is a Japanese singer, actress, model, and radio personality associated with Up-Front Works. In 2002, she joined Hello! Project as a member of Hello! Project Kids and later debuted as the lead vocalist of the Japanese idol girl group Cute in 2005. Throughout her singing career, Suzuki also became a vocalist for the girl group Buono! From June 2015 onwards, she became an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Ray.
After Cute and Buono! disbanded in 2017, Suzuki left Hello! Project and debuted as a solo singer with the album Do Me a Favor, with "Distance" as its lead track.
Career
2002–2005: Hello! Project Kids, 4Kids, and Aa!
Having taken singing lessons since kindergarten, in 2002, Suzuki auditioned for Hello! Project Kids with the song "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" by BoA. Her audition tape was aired on Morning Musume's variety show Hello! Morning. Suzuki did not intend to become an idol singer and had auditioned because she had wanted to sing. Out of 30,000 applicants, she was placed in the group with 14 other girls. She made her first appearance as an angel in the 2002 film Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!; she also was one of the featured artists in the movie's ending song as a member of 4Kids.
In 2003, Suzuki became a member of the subgroup Aa! along with Reina Tanaka from Morning Musume and Miyabi Natsuyaki. They released their first and only single, "First Kiss", on October 29, 2003. Later, in 2004, she participated in singing "All for One & One for All!", a collaboration single released by all Hello! Project artists under the name "H.P. All Stars." She also sang the coupling track, "Suki ni Naccha Ikenai Hito", with Tanaka and Megumi Murakami.
2005–2017: Cute and Buono!
In 2004, Berryz Kobo was created with the intention of rotating all of the members of Hello! Project Kids to make time for school., but the idea was later scrapped, and the remaining girls who were not chosen were rebranded under the name Cute on June 11, 2005. Suzuki became Cute's lead vocalist, and the group made their major label debut in 2007 with "Sakura Chirari."
In 2007, Suzuki also became part of the subgroup Buono! with Momoko Tsugunaga and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Kobo. The group formed to perform the opening and ending songs for the anime Shugo Chara! They released their first single, "Honto no Jibun", on October 31, 2007. After the show's end, Buono continued on as a side project until its disbandment in 2017. In 2013, Suzuki became part of the subgroup Dia Lady with Risako Sugaya for the Satoumi Movement. Dia Lady released the song "Lady Mermaid" on August 7, 2013, in a compilation album with other artists in the Satoumi Movement.
On April 21, 2015, Suzuki became an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Ray starting from the June edition. Since July 6, 2016, Suzuki has also hosted her own radio show, "Airi's Potion."
In 2016, Cute announced plans to disband in June 2017, citing interest in different career paths as their reason. Suzuki initially planned on modeling and becoming a newscaster but decided on continuing her singing career.
2018–present: Solo activities, Do Me a Favor
In April 2018, Suzuki announced her solo debut album, Do Me a Favor, which was set for release on June 6, 2018, and featured collaborations with bands Scandal, Akai Ko-en, and Spicy Chocolate. The album's lead single, "Distance", was released on May 3, 2018, to promote the album, along with music videos for "Distance", "Start Again", and "#DMAF." Do Me a Favor peaked at No. 6 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. On the day of the album's release, Suzuki also released a music video for "Hikari no Hou e", her collaboration song with Akai Ko-en. Suzuki was announced as a musical guest at the Rakuten Girls Award Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion show.
In December 2019, Suzuki released her second album I. The album included the song "Break it Down", which was produced by Official Hige Dandism.
In April 2020, Suzuki appeared as a featured artist on Masayuki Suzuki's song "Daddy! Daddy! Do!", the theme song for the second season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War. In 2022, she sang "Heart wa Oteage", the ending theme for the show's third season.
In July 2022, Suzuki starred in the web drama series Animals, of which her song, "Pink Shadow", was used as the ending theme song.
In September 2023, it was announced that Suzuki would become an MC for the popular variety show, "Azatokute nani ga warui no?"
From January 31 through March 16, Suzuki will be one of two actresses to play the role of Katherine Howard in a dual-cast production of the musical Six.
Personal life
Suzuki is the daughter of professional golfers Toru Suzuki and Kyoko Maruya. Suzuki also has a younger brother. She graduated from Keio University in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Studies.
As of December 2022, she is dating professional football player Ao Tanaka.
