Morning Musume
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Morning Musume is a popular Japanese idol group. In 1997, Asayan held an audition for a new female rock vocalist who would be produced by Sharan Q. Michiyo Heike was the winner of the contest. But five girls were selected to join an all-girl group who would also be produced by Tsunku. These members were Yuko Nakazawa, Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Aya Ishiguro and Asuka Fukuda. This was the first formation of Morning Musume. Over the years more graduations (the leaving of a member) and auditions (talent searches for new members) were held, prolonging Morning Musume's reign on the Japanese pop scene for about 10 years. Its largest number of members have been up to 15 in 2003. Morning Musume is currently a 9 member group as of February 2007. |
Current Members of Morning Musume include:
        
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Leader: Hitomi Yoshizawa Birthdate: April 12, 1985 Blood Type: O Height: 163 cm / 5′ 4″ Member since: 2000 (4th gen) Sub-Leader: Miki Fujimoto Birthdate: February 26, 1985 Blood Type: A Height: 156 cm / 5′ 1″ Member since: 2003 (6th gen) Member: Ai Takahashi Birthdate: September 14, 1986 Blood Type: A Height: 153 cm / 5′ Member since: 2001 (5th gen) Member: Risa Niigaki Birthdate: October 20, 1988 Blood Type: B Height: 154 cm / 5′ 1" Member since: 2001 (5th gen) Member: Eri Kamei Birthdate: December 23, 1988 Blood Type: AB Height: 157 cm / 5′ 2″ Member since: 2003 (6th gen) Member: Sayumi Michishige Birthdate: July 13, 1989 Blood Type: A Height: 160 cm or 5′ 3″ Member since: 2003 (6th gen) Member: Reina Tanaka Birthdate: November 11, 1989 Blood Type: O Height: 151.7 cm or 5′ Member since: 2003 (6th gen) Member: Koharu Kusumi Birthdate: July 15, 1992 Blood Type: A Height: 160 cm / 5′ 3″ Member since: 2005 (7th gen) Member: Aika Mitsui Birthdate: January 12, 1993 Blood Type: O Height:154 cm / 5′ 0″ Member since: 2007 (8th gen) |
Previous Members of Morning Musume include:
Asuka Fukuda - Graduated in April 1999 to continue her schooling
Aya Ishiguro - Graduated in January 2000 to pursue a career in fashion design. She married Shinya of the j-rock band, Luna Sea, in May of 2000.
Sayaka Ichii - Graduated in May 2000 to learn more about song-writing and to continue her education. She came back to the music business in late 2001 and was the leader of a group called Cubic Cross. She left the business again to marry the guitarist of her group, Naoki Yoshizawa. She is expecting their first child.
Yuko Nakazawa - Graduated in April 2001 to pursue her solo career. She is still a member of Hello! Project
Maki Goto - Graduated in September 2002, also to pursue her solo career. She is still in Hello! Project.
Kei Yasuda - Graduated May 2003. She will remain in H!P.
Natsumi Abe - Graduated on January 25, 2004. She is continuing her solo career in H!P.
Nozomi Tsuji/Ai Kago - Graduated August 1, 2004. They are currently still in H!P as the duo, W.
Kaori Iida - Graduated January 2005. She is currently a solo singer in Hello! Project.
Mari Yaguchi - Graduated (resigned) April 14, 2005 for personal reasons. Her future plans are unknown at this time.
Rika Ishikawa - Graduated May 2005. She and two new Hello! Project members, 2004 audition winner, Erika Miyoshi and H!P Egg, Yui Okada, have formed a new group, Biyuuden.
(Information credited to Jpopmusic Forums.com)