Melon Kinenbi Debuted in 2000 with the Single Amai Anata No Aji Which Was the End Theme

Melon Kinenbi debuted in 2000 with the single Amai Anata no Aji which was the end theme song of Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Revenge. They have a more mature sound somewhat like early Morning Musume. Their style has changed somewhat over the years and it varies slightly with every single. Now the group is fronted mainly by Ayumi, who is now also a part of Tanpopo. Melon Kinenbi has been a part of H!P for three years now and, unlike every other group, they have never had any changes in members. Their first album, containing their eight singles, will be out on March 12.

Basics (in picture from left to right)

Name: Hitomi Saitou
Birthday:10/31/81
Bloodtype: A
Height: 155 cm
Birthplace: Niigata-ken
Shuffle Groups:10 nin Matsuri, Happy 7.

Name: Ayumi Shibata
Birthday:2/22/84
Bloodtype: O
Height: 155
Birthplace: Kanagawa-ken
Subgroups and Shuffle Groups:7 nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, Tanpopo, 11 Water

Name: Masae Ohtani
Birthday:2/26/82
Bloodtype: O
Height: 160 cm
Birthplace: Hokkaido
Shuffle Groups:10 nin Matsuri, Sexy 8, 7 Air

Name: Megumi Murata
Birthday:3/3/81
Bloodtype: O
Height: 160 cm
Birthplace: Miyagi-ken
Shuffle Groups:10 nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, 11 Water

Singles

Amai Anata no Aji - 2/19/00
Kokuhaku Kinenbi - 6/28/00
Denwa Matteimasu - 3/7/01
This is Unmei - 10/11/01
Saa! Koibito ni Narou - 2/14/02
Natsu no Yoru wa Danger - 6/19/02
Kousui - 10/23/02
Akai Freesia - 1/29/03
Chance of Love - 5/8/03

Coconuts Musume is a group composed of members, Mika (18) and Ayaka (20) (left and center in the picture). The theme of this group is that all the members are from Hawaii.

The group originally started out in the summer of 1999 with five members, Mika, Ayaka, Danielle, Chelsea and April. After their second single, Chelsea and April left the group. Before their third single was released, Lehua (in picture, right) was added. Danielle left in the summer of 2000 and Lehua quit in late 2001.

Mika is also a member (and current leader) of the subgroup, Mini Moni and Ayaka was recently made a member of Pucchi Moni.

Basics

Name: Mika
Birthday:5/28/84
Birthplace:Hawaii
Bloodtype: A
Height: 150 cm
Shuffle Groups:Aoiro 7, 10 nin Matsuri, Happy 7, Mini Moni, 7 Air

Name: Ayaka
Birthday:10/30/81
Birthplace:Japan
Bloodtype: AB
Height: 162 cm
Shuffle Groups:Kiiro 5, 7 nin Matsuri, Sexy 8, ROMANS, 11 Water

Singles

Halation Summer - 7/23/99
DANCE & CHANCE - 8/25/99
Tokonatsu Musume - 5/17/00
Watashi mo [I LOVE YOU] - 7/26/00
Jonestu Yuki Mirairsen - 8/22/01
Morning Musume Single Medley (Hawaiian Version) with Morning Musume, Miki Fujimoto, Rika Ishii and Boo Takagi

Country Musume has the most rocky history of any other Hello Project group. The theme of this group was 'country girls from Hokkaido.' They began with three members, Rinne Toda, Azusa Kobayashi and Hiromi Yanagihara. After the release of their first single, Hiromi died in a car accident. Then Azusa left the group as well. For the next year, Rinne stayed in the group alone until Asami joined in the summer of 2000. In April of 2001, Tsunku decided it was time to make Country Musume more popular so he rented Morning Musume's Rika as a temporary member. Their new name was Country Musume ni Ishikawa Rika. This form of the group released two singles and one full-length album. In early 2002, they added a fourth member, Mai Satoda.

In October of 2002, it was announced that Rinne, the ornly original member, would be graduating from the group.

In May and June of 2003, some important changes were made. First, a new member, Miuna Saitou was added. Also, Rika was removed from the group and Miki Fujimoto and Asami Konno, two Morning Musume members from Hokkaido, were added. They're now known as Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto. Their new single, Uwaki no Honey Pie, will be released in late July.

