Kawaei Rina is a Japanese actress and former idol singer. She was part of AKB48's Team A. Originally an 11th generation kenkyuusei, she was promoted to Team 4 on March 24, 2012. She was a member of Team 4 until the team shuffle at the 2012 Tokyo Dome concert, where she was transferred to Team A. During an AKB48 handshake event on May 25, 2014 in Iwate, a man attacked several people with a saw. Kawaei, fellow Team A member Iriyama Anna and a staff member suffered several injuries to their heads and hands and had do undergo surgery. Kawaei took a 4 months hiatus from the group to recover, while remaining active on social media and assuring fans she is doing well. She returned to the AKB48 Theater in October 2014. In March 2015, ten months after the incident, Kawaei announced her graduation from the group, naming the attack as a main reason. She now continues to work as an actress. On May 17, 2019 Kawaei married fellow actor Hirose Tomoki. The two met after co-starring in the stage play 'Karephone' in October 2018. On November 9, 2019 she announced that their first child was born. On January 1, 2023 she announced her second pregnancy. On July 1, 2023 she announced he birth of her second child.

More