Niki, whose real name is Nishimura Riki, is a rising star from Japan and one of the prominent members of the boy group ENHYPEN. Known for his captivating visuals and exceptional dancing skills, Niki is renowned for setting new standards in dance performances.
Biography
- Name and surname: Riki Nishimura
- Japanese name: Riki Nishimura
- Korean name: Riki Nishimura
- Nickname:Niki
- Date of birth: December 9, 2005
- Nationality: Japanese
- Profession: lead dancer, rapper
- Height: 185cm
- Weight: 60 kilograms
Early beginnings and dream of becoming an idol
From a young age, Niki was exposed to dance, which led him to perform on the Tokyo Dome stage as a dancer for SHINee during their SHINee World 2017 concert. Inspired by her senior, SHINee’s Key, Niki decided to pursue an idol career. In 2019, he moved to South Korea to follow his dream.
Niki’s journey continues I-EARTH
After joining the Belift Lab as a trainee, Niki quickly gained attention for her impressive dance skills, often ranking high in skill assessments. His talent earned him 90.9% of the votes to secure his place I-EARTH. During the first rehearsal of the show, Niki confidently expressed her desire to be at the center, showing her leadership and stage presence.
Showing off his dancing skills
Niki’s exceptional ability to memorize a choreography in just 10 minutes made him stand out during his time I-EARTH. His rapid learning and keen performance skills have earned him the center position in several performances.
ENHYPEN’s debut and Niki’s impact
ENHYPEN, a group of boys formed through I-EARTHdebuted with 7 members: Heeseung, Sunoo, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Jungwon and Niki. After the show, they debuted two MVs, “Choose-Chosen” AND “Dawn-dusk”. Niki, known for his unique and bold style, quickly earned the nickname “dance machine” thanks to his powerful performances and remarkable dancing skills.
In November 2020, Niki officially debuted with the group through their mini-album BORDER: DAY ONE and the title track “Given-Taken.” Niki was overwhelmed by the support from fans, especially from Japan, and vowed to continue working hard to deliver even more impressive performances in the future.
Controversies
On September 2, 2024, Ni-ki posted a photo of a landscape along with an encouraging message for fans on the Weverse app, urging them to carry on with the week as the weekend approached.
Ni-ki wrote:As long as you hold out until tomorrow, the weekend will be here… waiting for Engene. Eh.In the comments section, he had a brief exchange with a fan:
- Fan: Tomorrow is a holiday in Korea.
- Niki: Is it a holiday tomorrow?
- Fan: Yes, tomorrow is Samiljeol.
- Niki: I’m jealous.
Ni-ki’s comment quickly sparked controversy in Korean online communities, particularly on theqoowhere it generated nearly 1,500 comments. This was because March 1 (Samiljeol) is the day commemorating the Independence Movement against Japan, a significant holiday for the Korean people.
On March 1, 1919, the entire Korean population rose up against Japanese colonial rule, with over a thousand protests across the country, resulting in approximately 7,500 victims. After Korea gained independence, March 1 became a national holiday.
The fact that Ni-ki is Japanese has intensified the reaction from Korean netizens. Soon after, Ni-ki deleted the post and issued an apology on Weverse: “Hi, I’m Ni-ki. I apologize for being careless about the important national holiday, Samiljeol. I realized my mistake and immediately deleted the post. I will be more careful in the future.”
