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is an ultra-commercialized all-girl J-pop group from Japan that often changes its members. It is also known as . Their act revolves around singing and dancing to generally upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of the Hello! Project, masterminded by Tsunku.
'Musume' means daughter or girl, hence the name 'Morning Girls'.
History
Japanese producer Tsunku started the group in 1997 through a female rock vocalist audition for his band Sharam Q held on the Japanese TV show "Asayan". The winner of the audition was Heike Michiyo, later to become a soloist part of Hello! Project. Soon afterwards Tsunku decided to form a girl group consisting of five of the runners-up. They were issued a challenge to sell 50,000 copies of their demo single, "Ai no Tane," within 5 days. They managed the feat in four days in a very grassroots manner, and Tsunku kept on with his mission to create one of the most famous all-girl groups, giving them dance and vocal lessons. The group is particularly well-known for its shuffled line-up, with "graduations" occurring each year ("retiring" a girl from the group), then holding auditions to fill in open slots.
In the beginning of 1998 the girls were ready to start off with their first official single, "Morning Coffee". The success of this single (hitting No. 6 on the Japanese pop charts) brought them 3 new members: Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, and Sayaka Ichii, for a total of 8. Their third single "Daite! HOLD ON ME" hit #1 on the charts. During this time, leader Yuko Nakazawa started her solo career.
In 1999, after several more releases, Asuka Fukuda left the group in order to focus on her studies. Also Tanpopo, the first subgroup, was formed with Kaori Iida, Aya Ishiguro, and Mari Yaguchi--touting slower, more mature songs.
Expectations for the third generation audition were to admit two new girls to the group, but ultimately, only one girl was added to the group, Maki Goto, the youngest member of the group at thirteen. The success of the 7th single, "LOVE Machine," with the addition of Goto, dramatically increased the idol popularity of the group, while arguably making Goto the most popular member of Morning Musume.
This is furthered by placing Maki with Kei Yasuda and Sayaka Ichii to form subgroup Petitmoni (also known as Pucchi moni), which released their first single "Chokotto Love" three months after "LOVE machine" to great success.
In 2000, Aya Ishiguro left the group to marry Shinya, drummer of J-Rock band LUNA SEA. The 7-member group made one more single "Koi no Dance Site" before another generation joined. It consisted of Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Nozomi Tsuji, and Ai Kago, and gave the group a completely different feel by adding in the young 12-year-old duo of Tsuji and Kago.
After the single "Happy Summer Wedding" in this 11-member formation, Sayaka Ichii graduated to pursue her own music career. She became vocalist in Japanese group Cubic Cross and later married fellow group member Naoki Yoshizawa, no relation to Hitomi Yoshizawa.
With Ishiguro and Ichii gone, both Tanpopo and Petitmoni updated their membership. Hitomi Yoshizawa joined Petitmoni, and Ai Kago & Rika Ishikawa were added to Tanpopo. Meanwhile, Mari Yaguchi had started performing informally with Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji in concerts as Mini Moni, a group tailored towards younger audiences with members all being less than 150 centimeters tall (about 5 feet). Mika Todd of Coconuts Musume was later added into the group and Tsunku made them official. Their debut single, "Minimoni Jankenpyon!", was a #1 hit.
2000 also saw the creation of "Summer Shuffle Units," in which all members of Tsunku's big idol family, Hello! Project, were shuffled around to form three one-time summer groups.
As an idol group, they were extremely successful, drawing comparisons to the popularity of former girl idol group SPEED. "Renai Revolution 21", "I Wish", and "The Peace" continued the trend of happy pop songs, becoming a staple hit for the group. Morning Musume also began their tradition of performing in musicals each year, breaking new ground as idols with their hit musical, "LOVE CENTURY."
Group leader Yuko Nakazawa graduated in April 2001 to concentrate more on her solo career, putting Kaori Iida and Kei Yasuda as Morning Musume's co-leaders. During this time, the popular Rika Ishikawa was "lent" out to the rather dormant group, Country Musume.
At the end of 2001, four new girls joined the group as the fifth generation through the audition "LOVE AUDITION 21": Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno, Makoto Ogawa, and Risa Niigaki, bringing the roster to 13 girls.
