RYOJI

RYOJI

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RYOJIリョウジ
RYOJI promoting WOLF (2025)
RYOJI promoting BATTLE OF TOKYO Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE (2024)
Sugiyama Ryoji promoting "VIVA SUMMER!!!!!!" (2022)
Personal Information
Name	Sugiyama Ryoji 杉山(すぎやま) 亮司(りょうじ) スギヤマ リョウジ
Stage Name	RYOJI(リョウジ) (2023-present)
Born	May 15, 1996 (age 28)
Birth Place	Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Blood Type	A
Height	177 cm (5 ft 9.6 in)?
Zodiac Sign	♉︎ Taurus
Professional Information
Occupation	Singer, rapper
Years Active	2019-present
Labels	Sony Music Associated Records (2020-present)
Agency	LDH JAPAN
Associated Acts	DEEP SQUAD, WOLF HOWL HARMONY
External Links
Profile	WOLF HOWL HARMONY EXILE TRIBE mobile (WOLF HOWL HARMONY) LDH mobile (DEEP SQUAD)
Instagram	@ryoji_sugiyama_official
DEEP SQUAD Information
Joined	July 22, 2019
Time in Group	5 Years, 7 Months, 25 Days
Position	Vocalist
Debut Release	"Get With You"
WOLF HOWL HARMONY Information
Joined	September 26, 2022
Time in Group	2 Years, 5 Months, 21 Days
Position	Leader, vocalist
Debut Release	"Sweet Rain"

Sugiyama Ryoji (杉山亮司), better known by the stage name RYOJI, is a Japanese singer. He is a member of DEEP SQUAD and the leader of WOLF HOWL HARMONY from EXILE TRIBE.

Early Life

Sugiyama Ryoji was born on May 15, 1996 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He has a sister who is three years older than him.

In his childhood, his family did not have a computer or internet access at home. When he was in junior high school, he received his first cell phone and started watching music videos of his favorite artists and dance videos due to gaining access to YouTube. This sparked his first interest in becoming an artist as he began to like music and dance more and more. "Eventually, I started imagining myself as the main character in the music videos." Since his mother loved artists such as Bob Marley, Eminem, Usher, and Ne-Yo, he grew up listening to Black music and admiring artists like Chris Brown who could sing, dance, and rap.

Looking back at his childhood, Sugiyama later revealed that he was a truant in junior high school, and never very good at being bound by rules.

In his youth, he started attending EXPG Omiya.

After graduating from school, he worked part-time at a paint store, and performed tasks such as painting walls, color mixing to create paint colors, doing flooring and plastering.

Career

2019

In early 2019, Sugiyama participated of the DEEP VOCALIST AUDITION, an audition in search for new members to the group DEEP.

On July 22, Sugiyama was announced as one of the winners of the audition at the final screening of the audition held at Mynavi BLITZ Akasaka alongside Uhara Yuhi and Higa Suzuki. At the announcement, it was revealed that Uraha, Sugiyama and Higa would be joining a new unit named DEEP SQUAD along with the three remaining DEEP members.

2020

On July 22, DEEP SQUAD made its official debut with the digital single "Get With You" under Sony Music Associated Records.

2022

On July 23, at the third concert of BATTLE OF TOKYO TIME 4 Jr.EXILE titled BATTLE OF iCON Z, it was announced that Sugiyama, Uhara Yuhi and Higa Suzuki would participate in the second chapter of LDH's audition iCON Z ~Dreams For Children~ while continuing their activities as members of DEEP SQUAD as usual. As for the reason for his participation, he later revealed that he had always loved artists who sang, danced and rapped, and wanted to become someone who could perform better. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic obstructed his activites with DEEP SQUAD. At that time, he learned about the iCON Z audition and went to see a live performance of the Chapter 1 contestants. So when HIRO asked him if he wanted to participate in the audition too, he agreed. "I was very worried, but in order to seriously fulfill this new dream, I had to go into it thinking that there was no place to return to."

During the audition, the contestants formed three different groups in order to compete for an imminent debut. On the November 6 episode of ~Yume no Audition Variety~ Dreamer Z, it was revealed that Sugiyama would be the leader of Group 1, originally composed of 5 members. On the November 20 episode, it was revealed that the group would be named WOLF HOWL HARMONY.

