is a Japanese girl group. They are what is known as an "idol group", although they have distanced themselves from the "idol" stereotype. Most of their songs are happy songs with upbeat music, but they have sad and angry songs too. The group can also be called . They are the most important group in the Hello! Project company. The group is managed by Tsunku, who writes all the lyrics and most of the music the songs, and even produces them. They were the best-selling female group in Japan for several years, but their sales dropped quite a lot later on, perhaps due to the loss of certain popular members, or because of decisions made by Tsunku or someone else at Hello! Project or their management company Up-Front Works. In the past couple of years, however, they have regained some of their popularity in Japan, and they have also gained more foreign fans.

History 

In late 1997, in Japan,a male singer-songwriter called Tsunku, held a contest to find a girl to be the lead singer of the band Sharam Q, which he was the frontman of. A lot of young girls came to the contest, and some of them became finalists. There is where Tsunku came up with the idea of making a girl group. This new group was called Morning Musume (Morning Daughters). The group was formed by Kaori Iida, Yuko Nakazawa, Asuka Fukuda, Aya Ishiguro and Natsumi Abe. They became known as the "First Generation" of the group. There have now been twelve of these "Generations". Most of these "Generations" have a few members. But the Third, Seventh and Twelfth Generations only had one member each.

From the start, the songs performed by these girls sold well. They became very famous in Japan (their fame later reached other countries too, thanks to their fans on the World Wide Web), and Tsunku formed other small groups inspired by Morning Musume. He created Hello!Project to hold them all.

Over time, when the girls become older and mature, they usually graduate from the group (but they can be kicked out for not behaving in the way that idols are supposed to behave). After that, they usually become soloists or models. New girls apply for a spot in the group whenever auditions are held. Thousands of girls apply, but very few make it in.

Members

Current (as of November 2021) 

* All colour values are approximate

Former members

First generation (1997) 

 Yuko Nakazawa (中澤裕子, graduated April 15, 2001) – First leader
 Aya Ishiguro (石黒彩, graduated January 7, 2000)
 Kaori Iida (飯田圭織, graduated January 30, 2005) – Second leader
 Natsumi Abe (安倍なつみ, graduated January 25, 2004) – "Ace"
 Asuka Fukuda (福田明日香, graduated April 18, 1999)

Second generation (1998) 

 Kei Yasuda (保田圭, graduated May 5, 2003)
 Mari Yaguchi (矢口真里, left April 14, 2005) – Third leader
 Sayaka Ichii (市井紗耶香, graduated May 21, 2000)

Third generation (1999) 

 Maki Goto (後藤真希, graduated September 23, 2002) – "Ace"

Fourth generation (2000) 

 Rika Ishikawa (石川梨華, graduated May 7, 2005) – "Ace"
 Hitomi Yoshizawa (吉澤ひとみ, graduated May 6, 2007) – Fourth leader
 Nozomi Tsuji (辻希美, graduated August 1, 2004)
 Ai Kago (加護亜依, graduated August 1, 2004)

Fifth generation (2001) 

 Ai Takahashi (高橋愛, graduated September 30, 2011) – Sixth leader, "ace"
 Asami Konno (紺野あさ美, graduated July 23, 2006)
 Makoto Ogawa (小川麻琴, graduated August 27, 2006)
 Risa Niigaki (新垣里沙, graduated May 18, 2012) – Seventh leader

Sixth generation (2003) 

 Miki Fujimoto (藤本美貴, left June 1, 2007) – Fifth leader, "ace"
 Eri Kamei (亀井絵里, graduated December 15, 2010)
 Sayumi Michishige (道重さゆみ, graduated November 26, 2014) – Eight leader, longest tenure of the group
 Reina Tanaka (田中れいな, graduated May 21, 2013) – "Ace", "the best singer", "perfect Morning Musume member"

Seventh generation (2005) 

 Koharu Kusumi (久住小春, graduated December 6, 2009) – "Miracle"

Eighth generation (2006/2007) 

 Aika Mitsui (光井愛佳, graduated May 18, 2012)
 Jun Jun (ジュンジュン, graduated December 15, 2010)
 Lin Lin (リンリン, graduated December 15, 2010)

Ninth generation (2011) 

 Riho Sayashi (鞘師里保, graduated December 31, 2015) – "The best dancer"
 Kanon Suzuki (鈴木香音, graduated May 31, 2016)

Tenth generation (2011) 

 Haruna Iikubo (飯窪春菜, graduated December 16, 2018)
 Masaki Sato (佐藤優樹, graduated December 12, 2021) – "Ace"
 Haruka Kudo (工藤遥, graduated December 11, 2017)

