Nizi Project (Survival Show) Contestants Profile

Nizi Project (Survival Show) Contestants Profile

Nizi Project (Rainbow Project) was a Survival show from JYP Entertainment and Sony Music to find girls across 8 cities in Japan, LA and Hawaii, to hopefully debut a new JYPE Japanese girl group at the end of 2020. 26 trainees were picked to have passed. Only if they have filled the 4 spaces in their pendent, they will enter Korean training for 6 months where the show continues to Season 2. The name Nizi Project means “various people carrying different colours like a rainbow will come together as one group and shine a beautiful light”. The final members debuted in the group NiziU.

Nizi Project Official Sites:
Website: Nizi Project
Instagram: @niziproject_official_
Twitter: @nizi_official

Nizi Project Contestants Profile:
Mako  (Debut – Rank 1)

Stage Name: Mako (真子)
Birth Name: Yamaguchi Mako ( 山口真子)
Birthday: April 4, 2001
Nationality: Japanese

Mako Facts:
– She is from Fukuoka.
-Joined JYPE in February 2017.
-She auditioned in Tokyo.
– She received 3rd place at the JYP 13th public audition.
-Her hobbies are to watch dramas, learn a language and write a diary.
-Her specialty is to eat a lot of foods, and eating a lemon without reaction.
– Dance Ranking: 1st Place.
-Vocal Ranking: 1st Place.
Show more Mako fun facts..

Riku (Debut – Rank 2)

Stage Name: Riku (陸)
Birth Name: Oe Riku (大江梨久)
Birthday: October 26, 2002
Blood Type: AB
Nationality: Japanese

Riku Facts:
-Her specialties are karate and remembering dates.
– Dance Ranking: 6th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 4th Place
Click Here for More Riku Facts..

Rima (Debut – Rank 3)

Stage Name:  Rima (りま)
Birth Name: Yokoi Rima (横井りま/よこい りま/요코이 리마) but legally changed her name to Nakabayashi Rima (中林里茉/なかばやし りま/나카바야시 리마)
Birthday: March 26, 2004
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Japanese

Rima Facts:
–Rima’s dad is a rapper and her mother is a model.
-Her dad is Zeebra (Yokoi Hideyuki) He was a former member of the hip-hop group Giddra.
He is one of the most popular,  influential, but controversial, Japanese hip hop artists and pioneers.
-Her mother is the model “Nakabayashi Miwa”.
-Her paternal great-grandfather is businessman Hideki Yokoi, former president of the Hotel New Japan.
-Her maternal grandfather is a famous architect who works in Tokyo Midtown.
-She has one older sister and 2 half- brothers.
-Her sister is called “Kanon”, her older brothers are called “Kento” and “Ren”.
-She is a JYP Trainee.
-She is trilingual, She can speak Japanese, English and Korean fluently.
-English is more easier for her than Japanese.
–She went to an international school since she was 2 years old.
–Education: ‘The International School Of The Sacred Heart’ in Tokyo.
-She joined JYP Entertainment in February 2019.
-She has participated on JYP’s trainee showcase.
-For her audition she performed Miss A’s ‘Good Girl, Bad Girl’ and Wonder Girls‘ ‘Irony’.
-She can write rap lyrics.
-She did photoshoots with her family until she was 10 years old.
-Her hobbies are doing skincare, makeup, and games.
-Her specialty is eating lots of noodles, eating fast, and doing lettering.
-Rima’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 7th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 7th Place
Show more Rima fun facts..

