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Morning Musume

Revision as of 06:49, 1 September 2009 by Risa (talk | contribs) (→‎Singles)
Back: Linlin, Mitsui Aika, Junjun; Middle: Niigaki Risa, Michishige Sayumi, Kamei Eri; Front: Tanaka Reina, Takahashi Ai, Kusumi Koharu

Morning Musume(モーニング娘。, Mōningu Musume), sometimes referred to as MoMusu (モームス。) or Momusume (often in news, モー娘。), and since their expansion into the Chinese market in 2007, the group officially adopted the name Jou An Sao Nu Jou (Zao An Shao Nu Zu, Traditional Chinese:早安少女組。). They are the lead group of the Hello! Project. Beginning back in 1997 on a talent show called ASAYAN, it quickly became, and still remains one of Japan's top all girl groups with a number of hit records and albums. They have sold over 16,342,303, copies in Japan alone. They were masterminded and managed by their producer Tsunku who is responsible for the composition of the majority of their songs and lyrics, production of their CD-sleeve covers, designing of their costumes and make-up and their live shows. Currently, they hold the record of having the highest overall single sales (of a female group) on the Oricon charts.

The group is particularly well-known for its ever fluctuating line-up, with "graduations" and auditions occurring nearly each year. 2008 was the only year so far in which no line-up changes occurred and the 9 member current line-up has been the longest unchanging line-up so far going over 2 years with no graduations or new members. This was to give the Japanese fans a chance to recognize their names and faces of the Morning Musume members.

History

In 1997, Sharam Q held a series of auditions on ASAYAN to find a female vocalist. The number of people who auditioned were eventually whittled down to 11, and Heike Michiyo was chosen as the winner. The five runners up were challenged by Tsunku to form a group and release a single, with the incentive that if they could sell 50,000 records in five days they would receive a record deal. Given the name Morning Musume, they recorded Ai no Tane and successfully completed his challenge.

After releasing their first official single, Morning Coffee, another audition was held and three more members were added to the group. This began a series of additions and 'graduations' which have seen members come and go, some remaining in Hello! Project as solo artists or in other units, and some retiring from the music business. In past years, members also took part in subgroups, such as Sakuragumi and Otomegumi; Tanpopo, Petitmoni, and Minimoni, which released their own singles and albums.

In April 2000, the group began hosting a television variety show called Hello! Morning which further increased its popularity. They also star in a number of their own musicals, which are usually done also every year in the summertime. A massive amount of Morning Musume merchandise has been released such as calendars, photobooks, posters, etc. They have even starred in their own Playstation 2 game called Space Venus.

The group has gone through many changes in recent years with the graduation of the long-time leader and last remaining original member Iida Kaori in January 2005, the sudden resignation of then-leader Yaguchi Mari on April 14, 2005, and the addition of Kusumi Koharu and graduation of Ishikawa Rika in May 2005.

2006 was no different, with the graduations of Konno Asami on July 23, 2006 and Ogawa Makoto on August 27, 2006, as well as the addition of Mitsui Aika on December 10, 2006.

On March 15th, 2007, Tsunku announced that Junjun and Linlin, two "exchange students" from China, will join as members of the 8th generation. Leader Yoshizawa Hitomi graduated from Morning Musume on May 6th, 2007, and Fujimoto Miki became the new leader with Takahashi Ai the sub-leader. However, on June 1st, 2007, it was reported that Fujimoto Miki had left Morning Musume on her own accord, and that Takahashi Ai became the leader and Niigaki Risa took Takahashi's place as sub-leader. Takahashi Ai and Niigaki Risa have now become the longest members to stay in Morning Musume.

On October 24, 2007, an album containing all 34 singles of the group to date was released followed by a DVD Collection of Promotional Videos.

Their 35th single, Mikan, was released on November 21, 2007.

Morning Musume, along with Berryz Koubou and °C-ute, perfomed at NHK network's 58th Kouhaku Uta Gassen on New Year's. It is the most-watched show each year in Japan. It is their tenth appearance on the show.

On August 12, 2009 they will release their Commemorative 40th single called Nanchatte Renai.

