Miki Fujimoto
Encyclopedia
professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop
singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group
Morning Musume
with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project
in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi". Fujimoto later joined Morning Musume in January 2003 along with the sixth generation and would eventually become the leader of the group in May 2007. However, shortly after her becoming the leader, Fujimoto resigned from the group due to a scandal involving then-boyfriend Tomoharu Shōji.
She is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume
, becoming the first of six members to debut under Hello! Project after losing a Morning Musume audition. She is often called by fans as Aya Matsuura
's rival, but in fact, they are the best of friends. After a successful performance on the music program on New Year's Eve, "Kōhaku Uta Gassen
", producer Tsunku
added her to Morning Musume as a sixth generation member in 2003. At the time, she was the 3rd oldest person to join the group, as she was nearly 18 years old, although with the addition of Chinese member, Junjun
, she is now the 4th oldest. She is also one of four members to debut as a part of the Hello! Project before joining Morning Musume (the others being Eighth Generation member Linlin
, Ninth Generation member Mizuki Fukumura
, and Tenth Generation member Haruka Kudō
who were all part of Hello! Pro Egg
prior to joining Morning Musume).
She sang many of the lead lines in Morning Musume
songs, especially after Natsumi Abe
's graduation. She and fellow Morning Musume member Asami Konno
were also lent to Country Musume
, a group that features "Country Girls from Hokkaidō", such as Miki and Asami (the group has been known, however, to include members not from the rural island—such as former featured singers Rika Ishikawa
and Miuna Saito
).
In October 2002, she was placed in the one-shot unit, Gomattou
with two other prominent pop soloists under Hello! Project
, Maki Goto
(a former Morning Musume member), and Aya Matsuura
. She was also in Hello! Project Shuffle groups Odoru 11, 11Water, H.P. All Stars and Sexy Otonajan.
In 2003, when Morning Musume
was split into two groups, she was placed in Morning Musume Otomegumi
.
On June 15, 2006 it was announced that Fujimoto and Aya Matsuura
would join together in a new Hello! Project duo called GAM. Their debut single was released on September 13, 2006, and after two other singles, their debut LP was released on May 23, 2007.
On May 6, 2007, after the graduation of then-leader Hitomi Yoshizawa
, Fujimoto took her place as the fifth leader of Morning Musume
.
On May 24, 2007, Fujimoto was rumored to be in the latest edition of the Japanese gossip magazine Friday —the same magazine responsible for the cancellation of Ai Kago
's contract— pictured walking with Tomoharu Shōji, a member of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shōji. Friday explains that they had a two-hour dinner together, drove to Fujimoto's apartment, then went to the sauna, returning to Shōji's apartment just after midnight. It soon became apparent that she was to be involved in a scandal that would jeopardize her position in Morning Musume. After seeing the article, Up-Front Agency had no intention to deal with the situation since there was no proof of them dating.
On the May 26, 2007 edition of Young Town Doyōbi (a radio show with Ai Takahashi
, Fujimoto and Sanma Akashiya
), she confirmed that the pictures were of her, and that she had been going out with Tomoharu Shōji. She also mentioned that she was going to talk to the head of Up-Front Agency, Naoki Yamazaki, about the situation.
On June 1, 2007, Fujimoto resigned from her position in Morning Musume. She will continue with GAM and remain contracted with Hello! Project and Up-Front Agency.
On February 11, 2008, it was announced that Fujimoto would release a single entitled . The single, a collaboration with fellow Up-Front singer Takao Horiuchi, was released on April 23, 2008.
In June 2008, it was announced that Fujimoto would play the part of Rizzo in the fall musical, Grease
.
On March 24, 2009, Fujimoto announced her engagement to Tomoharu Shōji. The wedding took place on July 3 in Hawaii
.
