Sayumi Michishige
Encyclopedia
is a sixth generation member of the J-pop
group Morning Musume
and has the third longest tenure of any member in the group (behind Risa Niigaki
and Ai Takahashi
and tied with Reina Tanaka
).
She joined Morning Musume
in 2003 along with Eri Kamei
, Miki Fujimoto
and Reina Tanaka
, which all made their debuts with Morning Musume in the group's nineteenth single, "Shabondama
". In 2005 she was assigned as mentor to 7th generation member Koharu Kusumi
, until Kusumi's graduation in December 2009.
Michishige was also a member of the Hello! Project
unit Ecomoni
, along with former Morning Musume member Rika Ishikawa
.
When Michishige passed the audition to join Morning Musume
, Tsunku
, Morning Musume's producer, commented that her singing was weak. After the audition, Michishige took voice lessons to improve her singing, but even she admits that her own singing is still bad.
She portrays an extremely narcissistic
image of herself in TV shows, often calling herself the cutest member in Morning Musume and saying that her cuteness overwhelms her bad singing voice. In one of the skits known as Hello! Morning Theatre on their variety show, Hello! Morning
, she frequently played a character known as "Ichiban Kawaii" (Cutest).
"Usa-chan Peace" (Bunny Peace) is a phrase which Michishige uses to identify herself. While saying "Usa-chan peace" she holds her index and middle fingers in V shapes next to her ears.
Michishige is also a member of Hello! Project
's kickball
team, Metro Rabbits H.P..
, along with Eri Kamei
, Miki Fujimoto
and Reina Tanaka
, on January 19, 2003, when the results of the Love Audition 2002 were made public. Just a few weeks later, she was placed in Morning Musume Otomegumi
subgroup, when the group was temporarily divided so it could perform in smaller towns, thereby reaching out to a greater number of fans who couldn't otherwise have the privilege of watching them perform live. During the spring she, along with the rest of the 6th generation members, made her first concert appearance on the Morning Musume Concert Tour 2003 Spring "Non Stop!" during Kei Yasuda
's graduation.
On July 16, 2003, the 6th generation members (with the exception of Miki Fujimoto
) released their first photobook
and corresponding DVD
, both shot in Hawaii, as part of the series. Their musical debut came shortly thereafter, on July 30, with Morning Musume's 19th single Shabondama
. Although Michishige didn't get many solo lines in the song, one of those instances—in which she shouts "Shabondama"—did get her some attention on TV shows. Towards the end of 2003 Michishige began appearing in the show , as a regular with ex-Morning Musume member Yuko Nakazawa
.
2004 saw her first appearance on an album, Best! Morning Musume 2
, and in a movie—. During the summer Michishige appeared in her first solo photobook and was placed in a temporary unit called Ecomoni
with 4th generation Morning Musume member Rika Ishikawa
. Originally, the goal of the group was to promote environmental awareness only for the duration of the festival, but their popularity led to the members being cast as voice actors for the fourth Hamtaro
movie—along with Hello! Project
soloist Aya Matsuura
, with whom they also released the main theme for the film, entitled —and appeared in subsequent festivals.
In 2005, Michshige and Rika Ishikawa released a duo photobook entitled . Though it has been called an Ecomoni photobook because both members appear in it, officially Angels has nothing to do with the unit. Michishige also appeared as a regular news anchor on Hello! Morning for most of the second half of 2005. That same year she was assigned to be a mentor to 7th generation member Koharu Kusumi
, with whom she formed a duo called Rainbow Pink in the beginning of 2006. Introducing themselves as "Shige-pink" and "Koha-pink", the group was featured on Morning Musume
's 7th album, Rainbow 7
, with the song , and subsequently on the 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!
and Sexy 8 Beat
albums, with and , respectively.
Following in fellow Morning Musume
member Miki Fujimoto
's footsteps, Michishige began hosting a radio show entitled in October 2006. Running approximately 30 minutes per episode, Michishige's show consists of her answering fan mail and participating in several games, among which saying a given phrase/expression in reverse, and giving general advice to her listeners.