Members

First Generation (1997)

Second Generation (1998)

Third Generation (1999)

  • Goto Maki (後藤真希, graduated September 23, 2002)

Fourth Generation (2000)

Fifth Generation (2001)

Sixth Generation (2003)

Seventh Generation (2005)

Eighth Generation (2006-2007)

Discography

Singles

No. Title Release date First week sales Total sales Highest rank
0 愛の種 (Ai no Tane) 1997.11.03 <50,000 50,000 -
1 モーニングコーヒー (Morning Coffee) 1998.01.28 95,060 200,790 6
2 サマーナイトタウン (Summer Night Town) 1998.05.27 86,670 417,330 4
3 抱いてHOLD ON ME! (Daite HOLD ON ME!) 1998.09.09 183,500 497,120 1
4 Memory 青春の光 (Memory Seishun no Hikari) 1999.02.10 195,720 410,850 2
5 真夏の光線 (Manatsu no Kousen) 1999.05.12 122,610 235,010 3
6 ふるさと (Furusato) 1999.07.14 102,750 170,670 5
7 LOVEマシーン (LOVE Machine) 1999.09.09 241,540 1,646,630 1
8 恋のダンスサイト (Koi no Dance Site) 2000.01.26 600,860 1,229,970 2
9 ハッピーサマーウェディング (Happy Summer Wedding) 2000.05.17 471,270 990,950 1
10 I WISH 2000.09.06 407,350 654,640 1
11 恋愛レボリューション21 (Renai Revolution 21) 2000.12.13 515,490 986,040 2
12 ザ☆ピ~ス! (The☆Pea~ce!) 2001.07.25 310,810 682,320 1
13 Mr. Moonlight ~愛のビッグバンド~ (Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~) 2001.10.31 308,940 513,340 1
14 そうだ! We're ALIVE (Souda! We're ALIVE) 2002.02.20 272,950 443,630 1
15 Do it! Now 2002.07.24 180,490 310,600 3
16 ここにいるぜぇ! (Koko ni Iruzee!) 2002.10.30 139,070 228,542 1
17 モーニング娘。のひょっこりひょうたん島 (Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima) 2003.02.19 72,594 151,342 4
18 AS FOR ONE DAY 2003.04.23 84,251 129,893 1
19 シャボン玉 (Shabondama) 2003.07.30 98,028 151,104 2
20 Go Girl ~恋のヴィクトリー~ (Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~) 2003.11.06 73,884 145,340 4
21 愛あらばIT'S ALL RIGHT (Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT) 2004.01.21 78,142 108,368 2
22 浪漫 ~MY DEAR BOY~ (Roman ~MY DEAR BOY~) 2004.05.12 67,144 87,255 4
23 女子かしまし物語 (Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari) 2004.07.22 58,435 91,789 3
24 涙が止まらない放課後 (Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago) 2004.11.03 50,967 65,873 4
25 THE マンパワー!!! (THE Manpower!!!) 2005.01.19 51,421 67,860 4
26 大阪 恋の歌 (Osaka Koi no Uta) 2005.04.27 46,945 59,287 2
27 色っぽい じれったい (Iroppoi Jirettai) 2005.07.27 68,009 82,200 4
28 直感2 ~逃した魚は大きいぞ!~ (Chokkan 2 ~Nogashita Sakana wa Ookiizo!~) 2005.11.09 43,535 54,428 4
29 SEXY BOY ~そよ風に寄り添って~ (SEXY BOY ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~) 2006.03.15 36,531 48,667 4
30 Ambitious! 野心的でいいじゃん (Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii jan) 2006.06.21 37,065 47,159 4
31 歩いてる (Aruiteru) 2006.11.08 40,967 55,694 1
32 笑顔YESヌード (Egao YES Nude) 2007.02.14 40,884 53,047 4
33 悲しみトワイライト (Kanashimi Twilight) 2007.04.25 53,551 61,322 2
34 女に 幸あれ (Onna ni Sachi Are) 2007.07.25 43,364 50,812 2
35 みかん (Mikan) 2007.11.21 28,082 38,667 6
36 リゾナント ブルー (Resonant Blue) 2008.04.16 48,086 55,531 3
37 ペッパー警部 (Pepper Keibu) 2008.09.24 38,596 46,067 3
38 泣いちゃうかも (Naichau Kamo) 2009.02.18 44,121 50,313 3
39 しょうがない 夢追い人 (Shouganai Yume Oibito) 2009.05.13 47,528 53,950 1
40 なんちゃって恋愛 (Nanchatte Renai) 2009.08.12 54,973 68,401* 2

