Morning Musume

Japanese Name: モーニング娘
Also known as: Momusu, モー娘

Musume (娘, Musume?) in this context, means girl. "Morning" is derived from Japanese-English term "morning set" (corresponding to "breakfast special"). The group is particularly well-known for its ever fluctuating line-up, with "graduations" and auditions occurring nearly each year. Over the years there has also been several splinter groups, (including, but not limited to, Tanpopo and Pucchi Moni) and Morning Musume often works closely with other Hello! Project acts, including but not limited to Aya Matsuura, Berryz Kobo, Melon Kinenbi, and v-u-den.

CURRENT HISTORY:
In early 2007, Morning Musume Tanjō 10 Nen Kinentai (モーニング娘。誕生10年記念隊, Morning Musume Tanjō 10 Nen Kinentai?), a unit consisting of Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto, Risa Niigaki, and Koharu Kusumi, was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Morning Musume. They released a commemorative single called "Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia" (僕らが生きる My Asia, "Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia"?).[54] The members chosen symbolize the beginning of the group; how they had five members ranging in age from 13 - 24. Additionally, each member was from an odd-numbered Generation (Kaori Iida and Natsumi Abe from the First Generation, Maki Goto from the Third, Risa Niigaki from the Fifth, and Koharu Kusumi from the Seventh).

On January 2, 2007, an announcement was made during Hello! Project's 2007 Winter concert: the group's leader up until then, Hitomi Yoshizawa would graduate from Morning Musume on May 6, 2007, the last day of Morning Musume's 2007 spring tour. The concert was at the Saitama Super Arena, in Yoshizawa's hometown of Saitama.[55]

In February, the first single with Eighth Generation member Aika Mitsui was released, "Egao Yes Nude."[56] This was the first PV of Morning Musume to appear on the Dohhh!Up site (a streaming website of Hello! Project media). The single went up against tougher competition than "Aruiteru" had, only landing them a #4 spot, although it sold relatively the same number of copies. The song has a funky, disco feel, and is highly-reminiscent of some of the oldest songs of Morning Musume, most notably Summer Night Town.

On the March 11, 2007 edition of the weekly TV show Hello! Morning, producer Tsunku revealed he would make an important announcement the following episode. Several days later, on the 15th, he announced that two other Eighth Generation members would be joining the group—Li Chun and Qian Lin, both of Chinese ancestry, were to join as "exchange students."[57] Tsunku stated the two new members would be an important key for their group's planned expansion into Asia. They made their stage debut on May 6, at Saitama Super Arena, during current leader Yoshizawa's graduation.[58] This is notable, as they are the first non-Japanese members of the group.

On March 21, 2007, the group's eighth studio album, Sexy 8 Beat was released.[59] It was the first album for Aika Mitsui and the last album for Hitomi Yoshizawa and Miki Fujimoto. It featured the singles "Aruiteru," "Egao Yes Nude," "Sexy Boy ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~," and "Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan."

In late April, Morning Musume released their 33rd single, "Kanashimi Twilight."[60] The song style was a huge departure from almost anything Morning Musume had released prior to it, displaying a loud, rock arrangement and the angriest lyrics since Shabondama.

With the success of Kanashimi Twilight, on May 1, 2007 Morning Musume became the Best Selling Female Group in Japan with 11,085,000 copies sold—their fifth Oricon record. The achievement surpasses the previous record set by Pink Lady of 11,037,000 copies sold.

On May 6, 2007, Hitomi Yoshizawa graduated. Miki Fujimoto took her place as leader and Ai Takahashi replaced Fujimoto as sub-leader.

As of June 1, 2007, Miki Fujimoto resigned from Morning Musume, due to the tabloid magazine Friday running an article depicting Fujimoto and comedian Tomoharu Shoji in a relationship.[61][62] Ai Takahashi replaced Fujimoto as leader (a position the latter occupied for the briefest period in the band's history—26 days), and Risa Niigaki became subleader.

Morning Musume's 34th single Onna ni Sachi Are was released on July 25, 2007. It features the debut of new 8th Generation members Li Chun and Qian Lin. The single reached #2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, with sales of 43,364 copies.

On October 26, 2007, Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, and Koharu Kusumi visited Korea to promote their singles collection album Morning Musume All Singles Complete ~10th Anniversary~, which was released on October 24, 2007.[63] Also, Takahashi and Niigaki appeared as special guests in a Korean radio show called Maybee's Turn Up the Volume (메이비의 볼륨을 높여요).

On November 21, 2007, Morning Musume's 35th single, Mikan (みかん, Mikan?), will be released

MEMBERS:

Current (as of October 2007)
•Ai Takahashi (高橋愛)
•Risa Niigaki (新垣里沙)
•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)
•Aika Mitsui (光井愛佳)
•Li Chun (ジュンジュン)
•Qian Lin (リンリン)

First generation (1997)
•Yuko Nakazawa (中澤裕子, graduated April 2001)
•Kaori Iida (飯田圭織, graduated January 2005)
•Aya Ishiguro (石黒彩, graduated January 2000)
•Natsumi Abe (安倍なつみ, graduated January 2004)
•Asuka Fukuda (福田明日香, graduated April 1999)

Second generation (1998)
•Kei Yasuda (保田圭, graduated May 2003)
•Mari Yaguchi (矢口真里, left April 2005)
•Sayaka Ichii (市井紗耶香, graduated May 2000)

Third generation (1999)
•Maki Goto (後藤真希, graduated September 2002)

Fourth generation (2000)
•Rika Ishikawa (石川梨華, graduated May 2005)
•Hitomi Yoshizawa (吉澤ひとみ, graduated May 2007)
•Nozomi Tsuji (辻希美, graduated August 2004)
•Ai Kago (加護亜依, graduated August 2004)

Fifth generation (2001)
•Ai Takahashi (高橋愛)
•Asami Konno (紺野あさ美, graduated July 2006)
•Makoto Ogawa (小川麻琴, graduated August 2006)
•Risa Niigaki (新垣里沙)

Sixth generation (2003)
•Miki Fujimoto (藤本美貴, left June 2007)
•Eri Kamei (亀井絵里)
•Sayumi Michishige (道重さゆみ)
•Reina Tanaka (田中れいな)

Seventh generation (2005)
•Koharu Kusumi (久住小春)

Eighth generation (2006–2007)
•Aika Mitsui (光井愛佳)
•Li Chun (ジュンジュン Junjun)
•Qian Lin (リンリン Rinrin)


*credits to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Musume
*credits to: http://www.asianbite.com/default.asp?Display=1198