Basics

Name: Rinne Toda
Birthday:2/6/81
Birthplace:Hokkaido
Bloodtype: B
Height: 160 cm
Shuffle Groups:10 nin Matsuri, Odoru 11

Name: Asami Kimura
Birthday:7/17/84
Birthplace:Hokkaido
Bloodtype: O
Height 148 cm
Shuffle Groups:7 nin Matsuri, Happy 7, 11 Water

Name: Mai Satoda
Birthday:3/29/84
Birthplace:Hokkaido
Bloodtype: A
Height: 160 cm
Shuffle Groups:Sexy 8, 7 Air, ROMANS

Name: Miuna Saitou
Birthday:February 12, 1987
Birthplace:Shizuoka

Singles

Futari no Hokkaido - 7/23/99
Yuki Keshiki - 11/30/99
Hokkaido Shalala - 4/27/00
Koi ga Suteki na Kisetsu - 7/31/00
Hajimete no Happy Birthday - 4/18/01
Koibito wa Kokoro Ouendan - 10/17/01
Irropoi Onna ~ SEXY BABY - 4/17/02
BYE BYE Saigo no Yoru - 11/13/02
Uwaki no Honey Pie - 7/24/03

Gomattou was formed in October of 2003. The group is led by ex-Morning Musume member, Maki Goto. The other members are Hello Project solo artists, Aya Matsuura and Miki Fujimoto. Gomattou is a dance-based group that sings R&B songs similar in style to Morning Musume's single, Do it! Now or Sexy 8's Shiawase desu ka?. The name, Gomattou, is based on their last name GOto, MATSUra and fujimoTO. For more information, visit Maki, Aya and Miki's individual pages.

Singles

Shall we love?

ROMANS is a new subgroup based on a Morning Musume related tv program, Sexy Onna Jyuku. The members are Morning Musume's Mari Yaguchi and Rika Ishikawa, Mai Satoda from Country Musume, Ayaka from Coconuts Musume and Hitomi Saitou from Melon Kinenbi. They have a sexy, more mature theme. What's especially unusual is that 18 year old Rika is the youngest in the group. They will also be split into singing and rapping groups somewhat like 7 Air. The singing group is Mari, Rika and Mai. The rapping group is Hitomi and Ayaka. While the group's name is spelled "ROMANS", it's pronounced Romance.

Their first single, SEXY NIGHT ~Wasurerarenai Kare~, will be released on August 20.

ZYX is a brand new subgroup with members Mari Yaguchi and Hello! Kids members, Erika Umeda (12), Maimi Yajima (11), Momoko Tsugunaga, Saki Shimizu (11), and Megumi Murakami (11). Their first single, Iku ZYX FLY HIGH!, has a kind of disco feel which was actually quite unexpected.

Debuting in November of 1998, Tanpopo was the first official subgroup of Morning Musume. With members Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida and Mari Yaguchi, Tanpopo was formed to emphasize the softer side of Morning Musume. Their first single, Last Kiss, was the ending theme song for Sorcerous Stabber Orphen.

After Aya's departure in fall of 1999, Kaori and Mari continued performing Tanpopo songs. Ai Kago and Rika Ishikawa were then added in the summer of 2000 when they released Tanpopo's fifth single, Otome Pasta ni Kandou. With the change of members, Tanpopo's music was changed slightly as well. It became more upbeat compared to the slower, more ballad-like songs of older Tanpopo.

On July 31st, 2002, it was announced that Tanpopo was going to be reformed. Mari and Kaori, the two original members of Tanpopo, along with Ai K., would no longer be in the group. They would instead be replaced by two of Morning Musume's newer members, Asami Konno and Risa Niigaki as well as Melon Kinenbi member, Ayumi Shibata.

Singles Last Kiss c/w Jikan no Tomare - 11/18/98
Motto c/w Ai no Uta - 3/10/99
Tanpopo c/w Rainy Day - 6/16/99
Seinaru Kane ga Hibiki Yoru c/w Iida version, Ishiguro version, Yaguchi version - 10/20/99
Otome Pasta ni Kando c/w Watashi no Kao - 7/5/00
Koi wo Shichaimashita c/w BABY CRY - 2/21/01
Ojisama to Yuki ni Yoru c/w Nenmatsu Nenshi no Taikeimen - 11/21/01

BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee - 9/26/02

Petit Moni (Pucchi is the Japanese way of pronouncing Petit) was formed in November of 1999 after Morning Musume's first HUGE hit, Love Machine. This group was made to be more energetic and down-to-earth than the other major subgroup at the time, Tanpopo. The members were Sayaka Ichii, Maki Goto and Kei Yasuda. Their first single, Chokotto Love, was also a big hit.

