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Momoko Tsugunaga | |
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嗣永 桃子 | |
![]() Tsugunaga at MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2014 | |
Born | [1] Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan [1] | March 6, 1992
Nationality | Japanese |
Other names | Momochi [2] |
Occupations |
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Agents |
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Musical career | |
Genres | |
Years active | 2002–2017 |
Labels | Zetima |
Formerly of | |
Momoko Tsugunaga (嗣永 桃子, Tsugunaga Momoko, born March 6, 1992) [1] is a Japanese former singer, actress, and radio personality. Tsugunaga joined Hello! Project as a member of Hello! Project Kids at the age of 10 and later became part of the girl groups Berryz Kobo and Buono! Following Berryz Kobo's hiatus, she became the playing manager of Country Girls. In 2017, Tsugunaga retired from entertainment to become a kindergarten teacher.
In 2002, Tsugunaga auditioned for Hello! Project Kids with the song "Koi wo Shicchaimashita!" by Tanpopo. Her audition tape was aired on Morning Musume's variety show Hello! Morning . [3] She was placed in the group with 14 other girls. [4] [5] In the same year, she starred in the movie Koinu Dan no Monogatari as the main character, Mao Morishita. [6] [7] [8]
In 2003, Tsugunaga appeared in the music video for Miki Fujimoto's "Boogie Train '03." She also became a member of the subgroup ZYX along with Mari Yaguchi from Morning Musume, Erika Umeda, Maimi Yajima, Saki Shimizu, and Megumi Murakami. [6] [9] They released their debut single, "Iku ZYX! Fly High" on August 6, 2003, [10] followed by "Shiroi Tokyo" on December 10, 2003. [11] Later, in 2004, she participated in singing "All for One & One for All!", a collaboration single released by all Hello! Project artists under the name "H.P. All Stars." [12]
In 2004, Tsugunaga was one of the eight girls from Hello! Project Kids were selected to form Berryz Kobo. [13] Berryz Kobo debuted on March 3, 2004, with the single "Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai", [14] and she was one of the lead singers of the group. From 2009 until 2014, Tsugunaga also hosted a radio show titled "Momoko Tsugunaga from Berryz Kobo's Pri-Pri-Princess." [15]
Continuing with her "Momochi" personality, Tsugunaga released a solo song and music video called "Momochi! Yurushite Nyan Taiso", which was released as a B-side to Berryz Kobo's 29th single, "Cha Cha Sing." [16]
In 2007, Tsugunaga also became part of the subgroup Buono! with Miyabi Natsuyaki and Airi Suzuki from Cute. The group formed to perform the opening and ending songs for the anime Shugo Chara! [17] They released their first single, "Honto no Jibun", on October 31, 2007. [18] After the show's end, Buono continued on as a side project until its disbandment in 2017. [19]
In 2014, Berryz Kobo announced they would end activities the following year. [20] After Berryz Kobo went on hiatus, Tsugunaga took on the role as the "playing manager" for the girl group Country Girls, a revival of a Hello! Project group formerly under the name Country Musume. [21]
On November 5, 2016, at Shinjuku ReNY, during Country Girls' second anniversary event, Tsugunaga announced that she would retire from the entertainment industry the following year to become a kindergarten teacher. [22] [6] To commemorate her graduation, a compilation CD album titled Tsugunaga Momoko Idol 15 Shuunen Kinen Album Arigatou Otomomochi (嗣永桃子 アイドル15周年記念アルバム ♡ありがとう おとももち♡, Tsugunaga Momoko Aidoru 15 Shuunen Kinen Arubamu Arigatou Otomomochi) was released on June 21, 2017, with songs selected by fan vote. [23] [24] Tsugunaga held her final concert on June 30, 2017, in an outdoor venue at Odaiba, exactly 15 years after her debut in Hello! Project Kids. [25] 8,000 people attended the concert, [26] including Berryz Kobo and Cute. [27]
During Berryz Kobo's later years, Tsugunaga became known as the "cutesy character" of the group and with her mannerisms and twintail hairstyle. She was often referred to by the nickname Momochi (ももち) in media and press. [2] After Berryz Kobo went on hiatus, she began playing down her "Momochi" image and stopped wearing her hair in twintails, citing that she has grown up. [28]
Tsugunaga majored in education and graduated from Kokugakuin University in 2014. [29]
Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN | |||||
Oricon | Billboard Japan | ||||
