Rei Kikukawa is a Japanese actress, model, and television presenter born on February 28, 1978, in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture. Prior to her career in entertainment, she was a student at the University of Tokyo, where she majored in architecture.
Kikukawa was discovered by an agent while shopping and eventually became represented by Oscar Promotions. Her breakthrough role came in 2002 when she was chosen to co-host the popular Sunday night NTV show "Bankisha". Despite her academic background, her lack of knowledge on various subjects was exposed on a quiz show, and she rarely provides input on the issues discussed on "Bankisha".
Interestingly, Kikukawa's image has evolved over the years, from being promoted as an "intelligent idol" to possibly being classified as an "obaka-aidoru" or "dumb idol", a term used to describe entertainers known for their physical appearance and lack of intelligence. Her career has also seen a shift towards more commercial work, such as appearing in a bra commercial in 2007.