Late 2002 was marked by the graduation of Maki Goto and a mass re-shuffle of the sub-units. Tsunku removed Kaori Iida, Mari Yaguchi, and Ai Kago from Tanpopo, adding in Asami Konno, Risa Niigaki, and Ayumi Shibata of Melon Kinen-Bi to join Rika Ishikawa. Tanpopo only released one single with this line-up before the group was put on an indefinite hiatus status. Makoto Ogawa and Ayaka Kimura of Coconuts Musume joined Hitomi Yoshizawa in Petitmoni to replace Kei Yasuda and Maki Goto, but the group did not even release a single, only performing in concerts. Their song "Wow Wow Wow" was later released on the Hello! Project's compilation CD Petit Best 4. In Minimoni, Mari Yaguchi was replaced with Ai Takahashi and the new line-up went on to make several singles and a 2nd album until member Mika Todd graduated in May 2004, adding Minimoni to the "indefinite hiatus" subgroups. In the beginning of 2003, three new girls were added as the sixth generation: Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. After a successful appearance on the New Year's music program "Kōhaku Uta Gassen" with several Morning Musume members dancing as backup, Tsunku also added in Miki Fujimoto, who was originally an up-and-coming solo singer under Hello! Project, as part of the sixth generation. Their debut concert was also Kei Yasuda's graduation concert, and Tsunku said that this one-time 16-member group is the largest Morning Musume will ever be.
Mari Yaguchi became Morning Musume's sub-leader after Kei's graduation and was also put in charge of training and assisting the up and coming group of Hello! Project Kids, eventually forming a group with 5 of them, known as ZYX.
Later in 2003, Morning Musume was split into two subgroups so that it could tour more cities (especially smaller cities that cannot support a 15-member troupe). Morning Musume Sakuragumi included Natsumi Abe, Mari Yaguchi, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Ai Kago, Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Asami Konno and Eri Kamei and Morning Musume Otomegumi had Kaori Iida, Rika Ishikawa, Nozomi Tsuji, Makoto Ogawa, Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. Both groups made 2 singles and were reasonably successful.
In January 2004, Natsumi Abe (known as "the face of Morning Musume" to the general public) graduated to pursue a soloist career, followed by the graduation of 4th generation Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago in August to focus on "W (Double U)", their new duo group.
7th generation auditions (named "Lucky 7" to commemorate the 7th generation, 7th year of Morning Musume, and 7 auditioning locations across Japan) were held in various Japan cities in 2004, resulting in 6 finalists. However, on January 9th, 2005, Tsunku announced that no one in the Lucky 7 audition would be added onto Morning Musume, adding that he had set his expectations extra high this year in hopes of finding an "ace".
On January 30th, 2005 - then-leader and last 1st generation member Kaori Iida graduated to pursue a solo singer/artist career, with Mari Yaguchi taking on leadership role and Hitomi Yoshizawa as subleader.
In February 2005, Tsunku started another audition for Morning Musume's 7th generation. He noted that he was still intent on finding an "ace". This audition resulted with Koharu Kusumi finally being chosen as the sole "miracle" member of the new generation.
On April 14, 2005, Mari Yaguchi announced that she had retired from Morning Musume and would continue on with solo activities, after photos were taken of her with a male actor on the 10th (and were scheduled to be published in a gossip magazine "Friday!" on the 15th). In her public statement, Yaguchi said she could no longer sustain an "idol" image befitting of Morning Musume.
On May 7, 2005, Rika Ishikawa graduated from Morning Musume to assume full-time leadership of the Hello! Project trio known as v-u-den.
Because of the nature of her departure, Yaguchi did not receive a ceremony like other ex-MoMusu members when they "graduated". Subleader Hitomi Yoshizawa took over as the leader of Morning Musume, and Miki Fujimoto became sub-leader as of July 15, 2005.
On December 31, 2005, graduated Morning Musume members Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Mari Yaguchi, Yuko Nakazawa, Ai Kago, Nozomi Tsuji, Rika Ishikawa, Maki Goto, and Kei Yasuda joined the current lineup of Morning Musume to perform the band's signature hit "Love Machine" on the 2005/2006 edition of Kōhaku Uta Gassen.* The performance was Yaguchi's first since leaving Morning Musume eight and a half months earlier.
