Homare Okamura

**Homare Okamura** is a Japanese pop singer under Hello! Project. She is a fifteenth generation member of Morning Musume along with Rio Kitagawa and Mei Yamazaki.

## History

### Early Life

Homare Okamura was born on May 9, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan

Prior to entering the Morning Musume '19 LOVE Audition, she was a model for the girls fashion brand JENNI from at least 2014 to 2017 and for the teens fashion brand INGNI First in 2018.

Okamura was also enrolled in the dance school Tamakko Bubbles, through which she was cast as a dancer in a TV commercial for the "Kotabe" souvenir by Otabe, a Kyoto confectionery company, in November 2015.

From April 28 to May 6, 2018, she performed in Geo company's stage production Lovelys ~Kimi no Mayoi Michi~ in Team Yume as the character Kuno Risako

### 2019

On June 22, she was announced as a winner of the Morning Musume '19 LOVE Audition and would join Morning Musume '19 as a 15th generation member alongside Rio Kitagawa and Mei Yamazaki.

She and the rest of the 15th generation members were introduced on stage during the Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER concert tour from July 13 and began performing with the group in the Morning Musume '19 Concert Tour Aki. Her member color was revealed to be Daisy, a flower take on the color yellow.

On August 28, she, Kitagawa and Yamazaki held their debut fanclub event, Morning Musume '19 15ki Member FC Event, at Yamano Hall.

On August 30, it was announced that Okamura was diagnosed with an L4 lumbar facet joint injury. Due to the affected area needing two weeks of rest, she was only be able to participate in the MCs of the remaining Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER concerts on August 31 and September 1.

On September 5, the 15th generation members began a fanclub-exclusive web talk show, titled *Three stations*.

### 2020

On July 10, she released her first visual photobook, *Homare*.

On August 6, she celebrated her 15th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '20 Okamura Homare Birthday Event with two shows at LANDMARK HALL. In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, standing, and closeness in the venue were prohibited, and wearing masks were required to enter.

### 2021

On March 10, it was announced that Okamura was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss. She complained about poor health conditions in the past week and was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss after a consult with a doctor on March 9. As she will need to avoid work that involves loud sounds, she will be absent from the March 14 and 21 concerts of the Hello! Project 2021 Haru "Kachou Fuugetsu" tour and from the Hello! Project Hina Fes 2021. After consulting with a doctor, it was announced that she would be absent for concerts through May 30 so she can continue treatment and refrain from work that involves loud sounds. She will gradually resume other activities.

On June 3, an update on Hello! Project's website announced that Okamura will be resuming activities and will be performing in the upcoming Hello! Project 2021 summer tour, scheduled to start in July, since her symptoms have subsided and the doctor has given her the permission to resume activities involving loud sounds.

On July 28, she celebrated her 16th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '21 Okamura Homare Birthday Event with two shows at Tiara Koto.

### 2022

On January 16, it was announced that Okamura was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. Okamura complained of abdominal pain earlier in the morning, and after consulting with a doctor, she was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. As result, she would be absent from Morning Musume's 70th single release event in Belle Salle Shinjuku Grand Event Hall. An antigen test was also made for COVID-19 precaution but the result was negative.

On May 9, she released her second photobook, *HOMARE SEVENTEEN'S JOURNEY*.

On May 10, she celebrated her 17th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '22 Okamura Homare Birthday Event with two shows at Tiara Koto.

On July 29, it was announced that Miki Nonaka, Akane Haga, Rio Kitagawa and Homare Okamura were diagnosed with COVID-19. On July 25, Haga, Kitagawa, and Okamura were in poor health and the next day reported symptoms of fever and subsequently tested positive for the virus. Miki Nonaka tested positive twice during regular routine antigen tests, and was subsequently diagnosed at the hospital. They will all focus on treatment under the guidance of local governments and public health centers. As result, the July 30 concert of the Hello! Project 2022 Summer CITY CIRCUIT Morning Musume '22 CONCERT TOUR ~Never Been Better! Encore~ in Miyagi was cancelled.

### 2023

On May 9, she celebrated her 18th birthday at a fanclub event titled Morning Musume '23 Okamura Homare Birthday Event with two shows at Tower Hall Funabori.

On June 22, she opened an official Instagram account.

## Appearance

Homare is seen wearing a yellow top, yellow trousers and yellow shoes. She has black hair tied in a ponytail.

## Trivia

* She was a fan of Hello! Project before entering the Morning Musume '19 LOVE Audition. She first learned about Hello! Project by getting hooked on watching videos of S/mileage on YouTube. After that, she started seeing ANGERME lives, but she did not have the courage to enter auditions at the time. When Morning Musume opened the audition for 15th generation members, she decided to take a chance and enter.
* She has been dancing since she was 6 years old and has learned tap dance and ballet.