Petitmoni

Petit Moni プッチモニ PetitmoniV プッチモニV
Petit Moni 3rd generation, 2003
Background information
Also known as	Petit Moni, Pucchi Moni, Petitmoni V, Pucchi Moni V
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Pop
Years active	1999–2009 2009–present
Labels	Zetima
Associated acts	Morning Musume, Minimoni, Tanpopo, Cute, Coconuts Musume, Morning Musume Otomegumi, Morning Musume Sakuragumi
Website	Hello! Project.com
Members	Saki Nakajima Mai Hagiwara
Past members	Sayaka Ichii Kei Yasuda Maki Goto Hitomi Yoshizawa Makoto Ogawa Ayaka Kimura Erina Mano

Petit Moni (プッチモニ), also known as Pucchi Moni, was the second official subgroup of the Japanese pop idol group Morning Musume.

History

Founded November 1999, the group initially consisted of Morning Musume members Kei Yasuda, Sayaka Ichii, and Maki Goto. Shortly after their formation, the group released their first single, "Chokotto Love", which sold more than 1 million copies.

After the release of the first single, on May 21, 2000, Sayaka Ichii graduated from both Morning Musume and Petitmoni. In order to fill the third member's position, their producer Tsunku placed 4th generation member Hitomi Yoshizawa into the group, forming the second generation. Petitmoni went on to three more singles, with their only album, Zenbu! Petitmoni, released in August 2002. The album was a collection of all of their singles and B-side tracks, along with three extra tracks.

Goto graduated from both Morning Musume and Petitmoni in 2002. Shortly thereafter, Yasuda's graduation was announced for 2003. This sparked yet another formation change, in which Ayaka Kimura (of Coconuts Musume) and 5th generation member Makoto Ogawa were added. Yoshizawa became the new leader, but the new lineup never released a single; only a song entitled "Wow Wow Wow" and a remake of "Chokotto Love", which were included on later Petit Best compilation CDs.

The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2003, and was effectively disbanded in subsequent years with Ogawa leaving to study English abroad in 2006, Yoshizawa graduating from Morning Musume in 2007, and Kimura leaving Hello! Project and Up-Front Agency in 2008.

The 2009 Hello! Project album Chanpuru 1: Happy Marriage Song Cover Shū featured a track by Petitmoni V,^[1] initiating a revival of the disbanded group. Its new lineup consists of Saki Nakajima, Mai Hagiwara, and Erina Mano, and the "V" in its name is for "victory".^[2] This revived group appeared for the first time at the Hello! Project Summer 2009 concert (minus Mai Hagiwara, who was ill and could not participate), singing a new song, "Pira! Otome no Negai" (later released on the album Petit Best 10).

Members

First generation

• Kei Yasuda
• Sayaka Ichii
• Maki Goto

Second generation

• Kei Yasuda (Leader)
• Maki Goto
• Hitomi Yoshizawa

Third generation

• Hitomi Yoshizawa (Leader)
• Makoto Ogawa
• Ayaka Kimura (from Coconuts Musume)

Revival (PetitmoniV)

• Saki Nakajima (from Cute)(leader)
• Mai Hagiwara (from Cute)
• Erina Mano (Hello! Project soloist)(Graduated Hello! Project February 23, 2013)

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation tracks

• Together! - "Chokotto Love (2001 Version)"
• Petit Best 3 - "Chokotto Love (2003 Version)"
• Petit Best 4 - "Wow Wow Wow"
• Petit Best 10 - "Pira! Otome no Negai"

References

External links

• Petitmoni discography on the Up-Front Works website (Japanese)
• Kpopwiki:Petitmoni (English)