In 2010, It was announced that Miki Fujimoto will be joining other former-Morning Musume members for the new group "Dream Morning Musume"
Otaku
, who, while not literally worshipping her, often go to more extreme behaviors to display their affection towards Fujimoto. This group, called "Tokai Woters", generally performs a fixed choreography at concerts and on certain TV occasions. This choreography, carried to the sound of Miki's Romantic Ukare Mode
, involves a series of moves accompanied by their chanting "Mikitty!" four times, which is then followed by . It is also said that they send her a lot of mail, and Fujimoto often says she enjoys getting "Miki-sama mail".
Fujimoto graduated from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009.
} ||align="right"| 2002-03-13 ||align="center"| 25,610 ||align="center"| 43,670
|-
| 2 || ||align="right"| 2002-06-12 ||align="center"| 24,730 ||align="center"| 40,450
|-
| 3 || ||align="right"| 2002-09-04 ||align="center"| 38,490 ||align="center"| 62,000
|-
| 4 || ||align="right"| 2002-11-07 ||align="center"| 36,290 ||align="center"| 48,555
|-
| 5 || ||align="right"| 2003-02-05 ||align="center"| 37,410 ||align="center"| 50,737
|-
| 6 || ||align="right"| 2008-04-23 ||align="center"| 5,771 ||align="center"| 22,889
|}
} || 2003-04-22 || Kadokawa Shoten
|| ISBN 4-0485-3590-0 || First solo photobook.
|-
| 3 || || 2004-01-24 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2793-0 || Second solo photobook.
|-
| 4 || || 2005-02-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2846-5 || Third solo photobook.
|-
| 5 || || 2005-12-17 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2905-4 || Fourth solo photobook.
|-
| 6 || || 2006-11-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2972-0 || Fifth solo photobook.
|}
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi". Fujimoto later joined Morning Musume in January 2003 along with the sixth generation and would eventually become the leader of the group in May 2007. However, shortly after her becoming the leader, Fujimoto resigned from the group due to a scandal involving then-boyfriend Tomoharu Shōji.
She is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume
Biography
Fujimoto originally started out as a solo singer in 2002 under the idol family Hello! ProjectHello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
, becoming the first of six members to debut under Hello! Project after losing a Morning Musume audition. She is often called by fans as Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
's rival, but in fact, they are the best of friends. After a successful performance on the music program on New Year's Eve, "Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
", producer Tsunku
Tsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
added her to Morning Musume as a sixth generation member in 2003. At the time, she was the 3rd oldest person to join the group, as she was nearly 18 years old, although with the addition of Chinese member, Junjun
Li Chun
Li Chun , better known in Japan as is a Japan-based Chinese singer. She is a former member of Morning Musume, She joined Morning Musume alongside Linlin in 2007...
, she is now the 4th oldest. She is also one of four members to debut as a part of the Hello! Project before joining Morning Musume (the others being Eighth Generation member Linlin
Qian Lin
Qian Lin , better known in Japan as , is a former Morning Musume member, as well as a former member of Minimoni which she was the leader of. She was announced to be joining as the eighth generation of Morning Musume on March 15, 2007...
, Ninth Generation member Mizuki Fukumura
Mizuki Fukumura
is a Japanese pop singer. She is a ninth-generation member of Morning Musume. Prior to becoming part of Morning Musume, Fukumura was known as a member of the second generation Shugo Chara Egg!, and for her role of Amulet Heart in the live action segment of the highly acclaimed television series...
, and Tenth Generation member Haruka Kudō
Haruka Kudo
is a Japanese model and seiyu.She is best known as the voice of Hagumi Hanamoto in Honey and Clover and Sayu Yagami in the anime adaption of Death Note.She was an exclusive model for Seventeen magazine until May 2007...
who were all part of Hello! Pro Egg
Hello! Pro Egg
are a group of female singers under the Hello! Project banner. They are girls chosen when Tsunku and other audition administrators see talent in them that can be developed further, in the hope of one day turning them into successful musicians, and possibly integrating them into other Hello!...
prior to joining Morning Musume).
She sang many of the lead lines in Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
songs, especially after Natsumi Abe
Natsumi Abe
is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.-Career:On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday...