Studio Albums

No. Title Release date First week sales Total sales Highest rank
1 ファーストタイム (First Time) 1998.07.08 163,250 310,290 4
2 セカンドモーニング (Second Morning) 1999.07.28 251,850 428,990 3
3 3rd-LOVEパラダイス- (3rd -LOVE Paradise-) 2000.03.29 578,250 863,300 2
4 4th いきまっしょい！ (4th Ikimasshoi!) 2002.03.27 326,430 515,440 1
5 No.5 2003.03.26 122,136 175,292 1
6 愛の第6感 (Ai no Dai 6 Kan) 2004.12.08 51,736 73,333 7
7 レインボー7 (Rainbow 7) 2006.02.15 35,672 44,714 7
7.5 7.5冬冬モーニング娘。ミニ! (7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!) 2006.12.13 23,903 29,645 14
8 SEXY 8 BEAT 2007.03.21 24,638 31,819 7
-- COVER YOU 2008.11.26 9,824 12,037 27
9 プラチナ 9 DISC (Platinum 9 DISC) 2009.03.18 14,704 19,143* 13

Best Albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
ベスト! モーニング娘。1 (Best! Morning Musume 1) 2001.01.31 1,218,990 2,259,510
ベスト! モーニング娘。2 (Best! Morning Musume 2) 2004.03.31 127,587 180,897
モーニング娘。EARLY SINGLE BOX (Morning Musume EARLY SINGLE BOX) 2004.12.15 11,835 13,451
モーニング娘。ALL SINGLES COMPLETE ~10th ANNIVERSARY~
(Morning Musume ALL SINGLES COMPLETE ~10th ANNIVERSARY~) 		2007.10.24 30,922 47,130
モーニング娘。 全シングル カップリングコレクション (Morning Musume Zen Single Coupling Collection) 2009.10.07

Soundtracks and Other Albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
モーニング刑事。 抱いてHOLD ON ME! (Morning Cop OST) 1998.09.30 26,350 41,330
ピンチランナー (Pinch Runner OST) 2000.07.05 16,550 22,270
モーニング娘。のミュージカル｢LOVEセンチュリー -夢はみなけりゃ始まらない-｣
(Morning Musume no Musical "LOVE Century -Yume wa Minakerya Hajimaranai-") 		2001.08.01 60,880 80,820
ハワイアンで聞くモーニング娘。シングルコレクション (Hawaiian de kiku Morning Musume. Single Collection) 2002.07.10 11,590 16,130
モーニング娘。のミュージカル｢モーニング･タウン｣ (Morning Musume no Musical "Morning Town") 2002.07.17 16,210 21,390
仔犬ダンの物語　オリジナルサウンドトラック (Koinu Dan no Monogatari Original Soundtrack) 2003.02.14 3,929 7,286
モーニング娘。のミュージカル｢江戸っ娘。忠臣蔵｣ (Morning Musume no Musical "Edokko Chushingura") 2003.07.02 4,559 5,875
「リボンの騎士　ザ・ミュージカル」ソング・セレクション (Ribbon no Kishi The Musical Song Selection) 2006.07.26 6,038 7,465

Concert DVDs

PV Collection DVDs

Theater DVDs

Other DVDs

Filmography

Auditions

Auditions are held periodically to find and add new members to Morning Musume. Follow the links for more details.

For other Hello! Project auditions see Hello! Project#Auditions.

Timeline

File:6660bfa7745add51d467b32b53bf26ed.png

See also: Morning Musume Events Timeline and Morning Musume Member Count Timeline

1996

1997 (ASAYAN Sharan Q Auditions)

