Niigaki Risa
Niigaki Risa (新垣里沙) is a fifth generation member and the current sub-leader of Morning Musume.
Contents
Profile
- Name: Niigaki Risa (新垣里沙)
- Nicknames: Gaki-san, Omame-chan, Niinii, MC Gaki, Gaki-han
- Birthdate: October 20, 1988
- Birthplace: Kagoshima, Japan (Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)
- Blood Type: B
- Height: 154.4 cm (5'0.8")
- Hobby: Nail-art, walking, Deco Art, Studying Korean Hangul
- Favorite food: Monjayaki
- Disliked food: Fried meat
- Favorite saying: "Never let go, no matter what, and keep trying!"
- Favorite colors: Green, light blue, pink, white, yellow
- Favorite flower: Sunflowers
- Favorite season: Winter
- Specialty: Mayuge beam/wave, "I'm in the middle of practicing my robot dance... (laugh)" [1]
- Hello! Project Groups:
- Morning Musume (2001–)
- Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai (2007)
- Athena & Robikerottsu (2007–2008)
- ZYX-α (2009–)
- Subgroups:
- Tanpopo (2002)
- Morning Musume Sakuragumi (2003–2004)
- Concert Units:
- Hello! Project Akagumi (2005)
- Wonderful Hearts (2006–)
- Shuffle Units:
- 2002: Happy 7
- 2003: 7AIR
- 2004: H.P. All Stars
- Other:
- POCKY GIRLS (2002)
- Metro Rabbits H.P. (2006–)
History
Niigaki Risa was selected from Love Audition 21 to join Morning Musume as a fifth generation member on August 26, 2001, along with Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, and Ogawa Makoto. She made her debut appearance on the single "Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~," and first appeared on the fourth studio album, "4th Ikimasshoi!".
Prior to joining Morning Musume, Niigaki was a finalist out of 1,000 entrants in the "Kiss Girl Audition" to become the new Tomy image girl, held by TV Tokyo's "Oha Star" program. She appeared in a commercial for Tomy Karaoke Machine Kiss-site. (Niigaki later starred in a commercial for the same company as a part of Morning Musume). Additionally, she did some work as a magazine model since spring 2000.
In September 2002, the fifth generation members were placed into the Morning Musume subgroups, so Niigaki was added to the Tanpopo roster along with Konno Asami and participated in one single, "BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee."
Niigaki was placed in Morning Musume Sakuragumi in January 2003 and released two singles as a part of the group before it went inactive.
In March 2006, she became a member of the kickball team Metro Rabbits H.P.
Niigaki became Morning Musume's sub-leader on June 1, 2007, after Takahashi Ai became leader following Fujimoto Miki's resignation.
Since Tsuji Nozomi went on maternity leave, Niigaki replaced her as the voice of Athena from the anime "Robby to Kerobby".
Photobooks
- [2004.10.06] 新垣里沙 (Niigaki Risa) amazon.co.jp
- [2006.06.24] あま夏 (Amanatsu) amazon.co.jp
- [2007.05.26] 一瞬 (Isshun) amazon.co.jp
- [2008.04.25] Happy Girl amazon.co.jp
- [2002.08.13] 5 モーニング娘。5期メンバー (5 Morning Musume. 5ki Members) (With Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto) amazon.co.jp
Works
Movies
- [2002] とっかえっ娘。 (Tokkaekko)
- [2003] 子犬ダンの物語 (Koinu Dan no Monogatari)
DVDs
- [2007.06.13] アロハロ！新垣里沙 DVD (Alo Hello! Niigaki Risa DVD)
- [2009.01.21] アロハロ! 2 新垣里沙 DVD (Alo Hello! 2 Niigaki Risa DVD)
TV Dramas
- [2002] おれがあいつであいつがおれで (Ore ga Aitsu de Aitsu ga Ore de)
- [2002] はいからさんが通る (Haikara-san ga Tooru)
- [2002] エンジェールハーツ (Angel Hearts)
- [2008] ヒットメーカー 阿久悠物語 (Hitmaker Aku Yu Monogatari)
Radio
- [2002–2003] タンポポ編集部 OH-SO-RO! (Tanpopo Henshubu OH-SO-RO!)
- [2007–2008] GAKI*KAME (with Kamei Eri)
- [2009] Five Stars (with Kamei Eri)
Musicals
- [2006] リッボンの騎士ザ・ミュージカル (Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical)
- [2008] シンデレラ the ミュージカル (Cinderella the Musical)
Anime
- [2007–2008] ロビーとケロビー (Robby to Kerobby)
Trivia
- Love Audition 21 audition songs:
- Round 1: "Otome Pasta ni Kandou" (Tanpopo)
- Round 2: "Chu! Natsu Party" (3nin Matsuri)
- Although born in Kagoshima, Niigaki moved at age 6 to Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Her grandparents are from Okinawa.
- Niigaki's original nickname, "Omame," was given to her by Yaguchi Mari shortly after Niigaki joined Morning Musume; mame means "bean," and it supposedly referred to Niigaki's large, bean-shaped head. She was later given the nickname "Gaki-san" by Okamura Takashi during the Mechaike Bakajo Kimatsu Test; gaki means "kid" or "brat," making the nickname a pun on the fact that she was the youngest member of Morning Musume at the time. In the years since then, "Gaki-san" (usually pronounced "Gakksan") has become her most frequently used nickname among both the fans and the other members of the group, although some graduated members still call her "Mame-chan."
- Only Goto Maki calls her "Nii Nii".
- Has stated that she has excellent vision and that she can clearly see the faces of the audience in the very back row of a performance hall, as well as on the second and third floors.
- Her trademark "Mayuge Beam" ("Eyebrow Beam") move is derived from the "Sexy Beam" move from "Koi no Dance Site". Niigaki has said that her favorite part of her face are her eyebrows.
- Calls her grandmother "Baba-chan."
- Was a big fan of Morning Musume before joining the group, and even collected bromides and telephone cards.
- Named Abe Natsumi as the member she admired the most. Stated in Music Fighter that when she was young asked her mother to cut her hair like Abe's which made her looked like Gegege no Kitaro instead, leaving her traumatized.
- Is close friends with Takahashi Ai and Kamei Eri.
- She and Takahashi Ai currently have the longest tenures of any Morning Musume members.
- She said in a 2004 interview that her rivals were fellow 5th generation members Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, and Ogawa Makoto.
- To date, she is the youngest member of Morning Musume to become sub-leader, at only 18.
- She is allergic to pollen.
- Her shoe size is 37.
- Has said that the song that gets her fired up at concerts is "HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN? ~Nihon wa Donna Kanji Dekka?~" and the song that fits her perfectly is "Shanimuni Paradise".
- These are her opinions of the characters of the other Morning Musume members:
- Takahashi Ai: Sabaa! (Refreshing!)
- Kamei Eri: PPP!! (Poke Poke Puu~)
- Michishige Sayumi: Surprisingly quick!!!
- Tanaka Reina: Hyper Hyper Girl.
- Kusumi Koharu: Does things at her own pace.
- Mitsui Aika: Intelligent.
- Junjun: Crybaby.
- Linlin: Interesting.
- These are the other members' opinions on Niigaki's character:
- Takahashi: Reliable person.
- Kamei: Sparkling!!
- Michishige: Nice!!
- Tanaka: Reliable.
- Kusumi: Reliable.
- Mitsui: Reliable.
- Junjun: Hardworking.
- Linlin: Green princess.
External Links
