2023.
edit