Rio (Debut – Rank 4)

Stage Name: Rio (梨緒 )
Birth Name: Hanabashi Rio (花橋梨緒)
Birthday: February 4, 2002
Blood Type:  B
Nationality: Japanese

 Rio Facts:
– Rio was a member of KIZZY/BUNNIES under EXPGLab where she was mainly known as HanaRio.
-She left EXPGLab on March 4th 2019.
-She left EXPGLab to pursue acting.
-After leaving EXPGLab  she still wanted to be an idol and show people what she learnt from EXPGLAB so she auditioned.
-When asked what her dream was, she said she wants to be a person who shines brightly.
-She went to the Nagoya auditions.
-JYP thinks she looks like an actress.
-Her specialty is freestyle, dancing and eating a lot of eggs.
-Rio’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 9th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 13th Place

Maya (Debut – 5th Place)

Stage Name: Maya (まや)
Birth Name: Katsumura Maya (勝村摩耶)
Birthday: April 8, 2002
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Japanese

Maya Facts:
– She is a former YG Entertainment trainee.
-Maya attended the Tokyo auditions.
-Her hobbies are painting and having a skincare collection.
-Her specialty is cooking.
– Dance Ranking: 12th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 12th Place

Miihi (Debut – 6th Place)

Stage Name: Miihi (みいひ)
Birth Name:  Suzuno Miihi (鈴野みいひ)
Birthday: August 12th, 2004
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Japanese

Miihi Facts:
– She is a JYP Entertainment trainee.
-She can speak Korean and Japanese.
-At the audition JYP asked if she could speak  and understand Korean and her Korean just came out naturally, JYP was impressed with how fluent she was but she said she was only fluent around 60% and wasn’t confident.
-She is a huge fan of TWICE and her bias is Tzuyu.
-She was scouted by JYP Entertainment at a Twice Japan Concert.
-Joined JYP early 2018/late 2019.
-Miihi has participated on JYP’s trainee showcase.
-For the auditions, she performed Precious – 伊藤由奈.
-Viewers say that she reminds them of Hyeongjun from X1 because they both have snaggletooth.
-Says meeting such a “successful/big” person (JYP) makes her nervous and uneasy.
-She said she knows everything in her Korean Class and she knows about 60% of the language.
-JYP said when people see her they will be in a good mood, she has a Fun vibe to her.
– The song she sang at the auditions is about love, but she doesn’t have someone like that so she thought about the Japanese trainees she came with to the audition.
-Her hobby is eating delicious foods.
-Her specialty is to fall asleep straight away.
-Miihi’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 2nd Place
-Vocal Ranking: 3rd Place
Show more Miihi fun facts..

Mayuka (Debut – 7th Place)

Stage Name: Mayuka (まゆか)
Birth Name: Ogou Mayuka (おごう まゆか)
Birthday: November 13, 2003
Blood Type: A
Nationality: Japanese

Mayuka Facts:
-Her hobby is to watch movies.
-Her specialty is to play the piano.
– Dance Ranking: 21st Place
-Vocal Ranking: 24th Place

Ayaka (Debut – 8th Place)

Stage Name: Ayaka (あやか)
Birth Name: Arai Ayaka (新井彩香)
Birthday:  June 20, 2003
Blood Type: A
Nationality:  Japanese

Ayaka Facts:
-Her hobbies are eating delicious foods.
-Her specialties is doing a swimming breastroke and sleep anywhere.
 – Dance Ranking: 16th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 18th Place
Click Here for More Ayaka Facts…

Nina (Debut – 9th Place)

Stage Name: Nina (仁菜)
Birth Name: Nina Hillman
Birthday: February 27, 2005
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Japanese-American

Nina Facts:
– Her hometown is Seattle, Washington, USA.
-Lives in Nagoya, Japan.
-Her father is Caucasian and her mother is Japanese.
-She has one sister.
-She can speak Japanese, English and French.
-Her special talents are singing, dancing, playing piano, jet-skiing.
-In 2017 she passed the Amuse Multilingual Audition.
-She has lived in Japan for 2 years and didn’t know Japanese when she arrived so she studied hard until she was fluent.
-She attends a normal Japanese middle school which also explains how she is already fluent.
-She has starred in musical theatre, She has made her 5th Avenue debut as the understudy for Mary Lennox and she appeared in Book-It Theater’s production of Brothers K as Young Bet.
-She was an actress in an Women empowerment video “How girls will change the world #STEM”.
-She starred in the American TV Show “Divine Shadow” as the character ‘Mieu Everest’.
-She starred in the Japanese Movies “Shiba Park” and “Blood Friend”.
-Nina worked as a reporter for NHK E TV variety show called Suiensā.
-Nina starred as “Trixie” in ACT’s (A Contemporary Theatre) “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2015)”
-She went to the Sendai audition because she missed the Nagoya audition date.
-For the auditions, she performed TWICE, ‘What Is Love? (Japanese Ver.)’.
and ‘Brand New Day – 安田レイ’.
-She was the first person who knocked before entering for their audition.
-Many viewers have said that Nina reminds them of Somi.
-Her hobbies are listening to music and exercising.
-Nina’s Audition
-Dance Ranking: 24th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 2nd Place
Show more Nina fun facts..

