Ryuchell Explained

Ryuchell
Native Name:りゅうちぇる
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Name:Ryūji Higa
Birth Date:29 September 1995
Birth Place:Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Death Place:Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Alias:Ryuchell
Occupation:Model
Agent:Starray Production
Height:172 cm[1]
Children:1

, known professionally as, was a Japanese social media personality, model, singer, and activist. In the mid-2010s, Ryuchell gained a social media following through modeling in Harajuku and later became an influential figure in the Japanese genderless fashion subculture. In 2018, Ryuchell also debuted as a singer with their first song, "Hands Up!! If You're Awesome."

In 2022, Ryuchell began advocating for LGBT rights on Japanese television. This, compounded with Ryuchell's announcement that they no longer identified under male gender roles and had divorced, opened them up to scrutiny and harassment.

Early life

Ryuchell was born in Ginowan, Okinawa, on 29 September 1995.[1] Ryuchell's older sister was the singer .[2] Ryuchell also attended the same high school as JO1 member,[3] as well as The Rampage from Exile Tribe members Kenta Kamiya and Rui Yonamine.

Career

After graduating from high school, Ryuchell moved to Tokyo and began working in clothing stores in Harajuku while modeling at the same time.[4] On 14 February 2018, Ryuchell debuted as a singer with their first song, "Hands Up!! If You're Awesome." For the music video, they worked with make-up brand NYX Professional Makeup. On 15 August 2018, they released their second song, "Link", dedicated to their son.[5]

After a four-year absence in music, on 11 January 2023, Ryuchell released their second album, Time Machine, independently.[6] Ryuchell described the album's lead track, "Never Say Never Again", as "melancholy melodies" from the 1980s and 1990s.[6] The music video was also filmed with the image of a "cute rock band from the late 80s."[6] Ryuchell also embarked on a tour from February to March 2023 in Tokyo to promote the album.[6]

Public image

Ryuchell originally spelled their stage name in hiragana, but began using the romanized version in 2018 after debuting as a singer.[7] Ryuchell was one of the key influential figures for the genderless fashion subculture in Japan, due to their penchant for androgynous and colorful clothing.[8] Ryuchell's fashion was heavily influenced by fashion from the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.[8]

Ryuchell eventually became a prominent LGBT figure in mainstream Japanese media, making regular appearances on variety shows and at LGBT-themed events in Japan.[9] As their popularity grew, they were also subjected to numerous harassment campaigns on Japanese social media, which primarily criticized Ryuchell's divorce and gender nonconformity.[10]

Personal life

On 31 December 2016, Ryuchell married model and fellow Japanese social media personality Peco.[11] In July 2018, they announced the birth of their son, named Link after Link Larkin from Hairspray.[12]

On 25 August 2022, Ryuchell announced through Instagram that they no longer identified with male gender roles regarding their marriage, and that they would rather be considered as a "life partner" and "parent" to Peco and their son instead.[13] [14] Ryuchell and Peco's agencies confirmed that the two divorced, but initially denied the couple was living separately.[15] In the months following the divorce, they made numerous appearances on Japanese talk shows advocating for LGBT rights in Japan.

Ryuchell participated in Tokyo Rainbow Pride since 2018.[16] In the final months of their life, Ryuchell had begun to present as female,[17] but they had never publicly stated that they identified as transgender.

Death

On 12 July 2023, Ryuchell was found unconscious by their manager in a talent agency office located in the Sasazuka neighborhood of Shibuya.[18] They were pronounced dead shortly afterward, at age 27. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the cause of death was believed to have been suicide.[19] [20]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019 Themself voice[21]
2022 Safe Word Tsubaki[22]

TV series

TitleNetworkNotes
Peke Pon Quasi-regular appearances[23]
Yasashī Hitonara Tokeru Quiz Yasashī ne Fuji TV Quasi-regular appearances[24]

Stage

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeakSales
JPN
[25]
Super Candy Boy 45

