Mitsui Aika

Mitsui Aika (光井愛佳) is a former Japanese singer. She was an 8th generation member of Morning Musume under Hello! Project.
After suffering a leg fracture in 2011, she was unable to keep up with a new dance-oriented Morning Musume, and graduated alongside Niigaki Risa in May 2012. However, she stayed within Hello! Project and was the first Morning Musume graduate to do so since 2007. She was listed as a soloist, but she never released any music due to her going on hiatus twice since 2013 to study English in New Zealand. While on her second hiatus in November 2018, Mitsui decided to graduate from Hello! Project and retire from the entertainment industry.
==Biography==
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
===Early Life===
Mitsui Aika was born on January 12, 1993 in Hyogo, Japan and was raised in Shiga Prefecture. Her father is Mitsui Yasuo, a Buddhist monk.
===2006===
On December 10, she alone out of five (originally six) finalists in the Morning Musume Happy 8ki Audition were chosen to join Morning Musume.""モーニング娘。第８期メンバー加入のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2006-12-11. The audition was documented during the late 2006 episodes of Hello! Morning. Mitsui performed Hamasaki Ayumi's "Blue Bird" in round one of her audition and Morning Musume's "Furusato" and "Osaka Koi no Uta" in rounds two and three.
An article published on December 11, revealed that Mitsui wouldn't be present in the 57th edition of 57th Kohaku Uta Gassen, but would instead be featured in the group's 32nd single, "Egao YES Nude", which was released on February 14, 2007.
===2007===
Mitsui made her first public appearance in the last round of the Hello! Project 2007 Winter concert tour, which took place between January 27 and January 28, at Yokohama Arena.
Her first appearance at a non-Hello! Project related event took place on February 8, on Utaban, as part of Morning Musume.
She also took part in Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Haru ~SEXY 8 Beat~. One week after the results of Morning Musume Happy 8ki Audition were announced, Mitsui was featured in a small segment of Hello! Morning which included footage from a press conference given on the 11th. During the conference, Mitsui revealed her goal of captivating the public by means of her cheerful personality and smile, emulating fellow member Kusumi Koharu, whom she admired and strived to equal or surpass.
Following her concert debut, Mitsui was also featured in a small segment of the Oha Suta morning program entitled "Arigatou wo Tsutaetai" (I Want to Express My Gratitude), which portrayed a fictionalized account of the events following her first concert appearances, dealing with Mitsui's sadness over the fact that she had to part with her former classmates due to her becoming an idol.
In October, Mitsui was placed in the unit Athena & Robikerottsu along with fellow Morning Musume member Niigaki Risa, as well as Nakajima Saki and Okai Chisato of ℃-ute. In the November 25 episode of Haromoni@, Mitsui received the voice role of Gurossan in the anime Kirarin☆Revolution, which starred Kusumi Koharu as the voice of the main character Kirari Tsukishima.
===2008===
On April 6, Hello! Project announced that Mitsui would not be able to perform in the 2008 spring tour due to her very poor health. Later in the week, it was discovered that she had suffered from acute appendicitis, and would be out of action for two additional weeks. She recovered and continued with her scheduled activities.
On August 8, Morning Musume collaborated with female theatre group Takarazuka to perform Cinderella the Musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Mitsui took on the role of a fairy, a town girl and a princess.
===2009===
Mitsui opened a blog, only available to Official MM Fanclub members titled "Pastel Color Days".
===2011===
On January 7, Mitsui played the main character in the direct-to-DVD horror movie, Real Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek).
On January 26, she released her first solo photobook titled Aika and her first solo image DVD titled Mittsi.
On May 9, Mitsui was diagnosed with a left ankle bone fracture. After the Morning Musume concert prior, Mitsui complained of pain in her left foot, after which she went to the hospital where she was diagnosed with the injury.
Mitsui was out of events almost the entire summer. She could not participate in the dance shots for Morning Musumes MV's "Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo!," "Pyocopyoco Ultra" or "Ren'ai Hunter" because of the injury.
===2012===
In January, Mitsui wrote in her blog that she was supposedly cured and ready to dance and perform on stage again.
On January 12, on her birthday, Mitsui opened up an Ameblo blog. She was then the only Morning Musume member with two blogs.
On April 1, she announced that she became a regular on the radio show Young Town Doyoubi, along with Michishige Sayumi.
At the end of April or the start of May, Mitsui had a doctors consultation where although her ankle had recovered from the fracture, she would not be able to continue as a member of Morning Musume due to intense movement of her ankle in dancing or concerts.
On May 4, Mitsui announced her graduation from Morning Musume, but not from Hello! Project. She graduated alongside Niigaki Risa at the end of Morning Musume's 2012 spring concert tour, Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~ Niigaki Risa Mitsui Aika Sotsugyou Special."Mitsui Aika to graduate from Morning Musume". tokyohive. 2012-05-04."Morning Musume's Mitsui Aika reports her graduation to fans at a concert". tokyohive. 2012-05-06.
Mitsui Aika and Niigaki Risa concluded activities in Morning Musume by promoting "Ren'ai Hunter". On May 18, they both graduated from the group.
