View source for Chisato Okai

{{Short description|Japanese musician, actress, and model}}

{{BLP sources|date=July 2019}}

{{use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox person
| image           = Chisato Okai at Japan Expo 2014.jpg
| caption         = Chisato Okai at Japan Expo 2014
| name            = Chisato Okai
| alias           = 
| native_name     = 岡井 千聖
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1994|06|21}}
| death_date      = 
| birth_place          = [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]], [[Japan]]
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
* [[Singing|Singer]]}}             
| module          = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed           = yes
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[J-pop]]}}
| years_active    = 2002-2020
| label           = {{flatlist|
* [[Zetima]]}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist| 
* [[Cute (Japanese idol group)|Cute]]
* [[H.P. All Stars]]
* [[Athena & Robikerottsu]]
* [[Tanpopo (band)|Tanpopo#]]}}
}}
| website         = [http://www.helloproject.com Hello! Project.com]
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Chisato Okai'''|岡井 千聖|Okai Chisato}} (born June 21, 1994, in [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]], Japan)<ref name="upfrontworksprofile">{{cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/cutehistory/profile/okai.html|title=°C-uteメンバープロフィール > 岡井 千聖|publisher=Up Front Works|access-date=2018-03-13|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="upfrontworksprofile2">{{cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/artist/chisato_okai/|script-title=ja:岡井千聖|publisher=Up Front Works|access-date=2017-03-13|language=ja|title=Up-Front Works}}</ref> is a former [[Japanese pop]] singer, actress, model, and television personality. She first gained recognition when she joined [[Hello! Project Kids]] and later became one of the main vocalists of the [[Japanese idol]] girl group [[Cute (Japanese idol group)|Cute]] which she joined in 2005 and engaged in until 2017.

==Career==
===2002–2005: Hello! Project Kids===
In 2002, Okai auditioned for [[Hello! Project Kids]] with the song "Country Road" by [[Yoko Honna]]. Her audition tape was aired on [[Morning Musume]]'s variety show ''[[Hello! Morning]]''.<ref name="hellomorning1">{{Cite episode |series=ハロー!モーニング。 |network=TV Tokyo |date=2002-06-30 |language=ja}}</ref> She was placed in the group with fourteen other girls.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helloproject.com/artist/17/index.html |script-title=ja:ハロープロジェクト・キッズ |publisher=Hello! Project |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126005511/http://www.helloproject.com/artist/17/index.html |archive-date=2005-11-26 |access-date=2018-03-13 }}</ref> In the same year, she appeared in the movie ''Koinu Dan no Monogatari''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toei-video.co.jp/catalog/dstd02185/|script-title=ja:仔犬ダンの物語 東映ビデオ株式会社|publisher=Toei Video|access-date=2017-06-20|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/cinema/morning/|title=テレビ東京 CINEMA STREET / 仔犬ダンの物語/ミニモニTHEムービーお菓子な大冒険|publisher=TV Tokyo|access-date=2017-06-20|language=ja}}</ref>

=== 2005–2017: Cute ===
{{Main article|Cute (Japanese idol group)}}

In 2004, [[Berryz Kobo]] was created with the intention of rotating all of the members of [[Hello! Project Kids]] to make time for school,<ref name="zakzak20040115">{{cite web|url=http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2004_01/g2004011504.html |script-title=ja:ハロプロ史上最年少グループ「Berryz工房」誕生 |publisher=ZAKZAK |date=2004-01-15 |access-date=2012-07-01 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105101647/http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2004_01/g2004011504.html |archive-date=2010-01-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the idea was later scrapped, and the remaining girls who were not chosen were re-branded under the name [[Cute (Japanese idol group)|Cute]] on June 11, 2005.<ref name="helloproject20050613">{{cite web|url=http://www.helloproject.com/news/050613.html |title=つんく♂から「°C-ute（キュート）」に関してコメント |publisher=Hello! Project Official Site |date=2005-06-13 |access-date=2012-05-08 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923050824/http://www.helloproject.com/news/050613.html |archive-date=2012-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2007, Okai was added to a new unit called [[Athena & Robikerottsu]] with [[Risa Niigaki]], [[Aika Mitsui]], and [[Saki Nakajima (singer)|Saki Nakajima]]. They sang the opening and ending theme songs for the [[A-1 Pictures]] anime ''Robby & Kerobby''. The unit was effectively disbanded in March 2008, entering into an indefinite hiatus when the series ended.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In 2009, Okai joined a newly formed unit called [[Tanpopo (band)|Tanpopo#]], a revival of former Hello! Project unit Tanpopo, with [[Eri Kamei]], [[Yurina Kumai]], and [[Aika Mitsui]].{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