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://starray-p.com/artist/ryucheru. ja:りゅうちぇる. ja. Starray Production. May 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824005800/http://starray-p.com/artist/ryucheru. August 24, 2018.
  2. News: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2016/04/10/kiji/K20160410012372870.html. ja:りゅうちぇる 比花知春の弟だった!本名もバラされ、スタジオ騒然. Sports Nippon. ja. April 10, 2016. May 29, 2016. May 13, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160513141854/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2016/04/10/kiji/K20160410012372870.html. live.
  3. Web site: https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2991268 . ja:ryuchell、JO1與那城奨に“速攻電話”した出来事「でーじ嫉妬して」 エピソードに反響 . ja . . February 3, 2022 . August 25, 2022 . August 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826060433/https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2991268 . live .
  4. News: Patrick . St. Michel . TV personality and LGBTQ advocate ryuchell dies at 27 . . July 12, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714003057/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/07/12/entertainment-news/tv-personality-lgbtq-advocate-ryuchell-dies-27/ . live .
  5. Web site: https://natalie.mu/music/news/294222 . ja:RYUCHELLが息子に伝えたい愛詰め込んだ新曲「Link」リリース、作詞作曲はヒャダイン . ja . . August 15, 2018 . August 25, 2022 . July 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220726133753/https://natalie.mu/music/news/294222 . live .
  6. Web site: https://natalie.mu/music/news/509315 . ja:ryuchell新曲MV公開、ツアー開催も決定「あなたの心に愛を届けられるようにがんばります!」 . ja . . January 18, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714074803/https://natalie.mu/music/news/509315 . live .
  7. Web site: https://natalie.mu/music/news/269394 . ja:りゅうちぇる、アーティストRYUCHELLへ!デビュー曲はケンモチヒデフミ作曲 . ja . . February 14, 2018 . August 25, 2022 . August 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826163721/https://natalie.mu/music/news/269394 . live .
  8. News: Motoko . Rich . With Manicures and Makeup, Japan's 'Genderless' Blur Line Between Pink and Blue . . January 5, 2017 . March 16, 2021 . March 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210317002403/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/world/asia/with-manicures-and-makeup-japans-genderless-blur-line-between-pink-and-blue.html . live .
  9. Web site: ja:ryuchell、LGBTQイベントで“愛する”ことについて語る 「決まった形はない」(日テレNEWS) . https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/culture/1e6270ea816d448bbb3a2c467702fcd5 . April 24, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . . ja . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712111050/https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/culture/1e6270ea816d448bbb3a2c467702fcd5 . live .
  10. Web site: December 11, 2022 . ryuchellがイクメンからLGBTQの代表者ポジションに? やはり消えないネガティヴな反応|日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL . July 12, 2023 . 日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112557/https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/geino/315773 . live .
  11. Web site: Ryuchell: Japanese TV personality found dead at agent's office . BBC News . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712141426/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-66178363 . live .
  12. Web site: https://news.j-wave.co.jp/2018/08/826.html . ja:りゅうちぇる、息子の名前「リンク」にキラキラネームという批判も…どんな思いを込めたのか? . ja . . subscription . August 31, 2018 . August 26, 2022 . August 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220827023802/https://news.j-wave.co.jp/2018/08/826.html . live .
  13. Web site: https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202208250001490.html . ja:ryuchellが夫であるつらさ告白 peco「最高の旦那さんだった」新しい家族の形構築 . ja . . August 26, 2022 . August 26, 2022 . August 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220825235259/https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202208250001490.html . live .
  14. Web site: September 6, 2022 . ryuchellさんpecoさんがVERYに語っていた「夫婦じゃなくても一緒に子育てをする」決断への葛藤 インタビュー VERY[ヴェリィ] 公式サイト|光文社 . July 12, 2023 . VERY[ヴェリィ] . ja . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712105512/https://veryweb.jp/column/412598/ . live .
  15. Web site: August 26, 2022 . ja:ryuchellとpecoの所属事務所、2人の離婚を認めるも別居は否定「家族3人で同居する」 . August 26, 2022 . . ja . August 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826023028/https://hochi.news/articles/20220826-OHT1T51080.html . live .
  16. Web site: April 23, 2023 . ja:ryuchell、LGBTQイベントで声詰まらせ「自分の心にしかない愛や幸せがある」訴え . April 29, 2023 . . ja . April 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428040124/https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202304230001921.html . live .
  17. Web site: ja:ryuchell、27歳の激変した姿...体にフィットした大胆ワンピに「マリリンモンロー」「美女すぎる」 . July 12, 2023 . . ja . . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112255/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5afd2eaa727c8f0db738dfde89cb49431f54903e . live .
  18. News: July 12, 2023 . Japanese TV personality Ryuchell found dead at agency's office . en . Mainichi Daily News . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112255/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230712/p2a/00m/0na/021000c . live .
  19. Web site: July 12, 2023 . ja:タレントryuchellさん死亡 東京・渋谷区の事務所で . July 12, 2023 . . ja . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712100010/https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/ffc2a2cb03c5429eb1bcc3c75baaeb4a . live .
  20. Web site: ryuchellさん死去 27歳 事務所で死亡している状態で発見 . ja . . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712100332/https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202307120001047.html . live .
  21. Web site: https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/316665 . ja:「映画クレヨンしんちゃん」ゲスト声優に木南晴夏!小島よしお、ぺこりゅうは本人役 . ja . . January 21, 2019 . July 12, 2023 . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405105301/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/316665 . live .
  22. Web site: 愛してる!. September 20, 2022. eiga.com.
  23. Web site: https://www.sanspo.com/article/20151222-NGP53ZHUNBOMJHTXORZQREOCHE/ . ja:【イチ押し!フジテレビ】「ペケポンプラスなぞなぞ新ステージ大熱戦!ベストセラー作家もお受験参戦スペシャル!」 . ja . . December 22, 2015 . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712110257/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20151222-NGP53ZHUNBOMJHTXORZQREOCHE/ . live .
  24. Web site: March 8, 2016 . ja:藤田ニコル、ぺこ&りゅうちぇるら16人が激突 いい人の"仮面"を被っているのは誰? . July 12, 2023 . . ja . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712110256/https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1569998 . live .
  25. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/741435/rank/ . ja:RYUCHELLの売上ランキング . June 29, 2020 . . ja . July 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200701014327/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/741435/rank/ . live .
  26. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/4855/rank/ . ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2019年04月22日付 > 41~50位 . April 22, 2019 . June 29, 2020 . . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20190418041009/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2019-04-22/p/5/ . April 18, 2019 . dead .