In August, Mitsui participated in the Hello! Project Tanjou 15 Shuunen Kinen Live 2012 Natsu concert tour as a MC.
In October, it was announced that Mitsui would be a member of the new SATOYAMA movement unit GREEN FIELDS, alongside Shimizu Saki and Miyazaki Yuka.
On November 7, GREEN FIELDS released their first single, "Boys be ambitious!". It was the first single she had been featured in after graduating from Morning Musume.
===2013===
On March 2 and 3, Mitsui participated in the Forest For Rest ~SATOYAMA e Ikou~ SATOYAMA movement in YOKOHAMA.
In March, it was announced that Mitsui would "graduate" from the radio show Young Town Doyoubi, and she was replaced by Iikubo Haruna beginning in April.
Beginning on April 6, Mitsui became a regular on the radio show ALMA KAMINIITO Sound Map, replacing after he left .
In May, Mitsui starred in the stage play Okujou Wonderland.
From October 12 to 20, Mitsui performed in a play called Nettai Danshi 2 in Zenrosai Hall / Space Zero.Official Gekijyo Page
At the end of the year, Mitsui announced her decision to suspend entertainment activities and study English abroad."元モー娘。光井愛佳活動休止" (in Japanese). Daily Sports online. 2013-12-31."ご報告。" (in Japanese). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2013-12-31.
===2015===
On April 24, Mitsui reported on her blog that she had returned to Japan."ただいまー^^" (in Japanese). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2014-04-24. During her time back, she wrote English-language news and event reports for UP-FRONT LINK, UP-FRONT GROUP's international company news service, and added English lyrics to music videos.
===2016===
In late February, Mitsui accompanied Morning Musume '16 on their trip to Houston, Texas where they were main guests at Anime Matsuri 2016 from February 26 to 28. She also appeared as a MC and translator for their concert held on the second day.Suzuki Kanon. "光井さん♡ 鈴木香音" (in Japanese). Morning Musume Qki Official Blog. 2016-02-25."I'm in." (in Japanese and English). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2016-02-29.
On July 5, Mitsui announced that she returned to New Zealand to continue studying English."みなさんへ" (in Japanese). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2016-07-05.
On December 30, she wrote an update on her blog that her English had greatly improved and she had discovered her "new self". She had decided to attend a vocational school in New Zealand which she had taken an IELTS test for in November. Mitsui scored 6 points more than the school's entrance requirement, and she would be starting school in 2017."良いお年をー！" (in Japanese). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2016-12-30.
===2018===
On November 3, it was announced that Mitsui, who has been in New Zealand for the past two years, has decided to graduate from Hello! Project and leave the entertainment industry in order to follow a new passion of cooking. She has been working in a kitchen and plans to apply for a temporary work visa after she graduates from vocational school later that month."光井愛佳に関するご報告" (in Japanese). J.P ROOM. 2018-11-03."ご報告。" (in Japanese). Mitsui Aika Official Blog. 2018-11-03.
==Personal Life==
==Profile==
==Discography==
===Solo DVDs===
*[2011.01.26] Mittsi (Image DVD)
*[2011.07.xx] Aika no ANNEX Event~Pastel Colors Days (Fanclub DVD)
*[2012.xx.xx] Aika no ANNEX Event~Pastel Colors Days 2 (Fanclub DVD)
*[2012.06.24] Morning Musume Mitsui Aika Sotsugyou Memorial (DVD Magazine)
==Publications==
===Solo Photobooks===
#[2011.01.26] Aika (愛佳)
==Works==
===Movies===
*[2011] Real Kakurenbo Final (リアル隠れんぼファイナル)
*[2011] Keitai Deka The Movie 3: Morning Musume Kyuushutsu Daisakusen! ~ Pandora no Hako no Himitsu~ (ケータイ刑事　THE　MOVIE3　モーニング娘。救出大作戦！～パンドラの箱の秘密)
===TV Programs===
*[2007] Hello! Morning (ハロー! モーニング)
*[2007–2008] Haromoni@ (ハロモニ@)
*[2008] Berikyuu! (ベリキュー!)
*[2008–2009] Yorosen! (よろセン!)
*[2010] Bijo Houdan (美女放談) (2 episodes)
*[2010–2011] Bijo Gaku (美女学)
*[2011–2012] Hello Pro! TIME (ハロプロ！ＴＩＭＥ)
*[2012–2013] Hello! SATOYAMA Life (ハロー！ＳＡＴＯＹＡＭＡライフ)
===TV Dramas===
*[2010] Hanbun Esper (半分エスパー)
===Anime===
*[2007] きらりん☆レボリューション (Kirarin☆Revolution) (guest role)
===Theater===
*[2008] Cinderella the Musical (シンデレラ the ミュージカル) as fairy, etc.