Twelfth generation (2014) 

 Haruna Ogata (尾形春水, graduated June 20, 2018)

Morning Musume today 
Morning Musume is still a top selling female group. In fact, its sales make it one of the best-selling girl groups in the World today, ranking around 9th - 11th place among girl groups worldwide in recent years. It has new girls and makes singles every few months, plus studio albums about once a year. These singles and studio albums often come in "limited" versions with different cover photos and photo cards or posters included. In addition, there are also many live DVD and Blu-Ray releases, as well as photobooks and DVDs featuring certain members wearing clothes that show off how attractive they are. All the girls from the group appear frequently on TV and Radio. Their TV appearances are in the morning, especially for young people. They also make music videos and perform a lot of concerts in Japan, as well as sometimes performing concerts in other countries. Their music videos also come in different versions most of the time.

Discography

Albums 

1. First Time
2. Second Morning
3. 3rd-Love Paradise
4. 4th Ikimasshoi!
5. No.5
6. Ai no Dai 6 Kan
7. Rainbow 7
8. Sexy 8 Beat
9. Platinum 9 Disc
10. 10 My Me
11. Fantasy! Jyuuichi
12. 12, Smart
13. 13 Colorful Character
14. 14 Shō: The Message
15. 15 Thank you, too
16. 16th ~That's J-POP~

Cover albums 
1. Cover You

EPs 
1. 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!

Singles 

0. "Ai no Tane"
1. "Morning Coffee"
2. "Summer Night Town"
3. "Daite Hold on Me!"
4. "Memory Seishun no Hikari"
5. "Manatsu no Kōsen"
6. "Furusato"
7. "Love Machine"
8. "Koi no Dance Site"
9. "Happy Summer Wedding"
10. "I Wish"
11. "Renai Revolution 21"
12. "The Peace!"
13. "Mr. Moonlight: Ai no Big Band"
14. "Souda! We're Alive"
15. "Do It! Now"
16. "Koko ni Iruzee!"
17. "Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyōtanjima"
18. "As for One Day"
19. "Shabondama"
20. "Go Girl: Koi no Victory"
21. "Ai Araba It's All Right"
22. "Roman: My Dear Boy"
23. "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari"
24. "Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago"
25. "The Manpower!!!"
26. "Osaka Koi no Uta"
27. "Iroppoi Jirettai"
28. "Chokkan 2: Nogashita Sakana wa Ōkiizo!"
29. "Sexy Boy: Soyokaze ni Yorisotte"
30. "Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan"
31. "Aruiteru"
32. "Egao Yes Nude"
33. "Kanashimi Twilight"
34. "Onna ni Sachi Are"
35. "Mikan"
36. "Resonant Blue"
37. "Pepper Keibu"
38. "Naichau Kamo"
39. "Shōganai Yume Oibito"
40. "Nanchatte Renai"
41. "Kimagure Princess"
42. "''Onna ga Medatte Naze Ikenai
43. "Seishun Collection"
44. "Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game"
45. "Maji Desu ka Ska!"
46. "Only you"
47. "Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo! / Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai!"
48. "Pyoko Pyoko Ultra"
49. "Ren'ai Hunter"
50. "One • Two • Three / The 摩天楼ショー"
51. "Wakuteka Take A Chance"
52. "Help Me!!"
53. "Brainstorming / Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai"
54. "Wagamama kinomama ai no joke / Ai no gundan"
55. "Egao no Kimi wa Taiyou sa/Kimi no Kawari wa Iyashinai/What is LOVE?" (as "Morning Musume '14") — their first triple-A side.
56. "Toki wo Koe Sora wo Koe / Password is 0" (as "Morning Musume '14")
57. "TIKI BUN / Shaba Daba Do~ / Mikaeri Bijin" (as "Morning Musume '14")
58. "Seishun Kozo ga Naiteiru / Yūgure wa Ameagari / Ima Koko Kara" (as "Morning Musume '15")
59. "Oh My Wish! / Sukatto My Heart / Ima Sugu Tobikomu Yūki" (as "Morning Musume '15")
60. "Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi / Endless Sky / One and Only" (as "Morning Musume '15")
61. "Utakata Saturday Night! / The Vision / Tokyo to Iu Katasumi" (as "Morning Musume '16")
62. "Sexy Cat no Enzetsu / Mukidashi de Mukiatte / Sou Janai" (as "Morning Musume '16")
63. "Brand New Morning / Jealousy Jealousy" (as "Morning Musume '17")

Other websites 

 Official Hello! Project profile (Japan)
 Hello Online - English Hello!Project community.

J-pop