On January 16, 2006, it was announced that Morning Musume had won a Kanagawa Image Up Award in recognition of Hello! Project's support of an anti-pollution campaign. Yoshizawa, Fujimoto, and Takahashi represented the band to accept the award.*, [http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/chihou/kanagawa/news/20060117ddlk14040297000c.html
On April 28, 2006, it was announced by Tsunku from his official website that 5th Generation members Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa are going to graduate. Asami will graduate on July 23, 2006 to go to University, and Makoto will graduate on August 27, 2006 to study a language abroad. Both will be leaving Morning Musume, but only Konno will be leaving Hello! Project entirely; Ogawa intends to return to H!P after completing her studies. [http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/sotsugyou_0604281800.html *
Members
As of July 2005, the following members are in the group
- Hitomi Yoshizawa (吉澤ひとみ)
- Ai Takahashi (高橋愛)
- Asami Konno (紺野あさ美)
- Makoto Ogawa (小川麻琴)
- Risa Niigaki (新垣里沙)
- Miki Fujimoto (藤本美貴)
- Eri Kamei (亀井絵里)
- Sayumi Michishige (道重さゆみ)
- Reina Tanaka (田中れいな)
- Koharu Kusumi (久住小春)
First generation (1997)
- Yuko Nakazawa (中澤裕子, graduated April 2001) - Nicknamed Yuu-chan
- Kaori Iida (飯田圭織, graduated January 2005) - Nicknamed Kaorin
- Aya Ishiguro (石黒彩, graduated January 2000) - Nicknamed Ayappe
- Natsumi Abe (安倍なつみ, graduated January 2004) - Nicknamed Nacchi
- Asuka Fukuda (福田明日香, graduated April 1999) - Nicknamed Asuka
Second generation (1998)
- Kei Yasuda (保田圭, graduated May 2003) - Nicknamed Kei-chan
- Mari Yaguchi (矢口真里, "retired" April 14, 2005) - Nicknamed Marippe
- Sayaka Ichii (市井紗耶香, graduated May 2000) - Nicknamed Ichii-chan
Third generation (1999)
- Maki Goto (後藤真希, graduated September 2002) - Nicknamed Gocchin
Fourth generation (2000)
- Rika Ishikawa (石川梨華, graduated May 2005) - Nicknamed Charmy
- Hitomi Yoshizawa (吉澤ひとみ) - Nicknamed Yossi
- Nozomi Tsuji (辻希美, graduated August 2004) - Nicknamed Nono
- Ai Kago (加護亜依, graduated August 2004) - Nicknamed Aibon
Fifth generation (2001)
- Ai Takahashi (高橋愛) - Nicknamed Ai-chan or Takitty (USA)
- Asami Konno (紺野あさ美, graduating July 2006) - Nicknamed Konkon
- Makoto Ogawa (小川麻琴, graduating August 2006) - Nicknamed Mako
- Risa Niigaki (新垣里沙) - Nicknamed Gaki-san
Sixth generation (2003)
- Miki Fujimoto (藤本美貴) - Nicknamed Mikitty
- Eri Kamei (亀井絵里) - Nicknamed Eririn
- Sayumi Michishige (道重さゆみ) - Nicknamed Sayumin
- Reina Tanaka (田中れいな) - Nicknamed Tanakachii
Seventh generation (2005)
- Koharu Kusumi (久住小春) - Nicknamed Miracle-chan
Group Leader
A member of Morning Musume - usually the oldest member of the band according to Hello! Project tradition - is appointed as the group's leader. The next oldest and generation is appointed sub-leader. Here are the list of the leaders in chronological order:- 1st - Yuko Nakazawa (Formation - April, 2001)
- 2nd - Kaori Iida and Kei Yasuda (May, 2001 - May, 2003)
- 3rd - Kaori Iida, subleader: Mari Yaguchi (May, 2003 - January, 2005)
- 4th - Mari Yaguchi, subleader: Hitomi Yoshizawa (February, 2005 - April 14, 2005)
- 5th - Hitomi Yoshizawa, subleader: Miki Fujimoto (April 15, 2005 - present)
Milestones
- Oricon Singles CD Chart #1 ranking: 9 times
- Exceeded 10 Million CD sales with their 19th single Shabondama
- Oricon Music DVD #1 ranking: 10 times
- Kōhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦) youngest participant: 12 year old Ai Kago (51st Kouhaku - 2000)
Auditions
Morning Musume Tsuika Audition (2nd Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Not specified
- Total Applicants: 5,000
- Broadcasted on Asayan in 1998
- No training camp and theme song
Morning Musume 2nd Tsuika Audition (3rd Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
- Total Applicants: 11,000
- Broadcasted on Asayan in 1999
- Training camp, theme song: Summer Night Town (Morning Musume 2nd single)
- Kumi Koda (倖田來未) participated in this audition
Morning Musume 3rd Tsuika Audition (4th Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
- Total Applicants: 25,000
- Broadcasted on Asayan in 2000
- Training camp, theme song: Akai nikkichou (Akagumi 4's single)
- Miki Fujimoto (藤本美貴) and Mai Satoda (里田まい) participated in this audition
Morning Musume Love Audition 21 (5th Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
- Total Applicants: 25,827
- Broadcasted on muSix! in 2001
- Training camp, theme song: LOVE namida iro (Aya Matsuura's single)
Morning Musume Love Audition 2002 (6th Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, 7th-12th grade
- Application Song: Do it! Now
- Total Applicants: 12,417
- Broadcasted on muSix! in 2002
- Training camp, theme song: Akai freesia (Melon Kinenbi's 8th single)
Morning Musume Lucky 7 Audition (7th Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, minimum of 9th grade and under 20 years of age
- Application Song theme: A capella
- Total Applicants: N/A
- Training camp and theme song: Haru no Uta (from Morning Musume's 6th album, Ai no Dai 6 Kan)
- Broadcasted on Hello! Morning starting September, 2004. Audition result aired on January 9, 2005
- Result: NO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
Morning Musume Audition 2005 (7th Generation Audition)
- Application Requirements: Female, minimum of 9th grade and under 22 years of age
- Total Applicants: 21,611
- No training camp and theme song
- Broadcasted on Hello! Morning starting February 9th, 2005. Audition result aired on May 1, 2005
- Result: Koharu Kusumi (久住小春) passed the audition.
