Kanako Momota

Kanako Momota (百田 夏菜子, Momota Kanako, born July 12, 1994) is a Japanese idol actress and singer. She is best known as the leader of the female idol group Momoiro Clover Z. Kanako was ranked 12th most popular Japanese idol of 2013 by Nihon Keizai Shimbun.[2] She is represented by Stardust Promotion talent agency.[3]

Kanako Momota
百田 夏菜子
Kanako Momota performing at the 2012 Japan Expo.
Born (1994-07-12) July 12, 1994
Hamamatsu, Japan
Other namesKanako, Deko-chan[1]
OccupationSinger, Actress
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
Years active2005–present
LabelsKing Records
Associated actsMomoiro Clover Z
Websitehttp://www.momoclo.net/

Biography

Kanako Momota was born on July 12, 1994, in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.[4][5] As of 2013, she still lived near Hamamatsu Station with her parents and two brothers.[6][7]

Kanako has been taking rhythmic gymnastics classes since the age of three, and jazz dance lessons since she was in the third grade of elementary school. She enrolled in dance classes at the suggestion of her coach, who thought she needed a better dance foundation.[7] Other students at the dance school sometimes auditioned for the entertainment industry, a common topic of conversation among parents. Kanako's mother decided she should audition too and answered an advertisement announcing an open audition for the Stardust Promotion talent agency. They applied and when still in the fifth grade, Kanako won the audition and was subsequently signed[3][5][7] to the agency's 3B Junior section, dedicated to training girls under 18 to become actresses.[8]

Career

In the spring of 2008, Stardust Promotion put her in a then unnamed idol (vocal and dance) group consisting of girls close to Kanako's age.[7] The project was very low budget, so they performed on the walkways in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo.[9][10] A few months later, Kanako replaced Reni Takagi as group leader.[11] In a later interview, Momoiro Clover's manager Akira Kawakami recalled that from the very beginning Kanako was the hardest worker and stated that she could be serious when needed, but naïve and spontaneous at the same time.[12]

As of 2014, Kanako officially takes center stage during all songs.[6][13] Her performances incorporate elements of ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics.[14][15][16]

In 2011, Kanako appeared in Mika Ninagawa's cosplay photoshoot series in the fashion magazine Zipper dressed as a bee and a ladybug.[17][18] She continued to appear as a model in Ninagawa's works in Mgirl magazine from Fall/Winter 2011/2012 and again in the issue from Spring/Summer 2013.[19] On April 14, 2012, Kanako succeeded famous child actress Mana Ashida[20] as subhost of the Nippon Television show Meringue no Kimochi.[21][22] At that time, neither she nor Momoiro Clover Z was widely known. But when in 2013 it was announced that she would leave the program after almost a year and a half, there were worries that it would affect the popularity of the show.[23] In August 2013, Kanako became the first person to appear on both the front and back covers of an issue of QuickJapan magazine, which also published a lengthy interview with her.[24][25]

Shrimp jump
Kanako Momota's trademark "shrimp jump".

Kanako's trademark stunt is a "shrimp jump" (jumping with an arched back and both legs bent backwards), which she performs during the song "Ikuze! Kaitō Shōjo"[26][27] and which some consider a highlight of the group's live concerts.[28] On October 4, 2013, she failed to land the jump and fell on her buttocks. The accident caused a stir among fans and was widely reported by the Japanese media,[29][30] appearing at the top of Yahoo! Japan website.[31] Kanako was not injured.[31]

Filmography

Feature films
  • Shirome (シロメ) (2010)[32]
  • Ninifuni (NINIFUNI) (2012)[33]
  • Spotlight (SPOTLIGHT) (short, 2012)[34]
  • Maku ga Agaru (幕が上がる) (2015)[35]
  • Kaiketsu Zorori: ZZ no Himitsu (かいけつゾロリ ZZのひみつ) (2017)
  • Love, Life and Goldfish (2021), Yoshino Ikoma[36]

Television
  • Beppin san (べっぴんさん) (2016)
  • Plastic Smile (静岡発地域ドラマ『プラスティック・スマイル』) (2018)
  • Yakusoku no Stage: Toki wo Kakeru Futari no Uta (約束のステージ 〜時を駆けるふたりの歌〜) (2019)

Variety shows
  • Shokora Aisareru Onna — Kirawareru Onna Grand Prix (ショコラ〜愛される女 嫌われる女グランプリ) (2009, NTV)[37]
  • Meringue no Kimochi (メレンゲの気持ち) (April 2012 — September 2013, NTV) — subhost[20][21][22][23]