's graduation. She and fellow Morning Musume member Asami Konno
Asami Konno
, born May 7, 1987, is a Japanese pop singer, best known as former fifth generation member of the all-girl Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined the group in the August 2001, along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Makoto Ogawa, and Risa Niigaki.- Biography :Konno joined...
were also lent to Country Musume
Country musume
is an all-female Japanese pop group within Hello! Project.- History :Country Musume was formed in 1999 and was billed as "Country Girls from Hokkaidō". The initial group consisted of members and Hokkaidō natives Rinne Toda, Azusa Kobayashi, and Hiromi Yanagihara....
, a group that features "Country Girls from Hokkaidō", such as Miki and Asami (the group has been known, however, to include members not from the rural island—such as former featured singers Rika Ishikawa
Rika Ishikawa
, is a Japanese pop singer and TV/radio hostess, associated with the Hello! Project banner and best known as a former member of the pop group Morning Musume. She was the leader of the trio v-u-den until June 2008...
and Miuna Saito
Miuna Saito
is a Japanese pop singer was former member of Country Musume from mid 2003 until she graduated from the group on January 28, 2007 and played for Gatas Brilhantes H.P.-Country Musume:She was introduced to Country Musume in mid 2003 instead of Rika Ishikawa...
).
In October 2002, she was placed in the one-shot unit, Gomattou
Gomattou
was a one-shot Hello! Project group, similar to the Hello! Project shuffle units, that released one single called "Shall We Love?".The formation of Gomattō was announced in October 2002. The idea behind the trio was an R&B style dance-based group featuring Hello! Project soloists Maki Goto, Aya...
with two other prominent pop soloists under Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
, Maki Goto
Maki Goto
is a Japanese singer, lyricist and former actress. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, Goto began her musical career in 1999 when she joined Morning Musume as the only third generation member. Her first single with the group, "Love Machine", topped the Oricon singles charts and sold over a million...
(a former Morning Musume member), and Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
. She was also in Hello! Project Shuffle groups Odoru 11, 11Water, H.P. All Stars and Sexy Otonajan.
In 2003, when Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
was split into two groups, she was placed in Morning Musume Otomegumi
Morning Musume Otomegumi
was one of the subgroups that the Japanese pop group Morning Musume was divided into in 2003. Its counterpart was Morning Musume Sakuragumi. The group's name is made up of and , meaning "Young Girls' Group". Like Sakuragumi, purpose of Morning Musume Otomegumi was to perform in small towns with...
.
On June 15, 2006 it was announced that Fujimoto and Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
would join together in a new Hello! Project duo called GAM. Their debut single was released on September 13, 2006, and after two other singles, their debut LP was released on May 23, 2007.
On May 6, 2007, after the graduation of then-leader Hitomi Yoshizawa
Hitomi Yoshizawa
is a former leader of the pop group Morning Musume and current member of the duo Hangry & Angry as Hangry. She is the current leader of the Hello! Project futsal team Gatas Brilhantes H.P...
, Fujimoto took her place as the fifth leader of Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
.
On May 24, 2007, Fujimoto was rumored to be in the latest edition of the Japanese gossip magazine Friday —the same magazine responsible for the cancellation of Ai Kago
Ai Kago
is a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she...
's contract— pictured walking with Tomoharu Shōji, a member of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shōji. Friday explains that they had a two-hour dinner together, drove to Fujimoto's apartment, then went to the sauna, returning to Shōji's apartment just after midnight. It soon became apparent that she was to be involved in a scandal that would jeopardize her position in Morning Musume. After seeing the article, Up-Front Agency had no intention to deal with the situation since there was no proof of them dating.
On the May 26, 2007 edition of Young Town Doyōbi (a radio show with Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
, Fujimoto and Sanma Akashiya
Sanma Akashiya
is a Japanese TV comedian and actor simply known as Sanma. His real name is . His talent agency is Yoshimoto Corporation.Together with Beat Takeshi and Tamori, Sanma is said to be one of the "Big Three" tarento of Japan. Sanma's nickname is . He is known for his ability to endlessly carry a...
