Risa Niigaki
Encyclopedia
is a fifth generation member and current leader of the Japanese pop
group Morning Musume
. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi
, Asami Konno
and Makoto Ogawa
. She grew up in Yokohama
after moving there at age six. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving sub-leader of Morning Musume. After former Leader Takahashi Ai graduation in September 2011, Niigaki took over as leader of the group.
image girl before joining Morning Musume. She also appeared with the winner Ai Hasegawa in a Tomy Karaoke Machine commercial.
In 2001, Niigaki joined Morning Musume as the fifth generation along with Ai Takahashi
, Asami Konno
, and Makoto Ogawa
. Morning Musume producer Tsunku
said he chose Niigaki because she "shined during the final studio recording" for the audition song that all the finalists had to sing. She debuted and lead on the group's 13th single, "Mr. Moonlight (Ai no Big Band)" making her one of the few members of Morning Musume who was able to lead on her debut single. She first appeared in their 4th album, 4th Ikimasshoi!. In the summer of that year, she also debuted in a shuffle unit as part of Happy 7, with two other members of her generation (Ai Takahashi and Makoto Ogawa).
Later in September, all fifth generation members were placed into subgroups. Niigaki was placed into Tanpopo
as a member of the third generation, along with Asami Konno. The new line-up only released one single before becoming inactive.
Niigaki, along with many other members of Morning Musume at that time, starred in a drama entitled Angel Hearts which was released in 2002.
In 2003, she was placed into Sakuragumi
, which released two singles before also becoming inactive.
In early 2007, Niigaki was chosen to be a member of along with Kaori Iida
, Natsumi Abe
, Maki Goto
and Koharu Kusumi
- a unit created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary. Their first single, , was released on January 24, 2007.
On June 1, 2007, following then-leader Miki Fujimoto
's resignation from Morning Musume, Ai Takahashi replaced Fujimoto as leader, while Risa Niigaki took Takahashi's place as sub-leader.
Following the announcement of Nozomi Tsuji
's pregnancy, Niigaki took over Tsuji's role as Athena in the animation series Robby & Kerobby. In October 2007, Niigaki was placed in the unit Athena & Robikerottsu along with fellow Morning Musume member Aika Mitsui
, as well as Saki Nakajima
and Chisato Okai
of C-ute.
It was announced in July 2008 that Niigaki and Ai Takahashi would play the 70s J-pop duo Pink Lady
in the TV drama Hitmaker Aku Yū Monogatari.
From August 6 until August 25, 2008, Morning Musume performed a version of Rodgers and Hammerstein
's Cinderella
with the Takarazuka Revue
, in which Niigaki starred as the Prince.
On February 12, 2009, it was announced that Morning Musume would be performing in the United States at the 2009 Anime Expo
, the nation's largest anime convention, as one of the first official guests of honor. In an interview Niigaki stated that "The movies that Disney makes are full of dreams, but when I have children, I'd like them to know about war, the pain of death and such things, so I hope they will watch [anime]." Niigaki also revealed that her favorite anime was Sailor Moon, stating that "we copied the hairstyles and had a 'Sailor Moon' playhouse in kindergarten."
On August 26, 2008, Niigaki became one of four members to remain in Morning Musume for seven years or more (the others being Kaori Iida, Hitomi Yoshizawa and fellow fifth generation member Ai Takahashi).
On January 17, 2009, Niigaki and Takahashi became the longest-serving members in Morning Musume history, breaking the four-year-old record set by Kaori Iida.
On August 26, 2009, Niigaki and Takahashi became the first members to remain in Morning Musume for eight years.
In 2009, Niigaki was assigned to be a part of the new shuffle group ZYX-α
with Koharu Kusumi
, Maasa Sudo, Momoko Tsugunaga
, Erika Umeda
, Chinami Tokunaga
, Saki Ogawa
, and Ayaka Wada
.
On January 9, 2011, it was announced that Ai Takahashi will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project at the end of their autumn 2011 concert tour. Niigaki will take over the position as leader of Morning Musume after Takahashi's graduation.
} || 2002-08-16 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2721-3 || Photobook starring all of the 5th generation members
|-
| 1 || ||2004-10-07 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2827-9 || First solo photobook
|-
| 2 || || 2006-06-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2941-0 || Second solo photobook
|-
| 3 || || 2007-05-27 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-4013-9 || Third solo photobook
|-
| 4 || || 2008-04-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-4080-5 || Fourth solo photobook
|}
} || September 29, 2003 || December 26, 2003
|-
|rowspan="2"| || July 1, 2004 || July 2, 2004
|-
| July 23, 2004 || July 29, 2004
|-
| || October 21, 2004 || November 10, 2004
|-
| || June 13, 2005 || —
|-
| || April 8, 2007 || September 28, 2008
|}
} || September 24, 2002 || September 23, 2003
|-
|rowspan="2"| || April 1, 2005 || April 15, 2005
|-
| July 25, 2005 || August 5, 2005
|-
| || June 10, 2005 || June 24, 2005
|}
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...
group 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...
. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along 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...
, 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...
and Makoto Ogawa
Makoto Ogawa
is a Japanese pop singer and actress best known as a former member of Morning Musume. She joined the group in August 2001 along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, and Asami Konno.Ogawa is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume....
. She grew up in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
after moving there at age six. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving sub-leader of Morning Musume. After former Leader Takahashi Ai graduation in September 2011, Niigaki took over as leader of the group.
Biography
Niigaki was the runner-up for the 'Kiss Girl Audition' in becoming TomyTOMY
is a Japanese toy, children's merchandise and entertainment company created from the March 2006 merger of two companies: Tomy and long-time rival, Takara...
image girl before joining Morning Musume. She also appeared with the winner Ai Hasegawa in a Tomy Karaoke Machine commercial.
In 2001, Niigaki joined Morning Musume as the fifth generation along 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...
, 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...
, and Makoto Ogawa
Makoto Ogawa
is a Japanese pop singer and actress best known as a former member of Morning Musume. She joined the group in August 2001 along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, and Asami Konno.Ogawa is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume....
. Morning Musume 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...
said he chose Niigaki because she "shined during the final studio recording" for the audition song that all the finalists had to sing. She debuted and lead on the group's 13th single, "Mr. Moonlight (Ai no Big Band)" making her one of the few members of Morning Musume who was able to lead on her debut single. She first appeared in their 4th album, 4th Ikimasshoi!. In the summer of that year, she also debuted in a shuffle unit as part of Happy 7, with two other members of her generation (Ai Takahashi and Makoto Ogawa).
Later in September, all fifth generation members were placed into subgroups. Niigaki was placed into Tanpopo
Tanpopo
was the first official subgroup of Japanese pop girl group Morning Musume formed in November 1998. They specialized in singing slow and mature songs, which morphed to an old-fashioned and upbeat style—a genre somewhat similar to that of the band from which it originated.-History: The group...
as a member of the third generation, along with Asami Konno. The new line-up only released one single before becoming inactive.
Niigaki, along with many other members of Morning Musume at that time, starred in a drama entitled Angel Hearts which was released in 2002.
In 2003, she was placed into Sakuragumi
Morning Musume Sakuragumi
, meaning "Sakura Group", was one of the subgroups derived from the Japanese pop group Morning Musume in 2003. Its equivalent was Morning Musume Otomegumi. Like its counterpart, the sole purpose of Sakuragumi was to accommodate towns with smaller concert venues. The group was meant to embody the...
, which released two singles before also becoming inactive.
In early 2007, Niigaki was chosen to be a member of along with Kaori Iida
Kaori Iida
is a Japanese pop singer and actress, associated with Hello! Project and best known as a founding member of the girl band Morning Musume. She has also recorded with the Morning Musume side project band Tanpopo and is currently a solo artist...
, 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...
, 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...
and Koharu Kusumi
Koharu Kusumi
, is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...
- a unit created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary. Their first single, , was released on January 24, 2007.
On June 1, 2007, following then-leader Miki Fujimoto
Miki Fujimoto
, 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"...
's resignation from Morning Musume, Ai Takahashi replaced Fujimoto as leader, while Risa Niigaki took Takahashi's place as sub-leader.
Following the announcement of Nozomi Tsuji
Nozomi Tsuji
, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese tarento and a former member of the pop idol group Morning Musume, its subgroup Mini Moni, and the duo W. She has participated in the shuffle groups 10-nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, and 11Water, H.P...
's pregnancy, Niigaki took over Tsuji's role as Athena in the animation series Robby & Kerobby. In October 2007, Niigaki was placed in the unit Athena & Robikerottsu along with fellow Morning Musume member Aika Mitsui
Aika Mitsui
is a member of the J-pop group Morning Musume, joining as a member of the eighth generation from the audition in Japan during December 2006. Mitsui's audition process was documented during the late 2006 episodes of Hello! Morning...
, as well as Saki Nakajima
Saki Nakajima (singer)
is a member of C-ute, a Japanese pop group within Hello! Project.- History :Nakajima first joined Hello! Project in 2002 as one of the fifteen children chosen from the Hello! Project Kids auditions after performing "Dekkai Uchuu ni Ai ga Aru" by Morning Musume.In 2004 Berryz Kobo was formed, with...
and Chisato Okai
Chisato Okai
is a member of the J-pop group C-ute, under Hello! Project.Okai passed the "Hello! Project Kids" audition in 2002. In 2004 Berryz Kobo was formed, with the intention of rotating the kids throughout the unit. Okai didn't make the original pick, and the idea was eventually dropped...
of C-ute.
It was announced in July 2008 that Niigaki and Ai Takahashi would play the 70s J-pop duo Pink Lady
Pink Lady (band)
is a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto and Keiko Masuda...
in the TV drama Hitmaker Aku Yū Monogatari.
