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Rina Chinen (知念 里奈, Chinen Rina, born 9 February 1981), is a Japanese entertainer, former singer, and musical theater actress. She is affiliated with Rising Production.

History

Rina Chinen took lessons as a child from the Okinawa Actors School. By the time she reached junior high, she relocated to Osaka due to her father's work, but she continued to take lessons at the Okinawa Actors School during the weekend. Chinen moved to Tokyo shortly after graduating from high school.

Music career

In October 1996, Chinen made her music debut with the single "Do-Do for Me". A year later, her second single "Precious Delicious" earned her the Best New Artist Award at the 39th Japan Record Awards, with her third single, "Pinch ~Love Me Deeper~", being used as the third and final ending theme for the anime series, Kodomo no Omocha that same year. In 1998, her fifth single "Wing" peaked at No. 5 on Oricon's singles chart, becoming her biggest hit.

On 15 July 2001, Chinen performed at the Music Fest Peace of Ryukyu, a music festival featuring Okinawan artists. As her pop music activity decreased, she pursued a career in musical acting in 2003.

On 21 October 2021, Sony Music Entertainment Japan released all 81 of Chinen's songs internationally on digital streaming platforms to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her debut.

Acting career

Television

In July 1996, Chinen made her acting debut in the drama series Gakkō no Kaidan R (学校の怪談R, School Kaidan R). In 2002, Chinen appeared in the drama series Yume no California (夢のカリフォルニア, California Dreamin).

On 29 July 2020, Chinen was announced as part of the cast of the Toei tokusatsu drama Kamen Rider Saber.

Musical theatre

Chinen made her musical theatre debut in the Tokyo production of Jekyll & Hyde in December 2003. A year later, she starred in the localized adaptations of Miss Saigon and Fiddler on the Roof. In 2005, Chinen appeared in the Tokyo production of Les Misérables. She has since taken multiple roles for Miss Saigon and Les Misérables until 2022. Chinen is the first actress in Japan to do both Cosette, Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables followed by Erika Ikuta and she is also the first actress in Japan to do both Kim and Ellen in Miss Saigon. Chinen also played Winifred Banks in the Japanese stage production of Mary Poppins in 2022.

Personal life

On 10 August 2005, Chinen, at the age of 24, registered her marriage to model Kentaro Nakamura, aged 22. The couple were expecting a child at the time she was cast in Jekyll & Hyde; her part was consequently reassigned to Ranran Suzuki. Chinen announced she planned on taking maternity leave after the drama finished its season, and would continue working after becoming a mother. Chinen gave birth to a baby boy on 11 March 2006. Chinen and Nakamura divorced on 15 March 2007. Nakamura was arrested on drug charges in June of that year.

Chinen married actor Yoshio Inoue on 27 July 2016. She gave birth to her second boy on 12 June 2018.

On 9 December 2019, Chinen announced that she had passed the high school graduation certification exam.

Discography

Singles

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Videography

Filmography

TV

• Gakkō no Kaidan R (Kansai TV, 1996) – Kazuko Miyata
• Shin-D – "Love Blood" (Kansai TV, 1997)
• Five (NTV, 1997) – Madoka
• Yume no California (TBS, 2002)
• Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho (TBS, 2002—2005) – Atsuko Shindō
• Asami Mitsuhiko Series 19: Yuta ga Aishita Tantei (Fuji TV, 2004) – Kaori
• Kyoto Chiken no Onna (TV Asahi, 2010) – Kumi Sekimoto
• SP ~ Keishichō Keigo-ka (TV Asahi, 2012) – Yuri Sudō
• First Class (Fuji TV, 2014) – Madoka Ōkubo
• Lunch Detective ~ Koi to Gourmet to Nazotoki to ~ (YTV, 2020) – Ritsuko Shiraishi
• Kamen Rider Saber (TV Asahi, 2020) – Sophia

TV animation

• Star Twinkle PreCure (2019) – Mary Anne

Film

• Seishun Mandala! (2010) – Miki
• Saber + Zenkaiger: Superhero Senki (2021) - Sophia

Film animation

• Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves (2001) – Tsubakuro
• Star Twinkle PreCure the Movie: These Feelings Within the Song of Stars (2019) – Mary Anne

Dubbing

• The Star (2017) – Mary

Musicals

• Jekyll & Hyde – Emma Carew (December 2003)
• Miss Saigon – Kim (2004–2014), Ellen (2016–2022)
• Fiddler on the Roof – Hodel (2004)
• Les Misérables – Cosette (2005), Éponine (2007–2009), Fantine (2011–2021)
• Rudolf – Princess Stephanie of Belgium (2008)
• Dance of the Vampires – Sarah (2009–2011)
• She Loves Me – Ilona Ritter (2009)
• Oh! Tabaruzaka – Fujimaki (2010)
• Himeyuri – Kimi (2010)
• SHOW-ismIV TATTOO 14 – Guest Sky (2013)
• Ludwig B – Eleanore von Breuning (2014)
• Radiant Baby – Amanda (2016)
• Mary Poppins – Winfred Banks (2022)
• Song Cycle Musical: In a world of never ending rain in 2024 – Performer (2024)
• Ludwig B 〜HEART SONG (Unmei no tobira wa aka reta)〜 – Julie "Giulietta" Guicciardi (2024)
• Kane and Abel – Zaphia (2025)

References

1. "デビュー25周年を迎えた知念里奈、ソニー・ミュージック時代の全81曲が世界配信！". PRTimes. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
2. "新仮面ライダーは『セイバー』 令和ライダー第2弾は文豪で剣豪 9・6スタート". Oricon. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
3. "キャスト＆クリエイティブ" (in Japanese). toho.co.jp. Archived from the original on 15 March 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
4. "濱田めぐみ＆笹本玲奈がメリー・ポピンズに！バート役は大貫勇輔と小野田龍之介". Natalie.mu. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
5. "Good News for Rina". JapanZone. 1 August 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
6. "知念里奈が妊娠を報告 7月出産予定「大切に育んでまいりたいです」". ORICON NEWS. oricon ME. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
7. "Ayu's a Record Breaker". JapanZone. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
8. "Chinen Rina Divorced". JapanZone. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
9. "井上芳雄&知念里奈が結婚 あす沖縄で挙式「息子と3人で進んでいけることに感謝」". Oricon. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
10. "知念里奈が男児出産を報告 井上芳雄パパに「感謝と喜びを持って、これからも精進」". Sponichi Annex. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
11. "知念里奈、「高卒認定試験」に合格「こんな母さんでさえ、やればできる！」2児の母". スポーツ報知. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
12. ^ "ゴールドディスク認定" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
13. ^ "知念里奈". Oricon. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
14. "新仮面ライダーは『セイバー』 令和の2号ライダーは文豪で剣豪 9月6日スタート". ORICON NEWS. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
15. "ドラえもん のび太と翼の勇者たち". メディア芸術データベース. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
16. 知念里奈、声優で映画プリキュア初参加　主題歌も担当「どんな形で表現できるかワクワク」, ORICON NEWS,2019年7月9日

External links

• Official website
• Official profile at Rising Production
• Rina Chinen at IMDb
• Rina Actress Profile – jdorama.com

• 1981 births
• Living people
• Japanese women pop singers
• Japanese idols
• Japanese women singer-songwriters
• Japanese musical theatre actresses
• Singers from Naha
• Japanese Christians
• Sony Music Entertainment Japan artists
• 20th-century Japanese women singers
• 20th-century Japanese singers
• 21st-century Japanese women singers
• 21st-century Japanese singers