*[2010] Fashionable (ファッショナブル)
*[2011] Real Etude Minna no Ie Girl's STAGE (リアルエチュード みんなの家 Girl's STAGE)
*[2013] TOKUGAWA15
*[2013] Okujou Wonderland (屋上ワンダーランド) (as Nakahara Yui)
*[2013] Hito okami The live playing shiata x kyuketsuki ~Katsuai no utage~(人狼 ザ・ライブプレイングシアター Ｘ 吸血鬼 〜渇愛の宴〜)
*[2013] Pochitto na. -Switching On Summer- (ポチッとな。-Switching On Summer-)
*[2013] Nettai Danshi 2 (熱帯男子2)
*[2013] Shiritsu Hasuhasu Jogakuin!! (私立ハスハス女学院!!)
===Internet===
*[2011] Michishige Sayumi no "Mobekimasutte Nani??" (道重さゆみの『モベキマスってなに？？』)
*[2013; 2015] Hello! Project Station
===Radio===
*[2007–2008] Morning Musume Mitsui Aika no, Ai say hello (モーニング娘。光井愛佳の、愛 say hello) (e-radio)
*[2012–2013] Young Town Doyoubi (ヤングタウン土曜日)
*[2012–2014] SATOYAMA in KANAGAWA
*[2013] ALMA KAMINIITO Sound Map
==Trivia==
*She became good friends with Yoshizawa Hitomi, who adopted an "older sister" figure.
*Her closest friends in Morning Musume were Michishige Sayumi and Tanaka Reina.
*Niigaki Risa has an older sister relationship to Mitsui, partly because Niigaki's younger sister is much like Mitsui.
*Her favorite number is 397 because it was her entry number in the audition. Her mother stated she won because it means bloom like a flower (sa ku na = 397).
*She is the first member to have joined the group with braces. Shortly after joining, she had them removed.
*Her family calls her "Aika-don" and "Aika-san."
*Would like to teach Japanese because she said it's fun.
*The nickname "Wan-chan" (meaning dog in Japanese) was given to her by Takahashi Ai and Kamei Eri when they were describing Mitsui in the Morning Musume DVD Vol. 23.
*She is a big animal lover.
*After the graduation of Mano Erina in February 2013, she was the only official Soloist in the Hello! Project.
*She has a toy poodle named Leo. She also has a Siberian Husky, which she has proclaimed to be one of her dream pets.
*She has said that she would love to work with Arihara Kanna, former member of ℃-ute because many said they look alike and they get along well.
*She is noted for wearing flat shoes for single costumes. One cause of not wearing high heels is rumored to be the operation she had earlier, possibly affecting her ability to dance with high-heeled shoes.
*She proclaimed herself to be Kusumi Koharu's rival, the two were incredibly close.
*Admitted that she was jealous of Junjun and Linlin when they first joined because no one talked to her when she joined and she felt lonely.
*She is the first Morning Musume member to be the youngest in the group for 4 years, with no new members joining.
*During Niigaki Risa's Yorosen!, the girls wrote letters to themselves ten years in the future. When Mitsui's letter was read aloud, the other members were impressed with how mature it sounded.
*In Yorosen!, she taught Morning Musume about pets.
*Has a scar on her stomach from when she had her appendix removed.
*She and Hagiwara Mai are very good friends.
*She was the only Morning Musume member not to appear in Suugaku♥Joshi Gakuen.
*It was said that she missed Morning Musume Concert Tour 2011 Aki Ai Believe ~Takahashi Ai Graduation Memory Special~, but she came on the last day for Takahashi Ai's graduation ceremony in a wheelchair.
*She said that if a thief came at her, Okai Chisato would protect her.
*She is noted to get hurt the most out of members in Morning Musume.
*She mentored all of 9th Generation alone.
*She is said to be strict towards 9th and 10th Generation members, but they kept a friendly relationship.
*As of April 2011, she was still under treatment for her ankle, because of this she didn't participate in the Dance Shot of Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo!/Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai!, Pyocopyoco Ultra, and Ren'ai Hunter. She also didn't participate in Tanaka Reina's, the 9th Generation's, and the 10th Generations' stage play for the same reason.
*She is the last member of her generation to graduate.
*She is the eleventh former Morning Musume member to only graduate from Morning Musume and not Hello! Project. The others being Nakazawa Yuko, Goto Maki, Yasuda Kei, Abe Natsumi, Tsuji Nozomi and Kago Ai, Iida Kaori, Ishikawa Rika, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto, Yoshizawa Hitomi and after Mistui, Sayashi Riho in that order.
*She has expressed her desired to go scuba diving for the SATOUMI movement one day. Both Yoshizawa Hitomi and Ishikawa Rika have already tried it.
*She said that if she could be another Hello! Project member, she would be Hello Pro Egg's Kudo Haruka because she is cute. ポケモーQ&A 2011.06.21 Kudo later thanked her for this at Mitsui's graduation ceremony.
*In Hello! Project DVD Magazine Vol. 28 she was asked which Hello! Project member she would pick to be with in a sub-unit. She answered that she would choose Kudo Haruka because she always liked her, even when she was still an Egg, and because both of them have lower voices.
==Honorary Titles==
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==Reference==
==External Links==
*J.P ROOM Profile (archived)
*Hello! Project Profile (archived)
*Official Blog (inactive)
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