However, Sayaka graduated from Morning Musume in May 2000 just six months after Pucchi Moni debuted. Hitomi Yoshizawa was added in her place for the release of Pucchi Moni's next single. They released two more singles with this formation.

On July 31, 2002, it was announced that Pucchi Moni would again have to be reformed due to the impending graduations of both Maki and Kei. In their place will be Coconuts Musume's Ayaka and new Morning Musume member, Makoto Ogawa.

Singles

Chokotto Love c/w DREAM & KISS - 11/25/99
Seishun Jidai 1.2.3. c/w Bicycle Daiseiko - 7/26/00
BABY! Koi ni Knockout! c/w Waltz! Ahiruga Sanwa - 2/28/01
Pittari Shitai X'mas c/w Yume no Suzuki - 11/14/01

Mini Moni was originally the brainstrom of Morning Musume's Mari Yaguchi. She had an idea for a subgroup that consisted of only of members who were 150 cm (about 5 feet) or lower. Morning Musume's Ai Kago at 148 cm and Nozomi Tsuji at 149 cm were picked for this part. To give Mini Moni an international flavor, Coconut Musume's Mika (150 cm) joined. With their debut single in January of 2001, Mini Moni took off. They generally sing childish, goofy songs that appeal to younger kids.

Mini Moni has done numerous commercials and had their own spot on Hello Morning, Morning Musume's weekly television show. They've also done a collaboration with the famous Japanese comedian, Bakatono-sama.

On July 31, it was announced that Mika is going to be made the new leader of Mini Moni and Mari was going to be leaving in order to head up a new subgroup. Ai Takahashi will be joining. The height rule has been changed because Ai T. is 153 cm.

Singles

Mini Moni Jyan Ken Pyon c/w Haru Aki Natsu Fuyu Daisuki - 1/17/01
Mini Moni Telephone Ring Ring Ring c/w Mini Moni Busguide - 9/12/01
Mini Moni Hinamatsuri c/w Mini Strawberry Pie - 1/30/02
Mini Hamuzu no Ai no Uta - 2/27/02
Ain! Taisou c/w Ain! Dance no Uta with Bakatono-sama - 4/24/02
Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song (with Ai T. and Hello Kids) - 11/27/02

•Hello! Project Groups

•Morning Musume

•Coconuts Musume

•Country Musume

•Hello Project Kids

•ROMANS

•Gomattou

•Melon Kinenbi

•ZYX

•Musume Sub Groups

•Tanpopo

•Pucchi Moni

•Mini Moni

•Hello! Project Shuffle Groups

•2000

•Akagumi 4

•Kiiro 5

•Aoiro 7

•2001

•3 nin Matsuri

•7 nin Matsuri

•10 nin Matsuri

•2002

•Happy 7

•Sexy 8

•Odoru 11

•2003

•Salt 5

•7 Air

•11 Water

In 1997, Tsunku and the members of Sharan Q held an audition for a female rock vocalist on the television show, Asayan. Through Tsunku's vision and the asayan audition, finalists were picked. Among the finalist were Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Asuka Fukuda, Aya Ishiguro, Nakazawa Yuko and Michiyo Heike. There were vocal lessons (saying "la" to the melody of Michiyo's first single Get), dance lessons, and overall attitude watching.

After the auditions, Tsunku picked Heike Michiyo. However the singles Michiyo released did not do as well as Tsunku had hoped. He made a decision to pick five of the other contestants and form a group. He told Natsumi, Kaori, Asuka, Aya, and Yuko that if they could sell 50000 of the single they released called Ai no Tane, he would become their producer and try to turn them into the next big thing. In November of '97, the girls worked their hardest, calling family members, selling on street corners. They sold 50000 singles and became the group Morning Musume.

In January of 1998, they released their first official single, Morning Coffee. With the release of their second single coming up Tsunku decided to hold another audition. The results of this audition came about with new members Mari Yaguchi, Sayaka Ichii and Kei Yasuda. With the new members Morning Musume released their second single, SummerNightTown in May '98.

When Morning Musume performed at concerts, they would perform with Michiyo Heike. They became the first version of what would later be called Hello Project, a group of soloists and groups all produced by Tsunku.

Shortly after that, Yuko began her solo career. Her style was originally enka and In November of 1998, Tsunku formed the subgroup Tanpopo of Mari, Aya, and Kaori and they released their first single, Last Kiss, which was also the theme song of the anime Sorcerer Stabber Orphen. Tanpopo was said to have a mature sound along with a more mature look.

