Kyōko Saitō (Japanese: 齊藤京子, Hepburn: Saitō Kyōko, born September 5, 1997) is a Japanese singer, model, and actress. She is a member of Japanese idol group Hinatazaka46, represented by Sony Music Records, as well as a model for the fashion magazine ar. Her fans are known as the Kyonkois (きょんこいず, Kyonkoizu).
Kyōko Saitō 齊藤 京子 | |
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Born | (1997-09-05) September 5, 1997 (age 25) Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | J-pop |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2016–present |
Labels | Sony Music Records |
Member of | Hinatazaka46 |
Saitō had aspired to become a singer since middle school.[1] She attempted and failed multiple singing auditions until she tried out for Keyakizaka46's subgroup Hiragana Keyakizaka46 after she learned that Yui Imaizumi, whom she had met at one of the previous auditions, was a Keyakizaka46 member.[2][3] Her musical career began on 11 May 2016 when she passed the auditions, which was hosted on the streaming platform Showroom. Saitō, along with ten other people that passed the audition, joined Neru Nagahama in Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and was known as the "first generation".[4] Her first concert occurred on 28 October of the same year at Akasaka Blitz, where she performed Kanji Keyakizaka46's songs "Silent Majority" and "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai", as well as Hiragana Keyakizaka46's own "Hiragana Keyaki".[5]
During her time at Hiragana Keyakizaka46, she has consistently appeared in every single between "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai" and "Kuroi Hitsuji". She is the center (lead performer) for the song "Soredemo Aruiteru", a B-side for the single "Kaze ni Fukarete mo",[6] and performed solo song in the group's first album Hashiridasu Shunkan, titled "Igokochiwaruku Otona ni natta" (居心地悪く大人になった, lit. 'Uncomfortably became an adult').[3] After Hiragana Keyakizaka46 was renamed into Hinatazaka46, Saitō has also appeared in every single to date. She also performed in the song "Hatsukoi Door", a B-side of "Jiwaru Days" performed by Sakamichi AKB, which included members of AKB48 Group and Sakamichi Series.[7]
In June 2020, Saitō announced that the name of her fandom would be Kyonkois (きょんこいず, Kyonkoizu), a combination between her nickname Kyonko and "love" (恋, koi).[8][9]
On May 18, 2022, Saitō performed "Boku Nanka" on the YouTube channel The First Take. It was the first solo performance of a Hinatazaka46 member, and the third one of the group, on the channel. The song was rearranged with piano and strings to showcase her voice, and she commented that she projected her own insecurities into her performance.[10][11]
On September 10, 2022, during the first performance of Hinatazaka46's nationwide tour "Happy Smile Tour 2022" at Aichi Sky Expo, Hinatazaka46's eighth single "Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight" was announced for release on October 26, 2022, with Saito as the center (lead performer), and the title song was performed live for the first time.[12][13][14] It would be the first time in 5 years for Saitō to hold the center position since "Soredemo Aruiteru", first released in 2017, and the first time as the center for a title track.[13][15]
Saitō is a regular model for the fashion magazine ar, published monthly.[16]