2023

On March 26, it was announced that WOLF HOWL HARMONY would be making their major debut under rhythm zone on August 23 along with the other two groups of the audition.

On May 31, in a joint livestream of the groups WOLF HOWL HARMONY, KID PHENOMENON and THE JET BOY BANGERZ titled 21-nin Dai Shuugou! KID・JET・WOLF Nama Haishin SP, it was announced that he would be promoting under the stage name "RYOJI" as a member of WOLF HOWL HARMONY.

As of July, he is also using the stage name "RYOJI" for his activities as a member of DEEP SQUAD.

Personal Life

Health

On January 22, 2022, it was announced that Sugiyama had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Trivia

• Hobbies: Playing soccer and writing rap lyric and lyrics
• Specialties: Soccer, juggling, mimicry of Shinobu Sakagami in the style of Chocolate Planet Matsuo
• Has a low tone while singing and rapping.
• Has been a fan of DEEP since their days as "COLOR".
• Has loved music since he was a child and listens to a variety of genres.
• Described as kind and cute.
• According to his members, he is good at getting along with people and talking freely, and takes good care of the people around him. He would also have a mischievous side and be good at making people around him laugh.
• Describes himself as "well-balanced". "I like to joke around, but I am funny on the inside, and I like to listen to others as well as assert myself, so I think I am a very well-balanced guy."
  • He would also be a perfectionist​.
• According to himself, he is the type of person who goes off on his own as he pleases and values freedom.
• In charge of musicality in the group. He shares music and other creative works he likes in their group chat.
  • Also tries his hand at writing songs and music production.
• Would like to try his hand at graphics in the future, especially since he has already worked as a painter.
• Tries to stay physically active for his health, and loves walking. It is also very important for him to spend time away from his cell phone, and likes walking in places that are full of nature.
• Has played soccer since he was a child.
• Admires DJ DARUMA, EXILE HIRO and DOBERMAN INFINITY's KAZUKI.
  • As for DJ DARUMA, "He was with me every day during the audition (iCON Z) as a creative coordinator, and he was really reliable and reassuring."
  • He also looks up to EXILE HIRO.
  • Considers KAZUKI as the person who made him want to join LDH, and respects his musicality and personality. KAZUKI also sometimes takes him out to dinner.
• His favorite artist is Chris Brown; he has been listening to his music since junior high school and he is the reason Sugiyama wants to be an artist who can both sing and rap.
• Really likes Korean music as well as food and is interested in Korean club culture. For this reason, he aspires to travel to Korea one day.
• Has a variety of interests, and in his free time, he likes to go for massages and hot springs, listening to music, and watching anime.
• Very particular about scents and likes perfumes, and often mixes and matches multiple perfumes depending on his mood.
  • Likes masculine scents.
  • Likes WoodWick candles.
  • Likes the scent of the cream puff specialty store beard papa's since he likes the sweet aroma of cream puffs and other western sweets.
• Intersted in beauty products. He has skin that is quite weak, and also takes supplements to keep his skin in good condition.
  • Due to his sister's influence, cosmetics have always been around him, and he started basic skin care when he was in the sixth grade or junior high school.
  • Has been using men's cosmetics and other products since he was about 20 years old.
  • Is particular about the smell of products.
• Likes chocolate, especially milk chocolate.
• Favorite food: Karaage, yakiniku, sushi, omu-rice.
• Favorite fashion items: silver accessories such as Chrome Hearts. His treasure is a bracelet given to him by music producer Chaki Zulu.
• Favorite anime: ONE PIECE, Chainsaw Man, Oshi no Ko.
• Favorite sports: soccer, basketball.
• Charm point: forehead.
• Likes driving.
• Currently taking English conversation lessons.
• Became friends with THE JET BOY BANGERZ' members NOSUKE and Sato Hinata during the iCON Z audition due to their shared love for hip-hop.

Honorary Titles

Honorary titles
Preceeded by First	Leader of WOLF HOWL HARMONY September 26, 2022 - present	Succeeded by Incumbent

External Links

• Official Instagram
• Agency Profile
  • DEEP SQUAD
  • WOLF HOWL HARMONY