Two MoMusu singles later and it was time for the first graduation. Asuka Fukuda decided that she needed to focus more on her schooling than on her music career. Asuka bid the group farewell at the Memory Seishun no Hikari concert in 1999. Later in 1999, after the release of two more singles, Tsunku added Maki Goto, the result of his third Asayan audition. On September 9th, 1999, Morning Musume released their revolutionary hit Love Machine. In November of 1999, Tsunku formed another subgroup out of members Sayaka, Kei, and Maki. Pucchi (the word for petit) Moni was a more upbeat, fun subgroup. They released their first single, Chokotto Love two months after Love Machine and it was a hit!

The group was saddened to hear that another of their members was to graduate. Aya left the group because she wanted to pursue another career. She graduated in early January of 2000. Aya married Shinya, the drummer from LunaSea that May and their baby was born in November. Tanpopo continued to perform without Aya. With the departure of Aya, Tsunku held yet another audition. This audition led to the adding of Rika Ishikawa, Ai Kago, Nozomi Tsuji and Hitomi Yoshizawa.

Now at eleven members, Morning Musume released Happy Summer Wedding. Following the release of this single, Sayaka decided it was time for her departure from the group. Hoping to pursue a solo career, Sayaka left to learn more about composing music. With Sayaka gone, there was a vacancy in Pucchi Moni so Hitomi was put in that group. As for Tanpopo, Ai Kago and Rika were added in Aya's place. With ten members, the group was stronger than ever. From spring of 2000 to spring of 2001, Morning Musume released two singles, performed in countless concerts and were in tons of commercials.

In January of 2001, another subgroup was formed and released. It was the childishly fun group, Mini Moni which was actually Mari's idea. The concept for the group was for people under 150 cm. So Ai K., Nozomi and Mika from Coconuts Musume were added.

In April of 2001, Yuko decided to leave the group as well. She was 28 at the time and there were things she wanted to accomplish by the time she was 30. After all, she had a solo career of her own and was acting in drama series. After Yuko's departure, Morning Musume released one single, performed in their first stage musical, Love Century, and continued to work steadily. It was then announced that there would be yet another audition for new members. In late August 2001, four new members were added. Ai Takahashi, Makoto Ogawa, Asami Konno and Risa Niigaki. With their 13 member formation, they released three singles, Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Bigband~, Sou da! We're Alive and Do it! Now, each with a very different style from the last, were in their second musical and were busier than ever.

On July 31, 2002, it was announced that Maki would be graduating from Morning Musume of her 17th birthday, September 23, 2002. The next spring, Kei would also graduate. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that ALL the subgroups would be switched around. Ai Kago, Kaori and Mari would no longer be in Tanpopo. Instead the group would have members Rika, Asami, Risa and Melon Kinenbi's Ayumi Shibata. With the departure of Maki and Kei pending, Makoto and Ayaka from Coconuts Musume would be added to Pucchi Moni with current member, Hitomi. Mari would leave Mini Moni and be replaced by Ai Takahashi. Also, the solo artist, Michiyo Heike would be leaving Hello Project. Mari would instead be added as a leader to a new group of children called Hello Project Kids. Also, after Kei graduates, she will be something of a sub-leader for Hello Project.

In winter of 2002, the audition for the 6th generation of Morning Musume members took place. Not only that, but it was announced that Hello! Project soloist, Miki Fujimoto would be joining Morning Musume. In January, three new members were chosen. They are Eri Kamei, Reina Tanaka and Sayumi Michishige. Shortly after all four girls were confirmed as members, Morning Musume was split into two groups! Morning Musume Sakura Gumi (Natsumi, Mari, Hitomi, Ai Kago, Ai Takahashi, Asami, Risa and Eri) and Morning Musume Otome Gumi (Kaori, Rika, Nozomi, Makoto, Miki, Reina and Sayumi). These groups are set to debut in the fall of 2003 following Kei's graduation and the new girls official debut in the summer.

Morning Musume is a group that is ever-changing and always entertaining. What will happen with the group next is always a mystery.

Morning Musume is a 13-member all-girl vocal group that is currently one of the hottest acts in Japan. "Musume" roughly translates into "daughter" but it can also mean "girl".. which version you prefer is a matter of opinion. But many people ask how in the world can 13-girls share a stage? Chalk it up to media savvy and management genius. This group didn't start out with 13 members... they started with a humble five... and it's been a rollercoaster ride since the beginning...