由香

Japanese singer. She released her debut single under Teichiku Entertainment in July of 1998. Her second and third singles were used in two different doramas under the Hello! Project brand: "Wine Musume Koimonogatari" and "Kaze no Musume Tachi". Arai also starred in both doramas. Her manager at the time was Sanada Kaoru, who also managed and produced Miyoshi Chinatsu. She released her debut album in April of 1999, but left to study culture, English and history in Hawaii in July of the same year. In October, she went to New York for dance lessons, vocal training, song writing and live performances. She worked as a model for a time, but in 2003 she signed to the label Chichuukai changing her name to Ruca. She released one album called "Akai Tsuki", featuring cover songs of Mediterranean songs, dubbed euroenka by her record label (which also were responsible for Hello! Project's Iida Kaori's solo works). She performed the songs "Sayonara wo Oshiete" and "Kanashimi no Symphony" from the album at "GIRLPOP FACTORY" in 2003, as well as "Yumemiru Chanson Ningyou" with all the performers closing the show. Arai was a guest singer at Iida Kaori's first live show "Iida Kaori First Solo Live Avenir -Mirai- Chichukai Canvas". She was also a guest singer on "Uta Doki! Pop Classics", singing a cover of BUZZ' "Ken to Mary ~Ai to Kaze no You ni~" with Yoshizawa Hitomi. The Chichuukai label disbanded in 2009, and she started using Yuca as her stage name again. Also known as: Yuca, yuka, Hiromi Yuka (由香尋美), Ruca, 由香 (Yuka)