Not to be confused with Tatsumi Rika, another singer who was on Columbia Records in 1985.
Onyanko Club Member Card Front
Onyanko Club Member Card Back
Tatsumi Rika (立見里歌) is a Japanese talento, entrepreneur, former idol, former member of Onyanko Club, and former founding member and leader of Nyangilas.
History[]
She was previously part of All Nighters but was encouraged to audition for Onyanko Club by staff. She joined Onyanko Club on April 19, 1985, and was given member number "15." Tatsumi became one of the most talked-about members over the next few months due to her frequent forgetfulness and tone-deaf singing voice. On April 1st, 1986, she was appointed as the leader of the sub-unit Nyangilas. She graduated from Nyangilas on September 26, 1986 when the group disbanded.
In early 1987 she announced that she would be graduating from Onyanko Club and retiring from front-facing entertainment. A few weeks before her retirement, she released her first and only solo single. She graduated on April 5, 1987, but returned with Nyangilas for the final concert in September 1987. Soon after, she became a publicist and copywriter for Canyon Records/Pony Canyon.
Today, she works as a magazine editor. In 2017, she developed her own cosmetics brand called IPOLANI.
In 2023, Tatsumi announced that Shiraishi Mako, Utsumi Kazuko, and herself had formed an Onyanko Club reunion unit called "GoziU" for use in live performances. Their first concert was held in December 2023. [1]
Discography[]
Singles[]
- [1987.03.18] Sonna Tsumori ja Nakatta no ni (そんなつもりじゃなかったのに; I Didn't Mean That)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- She got married in 1991 to an ordinary man, but divorced sometime in the mid-1990s. She has one son who was born in 1992, and raised him as a single mother following her divorce.
- She studied political science and economics at Tokai University, and was also appointed Miss Tokai University in 1984.
- She was known for her stylish fashion sense while active in Onyanko Club. She still keeps up with makeup and fashion trends today.
- Tatsumi and Utsumi Kazuko are the only Onyanko Club members that came from All Nighters. Both are still friends and often host livestreams or small reunion performances together.
- She's attended more Onyanko Club reunion events than any other former member. She has also organized some fan events and reunions herself.
- An infamous on-air altercation occurred between Tatsumi and Ishibashi Takaaki in June 1986.[2] During a Yuyake Nyan Nyan skit on June 3, Tunnels mocked Onyanko Club members' headshot photos. Ishibashi punched Utsumi Kazuko’s picture— who was Tatsumi’s close friend—then ripped and crumpled Tatsumi’s. The next day, during a quiz segment, Tatsumi broke script to call Ishibashi out on his behavior, saying he went too far. Angered, Ishibashi trashed parts of the set and stormed out, nearly hitting Utsumi with a flipped chair. Afterward, Tatsumi refused to show up when Tunnels were the co-hosts, and Utsumi avoided their skits. Ironically, Tatsumi later worked as Tunnels’ publicist after leaving front facing entertainment.
- Some believed this feud was nothing more than a publicity stunt, but in 2014 Tatsumi herself stated that it was real and not planned by staff whatsoever.[3]
- Professional wrestler Tatsumi Rika (辰巳リカ)'s stage name is modeled after Tatsumi's name. The manager of the wrestling association she belongs to was a fan of Tatsumi in her Onyanko Club days, which is why she was given this name.[4]
- She participated in the fan-organized Onyanko Club 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert held in Setagaya Civic Call in Tokyo on July 5th, 2025.
External Links[]
- ↑ https://ameblo.jp/rika-tatsumiipolani/entry-12820184961.html?frm=theme (In Japanese.)
- ↑ Yuuyake Nyan Nyan, episodes airing June 3, 1986 - June 4, 1986.
- ↑ Sanma SUPER Karakuri TV. TBS, aired July 13th, 2014.
- ↑ https://x.com/t346fire/status/949834220121219072