In early December 2006 it was announced Michishige would be given a second solo photobook, entitled , released shortly thereafter on January 15, 2007. Shot in Okinawa, the book featured school uniform, swimsuit, simple one-piece and even wet yukata/bathrobe shots, in an attempt to convey a more mature image of the seventeen year old idol.
Michishige has also starred in , an original internet drama created for the purpose of advertising the Family Restaurant chain , as , a novice waitress training under the supervision of her seniors (played by Morning Musume's Ai Takahashi
) and (Reiko Tokita).
On June 9, 2007, Michishige began co-hosting the Young Town radio show as a result of Miki Fujimoto's Friday magazine scandal and subsequent resignation from Morning Musume. Shortly thereafter she released her third solo photobook and DVD, 17: Love Hello, both shot on the island of Guam
. Her fourth solo photobook, Sōsō was released in December.
In 2008, like in previous singles (a notable exception being Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago), Michishige was given a relatively minor role both in Resonant Blue
and Pepper Keibu
, with the exception of a solo line in the latter. Her radio show was extended from 30 to 60 minutes and she also released her fifth solo photobook.
On January 3, 2009, for the first time since she joined Morning Musume, Michishige appeared as an independent talent on a TV show, namely the quiz show. A cast of 30 performers (including former v-u-den member Yui Okada
and second generation Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi
) gathered to answer a series of questions taken from elementary school textbooks. From a total of 60 questions she managed to score 22 (37%) and placed 29th. Later that year, Michishige was assigned to be a part of the new shuffle group zoku v-u-den
, a revival of v-u-den, along with Risako Sugaya
(of Berryz Kobo) and Junjun (also of Morning Musume).
with her sister, but after seeing how cute it looked, she started adopting it on official photoshoots and related events.
The Usa-chan Peace pose has been widely reproduced in Hello! Project
productions (such as the aforementioned Bow 30° drama, in the second episode of the first series) and events, but also outside the scope of Tsunku
's all-girls franchise, most notably in the 132nd Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
prize award ceremony. For the commemorative photograph of the event, held his hands in a manner patterned after the Usa-chan Peace sign, in a clear homage to Michishige's invention.
Furthermore, careful viewing of the 18th episode of the anime series
"Gin Tama", reveals the presence of a humorous reference to the Usa-chan Peace phenomenon and its significance in the otaku
culture. Cornered by the main characters, the underwear thief (whose perverted antics said episode revolves around) refuses to let himself be defeated, for all "perverts, bullies and cherry boys"—among whom a man shown doing the Usa-chan Peace pose with a maid at a Cosplay Cafe
—depend upon his good will (stolen underwear delivery) to go on with their otherwise dull and loveless lives.
} || July 15, 2003 || Kadokawa Shoten
|| 978-4-04-894251-5 || With Eri Kamei
and Reina Tanaka
|-
| 1 || || October 30, 2004 ||rowspan="3"| Wani Books|| 978-4-8470-2833-5 ||First solo photobook
|-
| – || || November 16, 2005 || 978-4-8470-2895-3 ||Photobook with Rika Ishikawa
|-
| 2 || || January 15, 2007 || 978-4-8470-2987-5 ||Solo photobook
|-
| 3 || || June 30, 2007 || Kadokawa Shoten || 978-4-04-894495-3 || Solo photobook, shot in Guam
|-
| 4 || || December 14, 2007 ||rowspan="4"| Wani Books || 978-4-8470-4055-9 || Solo photobook
|-
| 5 || ||September 25, 2008 || ISBN 978-4-4121-1|| Solo photobook
|-
| 6 || || July 13, 2009 || 978-4-8470-4183-9 || Solo photobook, in Okinawa/Tokyo
|-
| 7 || || April 26, 2010 || 978-4-8470-4269-0 || Solo photobook, shot in Guam
|}
} || January 26, 2003 || April 1, 2007 ||rowspan="2"| TV Tokyo Corporation
|-
| || September 29, 2003 || December 26, 2003
|-
| || October 7, 2003 || September 9, 2004 || TV Asahi Corporation
|-