Morning Musume. (1997)
  • APRIL
    • 13 - Fukuoka preliminary round (broadcast 11-25 May)
    • 27 - ASAYAN broadcast - Talk with Sharan Q about the auditions and clips of Fukuoka audition.
  • AUGUST
    • 03 - ASAYAN broadcast - Sapporo audition part 2. Winners: Iida Kaori/Ishiguro Aya/Abe Natsumi)
    • 03 - Recorded interviews & studio dance performance shown on Aug 24th show
    • 04 - Recorded appearance on ASAYAN
    • 10 - ASAYAN BROADCAST (showing the girls at home + training in temple)
    • 10 - Sharan Q decide the winner and videotape their decision, to be shown to the girls on 31 Aug.
    • 14 - Recorded ASAYAN show. Heike Michiyo chosen from final 11 as winner
    • 17 - ASAYAN BROADCAST (training in temple)
    • 20 - 5 of the 10 "losers" are asked back and Tsunku tells them he wants them to form a group
    • 24 - ASAYAN BROADCAST (brief clips of what's happened so far, then the 11 finalists dance in the studio and are interviewed - recorded 3+4 Aug)
    • 31 - ASAYAN BROADCAST (recorded Aug 14th)
  • SEPTEMBER
    • 07 - ASAYAN BROADCAST (recorded Aug 20th)
      • Tsunku announces if they sell 50,000 "Ai no Tane" singles in 5 days he'll give them a record deal.
    • 08 - Tsunku names the group Morning Musume
    • 14 - ASAYAN BROADCAST - Tsunku names the group "Morning Musume" (recorded Sept 8th)
    • 21 - ASAYAN BROADCAST
    • 23 - Recording Ai no Tane
    • 25 - Recording Ai no Tane
    • 28 - ASAYAN BROADCAST - voice training & CD jacket photo shoot
  • NOVEMBER
    • 02 - ASAYAN BROADCAST - Ai no Tane promotion campaign & performance
    • 03 - Ai no Tane single released
    • 03 - Day 1 of selling "Ai no Tane". Event at HMV, Osaka. 16,610 CDs sold
    • 05 - Heike Michiyo - "GET" single released
    • 06 - Heike Michiyo debut at Nippon Budokan
    • 09 - Day 2 of selling "Ai no Tane". Event at HMV, Fukuoka. 9,004 CDs sold
    • 09 - ASAYAN broadcast - Ai no Tane promotion campaign
    • 16 - ASAYAN broadcast - CD selling in Osaka & Fukuoka
    • 23 - ASAYAN broadcast - Ai no Tane promotion campaign & Heike Michiyo "GET" performance
    • 24 - Day 3 of selling "Ai no Tane". Event at Sapporo. 14,853 CDs sold
    • 30 - Day 4 of selling "Ai no Tane". Event at Nagoya Ball Park. (9,533 CDs sold). 50,000 total.
      • (Osaka: 16,610, Fukuoka: 9,004, Sapporo: 1,4853, Nagoya: 9,533) "Thank you truly. Our dream of debut has been granted, it is delightful it truly is. Thank you truly."
    • 30 - ASAYAN broadcast - CD selling in Sapporo
  • DECEMBER
    • 02 - Learning 3 songs - どうにかして土曜日 (Dou ni ka Shite Doyoubi), モーニングコーヒー (Morning Coffee), ウソつきあんた (Usotsuki Anta)
    • 03 - In recording studio recording the 3 songs
    • 04 - Mixing and deciding which one to choose
    • 05 - Tsunku chooses Morning Coffee and decides Abe Natsumi to sing main melody
    • 07 - ASAYAN broadcast - CD selling event at Nagoya Ball Park. Ai no Tane 50,000 copies sold
    • 14 - ASAYAN broadcast - in studio recording 3 songs (recorded Dec 2-5)
    • 21 - ASAYAN broadcast - in studio recording 3 songs (recorded Dec 2-5)
    • 28 - ASAYAN broadcast - Morning Coffee chosen, posing for photos, dance lesson

1998

Morning Musume. (1998)
  • MARCH
    • 01 - ASAYAN broadcast - photo shoot in Saipan
    • 12 - Tsunku announces Morning Musume to get 3 new members
  • APRIL
    • 20 - Morning Musume meet the 3 new members for first time
    • 30 - 8nin Morning Musume 1st appearance in ASAYAN

1999

Morning Musume. (1999)

2000

Morning Musume (2000)
  • SEPTEMBER

2001

Morning Musume (2001)
  • AUGUST

2002

Morning Musume (2002)

2003

Morning Musume (2003)
  • JANUARY
  • MARCH
    • 26 - Fifth album - No.5
  • JUNE

2004

Morning Musume (2004)

2005

Morning Musume (2005)
  • SEPTEMBER
    • 15 - Arrives in Hong Kong for a fan club tour
  • DECEMBER
    • 31 - Morning Musume performs LOVE Machine at the 56th Kouhaku alongside all former Morning Musume members still active in Hello! Project.

