MEMBER PROFILE
Riku
Status: Active NCT WISH member · Years active: 2024–present with NCT WISH · Artist directory: Not eligible without a principal solo release
Riku is NCT WISH’s Fukui-born Japanese performer, a rapper and dancer whose attack gives the group’s bright music a necessary edge. LASTART stages, member editions and covers belong to his development. They are not a solo discography.
Profile
| Stage name | Riku (リク / 리쿠) |
|---|---|
| Name | Maeda Riku |
| Born | June 28, 2003 |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Hometown | Fukui, Japan |
| Company | SM Entertainment |
| Current group | NCT WISH |
| Umbrella | NCT |
| Work | Rapper, dancer, vocalist and performer |
LASTART and formation
Riku earned his place through NCT Universe: LASTART, the selection program that assembled the final fixed unit of NCT’s original expansion system. The team promoted first as NCT NEW TEAM and became NCT WISH for its 2024 formal debut. Audition and evaluation stages document development, not independent releases.
NCT WISH career
Riku is part of the unchanged six-member lineup with Sion, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo and Sakuya. The group built a Korean-Japanese catalog through “WISH,” “Songbird,” Steady, “poppop,” COLOR, WISHLIST, “YO-I-DON!” and “BOY MEETS GIRL.” Activity pauses do not rewrite official membership.
Rap and performance
Riku’s rhythmic delivery gives WISH’s refreshing concept more bite. His dancing emphasizes fast direction changes, clear accents and confidence that reads immediately on camera. Official materials do not consistently publish rigid positions, so this profile describes demonstrated work instead of copying fan labels.
From LASTART to the final lineup
Riku entered public view through NCT Universe: LASTART, the project used to form NCT’s Japan-focused team. The show tested trainees in changing combinations and required them to perform inside an existing brand with unusually high expectations. He earned a place in the final lineup through rap delivery, dance precision, and the ability to maintain character during tightly controlled stages.
The resulting team promoted first as NCT New Team before debuting as NCT WISH with Sion, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, and Sakuya. That transition matters because pre-debut performances were part of the development record, while the official group career begins with the 2024 debut.
Debut and era map
“WISH”: NCT WISH debuted with a brighter, more youthful sound than several other NCT units. Riku’s rap tone added definition without making the song abandon its melodic center.
“Songbird” and later releases: The group continued building a Japanese and Korean catalog around optimistic hooks, detailed choreography, and clean visual storytelling. Riku’s lines work best when rhythmic phrasing creates contrast inside otherwise smooth arrangements.
Growth and schedules: Rookie years require rapid repetition across music shows, fan events, travel, and language contexts. A temporary absence or health-related schedule change should be documented accurately without being treated as loss of membership. Official group status remains the controlling evidence.
Rap, dance, and group function
Riku’s rap delivery is compact and clear. He does not need to force an artificially heavy voice into NCT WISH’s brighter production; his job is to make rhythmic sections feel integrated rather than imported from a different song.
Onstage, he combines sharp timing with readable expressions. The full formation depends on members clearing pathways and matching small angles as much as on highlight moves. His performance identity is therefore built through both individual lines and ensemble discipline.
Canonical profile and solo scope
Riku has no verified principal solo music release under his own artist billing. Covers, survival-show stages, member tracks, and group content do not satisfy the Solo Artist rule. This canonical profile belongs in the Member directory as a current NCT WISH member from 2024 onward.
Artist eligibility
No independently released, principally credited Riku solo single, album or OST was verified. Covers, audition stages, fancams, member editions and group material do not qualify. He belongs in Members and stays out of Artists.
Reacts, Rants and Tea
A dedicated WISH reaction remains queued; this page does not pretend a generic link is one.
Official Socials
YouTube tracking history
No independently credited official Riku solo-video catalog is verified. WISH videos remain on the group tracker.