Yukika (Korean: 유키카; Japanese: ユキカ) is a retired Japanese singer and actress. She is a former member of the project girl group Real Girls Project.
She is also known for being a contestant in the reality survival show MIXNINE.
She made her solo debut on February 22, 2019 with the digital single "Neon". On December 1, 2023, Yukika announced her retirement from her career, with Time-Lapse being her final music release.[2]
Career[]
2006–2012: Early career[]
Yukika first came to be known in Japanese media in 2006 as a 12-year-old nicomo model working for the teen magazine Nicola. In 2007, she became a member of the idol teen duo Choco & Mimi with former AKB48 member Masuyama Kayano. The duo released two singles together before disbanding sometime in 2008. Yukika was then active as a voice actress in several anime and video games until 2012 when she took a career break. She moved to Korea sometime in 2015.[3]
2016–2018: Real Girls Project, MIXNINE[]
In 2016, Yukika passed the audition for the recruitment of the project girl group Real Girls Project and became one of the main members. She made her debut with the project girl group on August 25, 2016 with their debut digital single, "Dream". The following year, the members of Real Girls Project were featured as lead actresses in The Idolmaster KR, a South Korean television series based on the Japanese The Idolmaster franchise. Yukika was the only Japanese cast member in the show.
In October 2017, she appeared as a contestant on the survival show MIXNINE representing M.O.L.Entertainment along with fellow Real Girls Project members SoRi, Youngjoo and Yeeun. She was eliminated in Episode 10, where she ranked #34.[4]
Real Girls Project presumably disbanded sometime in 2018.
2019–2020: Solo debut with "Neon" and new agency[]
In early February 2019, Estimate Entertainment revealed that they had signed an exclusive contract with Yukika and she will be making her debut as a solo artist on February 22.[5] On February 22, 2019, Yukika made her solo debut in Korea with the digital single "Neon". A limited physical variant was also released.[6]
Yukika made her first comeback with the digital single, "Cherries Jubiles" on July 9.[7]
On December 7, Estimate released a teaser photo for an upcoming full album by Yukika, set to be released in 2020.[8] On July 1, 2020, Yukika confirmed the album will be released sometime that month.[9] Prior to the album's release, a pre-release single titled "Yesterday" was released on July 8.[10]
On November 30, 2020, it was announced that she left Estimate Entertainment after the termination of her contract. The agency asks for the fans to continuous supporting her future projects.[11]
On December 30, it was announced through her Daum Cafe that she had been signed under Ubuntu Entertainment, a new company that was created by her former manager.[12]
2021: Timeabout,, "The Moment" and "Loving You"[]
On February 22, 2021, it was announced that she would be coming back with her first mini album.[13] On March 25, the album's title was revealed to be Timeabout,.[14]
On June 30, American singer-songwriter Pat Lok announced a collaboration single with Yukika, titled "The Moment", and was soon afterwards released on July 1.[15][16][17]
On September 15, it was announced she would release the digital single "Loving You" on September 20.[18]
2022: "Scent", departure from Ubuntu Entertainment[]
On June 20, it was announced she would be release the digital single "Scent" on June 23.[19]
On December 5, she announced that she has left Ubuntu Entertainment as her contract expired on November 30.[20]
2023: Time-Lapse[]
On November 17, 2023, it was announced she would be release the remake album Time-Lapse on December 1.[21] Later that same day, Yukika revealed through her personal Instagram that Time-Lapse will mark her final music release and she will henceforth be retiring from her 15+ year-long career as an idol and singer.[2]
Personal life[]
Relationship[]
On April 23, 2022, she announced on her Instagram through a handwritten letter that she will be marrying her Korean boyfriend, a former celebrity who is no longer working in the entertainment industry.[22][23] On July 1, the couple opened a joint YouTube channel, revealing her fiancé to be MAP6's Minhyuk.[24][25] The couple got married on March 25, 2023.[26]