|rowspan="2"| || June 16, 2004 || June 25, 2004 ||rowspan="7"| TV Tokyo Corporation
|-
| July 14, 2004 || July 22, 2004
|-
| || October 21, 2004 || December 15, 2004
|-
| || January 5, 2005 || April 1, 2005
|-
| || April 5, 2005 || May 5, 2006
|-
| || April 8, 2007 || September 28, 2008
|-
| || October 6, 2008 || March 27, 2009
|-
| ||colspan="2"| January 3, 2009 || Nippon Television
|-
| ||colspan="2"| February 12, 2009 || Nagoya Broadcasting Network
|-
| || February 23, 2009 || March 9, 2009 || Asahi Corporation
|-
| ||colspan="2"| March 10, 2009 || TV Tokyo Corporation
|}
} || June 9, 2007 || Ongoing || MBS Radio
|-
!colspan="4"| Non-regular
|-
|rowspan="4"| || May 2, 2005 || May 13, 2005 ||rowspan="4"| TBC Radio
|-
| May 30, 2005 || June 10, 2005
|-
| July 25, 2005 || August 5, 2005
|-
| January 22, 2007 || February 2, 2007
|-
|rowspan="7"| ||colspan="2"| February 27, 2004 ||rowspan="9"| ABC Radio
|-
|colspan="2"| March 5, 2004
|-
| June 10, 2005 || June 24, 2005
|-
|colspan="2"| December 16, 2005
|-
|colspan="2"| November 3, 2006
|-
|colspan="2"| November 10, 2006
|-
|colspan="2"| December 15, 2006
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 18, 2005
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 17, 2006
|-
| B.B.L. || November 6, 2005 || November 13, 2005
|-
!colspan="4"| Radio drama
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 4, 2005 || MBS Radio
|}
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
group Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
and has the third longest tenure of any member in the group (behind Risa Niigaki
Risa Niigaki
is a fifth generation member and current leader of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at age six. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving sub-leader of Morning...
and Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
and tied with Reina Tanaka
Reina Tanaka
is one of the sixth generation members of the J-pop group Morning Musume. Her professional first name is spelled in hiragana to distinguish her from the Japanese actress Rena Tanaka, whose name is spelled using the same kanji , who is similarly from Fukuoka Prefecture.- Biography :Tanaka auditioned...
).
She joined Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
in 2003 along with Eri Kamei
Eri Kamei
was a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin....
, Miki Fujimoto
Miki Fujimoto
, professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi"...
and Reina Tanaka
Reina Tanaka
is one of the sixth generation members of the J-pop group Morning Musume. Her professional first name is spelled in hiragana to distinguish her from the Japanese actress Rena Tanaka, whose name is spelled using the same kanji , who is similarly from Fukuoka Prefecture.- Biography :Tanaka auditioned...
, which all made their debuts with Morning Musume in the group's nineteenth single, "Shabondama
Shabondama
is the nineteenth single of J-pop idol group Morning Musume. It was released July 30, 2003 and sold a total of 151,104 copies. It peaked at number two on the Oricon Charts....
". In 2005 she was assigned as mentor to 7th generation member Koharu Kusumi
Koharu Kusumi
, is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...
, until Kusumi's graduation in December 2009.
Michishige was also a member of the Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
unit Ecomoni
Ecomoni
is a Japanese pop group from Hello! Project. It was originally founded in the second quarter of 2004 with Sayumi Michishige and Rika Ishikawa as members...
, along with former Morning Musume member Rika Ishikawa
Rika Ishikawa
, is a Japanese pop singer and TV/radio hostess, associated with the Hello! Project banner and best known as a former member of the pop group Morning Musume. She was the leader of the trio v-u-den until June 2008...
.
When Michishige passed the audition to join Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
, Tsunku
Tsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
, Morning Musume's producer, commented that her singing was weak. After the audition, Michishige took voice lessons to improve her singing, but even she admits that her own singing is still bad.
