Who is Reina Tanaka?

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• Birthday: November 11, 1989 (33 years of age)
• Place of birth: Fukuoka, Japan
• Profession: singer, actress, fashion model, and leader of a pop/rock band

Introducing Morning Musume’s Reina Tanaka

Of all the 6^th generation members of Morning Musume, Reina Tanaka may be one of those members that may have been forgotten by some fans of the group after her graduation in 2013. But for me, I’ve always liked Reina a ton! I would say that her entry into Morning Musume happened because of a rather interesting circumstance. She ended up auditioning for Morning Musume’s 5^th generation and she ended up passing that audition. She was forced to leave the training camp when it was discovered that she was underage. She once again attempted to get into the group in 2002 and by then, she was old enough to pass and become a full time member. Tanaka would provide lead vocals on the group’s 19^th single called Shabondama. Even though she is best known as being a pop music idol for Morning Musume, Reina has also worked as a stage and film actress in her now almost 20 year career. I think that I should address the parts of her acting career, the part of her career that may be passed up and overlooked.

I would say that it was in 2008 that Tanaka’s career took a rather interesting turn for the better. In that year, she became a member and leader of the Hello! Project created group High-King. It was formed with the specific purpose of promoting their new musical called Cinderella the Musical. This group would only release one single called C/C (Cinderella/Complex). I could really dive into all the details but that would make this biography more complex than it needs to be. In 2010, Tanaka would end up doing the voice of the main character of the new anime series called Kaito Reinya. This show had initially been modeled on Tanaka herself. The show would start on January 9, 2010 and last 12 episodes. From August 17^th through August 27^th 2019, Tanaka would star as Anne Shirley in the stage play Anne of Green Gables. In doing so, she would become just the second Morning Musume member to do so after Ai Takahashi. On March 11, 2021 it was also announced that Tanaka would make her return to the role of the revival of the stage play Ken ga Kimi -Zen Sakura no Mai- Saien which was scheduled to take place from June 2^nd through the 6^th. However, it was announced on April 9^th 2021 that Tanaka had stepped down from this lead role due to differences in opinion about the stage production.

Reina Tanaka Graduates From Morning Musume and Starts a New Rock Band

After more than 10 years spent in Morning Musume, Tanaka would end up graduating from Morning Musume for good in May 2013. However, just a few months before that in February 2013 it was announced that she would be a member in a new pop/rock band called Lovendor. It would be on July 27^th and 28^th 2013 that she would perform with Lovendor at the J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco, CA.

However, with all of the success that Tanaka has experienced in her career she has also had some health issues. She revealed in a blog post that she had been diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer and esophagitis. She decided to take medicine to cure the illnesses rather than receiving surgery. She would end up missing several events because of this. On March 23 of that year, she would experience painful ringing in her ears and the next day March 24, she had to miss a concert and her Lovendor band mates had to perform without her.

It would be in November 2017 that Tanaka would make a surprise appearance with Ai Takahashi and Sayumi Michishige during a Morning Musume concert tour. The full name of the event is long and complex so as usual, it will not be included here. These girls performed the songs Shabondama and Resonant Blue with all the other members.

It was also announced in June 2019 that the band Lovendor would be suspending all of its work at the end of July. Reina and Marin Miyazawa had repeated discussions about the band’s future and they decided that Lovendor would be suspending all of its activities when the contract that Marin had expired.

On May 1, 2020, Tanaka would create an account on Instagram for her cats. On August 12, 2021 it was reported that Tanaka was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus and she stepped down from her lead role in Anne of Green Gables as a result of this. She had been making adjustments to star in the musical as it was planned but she was not able to spend enough time rehearsing so she could not deliver the performance properly. As of this first writing, she was at home recovering. I was very saddened to hear that she had contracted this virus. I am praying that she (Tanaka) will have a speedy recovery and get back to work doing what she loves the most. I love you Reina!!! On April 27, 2022, with Ai Takahashi and former Berryz Kobo member Miyabi Natsuyaki, these three girls released the collaboration album called Laugh and Peace. This features comedic songs including the previously released song called Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun.

Interesting Facts About Reina Tanaka

• Her hobbies include observing people, texting, and recording TV shows.
• She has the special skill of being able to play without sleep.
• Her motto is “treat others how you want to be treated.”
• Her favorite English word is station.
• Her favorite animal is the cat. It is no wonder why she started an account on Instagram for her cats!
• Her favorite foods are many and these include broccoli, chocolate, fried chicken, French fries, and raw spring rolls.
• Her favorite colors are yellow, pink, red, black, and white.
• Her favorite seasons are spring and fall (autumn).
• Her favorite flower is the sunflower.