Rima (Niziu) Profile - Career, Skills & Facts

Table of Contents

Rima’s Profile

Full Name: Yokoi Rima
Native Name: 横井りま
Nicknames: Rimarin, 中林里茉, Nakabayashi Rima
Birthday: Mar 26, 2004 (21 years old)
Blood type: O
Height/Weight: 163 cm (5'4") / 46 kg (101.41 lbs)
Gender: Female
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Debut: Dec 2, 2020
Position: Main Dancer, Vocalist, Lead Dancer
MBTI: INFP
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: Singer, Rapper, Dancer
Languages: Japanese, English, Korean
Group: NiziU
Current Agency: JYP Entertainment

Rima, whose full name is Nakabayashi Rima (中林里茉), was born on March 26, 2004. She is the main rapper, sub-vocalist, and visual of the J-pop girl group NiziU under JYP Entertainment Japan in collaboration with Sony Music. Rima officially debuted with NiziU on December 2, 2020, quickly capturing attention with her sharp rap tone, cool aura, and laid-back charisma that have since become her signature traits.

Early Life

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Rima grew up in an artistic family as the daughter of legendary rapper Zeebra and model Miwa Nakabayashi. However, being “born into art” didn’t mean her path was paved with roses. From her earliest trainee days at JYP Entertainment, every step she took was scrutinized through the lens of “Zeebra’s daughter.” She had to fight twice as hard to prove her own merit beyond family fame.

Career

In 2020, Rima participated in the idol survival program Nizi Project, co-produced by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan. She was selected to debut as a member of the girl group NiziU after performing a self-written rap during the audition round, gaining attention for her lyric-writing ability and rap skills.

In December 2020, NiziU officially debuted with the single “Step and a Step,” which reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 comprehensive music chart and topped the Oricon Digital Singles Chart in digital downloads. In this song, Rima took on the main rap part, showcasing her distinctive rap style from the group’s debut and establishing herself as NiziU’s lead rapper from the outset. Fans often refer to her as “NiziU’s little flame.”

In addition to performing, Rima has also contributed lyrics to several of the group’s songs, including the hit “Take a Picture,” which was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Her rap in this track has been praised for its precision and unique tone, providing a strong highlight to the song.

Skills

Technically, Rima possesses a broken flow style, using hook rhythms and effortlessly switching between duple and triplet time, especially suited for electronic pop-urban beats. Unlike melodic rap that flows smoothly, her rap leans toward control—each word feels “anchored” to the beat. Rima’s diction stands out in Japanese, English, and Korean, utilizing hard stops in Japanese and explosive consonants like “track” and “crash” in English to create a strong, punchy feel.

She’s also adept at using micro-pauses and pitch bending to emphasize keywords, turning her rap lines into musical and emotional highlights. A notable example is the phrase “Break the system” in “CLAP CLAP,” where she pauses at the exact moment to surprise listeners.

As one of the few female J-Pop idols who write their own rap lyrics, Rima favors a direct, street-edged style with a Gen Z twist—energetic, bold, yet unpretentious. Compared to idol rappers like Jennie or Lisa of BLACKPINK, Rima leans more toward technical finesse rather than stage expressions—an “underground-rooted idol rapper” who doesn’t speak much but layers her craft deeply.

Fashion

Rima’s fashion sense blends Harajuku street style with a “rich girl” vibe—a mix of gritty Tokyo streetwear and polished runway looks. In her daily life, she prefers crop tops, cargo pants, and chunky accessories—radiating energy and bold character.

Difficulties

Rima’s journey to stardom hasn’t been without friction. She faced nepotism accusations during Nizi Project, with critics arguing that her success was largely due to her family background. However, she consistently proved her talent through rigorous evaluations and performances.

In 2020, when her father Zeebra faced a personal scandal, many eyes turned to Rima for a reaction. Rather than making statements or leaning into media narratives, Rima chose silence and continued to focus on her career, displaying remarkable resilience and professional composure.

Still, some fans express concern that Rima’s image is sometimes kept “too clean,” limiting her room to break out creatively. There have been calls for her to receive more spotlight in hardcore hip-hop tracks, rather than being confined to short rap segments.

Reputation

Starting in 2023, Rima began expanding her individual brand, becoming the face of major campaigns for GU Japan, LOTTE Fit’s Gum, and KOSÉ Cosmetics. Campaigns featuring Rima often carry her distinct visual and stylistic signature, from creative concepts to brand communication. She’s also graced the covers of top fashion magazines like ViVi, Nylon Japan, and Harper’s Bazaar Japan.

Offstage, Rima frequently shares snippets of her everyday life with fans—from cooking and tending to miniature plants, to spending solo coffee shop sessions writing rap lyrics. She’s also known for her quirky sense of humor, especially when drawing manga characters with hilariously exaggerated facial expressions.

On TikTok, Rima is a witty entertainer but has a pet peeve about being secretly filmed. She once joked, “Even backstage, my face angle must be on point.” Compared to other female idols of her generation, Rima’s vibe is quieter yet razor-sharp—owning a stage presence that feels like J-Pop’s “silent rap queen.”

Fun Facts

Spicy curry is her ultimate love—she can handle heat levels that leave staff members speechless, asking, “Do you really eat like this?”
Her internal nickname is “Gangster Princess”—elegant on the outside but always ready with a killer comeback.
Loves drawing manga characters but only with hilariously exaggerated facial expressions.
Deeply into old-school hip-hop—her personal playlist includes Nas, Tupac, and even Zeebra (her dad).
Hates being called a “princess”—once joked on VLive: “Call me that and I’ll block you.”
Self-studies Korean by writing diary entries—a serious mental workout.
Loves sitting alone in coffee shops, sipping sugar-free lattes, and writing lyrics like a street poet.
Passionate about TikTok but absolutely hates being secretly filmed.
Learned piano but quit midway because it was “too disciplined, no room for freestyle.”
Extremely skilled at rhyming—can freestyle rap about any topic; once challenged staff to a rap about instant noodles.
Lives a minimalist lifestyle, loves caring for miniature plants.
Owns a Shiba Inu dog named Koma.
When stressed, she often cooks spaghetti carbonara to decompress.