{"id":61,"date":"2012-07-09T18:42:11","date_gmt":"2012-07-09T16:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpop-idols.com\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2016-12-12T19:09:03","modified_gmt":"2016-12-12T18:09:03","slug":"morning-musume","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jpop-idols.com\/en\/morning-musume\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning Musume"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MorningMorning Musume<\/strong> (\u30e2\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u5a18\u3002) is a Japanese idol group formed in 1997. They are also known as Momusu (\u30e2\u30fc\u5a18\u3002).<\/p>\n

It is part of Hello! Project and produced by Tsunku\u2642 (\u3064\u3093\u304f\u2642).<\/p>\n

Morning Musume currently consists of 13 members. Each one has been assigned a color.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It is a sister group of Berryz Kobo<\/a>, \u00b0C-ute<\/a>, S\/mileage<\/a>, Juice=Juice<\/a>, and many other idol units.<\/p>\n

The leader is Fukumura Mizuki. The sub-leaders Iikubo Haruna and Ikuta Erina.<\/p>\n

Biography \/ History<\/h2>\n

In 1997, Tsunku\u2642 held audition to recruit a female vocalist for his rock band Sharan Q (\u30b7\u30e3\u4e71Q). The winner was Heike Michiyo.<\/p>\n

\"MorningA few weeks later, the 5 other finalists (Nakazawa Yuko, Abe Natsumi, Iida Kaori, Fukuda Asuka, Ishiguro Aya) were selected to debut as Morning Musume. Their challenge was to sell 50000 copies of their demo single Ai no Tane (\u611b\u306e\u7a2e)<\/span> to continue their activities.<\/p>\n

Morning Musume released their 1st single Morning Coffee (\u30e2\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u30b3\u30fc\u30d2\u30fc)<\/span> in January 1998. It ranked 6th on Oricon weekly chart.<\/p>\n

After this success, Yaguchi Mari, Yasuda Kei and Ichii Sayaka joined the idol group as 2nd generation members.<\/p>\n

Their 1st album First Time (\u30d5\u30a1\u30fc\u30b9\u30c8\u30bf\u30a4\u30e0)<\/span> was released 6 months later in July 1998.<\/p>\n

Tanpopo (\u30bf\u30f3\u30dd\u30dd) was their 1st sub-unit. It was formed in November 1998 and consisted of Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari and Ishiguro Aya.<\/p>\n

Morning Musume’s 7th single Love Machine (Love\u30de\u30b7\u30fc\u30f3)<\/span> sold 1,760,000 copies and topped Oricon charts in September 1999. It is still their highest-selling single as of today.<\/p>\n

In 2000, Tsunku\u2642 created 3 shuffle units Akagumi4 (\u3042\u304b\u7d444), Kiiro5 (\u9ec4\u82725) and Aoiro 7 (\u9752\u82727). They consisted of members from Morning Musume and from other Hello! Project groups such as Coconuts Musume (\u30b3\u30b3\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u5a18\u3002) and T&C Bomber. The concept was to battle together for the highest disc sales.<\/p>\n

In April 2001, leader Nakazawa Yuko graduated to pursue her solo career.<\/p>\n

\"MorningIn 2003, the idol group was split into Morning Musume Sakuragumi (\u30e2\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u5a18\uff61 \u3055\u304f\u3089\u7d44), focused on traditional love songs, and Morning Musume Otomegumi (\u30e2\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u5a18\uff61\u304a\u3068\u3081\u7d44) performing pop rock song. As the roster was composed 15 girls, the idea was to create smaller sub-units in order to hold more live performance in smaller cities.<\/p>\n

In January 2004, popular member Abe Natsumi graduated in order to focus on her soloist career.<\/p>\n

In January 2005, their 25th single The Manpower!!! (The \u30de\u30f3\u30d1\u30ef\u30fc!!!)<\/span> was the theme song for the Japanese baseball team Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (\u6771\u5317\u697d\u5929\u30b4\u30fc\u30eb\u30c7\u30f3\u30a4\u30fc\u30b0\u30eb\u30b9).<\/p>\n