), she confirmed that the pictures were of her, and that she had been going out with Tomoharu Shōji. She also mentioned that she was going to talk to the head of Up-Front Agency, Naoki Yamazaki, about the situation.
On June 1, 2007, Fujimoto resigned from her position in Morning Musume. She will continue with GAM and remain contracted with Hello! Project and Up-Front Agency.
On February 11, 2008, it was announced that Fujimoto would release a single entitled . The single, a collaboration with fellow Up-Front singer Takao Horiuchi, was released on April 23, 2008.
In June 2008, it was announced that Fujimoto would play the part of Rizzo in the fall musical, Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
.
On March 24, 2009, Fujimoto announced her engagement to Tomoharu Shōji. The wedding took place on July 3 in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
In 2010, It was announced that Miki Fujimoto will be joining other former-Morning Musume members for the new group "Dream Morning Musume"
Fan following
Fujimoto possesses an extensive fan base, which includes a group of people generally deemed "Mowota", an abbreviation of Morning MusumeMorning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
Otaku
Otaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
, who, while not literally worshipping her, often go to more extreme behaviors to display their affection towards Fujimoto. This group, called "Tokai Woters", generally performs a fixed choreography at concerts and on certain TV occasions. This choreography, carried to the sound of Miki's Romantic Ukare Mode
Romantic Ukare Mode
is a song by Miki Fujimoto, release as her third single on September 4, 2002 in Japan. It sold a total of 62,000 copies and is currently Fujimoto's highest selling single...
, involves a series of moves accompanied by their chanting "Mikitty!" four times, which is then followed by . It is also said that they send her a lot of mail, and Fujimoto often says she enjoys getting "Miki-sama mail".
Fujimoto graduated from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009.
Discography and releases
Albums
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miki 1 MIKI 1 MIKI① is the debut album of J-pop idol Miki Fujimoto, released on February 26, 2003, which was also her 18th birthday. First pressing of the album featured special packaging and a 12 page mini photo book. It featured all of her previous singles from her debut "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi" to her single... |
2003-02-26 | 93,475 | 128,502 |
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|
| 1 |
|-
| 2 || ||align="right"| 2002-06-12 ||align="center"| 24,730 ||align="center"| 40,450
|-
| 3 || ||align="right"| 2002-09-04 ||align="center"| 38,490 ||align="center"| 62,000
|-
| 4 || ||align="right"| 2002-11-07 ||align="center"| 36,290 ||align="center"| 48,555
|-
| 5 || ||align="right"| 2003-02-05 ||align="center"| 37,410 ||align="center"| 50,737
|-
| 6 || ||align="right"| 2008-04-23 ||align="center"| 5,771 ||align="center"| 22,889
|}
DVDs
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-02 | |
| 2 | 2003-04-25 | |
| 3 | 2003-06-18 |
Photobooks
| # | Title | Release date | Publisher | ISBN | Photobook information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-04-11 | Wani Books Wani Books is a Japanese publishing company focused on manga-related publication, including magazines and books. The company was established in November 1979. It publishes one manga magazine Comic Gum.- Wink Up : is an idol magazine published since July 1988.... |
ISBN 4-8470-2761-2 | Photobook with Aya Matsuura Aya Matsuura is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common... . |
|
| 2 |
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
|| ISBN 4-0485-3590-0 || First solo photobook.
|-
| 3 || || 2004-01-24 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2793-0 || Second solo photobook.
|-
| 4 || || 2005-02-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2846-5 || Third solo photobook.
|-
| 5 || || 2005-12-17 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2905-4 || Fourth solo photobook.
|-
| 6 || || 2006-11-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2972-0 || Fifth solo photobook.
|}
Dramas
- 2002 –
- 2004 –
- 2009 –
- 2009 –
Musicals
- 2006 – as Hecate
- 2008 – Grease: The MusicalGrease (musical)Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
as Rizzo
Radio
- 2002–2003 –
- 2002–2007 –
- 2004–2007 –