Discography
Singles
Prior 2006-03-15, all songs in Morning Musume's singles are composed by Tsunku, except Hyokkori Hyoutanjima in Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima, which is composed by Urano Seichirou.| Ai no Tane (愛の種) | 1997-11-03 | Tetsutaro Sakurai (桜井鉄太郎) | Released on an indies label. Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Aya Ishiguro | |
| 1 | Morning Coffee (モーニングコーヒー) | 1998-01-28 | Shunsuke Suzuki (鈴木俊介) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida |
| 2 | Summer Night Town (サマーナイトタウン) | 1998-05-27 | Yasuaki Maejima (前嶋康明) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe |
| 3 | Daite HOLD ON ME! (抱いてHOLD ON ME!) | 1998-09-09 | Yasuaki Maejima (前嶋康明) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Asuka Fukuda |
| 4 | Memory Seishun no Hikari (Memory 青春の光) | 1999-02-10 | Yasuaki Maejima (前嶋康明) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Asuka Fukuda |
| 5 | Manatsu no Kousen (真夏の光線) | 1999-05-12 | Shin Kohno (河野伸) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe |
| 6 | Furusato (ふるさと) | 1999-07-14 | Takao Konishi (小西貴雄) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe |
| 7 | Love Machine (LOVEマシーン) | 1999-09-09 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | First #1 single, also sold million copies. |
| 8 | Koi no Dance Site (恋のダンスサイト) | 2000-01-26 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | Main Vocal: None |
| 9 | Happy Summer Wedding (ハッピーサマーウェディング) | 2000-05-17 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | Main Vocal: None, center: Yuko Nakazawa |
| 10 | I WISH | 2000-09-06 | Shin Kohno (河野伸) | Main Vocal: Maki Goto, Ai Kago |
| 11 | Renai Revolution 21 (恋愛レボリューション21) | 2000-12-13 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto |
| 12 | The Peace! (ザ☆ピ～ス!) | 2001-07-25 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | Main Vocal: None, Center: Rika Ishikawa |
| 13 | Mr.Moonlight ~Ai no BIG BAND~ (Mr.Moonlight～愛のビッグバンド～) | 2001-10-31 | Shunsuke Suzuki (鈴木俊介) | Main Vocal: Hitomi Yoshizawa (vocals: Yoshizawa, Abe, and Goto) |
| 14 | Souda! WE'RE ALIVE (そうだ! We're ALIVE) | 2002-02-21 | Dance Man (ダンス☆マン) | Main Vocal: None, Center: Mari Yaguchi |
| 15 | DO IT! NOW | 2002-07-24 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Main Vocal: Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto |
| 16 | Koko ni Iruzee! (ここにいるぜぇ!) | 2002-10-30 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Main Vocal: None |
| 17 | Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima (モーニング娘。のひょっこりひょうたん島) | 2003-02-19 | Takao Konishi (小西貴雄) | Main Vocal: None |
| 18 | AS FOR ONE DAY | 2003-04-23 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Main Vocal: Rika Ishikawa, Mari Yaguchi, Ai Kago |
| 19 | Shabondama (シャボン玉) | 2003-07-30 | Yuichi Takahashi (高橋諭一) | Main Vocal: Reina Tanaka |
| 20 | Go Girl~Koi no Victory~ (Go Girl～恋のヴィクトリー～) | 2003-11-06 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Main Vocal: None |
| 21 | Ai Araba IT’S ALL RIGHT (愛あらば IT'S ALL RIGHT!) | 2004-01-21 | Takao Konishi (小西貴雄) | Main Vocal: None |
| 22 | Roman~MY DEAR BOY~ (浪漫～MY DEAR BOY～) | 2004-05-12 | Shunsuke Suzuki (鈴木俊介) | Main Vocal: Ai Takahashi, Miki Fujimoto, Rika Ishikawa |
| 23 | Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari (女子かしまし物語) | 2004-07-22 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Main Vocal: None |