On November 9, 2010, a solo video of Okai performing the dance to Cute's then-latest single "[[Dance de Bakōn]]" was released on the group's official [[YouTube]] channel. The video received more than 100,000 views in two days,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://natalie.mu/music/news/40413|title = °C-ute千聖の"踊ってみた"が話題沸騰「また挑戦したい」|language = ja|date = 2011-11-11|access-date = 2011-05-16}}</ref> and had received over 1.2 million views by May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgFsDnU9jWg|title=Danceでバコーン！を踊ってみた 【岡井千聖（本人）】|website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2011-05-16}}</ref> Following the video's success, more solo "dance-cover" videos of Okai were uploaded, including her cover of [[Aya Matsuura]]'s song "[[Love Namidairo]]", which was released on [[iTunes]] on November 27 as Okai's first digital single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/406606714|title=LOVE涙色岡井千聖(°C-ute)|website=[[iTunes]] |date=November 27, 2010 |language=ja|access-date=2011-05-16}}</ref> Her first solo live event, "Chisato Okai (Cute) Solo Live 2011 Vol.1: Kaisha de Odotte Mita!!" was held on January 25, 2011, at Pacific Heaven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-fc.jp/helloproject/news_Info.php?id=1706|title=FC限定「岡井千聖（°C-ute）Solo Live 2011 Vol.1～会社で踊ってみた!!～」受付のお知らせ|language=ja|access-date=2011-05-16}}</ref> A CD containing Okai's cover of [[Miki Fujimoto]]'s "[[Romantic Ukare Mode]]", with "Love Namidairo" as the [[A-side and B-side|coupling track]], was sold exclusively at the venue of her second solo live, but was also released digitally as part of Hello! Project's ''[[Hello Cover]]'' series.

In August 2016, Cute announced plans to disband in June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/up-front-link/en-announcement-concerning-ute/1141354845923431 |title=[EN] Announcement concerning °C-ute |author=Up Front Link |date=2016-08-19| access-date=2017-06-17|publisher=Facebook}}</ref> Okai expressed interest in becoming a television personality on variety shows following disbandment.<ref name="blog 2017-05-27">{{cite web|url=http://ameblo.jp/c-ute-official/entry-12275277511.html |script-title=ja:今後について。岡井ちゃん |author=Chisato Okai |date=2017-05-27 |language=ja |access-date=2017-06-17|publisher=Ameba Blogs}}</ref>

She retired from the entertainment world on April 30, 2020.

==Personal life==
Okia announced in April 2019 that she would be taking time off from all entertainment activities.  She noted that she had been in entertainment for 17&nbsp;years, and sought to experience life from outside of the industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kimikame.com/2019/04/28/okai-chisato-hiatus/|title=Okai Chisato is taking a break from all entertainment activities|last=kame|date=2019-04-28|website=Kimi.Kame|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref>

Okai's sister, Asuna Okai, was a member of [[Hello Pro Egg]].

==Discography==
{{For|releases with Cute|Cute (Japanese idol group) discography}}
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:2em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak position
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Sales
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Oricon|JPN]]<br />
|-
! scope="row" |"[[Love Namidairo]]"
| 2010
| —
| —
|Digital single
|-
! scope="row" |"[[First Kiss (Aya Matsuura album)|Egao ni Namida (Thank You! Dear My Friends)]]"
| 2010
| —
| —
|Digital single
|-
! scope="row" |"[[Manatsu no Kōsen]]"
| 2010
| —
| —
|Digital single
|-
! scope="row" |"[[Romantic Ukare Mode]]"
| 2011
| —
| —
|Indie single
|-
! scope="row" |"[[Furusato (Morning Musume song)|Furusato]]"
| 2011
| —
| —
|Digital single
|-
! scope="row" |"Oolong High no Onna"<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/release/detail/UFDL-1382/ | title=ウーロンハイの女 | language=ja | publisher=Up Front Works | access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref>
| 2017
| —
| —
|Digital single
|-
|}

===Digital albums===
* ''Okai Chisato Solo Collection Vol. 2'' (2012)

===Other solo songs===
* {{nihongo|''Tokai no Neon ga Odoroku Kurai no Utsukushisa ga Hoshii''|都会のネオンが驚くくらいの美しさがほしい}} (February 2, 2012)
* {{nihongo|''Kimi wa Jitensha Watashi wa Densha de Kitaku''|君は自転車　私は電車で帰宅}} ([[Cute (Japanese idol group)|Cute]] cover) (April 18, 2012)
* {{nihongo|''Kanashiki Heaven'' (Okai Part Version)|悲しきヘブン}} (April 18, 2013)