On January 1, 2024, she announced on her Instagram that she is currently pregnant with her first child and is due to give birth sometime in the end of spring to a baby girl.[27][28] Then on March 25, she announced the birth of her daughter.[1]
Discography[]
Korean[]
Studio albums[]
Mini albums[]
Remake albums[]
Digital singles[]
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Features[]
Collaborations[]
OSTs[]
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Japanese[]
Digital singles[]
- "Insomnia (JP Ver.)" (2021)
- "Tokyo Lights" (2021)
Collaborations[]
- "Feel Free" (with FreeTEMPO) (2021)
Filmography[]
Movies[]
- Handsome Suits (2008) - as an extra
Dramas[]
- ChocoMimi (TV Tokyo, 2007) - Chiyoko "Choco" Sakurai
- THE IDOLM@STER.KR (SBS Plus, 2017–2018) - as Yukika
- Hello, Stranger! (tvN, 2018) - as Yui
Survival shows[]
- MIXNINE (2017) - contestant
Music video appearances[]
- Sungtae - "Maybe We Found Love"
Trivia[]
- Her childhood dream was to become a celebrity.[3]
- Her nickname was Yukka (ゆっか) in Japan, but after she moved to Korea, it became Kika (키카). The reason behind this change is that 'Yu' sounded too much like the Korean surname 'Yoo'.[3]
- She wakes up very early in the morning.[3]
- She doesn't have a favorite color, but she likes red, light purple, pink and yellow.[3]
- She likes long dresses.[3]
- She has a pet dog.[3]
- Her hobbies are playing video games and visiting pretty cafes.[3]
- She loves to eat spicy food because it relieves stress for her.[3]
- Her ideal person is someone who thinks considerately of other people and works hard at what they do. She does not look at outer appearance because she believes once you get to like someone, they will be good-looking in your eyes. She is okay with anyone unless they are dirty and don't wash.[3]
- If she becomes successful in 10 years time, she would like to have more than 10 dogs and tour abroad, or open a pet-related business.[3]
- She wants to create more city pop music in the future.[3]
- Her role model is BoA.[29]
- She has two Bichon Frise dogs named Namoo (나무) and Oatmeal (오트밀) (sometimes shortened to Oat (오트)) who have their own Instagram account.[30]
Gallery[]
- Main article: Yukika/Gallery
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 @yugopa216 on Instagram (March 25, 2024)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 @yugopa216 Instagram post (December 1, 2023)
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Kcrush: Interview with Yukika
- ↑ MIXNINE: Episodes 1-10
- ↑ Allkpop: Former Real Girls Project member Yukika to debut solo this month!
- ↑ "Neon" physical single variant
- ↑ (MV) YUKIKA(유키카) _ Cherries Jubiles(좋아하고 있어요)
- ↑ Twitter: Yukika to release comeback full album in 2020
- ↑ yukika.kr.official on Instagram: Where is the album?⠀Almost there. (July 2, 2020 post)
- ↑ Yukika on Facebook: 유키카 첫 번째 정규앨범 발매 스케줄 안내 (July 6, 2020 post)
- ↑ (KR) Daum: 유키카, 에스티메이트와 전속계약 종료 "향후 활동 응원"(공식입장)
- ↑ (KR) Daum: 유키카, 신생 기획사서 새 출발..前매니저와 의리(공식)
- ↑ Yukika on Twitter: 유키카 (YUKIKA) 1st Mini Album Concept A-1 <Past : Illusion One> 유키카가 새로운 미니 앨범으로 곧 돌아옵니다. YUKIKA WILL COMEBACK WITH NEW MINI ALBUM. STAY TUNED. #유키카 #YUKIKA (February 22, 2021)
- ↑ YUKIKA on Twitter: 유키카 (YUKIKA) 1st Mini Album <timeabout,> Teaser Photo #1 <Past : Find me> 2021.04.07 6PM (March 25, 2021)
- ↑ @PatLokMusic Twitter post (June 30, 2021)
- ↑ @ubt_yukika Twitter post (June 30, 2021)
- ↑ YouTube: Yukika & Pat Lok - 그라데이션 (The Moment) Official Mood Film
- ↑ @ubt_yukika Twitter post (September 15, 2021)
- ↑ @ubt_yukika Twitter post (June 20, 2022)
- ↑ @yugopa216 Instagram post (December 5, 2022)
- ↑ @ubt_yukika Twitter post (November 17, 2023)
- ↑ @yugopa216 Instagram post (April 23, 2022)
- ↑ Soompi: Yukika Announces Marriage To Former Celebrity In Handwritten Letter
- ↑ YouTube: (한일부부/국제커플)일본인 아내가 k-pop 아이돌 출신 한국인 남편을 소개합니다.
- ↑ Soompi: Yukika And MAP6’s Minhyuk Make A Beautiful Couple In New Wedding Photos
- ↑ Soompi: Yukika Announces She And MAP6’s Minhyuk Have Tied The Knot
- ↑ @yugopa216 on Instagram (January 1, 2024)
- ↑ @yugopa216 on Instagram (March 16, 2024)
- ↑ Arirang Radio: Music Access
- ↑ @namoooat Instagram account (Yukika's dogs)
Official links[]
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