Artist Profile
- Full Name: Arai Ayaka
- Native Name: 新井彩花
- Nicknames: N/A
- Birthday: Jun 20, 2003 (22 years old)
- Blood type: A
- Height/Weight: 167 cm (5’6") / 47 kg (104 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Debut: December 2, 2020
- MBTI: ESFP
- Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
- Nationality: Japanese
- Profession: Singer
- Languages: Japanese, Korean
- Group: NiziU
- Current Agency: JYP Entertainment
- Years Active: 2020–present (6 years)
Ayaka (full name: Arai Ayaka), born on June 20, 2003, is a Japanese idol singer and a member of the J-POP girl group NiziU, which debuted on December 2, 2020, under JYP Entertainment. She serves as a vocalist and is the official visual (face of the group), primarily promoting in both Japan and South Korea.
Early Life
Ayaka grew up in Tokyo, Japan, in a warm and loving family. She is the youngest child and has an older sister named Yuika Arai. She attended Akatsuka First Junior High School, later transferred schools, but eventually left Kokugakuin High School to pursue her dream of becoming an idol through the survival program Nizi Project.
Before joining JYP Entertainment, Ayaka had stage experience and was well-known for her impressive swimming skills, especially in the breaststroke. She also enjoys eating and once shared that she can fall asleep anywhere.
Career
In 2019, at the age of 16, Ayaka participated in the Tokyo auditions for the Nizi Project, a survival reality show to select members for a new girl group organized by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment.
In 2020, she was selected for the training camp in South Korea and ranked 8th in the final evaluation. In June 2020, Ayaka made her pre-debut as a member of NiziU with the digital single “Make You Happy,” subsequently appearing in various music programs and advertisements. In December 2020, she officially debuted as a vocalist and visual with the single “Step and a Step,” making her first appearance at the NHK year-end music festival Kohaku Uta Gassen.
In 2021, Ayaka released the second single “Take a Picture / Poppin’ Shakin'” in April and the group’s debut studio album U in November.
In 2022, she continued her activities with the release of the single “CLAP CLAP” in July and “Blue Moon” in December.
In 2023, Ayaka released the single “Paradise” in March and the second studio album Coconut in July. In October 2023, she made her official debut in South Korea with NiziU through the single album Press Play and its title track “Heartris.” During this year, she also completed the “COCO! nut Fes.” tour, consisting of 17 performances across 8 cities in Japan.
In 2024, Ayaka released the single “RISE UP” in both English and Korean versions in July, followed by promotional tours.
In 2025, she released the first mini-album Awake in February and the second Korean single “Love Line” in March. From September to November 2025, Ayaka participated in the “Live with U 2025” tour, NiziU‘s largest tour to date with 32 performances in 21 cities across Japan, and released the album New Emotion in November.
Fun Facts
- Ayaka’s nickname is “Sloth”, because of her slow reactions and calm personality.
- Another popular nickname for Ayaka is “Healing Beauty”, reflecting her gentle and soothing appearance.
- Ayaka played tennis for 3 years and even won a small local tournament.
- Ayaka’s special skills include breaststroke swimming and the ability to sleep anywhere.
- Ayaka loves eating while chatting with people, enjoying mealtime as a social moment.
- Although born and raised in Tokyo, Ayaka can mimic different regional accents.
- Ayaka is obsessed with hand creams, especially during winter.
- Ayaka once made the worst tofu hamburger steak ever with Miihi.
- Ayaka has a unique way of walking and smiling, making her easily recognizable in videos.
- Ayaka has a habit of tying her hair in a ponytail whenever practicing choreography.
- Ayaka owns two pairs of personal slippers — one for indoor use and one for the bathroom.
- Ayaka makes it a routine to call her parents every single day.
- Fans often describe Ayaka’s vibe as “fuwafuwa”, meaning soft, fluffy, and adorably absent-minded.
- Ayaka can fall asleep anytime, even while waiting during makeup sessions.
Photo Gallery
