Riko Kohara
小原 莉子
Born (1990-02-03) February 3, 1990[1]
Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Other namesRikopin (りこぴん)
Occupations
Years active2014–present
Notable work
Height156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active2011–present
Websiteobject-co.jp/talent/riko_kohara/

Riko Kohara (小原 莉子, Kohara Riko, born February 3, 1990) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Gifu Prefecture.[1]

Career

Kohara's interest in voice acting began in high school; growing up, she was a fan of manga and anime like Naruto.[2] She later moved to Tokyo to pursue a music career, and graduated from ESP College of Entertainment, a vocational school that specializes in electric guitar and basses.[3] According to a high school friend, Kohara switched from vocals to guitar when her guitarist band mate asked to switch their position. While she was in vocational school, she studied under BURNY's guitarist Masanori Kusakabe, who is also from Gifu Prefecture. Therefore, Kohara inherited Kusakabe's playing style.[4]

In July 2011, Kohara became a member of The Sketchbook, a band based on a fictional group in the anime Sket Dance. She learned of the band hosting auditions while attending ESP College of Entertainment; although she had not played guitar in three months and was considering quitting, she passed her audition and won the guitarist position.[2] Joined by Hiroshi Tada (vocal and bass) and Yuu Watanabe (drum), the three performed the opening, endings, and insert songs for the anime. The band disbanded in 2015 as the members wanted to focus on their own dreams.[5]

In 2014, one year prior to The Sketchbook's disbandment, Kohara debuted as a voice actress with her first role as a vegetable-hater boy in Soreyuke! Anpanman.[6]

In 2018, Kohara was recruited by Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani to join the music franchise BanG Dream! after a fan sent a video of her performances to Kidani on social media.[2] She joined the franchise's backup band The Third (Beta) as guitarist during its first live on March 25, 2018 at Shimokitazawa Garden.[7] The band was renamed to Raise A Suilen at the second live on July 17, and its members received their own in-universe anime and game characters at the BanG Dream! 6th☆Live on December 7.[8][9] Kohara's character Rokka Asahi shares various traits with her voice actress, such as moving from Gifu to Tokyo, while her birthday is July 17.[2] Kohara used to perform with a Gibson Les Paul, but switched to Strandberg after joining RAS.[10]

Personal life

Kohara has an older sister.[2]

Filmography

Television anime series

Video games

References

  1. 1 2 "小原莉子｜アニメキャラ・プロフィール・出演情報・最新情報まとめ". animate Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kohara, Riko (November 30, 2019). "Interview with Riko Kohara". Rock and Read Girls (Interview) (in Japanese). No. 2. Interviewed by Hasegawa, Yukinobu.
  3. ↑ "活躍するESP学園出身生". 音楽・芸能と楽器の専門学校 ESPエンタテインメント東京. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  4. ↑ ANIME Bros.♯3 (TOKYO NEWS MOOK 770号). 23 January 2019. pp. 19, 35.
  5. ↑ "Sket Dance-Inspired Band The Sketchbook to Break Up". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  6. ↑ "The Sketchbook tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  7. ↑ "『THE THIRD(仮)1st ライブ』にて新情報解禁！" [New information has been released at "THE THIRD (TBD) 1st Live"!]. Bushiroad (Press release) (in Japanese). PR Times. March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. ↑ Komatsu, Mikikazu (July 18, 2018). "BanG Dream! Franchise's 3rd Girls Band Reveals Their Official Name "RAISE A SUILEN"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ "RAISE A SUILENのパワフルなライブが披露された「BanG Dream! 6th☆LIVE」DAY1レポート" [RAISE A SUILEN's powerful live show "BanG Dream! 6th☆LIVE" DAY1 report]. Gamer (in Japanese). December 10, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Riko Kohara's statement on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  11. ↑ "Phantasy Star Online 2 Anime Reveals More Characters, Cast, January Debut". Anime News Network. October 31, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Happy Elements Reveals Original Anime Series Idol Memories". Anime News Network. July 8, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  13. ↑ "New Senran Kagura Anime's Returning Cast Listed". Anime News Network. September 10, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Gifu no Tatekayoko Manga About Life in Central Japan Gets TV Anime Shorts". Anime News Network. April 3, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kandagawa Jet Girls Anime Reveals Video, Cast, October Premiere". Anime News Network. August 1, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Teppen—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ "アートコードサマナーオフィシャルサイト". artcodesummoner.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  18. ↑ "星空鉄道とシロの旅公式サイト - サークルしらたまこ". shiratamaco.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  19. ↑ "キャラクター". Kandagawa Jet Girls (in Japanese). Marvelous. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  20. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 27, 2023). "Ys X: Nordics details Momina, Romes, Joel, Ashley, Ulval, Rune Stones, fishing, and ship upgrades". Gematsu. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
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