Saitō's solo photobook, titled Totteoki no Koibito (とっておきの恋人, Special Lover), was released on January 19, 2021. It was produced by ar magazine's editorial team with the concept of "dating at various locations in Tokyo".[17] The initial print run was 115,000 copies, and a total of 40,000 additional copies were reprinted within its release week.[18] The book placed first in Oricon's photobook sales ranking for its release week with an estimated 84,000 copies sold[19] and was third place with 135,119 copies sold in that year's annual photobook ranking, which saw the top three ranks dominated by Hinatazaka46 with Nao Kosaka's photobook on first and the group's Hinasatsu Vol. 01 on second.[20]
Saitō is a ramen enthusiast, and her catchphrase is "I love ramen, I'm Kyōko Saitō" (ラーメン大好き、齊藤京子です, ramen daisuki, Saitō Kyōko desu).[21] She is featured in a 2018 television special titled after her catchphrase, in which several members take her to their recommended ramen restaurants.[22] In April 2019, she became an ambassador for the 2019 Ramen Girls Expo in Shizuoka.[23] In February 2021, she was appointed the "Chige Miso Angel" by the ramen chain Hidakaya for her fondness of their Chige Miso ramen.[24]
Saitō is also known for her proficiency in the language game babigo (バビ語). She often demonstrates this ability in variety shows, with fellow member Kumi Sasaki serving as "interpreter".[25][26]
In 2019, Saitō played high school student Wakame Isono in the stage adaptation of the manga Sazae-san, which ran from September to October. She shared the role with Nogizaka46 member Manatsu Akimoto.[27]
Saitō has appeared in the Hiragana Keyakizaka46 and Hinatazaka46 television dramas Re:Mind (2017) and Dasada (2020). She also co-starred in the 2021 television drama adaptation of the Tetsuya Honda novel Borderless (ボーダレス), which features selected members of Nogizaka46, Sakurazaka46, and Hinatazaka46 co-starring in a television drama for the first time.[28]
On April 1, 2021, the late-night dance talk show Kyoccorohee [ja], co-hosted by Saitō and comedienne Hiccorohee [ja], started airing on TV Asahi.[29]
Year | Song | MV | Single or album | Notes | Ref(s) |
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2016 | "Hiragana Keyaki" (ひらがなけやき) | "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai" | [30] | ||
"Dare Yori mo Takaku Tobe!" (誰よりも高く跳べ!) | [31] | "Futari Saison" | [32] | ||
2017 | "W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta" (W-KEYAKIZAKAの詩) | [33] | "Fukyōwaon" | [34] | |
"Bokutachi wa Tsukiatteiru" (僕たちは付き合っている) | [35] | ||||
"Soredemo Aruiteru" ("それでも歩いてる") | [36] | "Kaze ni Fukarete mo" | Center | [37] | |
"No War in the Future" | |||||
"Chinmoku Shita Koibito yo" (沈黙した恋人よ) | Masshiro na Mono wa Yogoshitaku naru | [38] | |||
"Eien no Hakusen" (永遠の白線) | |||||
"Taiyou wa Miageru Hito o Erabanai" (太陽は見上げる人を選ばない) | |||||
2018 | "Ima ni Mite Iro" (イマニミテイロ!) | [39] | "Glass wo Ware!" | [40] | |
"Happy Aura" (ハッピーオーラ) | [41] | "Ambivalent" | [42] | ||
2019 | "Kimi ni Hanashite Okitai Koto" (君に話しておきたいこと) | [43] | "Kuroi Hitsuji" | [44] | |
"Dakishimete Yaru" (抱きしめてやる) |
Year | Album | Song | Notes | Ref(s) |
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2018 | Hashiridasu Shunkan | "Kitai Shitenai Jibun" (期待していない自分) | [45] | |
"Halloween no Kabocha ga Wareta" (ハロウィンのカボチャが割れた) | ||||