She portrays an extremely narcissistic
Narcissism
Narcissism is a term with a wide range of meanings, depending on whether it is used to describe a central concept of psychoanalytic theory, a mental illness, a social or cultural problem, or simply a personality trait...
image of herself in TV shows, often calling herself the cutest member in Morning Musume and saying that her cuteness overwhelms her bad singing voice. In one of the skits known as Hello! Morning Theatre on their variety show, Hello! Morning
Hello! Morning
was a weekly Japanese TV show featuring members of Morning Musume, and sometimes other Hello! Project members on TV Tokyo. It is also known by the shorter name of . On April 1, 2007, the show ended after seven years of broadcast and a new show, featuring the same people, , took its place...
, she frequently played a character known as "Ichiban Kawaii" (Cutest).
"Usa-chan Peace" (Bunny Peace) is a phrase which Michishige uses to identify herself. While saying "Usa-chan peace" she holds her index and middle fingers in V shapes next to her ears.
Michishige is also a member of Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
's kickball
Kickball
Kickball is a playground game and competitive league game, similar to baseball, invented in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. Kickball may also be known as kick baseball, base soccer, soccer-base, or soccer-baseball...
team, Metro Rabbits H.P..
Biography
Sayumi Michishige officially became a 6th generation member of Morning MusumeMorning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
, along with Eri Kamei
Eri Kamei
was a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin....
, Miki Fujimoto
Miki Fujimoto
, professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi"...
and Reina Tanaka
Reina Tanaka
is one of the sixth generation members of the J-pop group Morning Musume. Her professional first name is spelled in hiragana to distinguish her from the Japanese actress Rena Tanaka, whose name is spelled using the same kanji , who is similarly from Fukuoka Prefecture.- Biography :Tanaka auditioned...
, on January 19, 2003, when the results of the Love Audition 2002 were made public. Just a few weeks later, she was placed in Morning Musume Otomegumi
Morning Musume Otomegumi
was one of the subgroups that the Japanese pop group Morning Musume was divided into in 2003. Its counterpart was Morning Musume Sakuragumi. The group's name is made up of and , meaning "Young Girls' Group". Like Sakuragumi, purpose of Morning Musume Otomegumi was to perform in small towns with...
subgroup, when the group was temporarily divided so it could perform in smaller towns, thereby reaching out to a greater number of fans who couldn't otherwise have the privilege of watching them perform live. During the spring she, along with the rest of the 6th generation members, made her first concert appearance on the Morning Musume Concert Tour 2003 Spring "Non Stop!" during Kei Yasuda
Kei Yasuda
is a Japanese singer, musician and actress under the Up Front Agency's Hello! Project. She was a member and co-leader of the pop group Morning Musume. Yasuda, along with Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii, were the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume...
's graduation.
On July 16, 2003, the 6th generation members (with the exception of Miki Fujimoto
Miki Fujimoto
, professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi"...
) released their first photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
and corresponding DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, both shot in Hawaii, as part of the series. Their musical debut came shortly thereafter, on July 30, with Morning Musume's 19th single Shabondama
Shabondama
is the nineteenth single of J-pop idol group Morning Musume. It was released July 30, 2003 and sold a total of 151,104 copies. It peaked at number two on the Oricon Charts....
. Although Michishige didn't get many solo lines in the song, one of those instances—in which she shouts "Shabondama"—did get her some attention on TV shows. Towards the end of 2003 Michishige began appearing in the show , as a regular with ex-Morning Musume member Yuko Nakazawa
Yuko Nakazawa
is a Japanese pop and enka singer, and actress, best known as one of the original members of the all-female J-pop group Morning Musume. She is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.- Biography :...
.
2004 saw her first appearance on an album, Best! Morning Musume 2
Best! Morning Musume 2
is the second "best of" compilation from the Japanese Pop idol group Morning Musume and it was released March 31, 2004, selling a total of 180,897 copies...
, and in a movie—. During the summer Michishige appeared in her first solo photobook and was placed in a temporary unit called Ecomoni
Ecomoni
is a Japanese pop group from Hello! Project. It was originally founded in the second quarter of 2004 with Sayumi Michishige and Rika Ishikawa as members...
with 4th generation Morning Musume member Rika Ishikawa
Rika Ishikawa
, is a Japanese pop singer and TV/radio hostess, associated with the Hello! Project banner and best known as a former member of the pop group Morning Musume. She was the leader of the trio v-u-den until June 2008...
