| Miki Fujimoto 藤本 美貴 |
|
|---|---|
| Also known as | Mikitty, Mikitan, Miki-chan, Miki-sama |
| Born | February 26 1985 |
| Origin |  Takikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan |
| Genre(s) | Japanese pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Label(s) | Hachama, Zetima |
| Associated acts |
Morning Musume, Gomattou, Country Musume, GAM, Otomegumi, Odoru 11, 11Water, H.P. All Stars, Sexy Otonajan |
| Website | Hello! Project.com |
Miki Fujimoto (藤本 美貴 Fujimoto Miki?, born February 26, 1985 in Takikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan), is an ex-solo artist from Hello! Project. She was previously the leader of the popular Japanese pop group Morning Musume but only after a few weeks, a magazine published a scandal which resulted in her resignation from the group. Currently, she is one-half of the duo GAM.
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Biography
She originally started out as a solo singer in 2002 under the idol family Hello! Project, often called by fans as Aya Matsuura's rival, but in fact, they are the best of friends. After a successful performance on the music program on New Year's Eve, "Kōhaku Uta Gassen", producer Tsunku added her to Morning Musume as a sixth generation member in 2003. Miki sings a lot of the lead lines in Morning Musume songs, especially after Natsumi Abe's graduation. She and fellow Morning Musume member Asami Konno were also lent to Country Musume, a group that features "Country Girls from Hokkaidō", such as Miki and Asami (the group has been known, however, to include members not from the rural island--such as former featured singers Rika Ishikawa and Miuna Saito). In October 2002, she was placed in the shuffle group, Gomattou with two other prominent pop soloists under Hello! Project, Maki Goto (a former Morning Musume member), and Aya Matsuura. She was also in Hello! Project Shuffle groups Odoru 11, 11Water, H.P. All Stars and Sexy Otonajan. In 2003, when Morning Musume was split into two groups, she was placed in Morning Musume Otomegumi. On June 15 2006 it was announced that Miki Fujimoto and Aya Matsuura would join together in a new Hello! Project duo called GAM. Their debut single was released on 13 September 2006,[1] and after two other singles, their debut LP was released on May 23, 2007. On May 6 2007, after the graduation of then-leader Hitomi Yoshizawa, Fujimoto took her place as the fifth leader of Morning Musume. On May 24 2007, Fujimoto was rumored to be in the latest edition of the Japanese gossip magazine Friday —the same magazine responsible for the cancellation of Ai Kago's contract— pictured walking with Shōji Tomoharu, a member of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shōji. Friday explains that they had a two-hour dinner together, drove to Fujimoto's apartment, then went to the sauna, returning to Shouji's apartment just after midnight.[2] It soon became apparent that she was to be involved in a scandal that would jeopardize her position in Morning Musume. After seeing the article, Up-Front Agency had no intention to deal with the situation since there was no proof of them dating.[3] On the May 26 2007 edition of Young Town Doyōbi (a radio show with Ai Takahashi, Fujimoto and Sanma Akashiya), she confirmed that the pictures were of her, and that she had been going out with Shōji Tomoharu. She also mentioned that she was going to talk to the head of Up-Front Agency, Naoki Yamazaki about the situation.[4] On June 1 2007, Fujimoto resigned from her position in Morning Musume.[5][6] She will continue with GAM and remain contracted with Hello! Project and Up-Front Agency.[7] In October 2007 Miki Fujimoto will not attend to the Hello! Project 2008 Winter Concert. Some say she is still under punishment from the scandal early this year.
Fan following
Miki Fujimoto possesses an extensive fan base, which includes a group of people generally deemed "Mowota", an abbreviation of Morning Musume Otaku, who literally worship her. This group, called "Tokai Woters", generally performs a fixed choreography at concerts and, on certain occasions TV[8]. This choreography, carried to the sound of Miki's Romantic Ukare Mode, involves a series of moves accompanied by their chanting "Mikitty!" four times, which is then followed by "Miki-sama! Miki-sama, please punish me!". It is also said that they send her a lot of mail, and Fujimoto often says she enjoys getting "Miki-sama mail".
Discography
Albums
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miki 1 | 2003-02-26 | 93,475 | 128,502 |
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi (会えない長い日曜日?) | 2002-03-13 | 25,610 | 43,670 |
| 2 | Sotto Kuchizukete Gyutto Dakishimete (そっと口づけてギュッと抱きしめて?) | 2002-06-12 | 24,730 | 40,450 |
| 3 | Romantic Ukare Mode (ロマンティック浮かれモード?) | 2002-09-04 | 38,490 | 62,000 |
| 4 | Boyfriend (ボーイフレンド?) | 2002-11-07 | 36,290 | 48,555 |
| 5 | Boogie Train '03 (ブギートレイン'03?) | 2003-02-05 | 37,410 | 50,737 |
DVDs
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fujimoto Single M Clips 1 (藤本シングルMクリップス①?) | 2002-10-02 |
| 2 | Alo! Hello Fujimoto Miki (アロハロ！藤本美貴?) | 2003-04-25 |
| 3 | Fujimoto Miki First Live Tour 2003 Spring ~Miki 1~ (藤本美貴 First Live Tour 2003 Spring ～Miki①～?) | 2003-06-18 |
Appearances
Photobooks
| # | Title | Release date | Photobook information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayaya to Mikitty (アヤヤとミキティ Ayaya and Mikitty?) | 2003-04-11 | Photobook with Aya Matsuura |
| 2 | Alo! Hello Fujimoto Miki (アロハロ！藤本美貴?) | 2003-04-22 | First solo photobook |
| 3 | Mikitty | 2004-01-24 | Second solo photobook |
| 4 | Real 226 (リアル226?) | 2005-02-25 | Third solo photobook |
| 5 | Cheri | 2005-12-17 | Fourth solo photobook |
| 6 | Coeur | 2006-11-25 | Fifth solo photobook |
Movies
- 2003 – 17sai ~Tabidachi no Futari~ (17才～旅立ちのふたり～?)
- 2008 Aya 5:The magic of Winter: Miki Fujimoto
Dramas
- 2002 – Tenshi no Utagoe ~Shōnibyōtō no Kiseki~ (天使の歌声～小児病棟の奇跡～?)
- 2004 – Shinshun Wide Jidaigeki: Ryuuma ga Yuku (新春ワイド時代劇 竜馬がゆく?)
Musicals
- 2006 – Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical (リッボンの騎士ザ・ミュージカル?)
Radio
- 2002–2003 – Fujimoto Miki Heart Days Radio (藤本美貴 ハート・デイズ・レディオ?)
- 2002–2007 – Fujimoto Miki no Dokimiki Night (藤本美貴のドキ♥みきNight?)
- 2004–2007 – Young Town Dōyōbi (ヤングタウン土曜日?)
References
- ^ http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/gam_0606152600.html
- ^ TV Guide Japan (Japanese) (May 24 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ Hello!Online - Fujimoto Miki 'Friday'd' (May 24 2007).
- ^ Hello!Online episode summary (May 26 2007).
- ^ Nikkan Sports News (Japanese) (June 1 2007).
- ^ Yahoo! Japan News (Japanese) (June 1 2007).
- ^ Hello!Online - Fujimoto Miki leaves Morning Musume (June 1 2007).
- ^ On the July 7, 2006 edition of Maji ana (まじあな?)
External links
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