Season 2 Eliminations
(Eliminated)  Akari

Stage Name: Akari (あかり)
Birth Name: Inoue Akari (井上あかり)
Birthday: September 3rd, 2004
Possible Position: Vocalist, Dancer
Blood Type: A
Nationality: Japanese
Instagram: @akari.0903

Akari Facts:
– Her charming point is her smile.
-She has been cheer-leading since a young age.
-At the auditions, she performed Brand New Day – 安田レイand Twice‘s BDZ.
-She attended the Tokyo auditions.
-She impressed JYP with her bright and healthy energy and pretty smile.
-She loves dancing and the feeling of finding the rhythm.
-Her parents said that Akari loves dancing, she just does her thing and dances all the time.
-Even as a baby she posed for pictures.
-She is a big fan of K-Pop, in her bedroom at home she had loads of K-Pop posters on her wall and other kinds of merch.
-Her hobby is doing floral arrangements.
-Her speciality is massage.
–Akari’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 10th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 9th Place

(Eliminated)  Yuna

Stage Name: Yuna (ゆな)
Birth Name: Ahn Yuna (안 유나/あんゆな)
irthday: January 19, 2004
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Korean-Japanese
YouTube: ユナ YOU and NA
Instagram: @you_nd_na

Yuna Facts:
– She is apart of JX Entertainment.
– She was a JYP trainee.
-She is known to be half Korean and half Japanese.
-She had been a trainee since around beginning of 2017.
-She was a child actress and model before becoming a trainee.
-Her hobbies are doing nails and watching movies.
-Her speciality is dancing with a hoop.
– Dance Ranking: 8th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 8th Place
Show more Yuna fun facts..

(Eliminated)  Riria

Stage Name: Riria (リリア)
Birth Name: Ikematsu Riria (池松里梨愛)
Birthday: September 20, 2002
Nationality: Japanese
Twitter: @Ririan920
Instagram: @happririana

Riria Facts:
– She debuted in a Co-ed group call a-X’s (2016-2018).
– Since a-X’s didn’t do well, she decided to audition to get a chance to learn about dancing, singing, performance & facial expression again.
-Was part of Avex Artist Academy (AAA) around 2014-2016 and performed on stage with the team “Jastars”.
-Her speciality is doing nails and swimming.
-Her hobbies are to watch movies, play piano, do makeup and go to FujiQ rides.
– Dance Ranking: 3rd Place
-Vocal Ranking: 6th Place

(Eliminated) Momoka

Stage Name: Momoka (ももか)
Birth Name: Hirai Momoka (平井桃伽)
Birthday: August 24, 2004
Blood Type: O
Nationality: Japanese
Twitter: @hiraimomoka0824
Instagram: @momoka.0824

Momoka Facts:
-Her hobbies are: going on Shinkansen (bullet train), liking sharks, watching dinosaur videos, watching movies or dramas.
-Her specialities are makeup and expressing things.
– Dance Ranking: 15th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 11th Place

Season 1 Eliminations/Withdrawals:
(Withdrew) Suzu

Stage Name: Suzu (すず)
Birth Name: Ozaki Suzu (尾崎すず)
Birthday: ~January-May 2001
Possible Position: Dancer
Nationality: Japanese
Twitter: @osuzu_o

