Introduction
Ruka (루카), born Kawai Ruka (河井瑠花) on March 20, 2002, is a Japanese rapper and dancer best known as a member of BABYMONSTER, a K-pop girl group formed by YG Entertainment.
Specializing in hip-hop dance and rap, she is recognized for her precise movements, strong sense of rhythm and confident stage presence. As the group's oldest member, she also brings artistic experience gained before entering the South Korean music industry.
Career
Passionate about dancing since childhood, Ruka began her artistic training in Japan and developed a particular interest in hip-hop. She was previously involved with the Japanese group Shibu3 Project before joining YG Entertainment in 2018.
For approximately five years, she underwent intensive training in dance, rap and stage performance. In February 2023, she became the final BABYMONSTER candidate to be revealed to the public, through a performance video highlighting her rapping skills and stage presence.
Ruka participated in BABYMONSTER's first musical release, BATTER UP, in November 2023. The group then made its official seven-member debut on April 1, 2024, with the mini-album BABYMONS7ER. Alongside Asa, she became one of the first Japanese female artists to debut in a YG Entertainment girl group.
Did You Know?
- Background: Ruka is Japanese and began her artistic career in her home country.
- Dance: she has practiced dancing since childhood, specializing in hip-hop.
- Training: she trained at YG Entertainment for approximately five years, the longest training period among BABYMONSTER members.
- Languages: she speaks Japanese and Korean and also has some knowledge of English.
- Interests: she particularly enjoys Pilates.