Juri Takahara: A Japanese Singer Who Debuted in South Korea
Juri Takahara (é«æ© æ±é) is a Japanese singer who is currently a member of the South Korean girl group Rocket Punch. She was formerly a member of the Japanese idol group AKB48, where she ranked among the top 16 members in four consecutive general elections. She also participated in the survival show Produce 48, where she finished in 16th place.
In this article, we will introduce Juri Takahara’s career, from her debut in AKB48 to her graduation and move to South Korea, where she joined Rocket Punch under Woollim Entertainment.
Debut and Promotion in AKB48
Juri Takahara was born on October 3, 1997 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. She passed AKB48’s 12th generation auditions on February 20, 2011 and joined the group as a trainee. In March 2012, she was promoted to the newly created Team 4, but was transferred to Team A in August 2012 when Team 4 was disbanded.
In February 2014, Takahara was briefly transferred to Team B. In March 2015, she was transferred back to Team 4 and appointed its captain. She would lead the team for nearly three years before being transferred to Team B as its captain in December 2017, where she would remain until graduation in May 2019. Takahara would go on to participate in 16 A-side and 30 B-side songs, as well as a variety of television dramas, movies, variety shows and stage plays in her seven-year tenure.
In the group’s general elections, which determine the ranking and popularity of the members, Takahara ranked for the first time at 28th place in 2014. In 2015, she ranked at 25th place. In 2016, she ranked at 15th place, making it the first time she entered the Senbatsu, or the main lineup of members who perform the group’s singles. In 2017, she ranked at 11th place, the highest rank she would achieve in a general election. In 2018, she ranked at 12th place.
Participation in Produce 48 and Graduation from AKB48
In 2018, Takahara participated in Produce 48, a joint project between Mnet and AKB48 Group that aimed to create a new Korean-Japanese girl group. She was one of the most popular Japanese contestants on the show, earning praise for her vocal skills and leadership qualities. She also formed close friendships with many Korean trainees, especially with Eunbi from Woollim Entertainment.
However, despite her popularity and talent, Takahara failed to make it into the final lineup of the group that would debut as IZ*ONE. She was eliminated in the last episode of the show, ranking at 16th place. Many fans were disappointed and shocked by her elimination, as she was widely expected to debut.
On March 4, 2019, Takahara announced that she was graduating from AKB48 in May 2019. In the same report, she revealed that she had signed an exclusive contract with Woollim Entertainment, after they e-mailed her. She said that she wanted to challenge herself as a singer in South Korea and pursue her dream of debuting there.
Debut and Activities in Rocket Punch
On July 23, 2019, Takahara was announced as a member of Rocket Punch, a new six-member girl group from Woollim Entertainment. She adopted the stage name Juri (쥬리) for her activities in South Korea. The group debuted on August 7, 2019 with their first extended play (EP) Pink Punch.
Since then, Rocket Punch has