Shibata Ayumi

Shibata Ayumi (柴田あゆみ) is a Japanese singer and actress. She is a former member of Melon Kinenbi, Tanpopo, and Gatas Brilhantes H.P.. She had been an active member of Hello! Project since 1999, participating in Hello! Project's many shuffle groups, concerts, and special events.
She graduated from Hello! Project with the rest of the Elder Club in 2009, then leaving Melon Kinenbi as they disbanded in 2010. She embarked on a solo career, which was put on hiatus in 2016 when she announced her pregnancy.
==History==
===1999===
Shibata passed the second Morning Musume & Michiyo Heike Imoutobun Audition, out of about 4,000 total people to audition. The final four: Saito Hitomi, Murata Megumi, Otani Masae and Shibata were chosen to form a new Hello! Project group, called Melon Kinenbi. She made her debut with Melon Kinenbi with them in 2000.
===2002===
She joined Tanpopo in 2002 along with Konno Asami and Niigaki Risa as the third generation. The group went into an indefinite hiatus after releasing one single. She and Konno Asami would later join Gatas Brilhantes H.P. in 2003.
===2007===
From June 9 to 17, Shibata appeared in the stage play Tokyo alongside Maeda Yuki.Official Gekijyo Page
From October 3 to 11, she appeared in the stage play Heisei Revolution ~Back to the Byakkotai~ alongside Yoshizawa Hitomi, Satoda Mai, Inaba Atsuko, Korenaga Miki, and Fukuda Kanon.Official Gekijyo Page
===2008===
From June 18 to 22, Shibata participated in the Adult Barley Tea stage play Nemurenaito 2008.Official Gekijyo Page
From December 4 to 7, she appeared in the stage play Lemon Star alongside Yasuda Kei.Official Gekijyo Page
===2009===
On March 31, Shibata and the other Melon Kinenbi members graduated from Hello! Project with the rest of the Elder Club.
From April 23 to May 2, she appeared in the stage play Mikoto Mannequin alongside Yasuda Kei, Noto Arisa, and Miyoshi Erika.Official Gekijyo Page
From August 5 to 9, she appeared in the stage play Sukoshi Hanarete, Soko ni Ite alongside fellow Melon Kinenbi member Otani Masae.Official Gekijyo Page
===2010===
On April 28, she announced that she was going to retire from the Gatas Brilhantes H.P. futsal team on May 10. It was just announced with a video from ’s YouTube account as well as the Gatas Brillhantes H.P. site.http://www.gatas-brilhantes-hp.net/news/news100510_1.html
On May 3, Melon Kinenbi disbanded. She said she would be aiming on soloist activities and soon after opened up a Twitter account on May 5.
On July 14, it was announced on the website that Shibata left the agency and joined another named TRICK FUNCTION where she would be a solo singer.http://www.helloproject.com/news/1007141400_hello.html Not long after joining the new agency she opened a blog.
On November 21, Shibata teamed up with another Melon Kinenbi member, Otani Masae, to make the mail order only photobook, YOU&I. The book contains original songs made by Shibata herself, and even came packaged with a CD recording of "YOU&I." An event was held at Tokyo Shibuya's duo music exchange. Though the event was restricted to purchasers of her new photobook YOU&I, roughly 1,000 people attended the three performances. It had been six months since her last fan meeting as part of Melon Kinenbi, and there weren't enough seats for everyone, resulting in a venue packed full of people. Shibata performed her new song "YOU&I" (featuring self-written lyrics) for the first time at this event. Passing questionnaires out into the audience, she engaged the fans in an interactive talk and shared stories from her photobook shoot while a making video, prepared in advance for the event, played in the background.
:"In the past two weeks, I've been constantly thinking about today. Like if anyone would come, or if I'd just be performing on an empty stage, and to be honest, I was feeling insecure wondering how many people would come to see me," she confessed. However, she went on, "I'm really glad I don't have to worry about that anymore. From now on I'll be positive and do my best, so everyone, please keep supporting me!"
Also announced at the event was the start of her new fan club, the official site for which will sell goods such as her photobooks, cell phone straps, posters, etc., as well as her own jewelry line "Lacoluce" planned to begin production in 2011. She will primarily be designing rings and necklaces for the brand.
===2011===
In the spring of 2011, Shibata’s solo debut mini-album (both a regular and limited edition w/DVD) were scheduled for release in July. Some cd stores announced the title as "ALL", others as "Natural." The track list was announced to contain the songs "Believe", "Genki", "Love Me More", "Himawari", "Omoide no Yukue" and "You & I" + more tracks.
In June, the same sites announced that the release would be postponed, and later in August that it was cancelled. All the songs mentioned were later released on different CDs.
===2013===
On May 31, Shibata's contract with TRICK FUNCTION expired.
On November 18, it was announced that Shibata will resume her activities in a new agency, SMC Entertainment, using the name "Shibata Ayumi" for her activities in entertainment, but she will start to use "ayumi shibata" for her activities as an artist.http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2013/11/former-melon-kinenbi-member-shibata-ayumi-to-resume-her-activities-as-a-solo-artist
On November 20, it was announced that her first rock cover album kick start will be released on February 19, 2014.