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales JPNOricon JPNHot Do Me a FavorReleased: June 6, 2018 Label: Zetima Format: CD, digital download 6 6 18,273+ IReleased: December 18, 2019 Label: Zetima Format: CD, digital download 11 11 13,412+ 26/27Released: February 2, 2022 Label: zetima Format: CD, digital download 9 10 10,760 28/29Released: March 20, 2024 Label: Epic Records Japan Format: CD, digital download 18 16 5,021
Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales JPN Oricon Billboard Japan Released: October 31, 2018 Label: Up-Front Works Format: digital download — — Released: May 20, 2020 Label: Up-Front Works Format: digital download — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Singles
As lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album JPN JPNHot "Escape" 2019 3 — JPN: 39,406 I 2022 24 — 28/29 "Heart Notes"2023 43 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Digital singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album JPN JPNHot "Break it Down" 2019 — — I "Baby! We CanDoIt" 2020 — — 26/27 "Let The Show Begin" — — — — "Easy to Smile" — — — — "Apple Pie" (with Blue Vintage) 2021 — — "Be Brave" — — "Rescue" — — "Pink Shadow (Animals Ver.)" 2022 — — 28/29 2023 48 — JPN: 1,207 DL "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album JPN JPNHot "Daddy! Daddy! Do!" 2020 15 29 All Time Rock n' Roll 2021 — — rowspan="2" "shampoo" 2023 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Other appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Album JPN JPNHot / 2002 9 — Mini-Moni Songs 2 2004 — — All for One & One for All! 2008 — — 3rd: Love Escalation! 2010 — — Shocking 5 "DADDY ! DADDY ! DO ! – From THE FIRST TAKE"2021 — — scope="row" — — – Single "Across the Horizon" — — Panilla ・the ・revival Theme Song "Sparkle"2022 — — Animelo Summer Live 2022 -Sparkle- Theme Song "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Video albums + List of video albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales JPN DVD JPN Blu-ray Released: October 31, 2018 Label: zetima Format: DVD, Blu-ray 19 7 Released: May 22, 2019 Label: zetima Format: DVD, Blu-ray — 17 Released: May 20, 2020 Label: zetima Format: Blu-ray — 17 Released: June 7, 2023 Label: zetima Format: Blu-ray — 14 Released: November 29, 2023 Label: zetima Format: Blu-ray — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes2002Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!Airin the AngelPerformed ending song as 4Kids2011Vampire StoriesMidoriLead role in Brothers2011Ring of CurseYuka HidakaLead role; feature film with Buono!2011Ōsama GameRia IwamuraLead role2026A Place Called HomeEriko AsaiLead roleLove Me Kill MeSakura TodoLead role
Television
Year Title RoleNotes2002–2007Hello! MorningHerselfMorning Musume's variety show2002–2004Hello KidsHerselfMini-Moni's variety show2005Musume Document 2005HerselfMorning Musume's vaRadio show2005–2006Musume Dokyu!HerselfMorning Musume's variety show2007–2008HaromoniHerselfMorning Musume's variety show2008Berikyū!HerselfBerryz Kobo and Cute's variety show2008Yorosen!HerselfHello! Project's variety show2008Hit Maker Aku Yu MonogatariJunko SakuradaTelevision film2009Bijo HoudanHerselfHello! Project's variety show2010Bijo GakuHerselfHello! Project's variety show2011–2012Hello Pro! TimeHerselfHello! Project's variety show2011Keitai KanojoErika KuraishiLead role; direct-to-DVD2012Sūgaku Joshi GakuenYuri Uehara2012PieceMadoka Setouchi2012–2013Hello! Satoyama LifeHerselfHello! Project's variety show2014Kinkyori Renai: Season ZeroMaikaEpisode 122014–2017The Girls LiveHerselfUp-Front Works's variety show2017Hitoshi Ueki and Nobosemon Chiyo OkumuraEpisode 22019I TurnMizuki Yoshimura 2021Ōishi Masayoshi to Suzuki Airi no Anison Kamikyoku desho de Show!HerselfCo-host2021140ji no KoiTsuji ItokaLead role2021Black CinderellaLouis2021Kaisha wa Gakkō Janen da yo Shin Sedai Gyakushū-henIchika2022AnimalsShikamori Umi Lead role2023My Oshi Is Now My BossHitomi NakajoLead role
Theater Year Title RoleNotes2004Here's LoveSusan WalkerDouble-cast with Megumi Murakami2007Neruko wa CuteHerselfLead role2008Keitai ShōsetsukaHerselfLead role2009Ataru mo Hakke!?HerselfLead role2010Akuma no TsubuyakiHerselfLead role2011Sengoku JietaiHerselfLead role in Defense2013Sakura no HanatabaMichiru SaekiLead role2025SixKatherine HowardLead Role, Double-cast with Erika Toyohara
Radio Year Title RoleNotes2008–2009Cute Cutie ParadiseRadio hostwith Erika Umeda2011Viva! Paella presents Music Buono!Radio hostwith Buono!2011–2013Pizza-La presents Cafe Buono!Radio hostwith Buono!2013–2015Pizza-La presents Trattoria Buono!Radio hostwith Buono!2016–presentAiri's PotionRadio host
Japanese dub Minions and Monsters (2026), Debbie (Zoey Deutch)
Solo DVDs + List of solo DVDs, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Details Peak chart positions SalesJPN 2008Released: June 25, 2008 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 45 — Pure Blue 2009Released: July 1, 2009 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 27 — 2010Released: August 25, 2010 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 63 — 2011Released: July 13, 2011 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 44 — Released: August 8, 2011 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 73 — 2012Released: July 25, 2012 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD 81 — 2013Released: September 25, 2013 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD — — 2014Released: June 25, 2014 Label: Zetima Formats: DVD — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Publications
Photobooks (May 19, 2007, Wani Books, ) (December 5, 2007, Kadokawa Group Publishing, ) (June 20, 2008, Wani Books, ) (June 25, 2009, Wani Books, ) (August 20, 2010, Wani Books, ) (May 23, 2011, Wani Books, ) (June 23, 2011, Wani Books, ) (June 25, 2012, Wani Books, ) (March 31, 2013, Wani Books, ) (August 20, 2013, Wani Books, ) (April 12, 2014, Wani Books, ) (March 31, 2017, Wani Books, ) nectar (November 17, 2022, Shufu no Tomo, )
Digital photobooks (2010.09.16) Cutest (Airi Version 2012.03.04) Koisuru Otome (A Girl in Love (2012.05.11) (2012.10.16) (2012.10.22)
Photo-essays Suzuki Airi Perfect Book "Airi-aL" (Photographic essay, December 27, 2012, Wani Books, ) Eita × Suzuki Airi Eita Produce Magic Make-up (Photographic essay, May 20, 2013, Standard Magazine, ) Suzuki Airi Style Book "Airi-sT" (Photographic essay, November 27, 2014, Wani Books, ) OTONA STYLE BOOK "Airimania" (Photographic essay, May 23, 2017, Shufu no Tomo, )
Tours Airi Suzuki Live Tour 2018 "Parallel Date" (2018)
Notes
References
External links Airi Suzuki Official Website