Rinne Toda

Rinne (born Rinne Toda on February 6, 1981 in Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a former Japanese pop singer associated with the Hello! Project. Not much is known about this elusive H!P member, as she left with a large wave of other Project departures early into her career.

Rinne Toda Career

Rinne joined the Hello! Project in 1999 as a member of the newly formed Country Musume. The theme of the group was girls from Hokkaido, the rural area of Japan. However, just a week before their debut, one of the members, Hiromi Yanagihara, died in a car crash. The other member, Azusa Kobayashi, left almost immediately after, claiming the grief was too much. (In reality, adult pictures of Kobayashi had popped up, prompting her to leave.)

Rinne continued on her own, releasing two singles as Country Musume (though she was the only member.) In 2000, she was joined by Asami Kimura, and Country Musume became a duo. The two were later joined by Rika Ishikawa and Mai Satoda, the latter being reportedly disliked by Rinne.

She graduated Country Musume and the Hello! Project in 2002. She continued to perform in some musicals and shows, but retired in 2003.