Saito Hitomi

Saito Hitomi (斉藤瞳) is a Japanese radio personality and former singer, once under Hello! Project as the leader of Melon Kinenbi until its disbandment in 2010. She is also a former member of Gatas Brilhantes H.P., Hello! Project's futsal club.
After Melon Kinenbi's disbandment, Saito retired from the music industry, but has since participated in brief reunions of the group for events.
==History==
===1999===
In May of 1999, application details were included with Morning Musume’s 5th single "Manatsu no Kousen" for the 2nd Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition.
The second interviews were held in June, and 3,687 people had sent in their applications. In August, four people were selected as winners: Saito Hitomi, Murata Megumi, Otani Masae, and Shibata Ayumi.
In December, the group’s name was decided as "Melon Kinenbi."
===2001===
In July, Saito was part of the shuffle unit 10nin Matsuri. They released the single Dancing! Natsu Matsuri.
===2002===
UP-FRONT AGENCY started releasing a series of albums called Douyou Pops in 2002, in which different Hello! Project members would sing different well known and new childrens' songs. Six albums, some themed according to the four seasons, and two DVDs with promotional videos were released. Saito sung several of the songs and is featured in the promotional video for "Mushi no Koe ".
In July, Saito was part of the shuffle unit Happy 7. They released the single Shiawase Beam! Suki Suki Beam!.
When Melon Kinenbi was formed, Murata Megumi was appointed leader since she was the oldest among the members. But after some discussions among the members, Saito took over as leader in October 2002 with the release of "Kousui." This change was officially announced during the single’s release events.
In November, Saito was part of Hello! Project Seikatai. Famous enka singers and released the single Ai no Merry Christmas, featuring Saito and other Hello! Project members as part of the choir.
===2003===
In February, Saito had a role in the musical Sougen no Hito. She is starring as Kana, sister of the male lead protagonist. A soundtrack was released the following month, titled Sougen no Hito Original Cast Ban.
In March, Saito made appearances on the TV Show "Sexy Onna Juku".
In July, Saito was a part of the shuffle unit 11WATER. They released the song BE ALL RIGHT!, featured on the single Kowarenai Ai ga Hoshii no / GET UP! Rapper / BE ALL RIGHT!. 
In August 2003, Saito was part of the R&B-influenced group ROMANS. They released the single SEXY NIGHT ~Wasurerarenai Kare~. The group was based on the Hello! Project TV show Sexy Onna Jyuku wich started airing in March. The show ended in September, thus disbanding the group.
===2004===
From 2003 to 2006, zetima released albums featuring miscellaneous Hello! Project members starring in drama episodes previously aired on radio. In June and July 2004, Saito was featured on three of these radio drama albums: Hello! Project Radio Drama Vol. 4, Hello! Project Radio Drama Osaka-hen Vol. 3, and Hello! Project Radio Drama Osaka-hen Vol. 4.
In 2004, Saito was part of the special unit H.P. All Stars.
===2005===
Saito took part in Hello! Project Akagumi, which was one of two concert groups at the Hello! Project 2005 Winter All-Stars Dairanbu ~A HAPPY NEW POWER! Iida Kaori Sotsugyou Special~.
In August, she became one of the regulars on the TV show "Musume Dokyu!".
In September, she became a regular on the radio show "TBC Fun Field Mouretsu Moudasshu"
===2009===
On March 31, 2009, Saito graduated along with the rest of the Elder Club. However, the Elder Club graduation concert was held on February 1, 2009, at Yokohama Arena.
===2010===
In February, it was announced that Melon Kinenbi decided to disband. Saito announced at Melon Kinenbi's break-up concert that she would be leaving show business. In the months following the group's disbandment, she appeared happily on the blogs of the other members.
In August, Saito married comedian Jiro Hachimitsu (born Jiro Takano) of duo Tokyo Dynamite.https://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/78748/full/
===2011===
On October 15, 2011, it was announced that Saito and Hachimitsu had divorced.
===2012===
In March, she began working as a radio personality for FM-NIIGATA.
===2015===
On December 29, it was announced that she had married a former high school classmate, whom she had been dating for the past two years.
===2020===
On April 15, she starred in a CM for the Volkswagen T-Cross.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IUjGU2KOS8
===2023===
On October 28, Saito and Murata Megumi held the talk event Saito Murata no Mikkai.https://twitter.com/hito_saito/status/1686309435487162368
==Profile==
==Discography==
==Publications==
===Solo Photobooks===
*[2003.08.07] Saito Hitomi (「斉藤瞳」)
===Magazines===
*[2020.04] FLASHOfficial Twitter
==Works==
===TV Programs===
*[2001] Cyborg Shibata
*[2003] Sexy Onna Juku
*[2004] Majokko Rika-chan no Magical v-u-den
*[2005] Musume Dokyu!
===Radio===
*[2005-2008] TBC Fun Field Moretsu Modasshu (TBC FUNふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ)
*[2012-2015] FIGUEROA (FM-NIIGATA)
*[2012-2016] Niigata no Wakamono-tachi no Bangumi (FM-NIIGATA) (新潟の若者達の番組)
*[2013] Nagaoka Hitomachi Aoore (FM-NIIGATA) (長岡ひとまちアオーレ+1) (FM-NIIGATA)
*[2013-] SOUND SPLASH (FM-NIIGATA)
*[2014-2016] Paripari ~PARTY! PARTY!~ (FM-NIIGATA) (パリパリ 〜PARTY!PARTY!〜)
===Internet===
*[2005] Hello! Project on FLET'S (Episodes #2 and #23) (ハロー!プロジェクト on フレッツ)
===Theater===
*[2003] Musical Sougen no Hito
*[2006] Girl's Knight
*[2006] Edo Kara Chakushin!? ~Timeslip to Kengai!~
===Events===
*[2005.04.20] Hello! Project FC Gentei Event (Pacific Heaven) (ハロー!プロジェクト FC限定イベント (パシフィックヘブン))
*[2005.07.28] Hello! Project FC Gentei Event (Pacific Heaven) (ハロー!プロジェクト FC限定イベント (パシフィックヘブン))
*[2005.09.05] Hello! Project FC Gentei Event (Pacific Heaven) (ハロー!プロジェクト FC限定イベント (パシフィックヘブン))
==Trivia==
*She has said in a 2004 interview that the people she respects the most are her mother and Nakazawa Yuko.
*Her image is known as the "sexy seductive" member.
* She is well-known for being really funny. Being in constant battles with hosts on HEY!x3 and Utaban, resulting in some great moments.
*She got her nickname "Boss" in Melon Kinenbi after she was made leader of the group.
*Is good friends with Maeda Yuki and Inaba Atsuko.
*She has the same surname as OCHA NORMA member Saito Madoka.
==Honorary Titles==
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==References==
==External Links==
*FM-NIIGATA Blog
*Twitter
es:Saito Hitomi
Category:Melon Kinenbi
Category:10nin Matsuri
Category:Happy 7
Category:11WATER
Category:ROMANS
Category:H.P. All Stars
Category:1981 Births
Category:Members from Niigata
Category:Hello! Project Akagumi
Category:Elder Club
Category:2009 Departures
Category:1999 Additions
Category:Blood Type A
Category:October Births
Category:Members born in Showa Period
Category:Hello! Project Graduates
Category:Members born before Hello! Project's formation
Category:Members featured on Utaban
Category:Gatas Brilhantes H.P.
Category:Members who are divorced
Category:Scorpio
Category:Group Leaders
Category:Members who are married
Category:Retired
Category:Rooster