2006

Morning Musume. (post-August 2006)

2007

Morning Musume in Kanashimi Twilight outfits
  • MAY
    • 01 - Morning Musume becomes the highest selling female group in Japan
    • 06 - Yoshizawa Hitomi graduation
  • JUNE
    • 01 - Fujimoto Miki resigns from Morning Musume. Takahashi Ai and Niigaki Risa became the new leader and the new sub-leader
    • 08 - Takahashi Ai and Kusumi Koharu go as spokepersons in "Nihon TV eco week" opening ceremony.
Takahashi, Niigaki and Kusumi in Korea
Morning Musume in Taiwan
  • OCTOBER
    • 24 - Morning Musume's compilation of all singles for tenth anniversary - Morning Musume ALL SINGLES COMPLETE ~10th Anniversary~
    • 26 - Takahashi Ai, Niigaki Risa and Kusumi Koharu arrive in Korea to the compilation of all singles album. Press conference, apperance in MAY BEE radio show with Takahashi and Niigaki
    • 27 - Handshake event in Korea with said members. Footage of their promotional activities was broadcasted by M.Net Star Watch on 2007.11.02
    • 29 - Morning Musume arrive in Taiwan to promote the compilation of all singles album. FC live event (Performances: LOVE Machine, The Peace!, Renai Revolution 21, Onna ni Sachi Are, Chance! (Kusumi). Broadcasted by Saturday Night Fever on 2007.11.11). Radio appearance by Takahashi, Niigaki, Michishige and Junjun (the rest of the girls stayed at their hotel)
    • 30 - Handshake event in Korea with Morning Musume. Footage of their promotional activities was broadcasted by MTV Taiwan on 2007.12.02
  • NOVEMBER
  • DECEMBER
    • 31 - Morning Musume performs a medley named Special LOVE Mix ～Shiawase no Heisei 20 Shuunen Ver.～ alongside Berryz Koubou and °C-ute at the 58th Kouhaku.

2008

  • APRIL
    • 16 - 36th Single - Resonant Blue. Takahashi Ai, Tanaka Reina and Junjun one day visit to Taiwan for promoting Resonant Blue (released in Taiwan on the same day as Japan) and the 2008 Taiwan concert (one press conference and apperances in three TV shows and one radio show)
Junjun and Linlin in Shangai
  • MAY
    • 11 - Resonant Blue handshake events
    • 24 - Morning Musume 2008 Concert Tour in Taiwan (in TWTC Nangang)
    • 26 - Junjun and Linlin travel to China to donate 1,092,607 yen (fundraising done during Biyuuden's Final FC Bus Tour in Enshuu and Morning Musume's 2007 overseas activities) to Shanghai charity for Sichuan victims.
  • JUNE
    • 1 - Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Live Tour in Korea 2008 (in Olimpic Park, Olimpic Hall - 4,300 seats)
    • 28 - Morning Musume concert in Shangai
  • AUGUST
    • 6 - Morning Musume x Takarazuka Cinderella The Musical begins
    • 25 - Morning Musume x Takarazuka Cinderella The Musical ends
  • OCTOBER
    • 19 - Pepper Keibu handshake events

2009

  • FEBRUARY
    • 18 - 38th single - Naichau Kamo
    • 21 - Naichau Kamo handshake events (1)
  • MAY
    • 13 - 39th single - Shouganai Yume Oibito
    • 19 - Morning Musume becomes the #2 group in Japan with the most singles (39) in Oricon's top 10, only behind SMAP (43)
    • 30 - Shouganai Yume Oibito handshake events (1)
  • JUNE
    • 20 - Shouganai Yume Oibito handshake events (2)
  • JULY
    • 3 - Morning Musume performs in Anime Expo 2009 (Los Angeles Convention Center)
  • SEPTEMBER
    • 19 - Start of 2009 Fall tour

Gallery

File:85px-092original8dz.jpg

Morning Musume, 1997, promoting Morning Coffee

File:120px-Momusu1998.jpg

Morning Musume, 1998, promoting Summer Night Town

File:88px-Momusu19994dn.jpg

Morning Musume, 1999, promoting LOVE Machine

File:120px-776598723l.jpg

Morning Musume, 2000, promoting I WISH

File:120px-MM27.jpg

Morning Musume, 2001, promoting Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~

File:85px-407373462l.jpg

Morning Musume, 2003, promoting Shabondama

File:85px-970353795l.jpg

Morning Musume, 2006, promoting Iroppoi Jirettai

File:120px-MorningMusume2.jpg

Morning Musume, 2007, promoting Onna ni Sachi Are

External Links

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Hello! Project: Morning Musume '24
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