Rei
IVE’s Japanese rapper and vocal color specialist: playful, precise, multilingual and much stranger – in the best way – than the group’s polished styling first suggests.
Quick profile
Stage name: Rei (레이 / レイ)
Full name: Naoi Rei (直井怜)
Born: February 3, 2004
Birthplace: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
Group: IVE
Company: Starship Entertainment
Debut: December 1, 2021
Roles: Rapper, vocalist, lyricist
Fandom: DIVE
Name and pronunciation
Her family name is Naoi and her given name is Rei. Japanese name order may appear as Naoi Rei; international coverage often writes Rei Naoi.
IVE’s official materials use the simple stage name REI, which is the clearest search term when paired with IVE.
From Nagoya to a Korean idol company
Rei grew up in Nagoya and moved to South Korea as a teenager to train under Starship Entertainment. She studied at the School of Performing Arts Seoul and graduated in 2022.
Starship introduced her as IVE’s fifth revealed member in November 2021. She debuted less than a month later with “ELEVEN,” becoming the company’s first Japanese female idol to debut in one of its groups.
What Rei contributes to IVE
Rei’s parts often work because she treats rhythm like characterization. She can make a line feel teasing, sleepy, elegant or strange before the lyric itself has fully registered.
Lyrics and creative work
Rei has participated in rap-making and lyric work for IVE recordings. Her credits matter because IVE’s rap passages are often short; the personality of a few carefully placed bars can decide whether a transition feels generic or specific to the group.
Her individual content also shows a strong interest in drawing, styling, pop-culture references and the tiny behavioral details that turn idol content into an actual point of view.
Health hiatus and return
In April 2023, Starship announced that Rei would temporarily pause activities after experiencing symptoms including heart palpitations and breathing difficulty. She returned to group activities the following month after rest and medical consultation.
The hiatus is part of her career record, but it is not her identity. She resumed promotions, touring, recording and individual schedules with IVE.
Career timeline
Teen years: Moved from Japan to South Korea and trained under Starship Entertainment.
November 2021: Revealed as a member of IVE.
December 2021: Debuted with “ELEVEN.”
2022: Graduated from SOPA while promoting “LOVE DIVE” and “After LIKE.”
2023: Took a brief health hiatus, returned, and continued IVE’s first full-album era and international expansion.
2024–2026: Continued IVE’s Korean and Japanese releases, tours, variety appearances, fashion work and individual content.
Selected IVE discography
2021: ELEVEN
2022: LOVE DIVE, After LIKE
2023: I’ve IVE, I’VE MINE
2024: IVE SWITCH, ALIVE
2025: IVE EMPATHY, IVE SECRET
2026: Continued group releases and touring activity
Facts that actually identify her
- Rei is IVE’s only Japanese member.
- She was born in Nagoya and moved to Korea before debut.
- She graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2022.
- She is known for adapting Korean slang and wordplay with unusually natural comic timing.
- Her recurring individual content has emphasized drawing, fashion, food, music and conversations with other artists rather than forcing a single “rapper” persona.
Sources
YouTube tracking history
Rei does not currently have a verified standalone official solo-video catalog. IVE releases remain attached to the IVE group profile so group totals are not duplicated as individual activity.