Momoko Tsugunaga 15th Year Idol Anniversary Album: Thank You, Momo-friends (嗣永桃子 アイドル15周年記念アルバム ♡ありがとう おとももち♡) | 2017 |
| 19 [30] | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Title | Release date | Label / Notes | Highest position |
---|---|---|---|
Oricon Weekly DVD Chart | |||
Momo Only [31] | December 3, 2008 | Piccolo Town | 32 [32] |
Momo OK | September 9, 2009 | Piccolo Town | 20 [33] |
Momochi DVD Zukan (ももち DVD図鑑) | October 27, 2010 | Piccolo Town | 58 [34] |
Momo Play (ももプレ♡) | March 6, 2011 | e-LineUP! limited edition | |
Momo Play 2: Kaitō Momo Seine (ももプレ♡2 〜怪盗モモセーヌ〜) | December 23, 2011 | e-LineUP! limited edition | |
Momochi Hatachi (ももち はたち) | April 25, 2012 | Piccolo Town | 94 [35] |
Momo Play 3: Rest Another Day (ももプレ3 〜Rest Another Day〜) | March 6, 2013 | e-LineUP! limited edition |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Koinu Dan no Monogatari | Mao Morishita | Lead role [7] |
2004 | Promise Land: Clover no Daibōken | Sae Ōmori | Lead role; television movie |
2011 | Ring of Curse | Shiori Sonoda | Lead role; feature film with Buono! [38] |
2011 | Ōsama Game | Yūko Inomoto | Supporting role [39] |
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002-2007 | Hello! Morning | Herself | TV Tokyo | Morning Musume's variety show |
2002-2004 | Hello Kids | Herself | TV Tokyo | Minimoni's variety show |
2005 | Musume Document 2005 | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show |
2005-2006 | Musume Dokyu! | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show |
2007-2008 | Haromoni | Herself | TV Tokyo | Morning Musume's variety show |
2008 | Berikyū! | Herself | TV Tokyo | Berryz Kobo and Cute's variety show |
2008 | Yorosen! | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show |
2009 | Bijo Houdan | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show [40] |
2010 | Bijo Gaku | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show [41] |
2011-2012 | Hello Pro! Time | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show [42] |
2012 | Sūgaku Joshi Gakuen | Tomoko Harajuku | NTV | Episode 6 [43] |
2012-2013 | Hello! Satoyama Life | Herself | TV Tokyo | Hello! Project's variety show [44] |
2014-2017 | The Girls Live | Herself | TV Tokyo | Up-Front Works's variety show [45] |
2014-2015 | Oha Suta | Herself | TV Tokyo | Variety show MC on Thursdays [46] |
2014-2016 | Haiku Saku Saku | Herself | NHK | Variety show panelist [47] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Edo Kara Chakushin!?: Timeslip to Kengai! | Fuu | Lead role [48] |
2007 | Reverse!: Watashi no Karada Doko Desu ka? | Herself | Lead role [49] |
2008 | Berryz Kobo VS Berryz Kobo | Herself | Lead role [50] |
2009 | Thank You Very Berry | Manaka Konishi | Lead role [51] |
2010 | Sanokuen Shōjo | Herself | Lead role [52] |
2011 | Sengoku Jietai | Herself | Lead role in Defense [53] |
2013 | Warera Jeanne: Shōjo Seisen Kageki | Belle | Supporting role [54] |
Year | Artist | Song | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Miki Fujimoto | "Boogie Train '03" | |
2004 | W | "Aa ii na!" | Back-up dancer (with Berryz Kobo) |
2004 | W | "Robo Kiss" | Back-up dancer (with Berryz Kobo) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004-2009 | Berryz Kobo Chaku! Seki! Rei! | Radio host | with Berryz Kobo |
2009-2014 | Berryz Kobo Tsugunaga Momoko no Pri-Pri-Princess | Radio host | [15] |
2011 | Viva! Paella presents Music Buono! | Radio host | with Buono! |
2011-2013 | Pizza-La presents Cafe Buono! | Radio host | with Buono! [55] |
2013-2015 | Pizza-La presents Trattoria Buono! | Radio host | with Buono! [56] |
2016-2017 | Ijūin Hikaru to Radio to | News correspondent | [6] [57] |
Berryz Kobo was a Japanese idol girl group formed by Up-Front Promotion in 2004 and associated with Hello! Project. The group's members consisted of Hello! Project Kids members Saki Shimizu, Momoko Tsugunaga, Miyabi Natsuyaki, Chinami Tokunaga, Maasa Sudo, Yurina Kumai, and Risako Sugaya; Maiha Ishimura left the group in 2005.
Yurina Kumai is a Japanese model and former singer. Kumai began her career as a member of Hello! Project Kids in 2002. In 2004, she debuted as a member of Berryz Kobo, a girl group associated with the musical collective Hello! Project. During her time with Berryz Kobo and Hello! Project, Kumai also appeared in Hello! Project's other musical projects, such as Guardians 4. In 2014, Kumai left Hello! Project following Berryz Kobo's indefinite hiatus in the same year.