In April 2005, Yaguchi Mari withdrew due to a scandal. Photos showing a relationship between her and actor Oguri Shun had been published in the gossip magazine Friday.<\/p>\n

In 2006, Morning Musume performed in the musical Ribon no Kishi (\u30ea\u30dc\u30f3\u306e\u9a0e\u58eb)<\/span>. Takahashi Ai had the lead role.<\/p>\n

In early 2007, the special unit Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai (\u30e2\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u5a18\u3002\u8a95\u751f10\u5e74\u8a18\u5ff5\u968a) was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the idol group. It was consisting of Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto, Risa Niigaki, and Koharu Kusumi. They were selected to symbolize each generation and each period of its history.<\/p>\n

In March 2007, Tsunku\u2642 announced that 2 Chinese girls, Junjun (Li Chun) and Linlin (Quan Lin), joined Morning Musume as exchange students. His aim was to expand the activities of the idol group in Asia.<\/p>\n

In June 2007, Fujimoto Miki resigned due to a scandal. An article published in the magazine Friday had revealed her relation with comedian Shoji Tomoharu.<\/p>\n

In October 2007, the members went to South Korea and Taiwan to promote the album Morning Musume All Singles Complete ~10th Anniversary~<\/span>. They participated in press conferences, TV and radio shows, and handshaking sessions with the fans. These events were their first appearances in a foreign country.<\/p>\n

The idol unit held a concert in Taipei, Taiwan, in May 2008. It was their first live performance outside Japan.<\/p>\n

\"MorningMorning Musume participated in Anime Expo 2009<\/span> in Los Angeles, USA, in July 2009.<\/p>\n

One year later, the idol group was the guest of honor of Japan Expo 2010<\/span> in Paris Nord Villepinte, France, in July 2010.<\/p>\n

In late 2010, Dream Morning Musume were formed. They are composed of former Morning Musume members Nakazawa Yuko, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi, Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari, Ishikawa Rika, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Ogawa Makoto, Fujimoto Miki, and Koharu Kusumi. They released the album Dorimusu 1 (\u30c9\u30ea\u30e0\u30b9\u3002\u2460)<\/span> in April 2011.<\/p>\n

In December 2010, Junjun and Linlin graduated to pursue their careers in China.<\/p>\n

In April 2011, the show UstreaMusume<\/span> started broadcasting on Ustream to introduce the 9th generation members Fukumura Mizuki, Sayashi Riho, Ikuta Erina, and Suzuki Kanon.<\/p>\n

\"MorningIn September 2011, the 10th generation members Kudo Haruka, Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi, and Sato Masaki were added.<\/p>\n

Their 50th single One Two Three \/ The Matenrou Show (One\u30fbTwo\u30fbThree\uff0fThe \u6469\u5929\u697c\u30b7\u30e7\u30fc)<\/span> was released in July 2012.<\/p>\n

Tanaka Reina graduated in May 2013. She formed the female rock band LoVendo\u042f<\/a> along with 3 other girls.<\/p>\n

\"MorningIn December 2013, Tsunku\u2642 announced that the idol group changed its name to Morning Musume ’14<\/a> and that its name will change yearly. The idea is to help the fans to know whic period the songs and the members belong to.<\/p>\n

In early 2014, Morning Musume ’14 and the comedy duo Morisanchu (\u68ee\u4e09\u4e2d) formed the special unit Morimusu<\/a> (\u30e2\u30ea\u5a18\u3002). They collaborated together to promote the campaign of the Japanese mobile phone company au<\/span> about student discount. The members even turned into grandmothers<\/a> for a TV CM.<\/p>\n

Ogata Haruna, Nonaka Miki, Haga Akane, Makino Maria became Morning Musume 12th generation<\/a> members in September 2014. Haga Akane and Makino Maria are former Hello! Pro Kenshuusei.<\/p>\n

The idol group gave a concert in New York<\/a>, USA, in October 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michishige Sayumi<\/a> graduated in autumn 2014. She is the member with the longest tenure with a total of\u00a04329 days.<\/p>\n

Suzuki Kanon’s radio show Kannon Smile (\u30ab\u30f3\u30ce\u30f3\u30b9\u30de\u30a4\u30eb)<\/span> is broadcast on CBC Radio since December 2014.<\/p>\n