| 24 | Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago (涙が止まらない放課後) | 2004-11-03 | Shunsuke Suzuki (鈴木俊介) | Main Vocal: Asami Konno |
| 25 | THE MANPOWER!!! (THE マンパワー!!!) | 2005-01-19 | Ken Matsubara (松原憲) | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' theme song. Last single with Kaori Iida. Main Vocal: Ai Takahashi, Hitomi Yoshizawa |
| 26 | Osaka Koi no Uta (大阪 恋の歌) | 2005-04-27 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | "NATURE IS GOOD!" is the ecology campaign song of ABC. Main Vocal: Ai Takahashi, Miki Fujimoto, Rika Ishikawa |
| 27 | Iroppoi Jirettai (色っぽい じれったい) | 2005-07-27 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | A 3 city handshake event was organised for the promotion of this single. Main Vocal: None, Center: Ai Takahashi |
| 28 | Chokkan 2 ~Nogashita Sakana wa Ookiizo!~ (直感2～逃した魚は大きいぞ!～) | 2005-11-09 | Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki (鈴木Daichi秀行) | Koi wa Hassou Do The Hustle! was going to be the title track for the album but got changed and became the coupling track. |
| 29 | SEXY BOY ~Soyo Kaze ni Yorisoutte~ (ＳＥＸＹ ＢＯＹ ～そよ風に寄り添って～) | 2006-03-15 | Yuichi Takahashi (高橋諭一) | Main Vocal: Ai Takahashi, Miki Fujimoto, Reina Tanaka |
| 30 | Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan (Ａｍｂｉｔｉｏｕｓ！野心的でいいじゃん) | 2006-06-21 | Kouichi Yuasa (湯浅公一) | Last single with Konno Asami and Ogawa Makoto Main Vocal: Ai Takahashi, Miki Fujimoto, Eri Kamei, Reina Tanaka |
Albums
- First Time (ファーストタイム) - 1998-07-08
- Second Morning (セカンドモーニング) - 1999-07-28
- 3rd-LOVE Paradise- (3rd -LOVEパラダイス-) - 2000-03-29
- Best! Morning Musume 1 (ベスト! モーニング娘。1) - 2001-01-31
- 4th Ikimashoi! (4th「いきまっしょい!」) - 2002-03-27
- No.5 (Number Five) (No.5（ナンバーファイブ）) - 2003-03-26
- Best! Morning Musume 2 (ベスト! モーニング娘。2) - 2004-03-31
- Ai no Dai 6 Kan (愛の第6感）) - 2004-12-08
- Rainbow 7 (レインボー7) - 2006-2-15
DVD/VHS (Single)
- The-Video LOVE Machine (ザ・ビデオ LOVEマシーン) - 1999-10-14
- The-Video Koi no Dance Site (ザ・ビデオ 恋のダンスサイト) - 2000-02-23
- Single V - Souda! We're ALIVE (シングルV・そうだ! We're ALIVE) - 2002-04-10
- Single V - Morning Musume Single Medley ~Hawaiian~ (シングルV・モーニング娘。シングルメドレー～ハワイアン～) - 2002-07-24
- Single V - Do it! Now (シングルV・Do it! Now) - 2002-09-26
- Single V - Ganbacchae!/Hey! Mirai (シングルV・がんばっちゃえ! ／HEY!未来) - 2003-01-29
- Single V - Morning Musume no hyokkori hyoutan jima (シングルV・モーニング娘。のひょっこりひょうたん島) - 2003-02-19
- Single V - AS FOR ONE DAY (シングルV・AS FOR ONE DAY) - 2003-04-23
- Single V - Shabondama (シングルV・シャボン玉) - 2003-07-30
- Single V - GO Girl ~Koi no Victory~ (シングルV・GO Girl～恋のヴィクトリー～) - 2003-11-06
- Single V - Ai araba IT'S ALL RIGHT! (シングルV・愛あらばIT'S ALL RIGHT!) - 2004-01-21
- Single V - Roman ~MY DEAR BOY~ (シングルV・浪漫～MY DEAR BOY～) - 2004-05-12
- Single V - Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari (シングルV・女子かしまし物語) - 2004-07-22
- Single V - Namida ga Tomaranai Hokago (シングルV・涙が止まらない放課後) - 2004-11-03
- Single V - THE Man Power!!! (シングルV・THE マンパワー!!!) - 2005-01-19
- Single V - Osaka Koi no Uta (シングルV・大阪 恋の歌) - 2005-04-27
- Single V - Iroppoi Jirettai (シングルV・色っぽい じれったい) - 2005-08-03
- Single V - Chokkan 2 ~Nogashita Sakana wa Ookiizo~! (シングルV・直感２～逃した魚は大きいぞ！～) - 2005-11-23
- Single V - Sexy Boy ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~ (シングルV・ＳＥＸＹ ＢＯＹ ～そよ風に寄り添って～) - 2006-03-29
- Eizou The Morning Musume Best 10 (映像 ザ・モーニング娘。ベスト10) - 2000-06-14
- Eizou The Morning Musume 2 ~Single M Clips~ (映像ザ・モーニング娘。2～シングルMクリップス～) - 2002-12-04
