| Risa Niigaki 新垣里沙 |
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|---|---|
Risa Niigaki at the Japan Expo on July 3, 2010 |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Gaki-san, Omame-chan |
| Born | October 20, 1988 |
| Origin | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Zetima |
| Associated acts | Morning Musume, Tanpopo, Sakuragumi, Athena & Robikerottsu, Happy 7, 7Air, H.P. All Stars |
| Website | Hello! Project.com |
Risa Niigaki (新垣 里沙 Niigaki Risa, born October 20, 1988 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan) 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. Niigaki is also the current leader of Hello! Project.
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Niigaki was the runner-up for the 'Kiss Girl Audition' in becoming Tomy 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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
In early 2007, Niigaki was chosen to be a member of Morning Musume Tanjō 10nen Kinentai (モーニング娘。誕生10年記念隊) along with Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto and Koharu Kusumi - a unit created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary. Their first single, Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia (僕らが生きるMy Asia), was released on January 24, 2007.
On June 1, 2007, following then-leader Miki Fujimoto's resignation from Morning Musume,[4][5] 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.[6][7]
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.[8] 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]."[8] 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 would take over the position as leader of Morning Musume and Hello! Project after Takahashi's graduation.[9] After Takahashi's graduation, Niigaki became the only member of Hello! Project that had joined before the Hello! Project Kids.
It was announced on January 2, 2012, that she will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project on the last day of their Spring Concert Tour which is May 13th. She will be passing on the title of leader of Morning Musume and Hello! Project to Sayumi Michishige and Berryz Koubou's Shimizu Saki respectively.
| # | Title | Release date | Publisher | ISBN | Photobook information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 5 - Morning Musume 5 Ki Generation Member Shashinshū (5 モーニング娘。5期メンバー写真集) | 2002-08-16 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-2721-3 | Photobook starring all of the 5th generation members |
| 1 | Niigaki Risa (1stソロ写真集「新垣里沙」) | 2004-10-07 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-2827-9 | First solo photobook |
| 2 | Ama Natsu (2ndソロ写真集「あま夏」) | 2006-06-25 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-2941-0 | Second solo photobook |
| 3 | Isshun (3rdソロ写真集「一瞬」) | 2007-05-27 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-4013-9 | Third solo photobook |
| 4 | Happy Girl (4thソロ写真集「Happy Girl」) | 2008-04-25 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-4080-5 | Fourth solo photobook |
| Show | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| Hello! Morning (ハロー！モーニング。) | 2001 | April 1, 2007 |
| Tin Tin Town! (ティンティンTown!) | July 5, 2002 | March 26, 2004 |
| Sore Yuke! Gorokkies (それゆけ!ゴロッキーズ) | September 29, 2003 | December 26, 2003 |
| Futarigoto (二人ゴト) | July 1, 2004 | July 2, 2004 |
| July 23, 2004 | July 29, 2004 | |
| Majokko Rika-chan no Magical v-u-den (魔女っ娘。梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝) | October 21, 2004 | November 10, 2004 |
| Musume Dokyu! (娘Dokyu!) | June 13, 2005 | — |
| Haromoni@ (ハロモニ@) | April 8, 2007 | September 28, 2008 |
| Program | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| Tanpopo Henshūbu Oh-So-Ro! (タンポポ編集部 Oh-So-Ro!) | September 24, 2002 | September 23, 2003 |
| TBC Fun Fīrudo Mōretsu Mōdasshu (TBC Funふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ) | April 1, 2005 | April 15, 2005 |
| July 25, 2005 | August 5, 2005 | |
| Hello Pro Yanen!! (ハロプロやねん!!) | June 10, 2005 | June 24, 2005 |
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ai Takahashi |
Leader of Morning Musume 2011 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Ai Takahashi |
Sub-leader of Morning Musume 2007 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Last |
| Preceded by Ai Takahashi |
Leader of Hello! Project 2011 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Ai Takahashi |
Longest serving member of Morning Musume 2001 – present (held with Takahashi Ai until September 2011) |
Incumbent |
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