From August 6 until August 25, 2008, Morning Musume performed a version of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
with the Takarazuka Revue
Takarazuka Revue
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
, in which Niigaki starred as the Prince.
On February 12, 2009, it was announced that Morning Musume would be performing in the United States at the 2009 Anime Expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
, the nation's largest anime convention, as one of the first official guests of honor. In an interview Niigaki stated that "The movies that Disney makes are full of dreams, but when I have children, I'd like them to know about war, the pain of death and such things, so I hope they will watch [anime]." Niigaki also revealed that her favorite anime was Sailor Moon, stating that "we copied the hairstyles and had a 'Sailor Moon' playhouse in kindergarten."
On August 26, 2008, Niigaki became one of four members to remain in Morning Musume for seven years or more (the others being Kaori Iida, Hitomi Yoshizawa and fellow fifth generation member Ai Takahashi).
On January 17, 2009, Niigaki and Takahashi became the longest-serving members in Morning Musume history, breaking the four-year-old record set by Kaori Iida.
On August 26, 2009, Niigaki and Takahashi became the first members to remain in Morning Musume for eight years.
In 2009, Niigaki was assigned to be a part of the new shuffle group ZYX-α
ZYX
was a short-lived Japanese pop group made up of five Hello! Project Kids members led by Mari Yaguchi of Morning Musume. Yaguchi acted as a mentor and the group released two singles. ZYX is important in that it is the first unit that Hello! Project Kids officially joined with the second being Aa!...
with Koharu Kusumi
Koharu Kusumi
, is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...
, Maasa Sudo, Momoko Tsugunaga
Momoko Tsugunaga
is a J-pop singer. Her career began in 2002 when she successfully auditioned for the Hello! Project Kids followed by 15 other girls, and was selected as one of the eight members of Berryz Kobo. Since then, she has continued to sing in that group and has become a part of three smaller groups...
, Erika Umeda
Erika Umeda
was a member of the J-pop group C-ute, under Hello! Project. She was also a member of ZYX along with Momoko Tsugunaga, Mari Yaguchi, Maimi Yajima, Megumi Murakami, and Saki Shimizu.-Musical career:...
, Chinami Tokunaga
Chinami Tokunaga
is a member of the J-pop idol group Berryz Kobo.In 2002, Chinami successfully passed the Hello! Project Kids Audition and became a member of Hello! Project.- Movies :* Koinu Dan no Monogatari...
, Saki Ogawa
Saki Ogawa
is a former Japanese pop singer, best known as one of the 4 founding members of the Japanese pop group S/mileage.-Biography:Ogawa joined Hello! Project as a member of Hello! Pro Egg in June 2004 when she passed the auditions alongside thirty-two other girls...
, and Ayaka Wada
Ayaka Wada
is a Japanese pop singer signed to Hello! Project. She joined the project in 2004 as a member of Hello! Pro Egg and is currently a member of S/mileage and was a former member of Shugo Chara Egg!.-2004-2005:...
.
On January 9, 2011, it was announced that Ai Takahashi will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project at the end of their autumn 2011 concert tour. Niigaki will take over the position as leader of Morning Musume after Takahashi's graduation.
Photobooks
| # | Title | Release date | Publisher | ISBN | Photobook information |
|---|
| – |
|-
| 1 || ||2004-10-07 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2827-9 || First solo photobook
|-
| 2 || || 2006-06-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-2941-0 || Second solo photobook
|-
| 3 || || 2007-05-27 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-4013-9 || Third solo photobook
|-
| 4 || || 2008-04-25 || Wani Books || ISBN 4-8470-4080-5 || Fourth solo photobook
|}
DVDs
- 2007-06-13 –
- 2009-01-21 –
- 2010-07-14 –
Movies
- 2002 –
- 2003 –
Dramas
- 2002 – Angel Hearts
- 2002 –
- 2008 – Hitmaker Aku Yū Monogatari as KeiKeiko MasudaKeiko Masuda is a Japanese pop singer and actress. She is better known by her nickname Kei, and was one half of Pink Lady, the top idol group of Japan in the 1970s...
from Pink LadyPink Lady (band)is a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto and Keiko Masuda...
Television shows
| Show | | Start date | | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | April 1, 2007 | |
| July 5, 2002 | March 26, 2004 | |
|-
|rowspan="2"| || July 1, 2004 || July 2, 2004
|-
| July 23, 2004 || July 29, 2004
|-
| || October 21, 2004 || November 10, 2004
|-
| || June 13, 2005 || —
|-
| || April 8, 2007 || September 28, 2008
|}
Radio
| Program | | Start date | | End date |
|---|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || April 1, 2005 || April 15, 2005
|-
| July 25, 2005 || August 5, 2005
|-
| || June 10, 2005 || June 24, 2005
|}