Suzu Facts:
– Suzu performed Twice’s BDZ and Sunmi’s 24 Hours at the auditions.
-Sapporo Auditions.
-She is a 1st year university student where she studies Economy and Korean.
-She went to university because her father told her to since she didn’t have a dream.
-She loved singer and dancing with her little sister at home but she never learnt professionally she copies from videos.
-Doesn’t know what to feel about her singing and dancing skills since she never learned.
-When she danced she was less nervous than when she sang.
-Suzu’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 5th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 5th Place

(Eliminated) Erina

Stage Name: Erina (恵理奈)
Birth Name: Hanada Erina (花田 恵理奈)
Birthday: 2002-2004
Possible Position: Dancer
Nationality: Japanese

Erina Facts:
– She went to the Nizi Project Nagoya Auditions.
-Her hobby is cooking.
-She auditioned for Nizi Project because she admires TWICE.
-She is confident with her facial expressions.
-JYP likes that her smile makes others smile, even if her dancing is lacking.
– Did cheer-leading when she was younger.
-She performed Twice Candy Pop for her audition.
-Erina’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 25th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 26th Place

(Eliminated) Ayane

Stage Name: Ayane (あやね)
Birth Name: Marutani Ayane (まゆたんあやね)
Birthday: March 22nd, 2004
Possible Position: Dancer
Nationality: Japanese
Twitter: @Ayane_marutani
Instagram: @ayane_ru322
TikTok: @ayane_ru0322

Ayane Facts:
– For the auditions, she performed JYP’s”Who’s Your Mama?”.
-She went to the Osaka auditions.
-She says she thinks her strong points are her smile and the length of her tongue.
-She wants to become a person who can make others smile.
-She has been dancing since the 1st grade.
-She likes making people enjoy her dance and coming up with ways to express her.
facial expressions to people.
-JYP loved that she was playing with the rhythm when dancing.
-She was one of the only people  who knocked before entering for their audition.
– She is a model for TRAPEZISTE.
-Ayane’s Audition
– Dance Ranking: 23rd Place
-Vocal Ranking: 22nd Place

(Eliminated) Hina

Stage Name:  Hina
Birth Name: Tanigawa Hina (谷川陽菜)
Birthday: September 27, 2001
Nationality: Japanese
Height:  168cm (5’5″)
Blood Type: A

Hina Facts:
-She is from Tokyo, Japan.
-She likes fashion, illustration, cooking, reading and watching movies.
-She was a member of “TPD DASH!!” from 2015-2019.
– Dance Ranking: 22nd Place
-Vocal Ranking: 15th Place

(Eliminated) Mei

Stage Name: Mei (メイ)
Birth Name: Plunkett Mei (プランケット明)
Birthday: 2003
Nationality: Japanese-American
Twitter: @mei_plunkett
Instagram: @mei_plunkett

Mei Facts:
– She attended the LA Auditions.
– Dance Ranking: 14th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 14th Place

(Eliminated) Moeno

Stage Name: Moeno (もえの)
Birth Name: Yamashiro Moeno (山城萌乃)
Birthday: April 13, 2003
Nationality: Japanese
Instagram: @moeno_going

Moeno Facts:
– She had never been outside of Okinawa, she was born and raised there.
-She says that Okinawa is a place where she can relax.
-She wants to put a smile on peoples faces when she performs
-She wants to see the wider world and spend time with many people.
-Okinawa auditions.
-She says her self pointed charms are: her heart is open to share music and dance with people and someone
who gives hope to others.
-For the auditions she sang “Yasashisa de Afureru You ni” by JUJU and do a freestyle dance to “Who’s Your Mama?” by J.Y Park
-Family: Mom, Dad, 2 Brothers and a sister.
– Dance Ranking: 13th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 23rd Place

(Eliminated) Miu

Stage Name: Miu (みう)
Birth Name: Sakurai Miu (桜井美羽)
Birthday: January 11, 2002
Height: 162.5cm (5’4)
MBTI: ESFP
Nationality: Japanese