In November one track was
revealed to be Return to Myself, and in December four tracks were revealed (on cdjapan): 男 (Otoko), 今すぐ Kiss Me (Ima Sugu Kiss Me), 天使の休息 (Tenshin no Kyuusoku) and BREAK OUT. The full track list and cover was revealed on December 25th on her official site.
It was also announced that on February 22, Shibata would hold a solo live entitled "ayumi shibata live 2014~kick start ~ B.D SPECIAL."
===2016===
On January 26, Shibata announced that she had married Minami Masaki, a professional baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines. With this announcement, it was also stated that she would be suspending activities following the conclusion of a live event on March 4.ayumi shibata（柴田 あゆみ）より大切なお知らせ (In Japanese). 2016-01-26.
On December 11, Shibata gave birth to her first daughter.https://twitter.com/ayumishibata222
===2024===
On March 16, Shibata appeared as a guest at the live event Inaba Atsuko Birthday Live '24 ~Ultra Attchu Fes!~.
==Profile==
==Discography==
==Publications==
===Solo Photobooks===
*[2002.06.01] Ayumi (あゆみ)
*[2003.09.17] ayumi2
*[2010.11.21] You & I
====Group Photobooks====
*[2004.06.09] Melon Kinenbi Photo Album - Taiyou to Kajitsu
*[2004.09.29] Melon Kinenbi in Hello! Project 2004 Summer
*[2005.10.25] Hello! Project Town! Hello! Project 2005 Summer
==Works==
===TV Programs===
*[2001.07.31-2001.10.02] Cyborg Shibata
*[2004.04.17-2004.05.19] Media Mita Mon Kachi! Zelma (メディア見たもん勝ち!ゼルマ)
*[2004.05.07-2004.05.13] Futarioto (二人ゴト)
*[2004.07.05-2004.07.13] Futarigoto (二人ゴト)
*[2004.16.11-2004.05.22] Majokko. Rika-chan Magical Biyuuden (魔女っ娘。 梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝 )
*[2005.18.08-2006.29.09] Musume Dokyu! (娘DOKYU!)
===Radio===
*[2002.04.01-2004.25.03] Shibata Ayumi no Kibun wa Melon Melon (柴田あゆみの気分はメロンメロン)
*[2002.24.09-2003.23.09] Tanpopo Henshuu-bu OH-SO-RO! (タンポポ編集部 OH-SO-RO!)
*[2004-2006] MBS Young Town Saturday (MBS ヤングタウン土曜日)gular
*[2005.27.06-2008.14.05] TBC FUN Moretsumodasshu etc. I Rerelease Fu (TBC FUNふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ) {off and on again}
===Internet===
*[2005.02.08-2005.18.03] Dai 2kai, Dai 20kai Hello! Project Video Chat (第2回、第20回ハロプロビデオチャット)
===Events===
*[2005] Hello! Projects only event FC
===Theater===
*[2003] Musical Sougen no Hito (ミュージカル 草原の人; Musical Prairie Girl)
*[2006] Girl's Knight
*[2006] Shuuchakueki (終着駅; Terminal Station)
*[2007] Tokyo (東京)
*[2007] Heisei Revolution ~Back to the Byakkotai~ (平成レボリューション 〜バックトゥザ・白虎隊〜)
*[2008] Nemurenaito 2008 (ネムレナイト2008)
*[2008] Lemon Star (レモンスター)
*[2009] Mikoto Mannequin (ミコトマネキン)
*[2009] Sukoshi Hanarete, Soko ni Ite (すこし離れて、そこに居て)
*[2014] DAY IN A SUN ~Tsuitachi Dake Hi no Me wo Miru-bi~ (DAY IN A SUN～一日だけ日の目を見る日～)
==Trivia==
*She became close friends with Ishikawa Rika, not too long after her debut.
*She graduated from Kita Toshima High School.
*In Melon Kinenbi, she was known as the "responsible", cool natural, laid back one.
*In Gatas Brilhantes H.P., she was often placed as the kicker and was also put as defense.
*Says her charm and most characteristic points are her teeth and eyes.
==Honorary Titles==
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==References==
==External Links==
*Official Site
*UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN Profile
*Facebook Page
*Official Ameba Blog (archived)
es:Shibata Ayumi
Category:Members who are married
Category:Shibata Ayumi
Category:2009 Departures
Category:Melon Kinenbi
Category:Tanpopo
Category:Hello! Project Akagumi
Category:7nin Matsuri
Category:Odoru 11
Category:11WATER
Category:H.P. All Stars
Category:Elegies
Category:1984 Births
Category:Elder Club
Category:Soloists
Category:Blood Type O
Category:Members from Kanagawa
Category:February 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:Soloists featured in Hello! Pro Hour
Category:1999 Additions
Category:Pisces
Category:Rat