- Eizou The Morning Musume 3 ~Single V Clips~ (映像ザ・モーニング娘。3～シングルVクリップス～) - 2005-03-24
DVD/VHS (Concert)
- Hello! FIRST LIVE AT SHIBUYA KOHKAIDO - 1998-12-12
- Memory~Seishun no Hikari~ 1999-04-18 (Memory～青春の光～1999.4.18) - 1999-06-30
- Morning Musume First Live at Budokan ~Dancing Love Site 2000 Spring~ (モーニング娘。ライブ初の武道館～ダンシング ラブ サイト 2000 春～) - 2000-08-30
- Morning Musume Live Revolution 21 Spring ~Osaka City Hall Last Day~ (モーニング娘。ライブレボリューション21 春～大阪城ホール最終日～) - 2001-06-27
- GREEN LIVE - 2001-09-05
- LOVE IS ALIVE! Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2002 Spring at Saitama Super Arena (LOVE IS ALIVE! モーニング娘。CONCERT TOUR 2002 春 at さいたまスーパーアリーナ) - 2002-07-31
- Morning Musume LOVE IS ALIVE! 2002 Summer at Yokohama Arena (モーニング娘。LOVE IS ALIVE! 2002夏 at 横浜アリーナ) - 2002-11-20
- Hello! FIRST LIVE AT SHIBUYA KOHKAIDO - 2002-12-04
- Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2003 Spring NON STOP! At Saitama Super Arena (モーニング娘。CONCERT TOUR 2003春 NON STOP! At Saitama Super Arena) - 2003-06-25
- Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2003 ~15-nin de NON STOP!~ (モーニング娘。CONCERT TOUR2003~15人でNON STOP!~) - 2003-12-26
- MORNING MUSUME CONCERT TOUR 2004 SPRING The BEST of Japan - 2004-07-14
- Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2004 "The Best of Japan Natsu~Aki '04" (モーニング娘。コンサートツアー2004『The Best of Japan 夏~秋 '04』) - 2004-12-08
- Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2005 Haru ~Dai 6 Kan Hit Mankai~ (モーニング娘。CONCERT TOUR 2005春～第六感 ヒット満開！～) - 2005-07-05
- Concert Tour 2005 Natsu Aki "Baribari Kyoushitsu ~Koharuchan Irasshai!~ (コンサートツアー2005 夏秋 『バリバリ教室～小春ちゃんいらっしゃい！～』) - 2005-12-14
- Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2006 Haru ~Rainbow Seven~ (モーニング娘。コンサートツアー2006春 ～レインボーセブン～) - 2006-07-19
Appearances
Television
| Show Title | Start Date | End Date | TV Station | Miscellaneous Info |
| ASAYAN | 3rd Quarter 1997 | 2002-03-24 | TV Tokyo | - |
| Taiyo musume to umi (太陽娘と海) | 1998-04 | 1998-06 | TV Tokyo | - |
| Morning Musume no heso (モーニング娘。のへそ) | 2000-01 | 2000-09 | TV Tokyo | - |
| Friday Night ha onegai! Morning (フライデーナイトはお願い! モーニング) | 2000-04 | 2001-09 | Produced by TV Iwate, and broadcasted on the TV stations of Nippon Television Network System (NNS, Nippon TV, etc.) | - |
| Hello! Morning (ハロー!モーニング。) | 2000-04 | Still Running | TV Tokyo | Other Hello! Project members appear occasionally |
| muSix! | 2000-12 | 2003-03 | TV Tokyo, BS-Japan | - |
| Mo~. Taihen deshita (モー。たいへんでした) | 2001-04 | 2002-03 | Nippon TV | - |
| Tintin TOWN! (ティンティンTOWN!) | 2002-07 | 2004-03 | Nippon TV | - |
| Mecha-Mecha Iketeru! (めちゃ²イケてるッ!) | N/A | N/A | Fuji TV | Okajo All-girls Highschool Series |
Radio
| Show Title | Start Date | End Date | Radio Station | Host |
| Morning Musume no onegai morning call -> Morning Musume no Super Morning Rider! -> Natsumi Abe no Super Morning Rider (モーニング娘。のお願いモーニングコール→モーニング娘。のスーパー・モーニングライダー！→安倍なつみのスーパーモーニングライダー) | 1998-10-05 | 2000-12-29 | Tokyo FM | - |
| Morning Musume Daiba -> Pucchi Moni Daiba (モー娘ダイバー→プッチモニダイバー) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-12-25 | Tokyo FM | Pucchi Moni members Sayaka Ichii, Kei Yasuda, Maki Goto, Hitomi Yoshizawa |
| Air Moni (エアモニ。) | 2001 | 2003 | Bunka Hoso | Natsumi Abe |
Commercial
- i-zone Hit Parade (2000, Polaroid)
- Tokyo Walker (2000, Kadokawa)
- Aircon「Kaiteki 3 mai」, N Keikaku (Kirei Nado) (2000-2001, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.)
