Morning Musume

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Morning Musume as of February 2006

Morning Musume (モーニング娘。) is the main group of idol stable Hello! Project. With seven original albums to their name and two best-ofs, they still reign as one of the leading all girl groups in Japan.

Biography

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Morning Musume's First Generation

1997, the year Sharan Q holds auditions for a female rock vocalist on the variety show, ASAYAN. After a great many of cuts, a group of 11 finalists had come out. Of those, Heike Michiyo stood proud as the winner. After lack-luster sales for Miss Heike, Tsunku gave five of the runner-ups a challenge. Form a group and release a single. Sell 50,000 copies of this single in five days and get a record deal. The group was dubbed Morning Musume and released the single Ai no Tane. Needless to say, they met the challenge.

Members

First Generation

• Nakazawa Yuuko (中澤裕子, graduated in April 2001)
• Iida Kaori (飯田圭織, graduated in January 2005)
• Ishiguro Aya (石黒彩, graduated in January 2000)
• Abe Natsumi (安倍なつみ, graduated in January 2004)
• Fukuda Asuka (福田明日香, graduated in April 1999)

Second Generation

• Yasuda Kei (保田圭, graduated in May 2003)
• Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里, "resigned" on April 14, 2005)
• Ichii Sayaka (市井紗耶香, graduated in May 2000)

Third Generation

• Goto Maki (後藤真希, graduated in September 2002)

Fourth Generation

• Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華, graduated in May 2005)
• Yoshizawa Hitomi (吉澤ひとみ)
• Tsuji Nozomi (辻希美, graduated in August 2004)
• Kago Ai (加護亜依, graduated in August 2004)

Fifth Generation

• Takahashi Ai (高橋愛)
• Konno Asami (紺野あさ美)
• Ogawa Makoto (小川麻琴)
• Niigaki Risa (新垣里沙)

Sixth Generation

• Fujimoto Miki (藤本美貴)
• Kamei Eri (亀井絵里)
• Michishige Sayumi (道重さゆみ)
• Tanaka Reina (田中れいな)

Seventh Generation

• Kusumi Koharu (久住小春)

Discography

Albums

• First Time
• Second Morning
• 3rd -LOVE Paradise-
• 4th Ikimasshoi!
• No.5
• Ai no Dai 6 Kan
• RAINBOW 7

Singles

Indies

• ai no tane (愛の種)

Major Label

• Morning Coffee (モーニングコーヒー)
• Summer Night Town (サマーナイトタウン / First single with 2nd gen)
• daite HOLD ON ME! (抱いてHOLD ON ME！)