Risako Sugaya is a former Japanese singer and actress. She first gained recognition when she joined Hello! Project Kids and later became one of the lead vocalists of the girl group Berryz Kobo from 2004 to 2015.
Airi Suzuki is a Japanese singer, actress, model, and radio personality associated with Up-Front Works. In 2002, she joined Hello! Project as a member of Hello! Project Kids and later debuted as the lead vocalist of the Japanese idol girl group Cute in 2005. Throughout her singing career, Suzuki also became a vocalist for the girl group Buono! From June 2015 onwards, she became an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Ray.
"3 Natsu Natsu Mini Berryz" is the third studio album by the Japanese girl group Berryz Kobo. It was released in Japan on July 5, 2006. It's the group's third studio album, fourth non-single release, and fifteenth audio release overall.
Miyabi Natsuyaki is a Japanese singer. Her career began in 2002 when she passed the audition for Hello! Project Kids, an all-female child pop group under Hello! Project. She continued to sing in that group and became a part of four smaller groups composed of Hello! Project Kids members—Aa!, Sexy Otonajan, Buono! and Berryz Kobo. She was the sub-captain of Berryz Kobo until their indefinite hiatus in 2015. She became a member of female pop band PINK CRES..
Erika Umeda is a Japanese singer and former model. She was a member of the Japanese idol girl group ZYX and Cute up until departing to pursue a solo career in modeling. In 2013, she returned to her music career with the release of her debut solo single "Crush On You."
Mai Hagiwara is a Japanese apparel designer and former singer and actress. At age 6, she auditioned for Hello! Project Kids in 2002 and later became part of Cute, a Japanese idol girl group associated with Hello! Project.
Buono! was a subgroup of the Japanese girl groups Berryz Kobo and Cute, formed in 2007 by Up-Front Promotion and associated with Hello! Project. The members consisted of Momoko Tsugunaga and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Kobo, and Airi Suzuki from Cute. Their vocals were backed by the band Dolce, which formerly went under name Busters! in 2008.
Megumi Murakami is a Japanese choreographer and former singer and actress. She first gained recognition when she joined Hello! Project Kids and later became the lead vocalist of the girl group Cute until her retirement in 2006.
"Otakebi Boy Wao!/Tomodachi wa Tomodachi Nanda!" is the 22nd single by Berryz Kobo. The single was released on March 3, 2010, with the A-side Single V following on March 10. It was released in four editions: a regular edition, containing only the CD, and three limited editions, A, B and C. Limited editions A and B contained a bonus DVD, while edition C contained a special "Inazuma Eleven" trading card. All three limited editions included a serial number card, used in a promotional draw.
Kokuhaku no Funsui Hiroba is the 14th single by all-girl J-pop group Berryz Kobo, released on June 27, 2007 on the Piccolo Town label. The single was released both as a normal, CD-only edition and a limited edition with a bonus DVD. The limited edition also contained a Berryz Kobo photo-card. An entry ticket to the launch event on July 1 was included with the first copies of the limited edition. Later, a "B" limited edition was released, including a bonus photobook. The Single V was released on July 11, 2007. The single peaked at #4 on the weekly Oricon charts, the group's new personal high, charting for three weeks; the Single V peaked at #17 and charted for two weeks.
4th Ai no Nanchara Shisū is the 4th album by J-pop idol group Berryz Kobo, released in Japan on August 1, 2007, and in South Korea on May 25, 2008. The first press of the CD came with 8 interchangeable covers, as well as solo shots of each of the 7 members.
"Jiriri Kiteru" is the 10th single of the all-girl J-pop group Berryz Kobo, released on March 29, 2006.
Berryz Kobo Special Best Vol. 1 is the 1st compilation album by the Japanese girl idol group Berryz Kobo, released in Japan on January 14, 2009, on the record label Piccolo Town.
"Cha Cha Sing" is the 29th single by the Japanese female idol group Berryz Kobo, released in Japan on July 25, 2012.
Up-Front Group Co., Ltd. is a Japanese holding company for various entertainment companies. Its subsidiaries include the talent agency Up-Front Promotion and Up-Front Works, a music production and sales company that manages such record labels as Zetima, Piccolo Town, and Hachama.
"Dakishimete Dakishimete" is the 19th single by the Japanese girl idol group Berryz Kobo. It was released in Japan on March 11, 2009, and debuted at number 8 in the weekly Oricon singles chart.
Momochi (ももち) may refer to:
Chisaki Morito is a Japanese pop singer, dancer, and a 14th-generation member of Japanese girl group Morning Musume and is a former member of Country Girls up until their disbandment in 2019.