- Yamucharou (2000-2001,Japan Tobacco)
- Dream Net (2000-2002, Dream Net)
- e-kara (2000-2003, e-kara)
- Pocky (2000-2003, Glico)
- Wasshoi! FIFA World Cup he Ikerundeso Matsuri (2001, Fuji Film) - 10 nin matsuri
- Saltimbanco (2001, Daily YAMAZAKI) -「Inspiration」「Renai Revolution 21」
- Elleseine (2001- ）- Yuko Nakazawa and a few MM members
- Scoopy, Dio nado (2002-2003, Honda)
- Kiriri (2002-2003, Kirin Beverage)
- Quidam (2002-2003, Fuji TV) 「Quidam ga kimasu」「Zo wa demasen」「Quidam gaisen」
- Yomiuri Shimbun (2002)
- Japan Defense Agency - Self-Defense Force Recruitment Poster (2003)
- Colorio Printer (2004-, Epson Seiko Corporation) - Aya Matsuura and MM members
Movies
| Title | Year | Studio |
| Morning Cop ~Daite HOLD ON ME!~ (モーニング刑事。～抱いてHOLD ON ME!～) | 1998 | Toei |
| Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー) | 2000 | Toei |
| Koinu Dan no monogatari (仔犬ダンの物語) | 2002 | Toei |
| Hamtaro the Movie 2 (劇場版とっとこハム太郎 ハムハムハムージャ！幻のプリンセス, Gekijo-ban Tottoko Hamutaro Ham-Ham Hamuja Maboroshi no Princess) | 2002 | Toho |
Musical
| Title | Location | Producer | Date | Miscellaneous Info |
| Love Century -Yume wa Minakerya Hajimaranai- (LOVEセンチュリー -夢はみなけりゃ始まらない-) | Nissay Theatre | Nobuhiro Nishikawa (西川信廣) | May 3, 2001 - May 27, 2001 | 37 Performances |
| Morning Town (モーニング・タウン) | Aoyama Theatre | Nobuhiro Nishikawa (西川信廣) | May 24, 2002 - June 24, 2002 | 41 Performances |
| Edokko Chushingura (江戸っ娘。忠臣蔵) | Meiji Theatre | Takuya Hiramitsu (平光琢也) | May 31, 2003 - June 29, 2003 | 26 Performances |
| HELP!! Atchii Chikyu wo Samasunda (HELP!!熱っちぃ地球を冷ますんだっ。) | Nakano Sunplaza | Masayoshi Kashida (樫田正剛) | May 29, 2004 - June 13, 2004 | 20 Performances |
Concert
TBADVS/VHS (TV, Movies, Musical, etc)
| Title | Release Date | Misc Info |
| Morning Cop. Daite HOLD ON ME! (モーニング刑事。抱いてHOLD ON ME!) | September 2, 1998 | VHS release |
| Kyou no tamegoto part 1 (今日のタメゴト part 1) | April 25, 2001 | VHS release |
| Kyou no tamegoto part 2 (今日のタメゴト part 2) | April 25, 2001 | VHS release |
| Kyou no tamegoto part 3 (今日のタメゴト part 3) | August 29, 2001 | VHS release |
| Kyou no tamegoto part 4 (今日のタメゴト part 4) | August 29, 2001 | VHS release |
| Morning Musume in Pinch Runner (モーニング娘。in ピンチランナー) | October 21, 2000 | - |
| Momusume Hashiru! Pinch Runner (モー娘。走る! ピンチランナー) | November 21, 2000 | - |
| Morning Cop. Daite HOLD ON ME! (モーニング刑事。抱いてHOLD ON ME!) | December 8, 2000 | - |
| Morning Musume Kyou no tamegoto kanzenban (モーニング娘。 今日のタメゴト 完全版) | April 25, 2001 | - |
| Morning Musume Kyou no tamegoto kanzenban 2 (モーニング娘。 今日のタメゴト 完全版2) | August 29, 2001 | - |
| Morning Musume no Musical: LOVE Century -Yume ha minakerya hajimaranai- (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-) | October 17, 2001 | - |
| Morning Musume Shinshun! LOVE stories no cut edition (モーニング娘。新春! LOVEストーリーズ ノーカット版) | March 13, 2002 | - |
| Namatamago (ナマタマゴ) | May 15, 2002 | - |
| Tokkaekko (とっかえっ娘。) | July 17, 2002 | - |
| Morning Musume no Musical: Morning Town (モーニング娘。のミュージカル モーニングタウン) | September 19, 2002 | - |