Miu Facts:
– She participated in Girls Planet 999.
– Her hobbies are collecting earrings, watching k-dramas and studying K-POP MVs.
– Miu’s special ability is making cookies, playing the trumpet and baton twirling.
– Sakurai Miu participated in Produce 101 Japan: The Girls and placed 4th overall and debuted in the girl group, ME:I.
– Dance Ranking: 17th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 10th Place

(Eliminated) Kyoka

Stage Name: Kyoka (きょうか)
Birth Name: Taniya Kyoka (谷屋杏香)
Birthday: August 27, 1998
Nationality: Japanese

Kyoko Facts:
– She attended the Tokyo auditions.
-She has over 8 years of dancing experience.
-She has had professional vocal classes.
-She has learnt various dance genres such as ballet, jazz, hiphop, and house.
-She used to be a dance teacher.
-She is a former member of “# Me*” under the name “Kyonpii”.
– She debuted in a group called Give&Give, but they disbanded on February 28, 2022.
– Dance Ranking: 18th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 19th Place

(Eliminated) Rei

Stage Name: Rei (れい)
Birth Name: Ito Rei (伊藤れい)
Birthday: February 3rd, 2003

Rei Facts:
– Attended the Tokyo auditions.
– Dance Ranking: 11th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 17th Place

(Eliminated) Ririka

Stage Name: Ririka (莉里花)
Birth Name:  Kishida Ririka (岸田莉里花)
Birthday: July 2nd, 2002
Height: 162cm (5’3)
MBTI: ENFP
Nationality: Japanese

Ririka Facts:
-Attended the Osaka auditions.
-Has been learning ballet since she was 3 years old and she is confident with her dancing.
-Wants to be an idol rather than a singer.
-She was announced as part of the Korean-Japanese girl group Orange Latte, but they silently disbanded before debut.
– She is currently participating in Girls Planet 999.
– Ririka’s hobby is drawing.
– She is apart of the South-Korean based girl group ILY:1.

– Dance Ranking: 4th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 21st Place

(Eliminated) Funa

Stage Name: Funa (ふな)
Birth Name: Takaya Funa (高谷 ふな)
Birthday: March 28, 2002

Funa Facts:
– She particpated in BELIFT LAB’s survival show, R U Next?.
– She is currently under DG Entertainment and is a member of their pre-debut group.
– Dance Ranking: 19th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 16th Place

(Eliminated) Kako

Stage Name: Kako (かこ)
Birth Name: Oguri Kako (小栗かこ)
Birthday: January 2nd, 1998
Nationality: Japanese
Blood Type: A
Instagram: @kak__o.12 & @kako_oguri
TikTok: @kak__o.12

Kako Facts:
– She was a member of the JPOP Group “GEM” until their disbandment in 2018.
-She is a former member of the JPOP Group “ONE CHANCE”.
– She terminated her contract with AVEX ENTERTAINMENT  on June 30, 2019.
– She is from Aichi, Japan.
– She was in “Surprising Gourmet Festival 2018” Commerical 
– Dance Ranking: 20th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 20th Place

(Withdrew) Ana

Stage Name: Ana (アナ)
Birth Name: Sato Ana (佐藤アナ)
Birthday: October 1st, 2003
YouTube: SUA
Instagram: @h.yoonie
TikTok: @h.yoonie

Ana Facts:
– She attended the LA Auditions.
-During the first round of auditions she sang a song by IU.
-For the auditions in front to JYP, she also danced to ‘What is Love – Twice’ and sang ‘Brand New Day – 安田レイ’.
-She was very embarrassed at the auditions because she knocked over a camera and all the JYP Staff and JYP were laughing at her.
-She is fluent in English and Japanese.
-She had to withdraw from the show because she injured her knee.
– Dance Ranking: 26th Place
-Vocal Ranking: 25th Place

made by: netfelixYT
(Special thanks to: TwitzyLoondit, Queen of Purple Hearts, Alpert, Riku, ST1CKYQUI3TT, Lee Saryeong, hikaruluvr ♡︎, YAMS, lalalalaletssingasong, Nerdgirltori)

Who is your Nizi Project bias? Do you know more facts about them? Feel free to comment below. 🙂