\"MorningMorning Musume ’15 performed the theme song for the movie PreCure All Stars Haru no Carnival<\/a> (\u6620\u753b\u30d7\u30ea\u30ad\u30e5\u30a2\u30aa\u30fc\u30eb\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc\u30ba \u6625\u306e\u30ab\u30fc\u30cb\u30d0\u30eb\u266a)<\/span> which is going to be released in March 2015. The song is titled Ima Koko Kara (\u30a4\u30de\u30b3\u30b3\u30ab\u30e9)<\/span>. It is available on Morning Musume’s 58th single Seishun Kozou ga Naiteiru \/ Yuugure wa Ameagari \/ Ima Koko Kara<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi and Oda Sakura have done voice acting in the\u00a0PreCure<\/span> movie.<\/p>\n

Sayashi Riho<\/a> graduated from Morning Musume ’16 and Hello! Project in December 2015 in order to study abroad.<\/p>\n

\"MorningTsunku wrote the lyrics and composed the music of the 3 songs of their 60th single\u00a0Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi \/ Endless Sky \/ One and Only<\/span><\/a> released in December 2015. The latter was the opening theme for the TV show J-Melo<\/span> on NHK World.<\/p>\n

Nonaka Miki<\/a> suffered fractured left foot in February 2016. She had to take a rest for 4 weeks.<\/p>\n

In February 2016, Nonaka Miki started English narration for the information program ch223 2016 The Best Graduation trip in Japan!? (ch223 2016 \u65e5\u672c\u4e00\u306e\u5352\u696d\u65c5\u884c!?)<\/span> airing on Pink!ss Channel. She grew up in the United States, and she lived there 8 years.<\/p>\n

\"MorningMorning Musume ’16 gave a concert in Houston, USA, in February 2016. They were the guests of Anime Matsuri<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The members of the idol group made an appearance in TV Tokyo’s drama Sono “Okodawari”, Watashi ni mo Kure yo!! (\u305d\u306e\u300c\u304a\u3053\u3060\u308f\u308a\u300d\u3001\u79c1\u306b\u3082\u304f\u308c\u3088!!)<\/span> in March 2016.<\/p>\n

\"Morning<\/p>\n

Suzuki Kanon<\/a> graduated in May, on the last day of Morning Musume ’16 Spring 2016 Concert Tour at Nippon Budokan. For the future, she wants to have a job related to the welfare.<\/p>\n

The idol group’s 61st single Utaka Saturday Night \/ The Vision \/ Tokyo to Iu Katasumi<\/a> (\u6ce1\u6cab\u30b5\u30bf\u30c7\u30fc\u30ca\u30a4\u30c8 \/ The Vision \/ Tokyo\u3068\u3044\u3046\u7247\u9685)<\/span>, on sale in May 2016, is the last one featuring Suzuki Kanon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MorningThe girls were starring in the stage play Zoku 11 Nin Iru! Higashi no Chihei Nishi no Towa (\u7d9a\u30fb11\u4eba\u3044\u308b\uff01\u6771\u306e\u5730\u5e73\u30fb\u897f\u306e\u6c38\u9060)<\/span> in June 2016. The story is based on the manga of the same name by Hagio Moto.<\/p>\n

Momosu’s 62nd single Sou Janai \/ Sexy Cast no Enzetsu \/ Mukidashi de Mukiatte<\/a> (\u305d\u3046\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044\uff0f\u30bb\u30af\u30b7\u30fc\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30c8\u306e\u6f14\u8aac\uff0f\u30e0\u30ad\u30c0\u30b7\u3067\u5411\u304d\u5408\u3063\u3066)<\/span> was released in November 2016.<\/p>\n

In December 2016, their live performance scheduled in Hokkaido was cancelled<\/a> due to bad weather. The plane carrying the girls was prevented from landing at Sapporo airport because of the snow. <\/span><\/span>The event was part of Morning Musume ’16 Autumn Concert Tour ~My Vision~<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Morning Musume 13th generation<\/a> members Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina were introduced in December 2016.<\/p>\n

Profile<\/h2>\n