| Making of Koinu Dan no monogatari (メイキング・オブ 仔犬ダンの物語) | January 21, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou "Bus ga kurumade" Vol.1 (ハロー! モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場「バスがくるまで」Vol.1) | April 23, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou "Bus ga kurumade" Vol.2 (ハロー! モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場「バスがくるまで」Vol.2) | April 23, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou "Bus ga kurumade" Vol.3 (ハロー! モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場「バスがくるまで」Vol.3) | May 14, 2003 | - |
| Koinu Dan no monogatari (仔犬ダンの物語) | June 21, 2003 | - |
| Morning Musume Suspense Drama Special: "Mikeneko Holmes no Hanzaigaku Kouza" - "Ore ga Aitsu de Aitsu ga Ore de" (モーニング娘。サスペンスドラマスペシャル。「三毛猫ホームズの犯罪学講座」「おれがあいつであいつがおれで」) | July 16, 2003 | - |
| Halo halo! Morning Musume 6th generation member DVD (ハロハロ! モーニング娘。6期メンバーDVD) | July 16, 2003 | - |
| Morning Musume shuen Musical: Edokko Chushingura (モーニング娘。主演ミュージカル 江戸っ娘。忠臣蔵 ) | August 27, 2003 | - |
| Alo hello! Morning Musume Sakuragumi & Otomegumi (アロハロ! モーニング娘。さくら組&おとめ組) | November 6, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou Vol.4 "Hirusagari no Mo-mama tachi & Bus ga kurumade" (ハロー!モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場 Vol.4 「昼下がりのモーママたち & バスがくるまで」) | December 26, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou Vol.5 "Ekimae Koban Monogatari & Isha ga kurumade" (ハロー!モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場 Vol.5 「駅前交番物語 & 医者がくるまで」) | December 26, 2003 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou Vol.6 "Ekimae Koban Monogatari" (ハロー!モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場 Vol.6 「駅前交番物語」) | July 28, 2004 | - |
| Hello! Morning: Haromoni Gekijou Vol.7 "Ekimae Koban Monogatari Tokubetsuhen" (ハロー!モーニング。 ハロモニ。劇場 Vol.7 「駅前交番物語 特別編」) | July 28, 2004 | - |
| HELP!! Atchii Chikyu wo Samasunda. (HELP!!熱っちぃ地球を冷ますんだっ。) | August 25, 2004 | - |
Game
- Space Venus (PS2 - January 11, 2001)
- Liliput Kingdom (リリパット王国 ～リリモニといっしょプニ!～) (GBA - February 12, 2004)
- Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (DS - July 28, 2005) - (Game features 8th single Koi no Dance Site)
Summer Shuffle Groups
Every year, the members of Hello! Project (including Morning Musume) are shuffled into different groups to compete to see who can get the most sales. For more information on the shuffle groups, see the H!P Summer Shuffles article.
Sub groups
Not to be mistaken with shuffles units.
Morning Musume members have also participated in many other Hello! Project groups before and after graduation that include non-Morning Musume members.
External links
- HelloProject.com Official Site
- Morning Musume at Main Page
- Nippop Profile Morning Musume information
- Ikimasshoi News Morning Musume & H!P News, Reviews and Profiles
Miscellaneous resources
- NHK紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen) entry at Japanese Wikipedia
- オリコン (Oricon) entry at Japanese Wikipedia
Girl groups | Hello! Project | Japanese musical groups
Morning Musume | Morning Musume | Morning Musume | 모닝구무스메 | Morning Musume | Morning Musume | モーニング娘。 | Morning Musume | Morning Musume | Morning Musume | Morning Musume | 早安少女組 | มอร์นิงมุซุเมะ
"Morning Musume"