Other

References
  1. "Kanako Momota". Momoiro Clover Z official site. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  2. ももクロ、初のＡＫＢ超え　タレントパワーランキング [Momoclo is ahead of AKB48 in the Talent Power Ranking for the first time]. 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2013-06-24. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. "[Power Push] 3Bjunior「七色のスターダスト」特集 (5-10)" [[Power Push] 3Bjunior "Nanairo no Stardust" special (5-10)] (in Japanese). 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  4. 百田夏菜子が地元凱旋！ももクロ浜松で縦横無尽のバカ騒ぎ [Kanako Momota trumphs locally! Momoclo's most comprehensively idiotic commotion in Hamamatsu]. Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  5. "【エンタがビタミン♪】「将来の夢はなんですか？」"ももクロ"百田夏菜子が母校で講師に。" [[Enta Vitamin] "What are your dreams for the future?" - Momota Kanako becomes a lecturer at her alma mater]. TechinsightJapan. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  6. "Archived copy" 税金滞納で…ももクロ・百田の自宅が差押さえられていた【ももクロ】. Josei Jishin (in Japanese). Kobunsha Co., Ltd. 2013-05-04. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-01-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "【FEATURES.2】 3号連続特集 / ももいろクローバーZ パーソナルインタビュー 第1回 / 百田夏菜子（撮影＝川島小鳥） / 「もう、私ほんっとダメリーダーなんですよ!」" [[Features. 2] 3rd consecutive special feature / 1st Momoiro Clover Z personal interview / Kanako Momota (photography = Kotori Kawashima) / "As of yet, I'm still a really no-good leader!"]. QuickJapan Vol. 96 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4778312626. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  8. "ももエビしゃち前橋に集結！3Bライブ「俺の藤井」大成功" [Momo, Ebi, Shya all gather in Maebashi! 3B's live "Ore no Fuji" is a big success!]. Natalie (in Japanese). 2014-01-05. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  9. 『ももいろクローバーＺ』マネジャー・川上アキラの芸能界トップを獲るための“戦略”とは？ [What is Momoiro Clover Z's manager Akira Kawakami's strategy "for getting to the top of the entertainment industry"?] (in Japanese). Shueisha. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  10. "PROFILE | 週末ヒロイン ももいろクローバーZ オフィシャルサイト" [Profile - Weekend heroines Momoiro Clover Z official site] (in Japanese). Momoiro Clover Z official site. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  11. "ももクロ・高城れに「真面目すぎるから」とリーダー交代の過去" [Momoclo's Reni Takagi: story of the leader's reassignment "because you are too serious"]. Ohta Publishing. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  12. "ももくろマネージャー　「リーダー百田夏菜子は『ミスター・ももクロ』」" [Momoiro Clover's manager: "Leader Kanako Momota is Mister Momoclo"]. Ohta Publishing. 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  13. "starchildももいろクローバーZ" [Starchild - Momoiro Clover Z] (in Japanese). Stardust Promotion. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  14. 進化するアイドル ももクロが凄いワケ [Evolving idol - Momoclo is awesome] (in Japanese). hotexpress. 2011-12-16. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  15. "[Power Push] ももいろクローバー (2-5)" [(Power Push) Momoiro Clover]. Natalie (in Japanese). 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  16. ももクロ百田夏菜子　病院で「アスリートですか？」と言われる (in Japanese). Yūkan Gadget Tsūshin. 2012-06-03. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  17. "ももクロ百田×蜷川実花「Zipper」で2号連続コスプレ撮影" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  18. "Zipper (ジッパー) 2011年 06月号". ASIN B004URR7BY. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
    "Zipper (ジッパー) 2011年 07月号". ASIN B004YDXVQE. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  19. "ももクロ百田夏菜子 蜷川実花編集長の「M girl 2013SS」表紙に抜てき！ニンジャポーズなども披露". Geinou News Lounge (in Japanese). Mobile Media Production. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
    ももクロ夏菜子を蜷川実花が撮り下ろし　オフショット公開 - ライブドアニュース. Livedoor News (in Japanese). 2013-03-11. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  20. 【エンタがビタミン♪】「モリエモンって？」ももクロの百田夏菜子が"メレンゲ"デビュー。大物歌手にあだ名をつける大胆な行動に。 (in Japanese). 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  21. "ももクロ百田夏菜子「メレンゲの気持ち」新MCに挑戦！「私で大丈夫なのかな」". J-CAST (in Japanese). 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  22. なぜマーサに……？『メレンゲの気持ち』ももクロ百田夏菜子降板劇の裏側. 日刊サイゾー (in Japanese). エキサイトニュース. 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  23. AOL News (2013-09-26). "メレンゲからももクロ・百田夏菜子卒業、代わりに高橋真麻加入で「誰が見るんだ？」の声". Excite Japan. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  24. "「QJ」史上初！百田夏菜子が両面表紙＆125P総力特集". Natalie (in Japanese). 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  25. "QuickJapan Vol. 109". ASIN B00H7852KQ. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. "ももいろクローバーが天下統一に向けて大阪進出！ ライブレポート". 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  27. "【アイドル】ももクロ＠12・25さいたまスーパーアリーナ前に予習しよう！". Pia Corporation. 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  28. ももクロ東京タワーで「オレンジノート」アカペラ大合唱 (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-07-31. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  29. ももクロ･百田のエビ反り失敗がツイッターで話題「調子のって反りすぎた」. My Navi News (in Japanese). 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  30. 「ももクロ・百田夏菜子は長嶋茂雄である」 その理由は？ ["Momoclo's Kanako Momota is Shigeo Nagashima". The reason is] (in Japanese). NEWSポストセブン. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  31. Ohta Publishing (2013-12-23). ももクロ百田夏菜子　秋ツアーでの「エビ反りジャンプ失敗事件」を振り返る [Momoclo's Kanako Momota looks back at the autumn tour "shrimp jump failure case] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  32. ももいろクローバー、ドッキリ収録盛り込んだ初主演映画が決定 (in Japanese). Oricon. 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  33. "ももクロ出演映画「NINIFUNI」来年2月より全国上映". Natalie (in Japanese). 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  34. "東京『SPOTLIGHT』 地域発信型映画 地域発信型プロジェクト" (in Japanese). Okinawa International Movie Festival. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  35. "幕が上がる(2015)". allcinema.net (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  36. "尾上松也＆百田夏菜子"金魚すくい映画"で初共演！「すくってごらん」21年3月公開". eiga.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  37. "Kanako Momota's profile/history" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  38. ももクロ初主演ドラマ「ももドラ」メンバーが語る見どころ. Natalie (in Japanese). 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  39. "ももクロ主演ドラマ「ももドラ」BD&DVDで4月リリース". Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
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