| Okuda Rikiya |
Okuda Rikiya (奥田力也) is a Japanese performer, rapper and choreographer. He is a member of the group BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE.
Prior to his debut, he was part of the EXPG trainee team EXILE GENERATIONS and a member of PROJECT TARO.
Early Life[]
Okuda Rikiya was born on October 12, 1999 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He has an older sister.
He started dancing when he was in the second grade of elementary school. He had learned about EXILE when he was in nursery school, and entered EXPG STUDIO Osaka when it opened in 2007.[1][2]
Career[]
2011[]
In 2011, Okuda was introduced as a member of the trainee group EXILE GENERATIONS. While doing activities and receiving special opportunities as part of the trainee team, he developed a clear dream of "becoming an artist".[1]
2013-2018[]
In late 2013, he participated in the GLOBAL JAPAN CHALLENGE and on n April 15, 2014, he was revealed as one of the winners in the performer category of the audition and became part of the trainee group PROJECT TARO. As part of PROJECT TARO, he travelled to New York in the same year and studied there for three years until the end of the project.[1][3] During the stay, he lived with the members of the project for the first six months, and then enrolled in a local school and went on homestays.[4] "I went to a local school without knowing anything about English, and I had a hard time understanding the classes in English at first. In the second year, I started a homestay program, and after each of us started living separately, my English skills improved and I gradually began to see what my goals were."[5], "I think many Japanese people get very nervous and shy in front of people, but in New York, there were many situations where I had to speak up, so I made an effort to speak, sing, rap, and dance in English in front of people. I think that helped me grow a step and become a new person."[4] In addition to going to school, the members of the project took dance lessons on a daily basis, recorded with local rappers, wrote their own songs, and took on various challenges individually.[4] After returning to Japan in 2017, it was announced that all members had graduated from PROJECT TARO on March 27, 2018. Incidentally, it was only through studying abroad that he began to learn rapping and singing, as he had only focused on dance before.[1][6]
As the timing of their return coincided with EXILE Presents VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 5 ~Yume wo Motta Wakamono Tachi e~, Okuda was asked if he would like to join a group with four finalists of the audition.[1] On May 1, 2018, he was announced as a member of BALLISTIK BOYZ.
2019[]
On May 22, 2019, he made his major debut in BALLISTIK BOYZ with the group's self-titled first album.
2021[]
On November 12, 2021, he launched his own gaming channel on the platform OPENREC, named Ricky CHANNEL.
2024[]
On March 30, Okuda will hold a BALLISTIK BOYZ fanclub limited event titled BALLISTIK BOYZ OFFICIAL FAN CLUB presents RICKY SOLO EVENT "Ricky Village".[7]
Works[]
Music[]
- Lyrics/Composition
- Choreography
- Music Video Appearances
- [2009] EXILE - "Someday" (Kodomo Version)
- [2011] EXILE - "Each Other's Way ~Tabi no Tochuu~"
Events[]
- Events
- [2024.03.30] BALLISTIK BOYZ OFFICIAL FAN CLUB presents RICKY SOLO EVENT "Ricky Village"
Trivia[]
- Member Color: Yellow[N 1]
- Main dance genres: Hip-Hop and R&B
- Fluent in English.[1]
- The mood maker of the group.[11][4]
- Described as a cheerful, fun, friendly and gentle person who is loved by the senior artists of his agency. However, according to Sunada Masahiro, who has known him since they were in elementary school: "He is a lonely person. He always needs someone to care for him."[1][12]
- According to his members, he is a lonely person and also the most pampered among them. He would be the type of person who doesn't want to spend time alone and always wants to hang out and have fun with someone. For example, when he goes somewhere, he would always want to go with someone. Since he likes being around people, he would be friendly and loved by everyone.[13]
- Can play the piano and does his own recordings.[14]
- Likes writing songs.[15]
- Wants to connect his personal hobbies and interests to his work. "I want to do various things for my future, not just one thing."[19]
- Would like to be able to collaborate with overseas artists in the future.[15]
- Has had a strong interest in foreign countries since he was in elementary school and wanted to be able to speak English since then.[1] "I wrote in my graduation essay at elementary school that I wanted to be active in America. I'm a friendly person, and I wanted to be able to speak English so that I could talk to more people."[2]
- While staying in New York, he participated in cyphers (impromptu rap battles) with friends he made there.[1] "[...] I went to the homes of my rapper friends and local people and did things like circle activities."[22]
- According to himself, he is not the type of person who stays at home much, so when he has time off, he tries to get outside as much as possible and go for walks to see the scenery and seek stimulation.[17]
- Likes going to saunas and hot spring baths.[23]
- His favorite dancers are Brian Puspos and Lyle Beniga.[5]
- Likes Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky.[5][9]
- Admires EXILE TETSUYA and aspires to be likes him. "In the future, I also want to dance with children and teach dance in various areas."[13]
- Admires his father. "I talk to him about many things and ask him for advice, and he always gives me the right answers. I want to be like him in the future, and when I become a father, I want people to want to be like me."[5]
- Likes vintage/thrift stores and Jordan sneakers.[24][13]
- Had flashy hairstyles and hair colors since childhood.[1]
- Doesn't watch much anime.[25]
- Likes the manga Hajime no Ippo.[26]
- Close with Yamashita Kenjiro of Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS. He was originally an instructor at EXPG Osaka and Okuda's dance teacher.[13]
- His family owns a pet duck named "Gaga".
- Is studying Thai.
Notes[]
- ↑ As shown in tour goods.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 https://realsound.jp/2020/11/post-656247.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/1839260
- ↑ LDH新グループ発足へ 7人の候補者を紹介＜DOBERMAN INFINITY×EXILE HIRO共同プロジェクト＞
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://www.ch-files.net/bbz/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.highflyers.nu/blog/00121
- ↑ https://realsound.jp/2019/05/post-363533.html
- ↑ https://bbz.exfamily.jp/s/ldh07/news/detail/10614
- ↑ https://hochi.news/articles/20210326-OHT1T50287.html
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/259008
- ↑ https://www.tokyoheadline.com/565081/
- ↑ https://www.vivi.tv/post57756/
- ↑ https://natalie.mu/music/pp/ballistikboyz
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 https://jj-jj.net/lifestyle/170795/
- ↑ https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20200811-ballistikboyz/2
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 https://voguegirl.jp/lifestyle/people/fresh-energy-ballistik-boyz/#!/p/4/
- ↑ https://eyescream.jp/music/141821/
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://sweetweb.jp/archives/91481
- ↑ https://www.mens-folio.com/117992/ballistik-boyz-exile-tribe-world-domination/
- ↑ https://qjweb.jp/feature/95459/
- ↑ https://www.tokyoheadline.com/718575/2/
- ↑ https://www.jame-world.com/en/article/165113-interview-with-ballistik-boyz.html
- ↑ https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/201905240001372.html?Page=2
- ↑ https://classy-online.jp/lifestyle/276389/
- ↑ https://jj-jj.net/lifestyle/169545/
- ↑ https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1706494160
- ↑ https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1706494160&p=2