. Originally, the goal of the group was to promote environmental awareness only for the duration of the festival, but their popularity led to the members being cast as voice actors for the fourth Hamtaro
Hamtaro
is a Japanese anime series. The main character is a hamster named Hamtaro who has a variety of adventures with other hamsters, called "Ham-Hams" . The show is based on a manga series by Ritsuko Kawai, Hamtaro Gets Lost and Other Stories, and Jealous Hamtaro and Other Stories...
movie—along with Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
soloist Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
, with whom they also released the main theme for the film, entitled —and appeared in subsequent festivals.
In 2005, Michshige and Rika Ishikawa released a duo photobook entitled . Though it has been called an Ecomoni photobook because both members appear in it, officially Angels has nothing to do with the unit. Michishige also appeared as a regular news anchor on Hello! Morning for most of the second half of 2005. That same year she was assigned to be a mentor to 7th generation member Koharu Kusumi
Koharu Kusumi
, is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...
, with whom she formed a duo called Rainbow Pink in the beginning of 2006. Introducing themselves as "Shige-pink" and "Koha-pink", the group was featured on Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
's 7th album, Rainbow 7
Rainbow 7
is the seventh album by the J-pop idol group Morning Musume. It is the first album to feature 7th generation member Koharu Kusumi, and was released on February 15, 2006....
, with the song , and subsequently on the 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!
7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!
is the first mini-album to be released by the J-pop idol group Morning Musume. It was released on December 13, 2006. The album was released in two versions– a standard edition, containing only the CD , and a limited edition containing a bonus DVD.This mini-album is considered to be their...
and Sexy 8 Beat
Sexy 8 Beat
- Bonus DVD :Tracks 2 and 3 on the DVD were recorded live at Hello! Project's 2007 Winter Wonderful Hearts Otome Gokoro concert.- Vocals :* Hitomi Yoshizawa – except tracks 5, 9 and 10* Ai Takahashi – except tracks 5 and 10...
albums, with and , respectively.
Following in fellow Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
member Miki Fujimoto
Miki Fujimoto
, professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi"...
's footsteps, Michishige began hosting a radio show entitled in October 2006. Running approximately 30 minutes per episode, Michishige's show consists of her answering fan mail and participating in several games, among which saying a given phrase/expression in reverse, and giving general advice to her listeners.
In early December 2006 it was announced Michishige would be given a second solo photobook, entitled , released shortly thereafter on January 15, 2007. Shot in Okinawa, the book featured school uniform, swimsuit, simple one-piece and even wet yukata/bathrobe shots, in an attempt to convey a more mature image of the seventeen year old idol.
Michishige has also starred in , an original internet drama created for the purpose of advertising the Family Restaurant chain , as , a novice waitress training under the supervision of her seniors (played by Morning Musume's Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
) and (Reiko Tokita).
On June 9, 2007, Michishige began co-hosting the Young Town radio show as a result of Miki Fujimoto's Friday magazine scandal and subsequent resignation from Morning Musume. Shortly thereafter she released her third solo photobook and DVD, 17: Love Hello, both shot on the island of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Her fourth solo photobook, Sōsō was released in December.
In 2008, like in previous singles (a notable exception being Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago), Michishige was given a relatively minor role both in Resonant Blue
Resonant Blue
is the thirty-sixth single of J-pop idol group Morning Musume. It was released under the Zetima label on April 16, 2008. The Single V DVD of the single was released on April 23, 2008....
and Pepper Keibu
Pepper Keibu
- Morning Musume version :A cover of "Pepper Keibu" was released by the idol pop group Morning Musume as a single on September 24, 2008 under the Zetima label to promote their upcoming ninth album, Cover You, a tribute to producer Yū Aku. The Single V DVD of the single was released on October 22,...
, with the exception of a solo line in the latter. Her radio show was extended from 30 to 60 minutes and she also released her fifth solo photobook.