==Appearances==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}

===Movies===
* {{nihongo|''[[Koinu Dan no Monogatari]]''|仔犬ダンの物語||"Puppy Dan's Story"}} (December 14, 2002)
* {{nihongo|''Hotaru no Hoshi''|ほたるの星}} (June 5, 2004)
* {{nihongo|''[[Ōsama Game]]''|王様ゲーム}} (December 17, 2011) as Kaori Maruoka
* {{nihongo|''[[Gomennasai (film)|Gomennasai]]''|ゴメンナサイ}} (2011)

===TV series===
* {{nihongo|''Tokusō Shirei! Aichi Police''|特捜指令！アイチ★ポリス}} (2011) as Mai
* {{nihongo|''[[Sūgaku Joshi Gakuen|Sūgaku♥Joshi Gakuen]]''|数学♥女子学園}} (2012)

===TV shows===
* {{nihongo|''[[Hello! Morning]]''|ハロー! モーニング}} (2002–2007)
* {{nihongo|''[[Haromoni@]]''|ハロモニ@}} (2007–2008)
* {{nihongo|''Berikyǖ!''|ベリキュー!}} (2008)
* {{nihongo|''[[Yorosen!]]''|よろセン!}} (2008–2009)
* {{nihongo|''Bijo Gaku''|美女学}} (2010–2011)
* {{nihongo|''[[Hello Pro! Time]]''|ハロプロ！TIME}} (2011–2012)
* {{nihongo|''Hello! Satoyama Life''|ハロー！SATOYAMAライフ}} (2012–2013)
* {{nihongo|''GOGO! Smile!''|ゴゴスマ}} (2013–?)

==== Other ====
* 54th NHK [[Kōhaku Uta Gassen]] — backing dancer for [[Aya Matsuura]] (December 31, 2003)

===Theatrical plays===
* {{nihongo|''34 Chōme no Kiseki-HERE'S LOVE-''|34丁目の奇跡 -HERE'S LOVE-||"Miracle on 34th Street: Here's Love"}} (November 27 — December 28, 2004)
* {{nihongo|''1974 (Ikunayo)''|1974(イクナヨ)}} (March 17–22, 2011)
* {{nihongo|''Stronger''|ストロンガー}} (2012)
* {{nihongo|''Theater in The Round''|青山円形劇場}} (2012)
* {{nihongo|''Sakura no Hanataba''|さくらの花束}} (2013) as Mei Koyamada

===Solo events===
* {{nihongo|Chisato Okai (Cute) Solo Live 2011 Vol.1: Kaisha de Odotte Mita!!|岡井千聖（°C-ute）Solo Live 2011 Vol.1〜会社で踊ってみた!!〜||"... Dance Covers at Work!!"}} (January 25–26, 2011)
* {{nihongo|Chisato Okai (Cute) Solo Live 2011 Vol.2: Hanzōmon de Odotte Mita!!|岡井千聖（°C-ute）Solo Live 2011 Vol.2〜半蔵門で踊ってみた!!〜||"... Dance Covers at Hanzōmon!!"}} (February 13–14, 2011)

===YouTube===
* "[[Dance de Bakōn!]]"
* "[[Ōkina Ai de Motenashite]]"
* "[[Forever Love (Cute song)|Forever Love]]"
* "[[Massara Blue Jeans]]"
* "[[Love Namidairo]]"
* "[[Yume Miru 15]]"

==Photobooks==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}
{| class="wikitable"
! No.
! Title
! Release date
|-
|align="center"| 1
| {{nihongo|''Chisato''|千聖}}
* <small>1st solo photobook</small>
| December 24, 2010
|}

===Digital photobooks===
* {{nihongo|''Alo-Hello! C-ute'' (Chisa Version)|アロハロ！°C-ute)}} (October 5, 2010)
* ''Cutest'' (Chisa Version) (March 6, 2012)
* {{nihongo|''Alo-Hello! C-ute 2012''  (Chisa Version)|アロハロ！°C-ute 2012)}} (October 22, 2012)

===Solo DVDs===
{| class="wikitable"
! No.
! Title
! Release date
|-
|align="center"| 1
| {{nihongo|''Chissā''|ちっさー}}
|align="center"| December 24, 2010
|-
|align="center"| 2
| ''IMP. GIRL''
|align="center"| December 9. 2011
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{YouTube channel|handle=cute|channel=UCcS2E_TVMSwbN4Q5eH7F_oA|text=°C-ute}} on YouTube

{{C-ute}}
{{Up-Front Group}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Okai, Chisato}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese singers]]
[[Category:Cute (Japanese idol group) members]]
[[Category:Japanese female idols]]
[[Category:Japanese women television personalities]]
[[Category:Singers from Saitama Prefecture]]
[[Category:Tanpopo members]]