Ryohei Chiba
| Ryohei Chiba | |
|---|---|
_at_MTV_VMAJ_2014.jpg) Ryohei Chiba at 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chiba Ryōhei (千葉涼平) |
| Born | November 18, 1984 |
| Origin |
 Sapporo, Hokkaidō, JPN |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Rapper, Dancer |
| Years active | 2001–present (Group) |
| Labels | Pony Canyon, Vision Factory |
| Associated acts | w-inds. |
| Website | w-inds.tv |
Ryohei Chiba (千葉涼平 Chiba Ryōhei), born November 18, 1984, is a Japanese singer from Sapporo. He rose to fame as a member of the Japanese pop group w-inds. as the group's back-up dancer, back-up vocal, and rapper.
Early life
Chiba began taking classes at a dance school in Sapporo, where he met Ryuichi Ogata. He attended Kitashiroishi Elementary School and Kitashiroishi Middle School; however, after completing his first year in Kitashiroishi High School, he transferred to a high school in Tokyo in order to keep up with his activities with w-inds. He mentioned in March of the 2003 Fan Club Event that he did not attend the graduation ceremony.
Musical career
Chiba made his first television appearance in 1998 with his mother, where all the female judges voted him to be cute. In 2000, he, along with Ogata, passed auditions held at their dance school to join Keita Tachibana and form the boy band w-inds. Although initially chosen to be a back-up dancer, in their later singles, Chiba contributes to their songs as a back-up vocal and rapper. During the Prime of Life Tour in 2004, Chiba rapped and sang his first and only solo song, Stand Your Ground, penned by himself, although this song was never recorded on any album.