On January 3, 2009, for the first time since she joined Morning Musume, Michishige appeared as an independent talent on a TV show, namely the quiz show. A cast of 30 performers (including former v-u-den member Yui Okada
Yui Okada
is a former member of J-pop group v-u-den that was associated with Hello! Project. She remained within the group until its disbandment in 2008, after which point she was contracted with Up-Front Agency...
and second generation Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi
Mari Yaguchi
, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese pop artist and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Morning Musume and Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni...
) gathered to answer a series of questions taken from elementary school textbooks. From a total of 60 questions she managed to score 22 (37%) and placed 29th. Later that year, Michishige was assigned to be a part of the new shuffle group zoku v-u-den
V-u-den
is a Japanese pop group within Hello! Project. The group was formed in August 2004 and consists of members Rika Ishikawa , Erika Miyoshi, and Yui Okada, with Ishikawa being the leader. The name means: , , and...
, a revival of v-u-den, along with Risako Sugaya
Risako Sugaya
is a Japanese pop singer, idol, and a member of Japanese musical group Berryz Kobo.- History :In 2002, Sugaya successfully passed the Hello! Project Kids Audition...
(of Berryz Kobo) and Junjun (also of Morning Musume).
Usa-chan Peace
The phrase has become a trademark of Michishige. While saying this phrase, she places her hands next to her ears and holds her index and middle fingers in V shapes to imitate rabbit ears. According to Michishige, Usa-chan Peace became her trademark pose gradually. At first she used it when taking print club photosPhoto booth
A photo booth is a vending machine or modern kiosk that contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor. Today the vast majority of photo booths are digital. Traditionally photo booths contain a seat or bench designed to seat the one or two patrons being photographed...
with her sister, but after seeing how cute it looked, she started adopting it on official photoshoots and related events.
The Usa-chan Peace pose has been widely reproduced in Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
productions (such as the aforementioned Bow 30° drama, in the second episode of the first series) and events, but also outside the scope of Tsunku
Tsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
's all-girls franchise, most notably in the 132nd Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Ryunosuke Akutagawa
was a Japanese writer active in the Taishō period in Japan. He is regarded as the "Father of the Japanese short story". He committed suicide at age of 35 through an overdose of barbital.-Early life:...
prize award ceremony. For the commemorative photograph of the event, held his hands in a manner patterned after the Usa-chan Peace sign, in a clear homage to Michishige's invention.
Furthermore, careful viewing of the 18th episode of the anime series
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
"Gin Tama", reveals the presence of a humorous reference to the Usa-chan Peace phenomenon and its significance in the otaku
Otaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
culture. Cornered by the main characters, the underwear thief (whose perverted antics said episode revolves around) refuses to let himself be defeated, for all "perverts, bullies and cherry boys"—among whom a man shown doing the Usa-chan Peace pose with a maid at a Cosplay Cafe
Cosplay restaurant
, are theme restaurants and pubs that originated in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan around the year 1999. They include and , where the service staff dress as elegant maids, or as butlers. Such restaurants and cafés have quickly become a staple of Japanese otaku culture. Compared with service at normal...
—depend upon his good will (stolen underwear delivery) to go on with their otherwise dull and loveless lives.
Photobooks
| # | | Title | Release date | Publisher | ISBN | Description |
|---|
| – |
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
|| 978-4-04-894251-5 || With Eri Kamei
Eri Kamei
was a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin....
and Reina Tanaka
Reina Tanaka
is one of the sixth generation members of the J-pop group Morning Musume. Her professional first name is spelled in hiragana to distinguish her from the Japanese actress Rena Tanaka, whose name is spelled using the same kanji , who is similarly from Fukuoka Prefecture.- Biography :Tanaka auditioned...
|-
| 1 || || October 30, 2004 ||rowspan="3"| Wani Books|| 978-4-8470-2833-5 ||First solo photobook
|-
| – || || November 16, 2005 || 978-4-8470-2895-3 ||Photobook with Rika Ishikawa
Rika Ishikawa
, is a Japanese pop singer and TV/radio hostess, associated with the Hello! Project banner and best known as a former member of the pop group Morning Musume. She was the leader of the trio v-u-den until June 2008...