"Oide Natsu no Kyoukaisen" (おいで夏の境界線) | ||||
"Yakusoku no Tamago" (約束の卵) | ||||
"Sharin ga Kishimu you ni Kimi ga Naku" (車輪が軋むように君が泣く) | ||||
"Konna Seiretsu o Dare ga Saseru no ka?" (こんな整列を誰がさせるのか?) | ||||
"Igokochiwaruku Otona ni Natta" (居心地悪く大人になった) | Solo | |||
"Hiragana de Koishitai" (ひらがなで恋したい) |
Year | Single | Song | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | "Kyun" | "Kyun" (キュン) | [46] | |
"Joyful Love" | ||||
"Mimi ni Ochiru Namida" (耳に落ちる涙) | ||||
"Tokimeki Sō" (ときめき草) | ||||
"Do Re Mi Sol La Si Do" | "Do Re Mi Sol La Si Do" (ドレミソラシド) | [47] | ||
"Kitsune" (キツネ) | ||||
"My God" | ||||
"Konna ni Suki ni Natchatte Ii no?" | "Konna ni Suki ni Natchatte Ii no?" (こんなに好きになっちゃっていいの?) | [48] | ||
"Honto no Jikan" (ホントの時間) | ||||
"Mama no Dress" (ママのドレス) | ||||
"Kawa wa Nagareru" (川は流れる) | ||||
2020 | "Sonna Koto Nai yo" | "Sonna Koto Nai Yo" (ソンナコトナイヨ) | [49] | |
"Seishun no Uma" (青春の馬) | ||||
"Suki to Iu Koto wa..." (好きということは…) | ||||
"Mado o Hirakenakute mo" (窓を開けなくても) | ||||
2021 | "Kimi Shika Katan" | "Kimi Shika Katan" (君しか勝たん) | [50] | |
"Koe no Ashiato" (声の足跡) | ||||
"Dōsuru? Dōsuru? Dōsuru?" (どうする?どうする?どうする?) | ||||
"Bōdai na Yume ni Oshi Tsubusarete" (膨大な夢に押し潰されて) | ||||
"Tteka" | "Tteka" (ってか) | [51] | ||
"Nando de mo Nando de mo" (何度でも何度でも) | ||||
"Omoigakenai Double Rainbow" (思いがけないダブルレインボー) | ||||
"Additional Time" (アディショナルタイム) | ||||
2022 | "Boku Nanka" | "Boku Nanka" (僕なんか) | [52] | |
"Hikōkigumo ga Dekiru Riyū" (飛行機雲ができる理由) | ||||
"Mayonaka no Zange Taikai" (真夜中の懺悔大会) | ||||
"Shiranai Uchi ni Aisareteita" (知らないうちに愛されていた) | ||||
"Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight" | "Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight" (月と星が踊るMidnight) | Center | [53][54] | |
"Hey! Ohisama!" | ||||
"Kodoku na Shunkan" (孤独な瞬間) | Solo | |||
"Isshōichido no Natsu" (一生一度の夏) |
Year | Album | Song | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Hinatazaka (ひなたざか) | "Azato Kawaii" (アザトカワイイ) | [55] |
"Dare Yori mo Takaku Tobe! 2020" (誰よりも高く跳べ! 2020) | |||
"Hinatazaka" (日向坂) | |||
"NO WAR in the future 2020" | |||
"Tada Gamushara ni" (ただがむしゃらに) | |||
"Dōshite Ame da to Ittan Darō?" (どうして雨だと言ったんだろう?) | |||
"My Fans" | |||
"Yakusoku no Tamago 2020" (約束の卵 2020) |
Year | Video album | Ref(s) |
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2022 | Hinatazaka46 3rd Anniversary Memorial Live in Tokyo Dome (日向坂46 3周年記念MEMORIAL LIVE ~3回目のひな誕祭~ in 東京ドーム) | [56] |
Year | Single | Song |
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2019 | "Jiwaru Days"[7] | "Hatsukoi Door" (初恋ドア) |
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref(s) |
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2017 | Re:Mind | Kyōko Saitō | Netflix, TV Tokyo | [57] | |
2020 | Dasada | Makoto Ogasawara | Nippon TV | [58] | |
2021 | Borderless [ja] | Kiri Katayama | Hikari TV Channel | Main role | [59] |
Year | Title | Network | Notes | Ref(s) |
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2018 | Keyakizaka46 Ramen Daisuki, Saitō Kyōko Desu | CS TV Asahi Channel 1 | [22] | |
2021–present | Kyoccorohee | TV Asahi | [29] |
Title | Release Date | Publisher | ISBN |
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Totteoki no Koibito (とっておきの恋人, lit. 'Special Lover', photobook) | January 19, 2021 | Shufu to Seikatsu Sha | ISBN 978-4391154979 |
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