|-
| 2 || || January 15, 2007 || 978-4-8470-2987-5 ||Solo photobook
|-
| 3 || || June 30, 2007 || Kadokawa Shoten || 978-4-04-894495-3 || Solo photobook, shot in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
|-
| 4 || || December 14, 2007 ||rowspan="4"| Wani Books || 978-4-8470-4055-9 || Solo photobook
|-
| 5 || ||September 25, 2008 || ISBN 978-4-4121-1|| Solo photobook
|-
| 6 || || July 13, 2009 || 978-4-8470-4183-9 || Solo photobook, in Okinawa/Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
|-
| 7 || || April 26, 2010 || 978-4-8470-4269-0 || Solo photobook, shot in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
|}
DVDs
| # | Title | Release date | DVD information |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | July 16, 2003 | DVD with Eri Kamei Eri Kamei was a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin.... and Reina Tanaka Reina Tanaka is one of the sixth generation members of the J-pop group Morning Musume. Her professional first name is spelled in hiragana to distinguish her from the Japanese actress Rena Tanaka, whose name is spelled using the same kanji , who is similarly from Fukuoka Prefecture.- Biography :Tanaka auditioned... |
|
| 1 | July 18, 2007 | First solo DVD, filmed in Hawaii |
|
| 2 | 20’s time | July 22, 2009 | Second solo DVD, filmed in Okinawa |
| 3 | Homey | March, 2011 | Released as part of the e-Hello! lineup. |
Television
| Show | Start date | End date | Station |
|---|
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
|-
| || September 29, 2003 || December 26, 2003
|-
| || October 7, 2003 || September 9, 2004 || TV Asahi Corporation
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
|-
|rowspan="2"| || June 16, 2004 || June 25, 2004 ||rowspan="7"| TV Tokyo Corporation
|-
| July 14, 2004 || July 22, 2004
|-
| || October 21, 2004 || December 15, 2004
|-
| || January 5, 2005 || April 1, 2005
|-
| || April 5, 2005 || May 5, 2006
|-
| || April 8, 2007 || September 28, 2008
|-
| || October 6, 2008 || March 27, 2009
|-
| ||colspan="2"| January 3, 2009 || Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
|-
| ||colspan="2"| February 12, 2009 || Nagoya Broadcasting Network
Nagoya Broadcasting Network
, Nickname: Mētele is a TV station joining All-Nippon News Network in Nagoya. It is broadcast in Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Mie Prefecture.-Analog:JOLX-TV*Nagoya TV Tower - Channel 11...
|-
| || February 23, 2009 || March 9, 2009 || Asahi Corporation
|-
| ||colspan="2"| March 10, 2009 || TV Tokyo Corporation
|}
Radio
| Program | Start date | End date | Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | |||
| October 5, 2006 | Ongoing | CBC Radio Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting is a regional radio and television service serving Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Its radio service is affiliated with the Japan Radio Network and its television service affiliated with the Japan News Network and the TBS Network.-Radio:Frequency... |
|
|-
!colspan="4"| Non-regular
|-
|rowspan="4"| || May 2, 2005 || May 13, 2005 ||rowspan="4"| TBC Radio
Tohoku Broadcasting Company
Tohoku Broadcasting Company is a Japanese TV and radio network affiliated with the Japan News Network...
|-
| May 30, 2005 || June 10, 2005
|-
| July 25, 2005 || August 5, 2005
|-
| January 22, 2007 || February 2, 2007
|-
|rowspan="7"| ||colspan="2"| February 27, 2004 ||rowspan="9"| ABC Radio
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
is a regional radio and television broadcaster headquartered in Osaka, Japan, serving in the Kansai region.-Offices:*Headquarters: 1-30, Fukushima Itchome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan...
|-
|colspan="2"| March 5, 2004
|-
| June 10, 2005 || June 24, 2005
|-
|colspan="2"| December 16, 2005
|-
|colspan="2"| November 3, 2006
|-
|colspan="2"| November 10, 2006
|-
|colspan="2"| December 15, 2006
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 18, 2005
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 17, 2006
|-
| B.B.L. || November 6, 2005 || November 13, 2005
|-
!colspan="4"| Radio drama
|-
| ||colspan="2"| December 4, 2005 || MBS Radio
|}