Asami Konno

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Asami Konno
紺野 あさ美
Background = solo_singer
Alias = Konkon, Kon-chan, Ojamaru, Pon-chan
Born = birth date and age|1987|5|7
Died =
Origin = Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan
Genre = Japanese pop
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2001–2006
2007–present
Label = Zetima
Associated_acts = Morning Musume, Ongaku Gatas, Country Musume, Tanpopo, Sakuragumi, Odoru 11, 11Water, H.P. All Stars
URL = [http://www.helloproject.com Hello! Project.com]

nihongo|Asami Konno|紺野 あさ美|Konno Asami, born May 7, 1987,cite web|url= http://d.hatena.ne.jp/keyword/%BA%B0%CC%EE%A4%A2%A4%B5%C8%FE|title= Hatena Diary - Konno Asami|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese] is a Japanese pop singer, best known as former fifth generation member of the all-girl Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined the group in the August 2001, along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Makoto Ogawa, and Risa Niigaki.

Biography

Konno joined the J-pop group Morning Musume in 2001.cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/kon_com_0604281800.html|title= Hello! Project's official site: Konno's graduation message |accessdate=2007-02-17|language= Japanese] Although her performance in the nihongo|"Love Audition 21"|Loveオーディション 21|LOVE ōdishon nijuichi has been called mediocre even by the judge of the audition and producer of Morning Musume, Tsunku, he said that she passed the audition because of her potential and the amount of effort she put into it. [Morning Musume 5th generation audition on muSix! (TV Tokyo), "13nin Gakkari no Christmas", both broadcast in 2001.]

She debuted on the group's thirteenth single, "Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~", released on October 31, 2001. [cite web|url= http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_13/index.html|title= Up-Front Works: Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~ entry|accessdate= 2007-02-18|language= Japanese] In the same month, during a filming of music variety show "Utaban", she injured her leg and was not able to participate in the remaining performances of the group's national tour at that time.

Her first album appearance was "4th Ikimasshoi!", released on March 27, 2002. [cite web|url= http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_08/index.html|title= Up-Front Works: 4th Ikimasshoi! entry|accessdate= 2007-02-18|language= Japanese]

In May of the same year, Konno was unexpectedly given the lead role for the second half of Morning Musume's annual play, "Morning Town". In the summer of that year, she also debuted in a shuffle unit, as part of Odoru 11. Coincidentally, she was separated from all the other fifth generation members, who were in Happy 7.

Later in September, all the fifth generation members were placed into a subgroup. Along with Risa Niigaki, Konno was put into Tanpopo as the third generation. They only released one single before becoming inactive. [cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/disco/21/index.html|title= Hello! Project's official site: Tanpopo discography|accessdate= 2007-02-17|language= Japanese]

Konno, along with many other members of Morning Musume at that time, starred in a drama entitled "Angel Hearts" which was released in 2002.

In 2003, when Morning Musume was split into two groups (Sakuragumi and Otomegumi) after the sixth generation members had joined, she was placed into Sakuragumi, which released two singles. [cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/disco/02/index.html|title= Hello! Project's official site: Morning Musume Sakuragumi discography|accessdate= 2007-01-23|language= Japanese] Gatas Brilhantes H.P., Hello! Project's futsal team, was also formed that year. Konno became one of its founding members, quitting only when she was graduating from Hello! Project.

In July of the same year, she was added into Country Musume, (whose theme was "girls from Hokkaidō") with fellow member Miki Fujimoto. Under this new formation, named "Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto", three singles were released. [cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/disco/13/index.html|title= Hello! Project's official site: Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto discography|accessdate= 2007-01-23|language= Japanese] She also made a guest appearance in a drama, "Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho 2" (which Ai Kago starred in as a regular) that year, as a hit-and-run victim's sister.cite web|url= http://www.tbs.co.jp/kochi-ike/2003/story11_1.html|title= Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho 2 official website episode 11 synopsis|accessdate= 2007-01-23|language= Japanese]

She is considered to be one of the most intelligent members after achieving the highest mark during a special episode of "Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!" in 2001 (shortly after the fifth generation joined) where the Bakajo Test was given to see who was the "idiot girl" of Morning Musume. She is also athletic, according to another special episode of "Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!" in 2003 (after the sixth generation joined) focusing on sports, placing as the fifth most athletic Morning Musume member.

In late 2004, Tsunku's choice of putting Konno on the main vocals for "Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago" yet again surprised many people, as it is known that she has rather weak vocals when compared to the other members of Morning Musume.

In March 2006, she proved her athletic abilities by placing first in the 1500 meter race at Hello! Project's 2006 sports festival in the time of six minutes and thirteen seconds, getting her the MVP award plus defeating the previous winner, Maimi Yajima, whom Konno had lost to in Hello! Project's 2003 sports festival. ["Hello! Project Sports Festival ~Hello! Dive Athlete~" on March 19, 2006.] On July 23, 2006, Konno graduated from Morning Musume and Hello! Project to continue her studies at a university. [cite web|url= http://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2006/07/24/0000076350.shtml|title= Daily Sports Online news article|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese] The last single and album she participated in were "Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan" [cite web|url= http://magazine.music.yahoo.co.jp/rep/20060623_001/|title= Yahoo! Music Magazine article|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese] and "Rainbow 7" respectively.

The news of Konno's acceptance to Keio University, one of the top private universities in Japan, known for producing two prime ministers, was announced on December 11 2006 by several news sources. [cite web|url= http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20061219-00000023-nks-ent|title= Yahoo! Japan News article|accessdate= 2007-12-20|language= Japanese] [cite web|url= http://www.j-cast.com/2006/12/15004364.html|title= J-Cast news article|accessdate= 2007-12-17|language= Japanese] [cite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/p-et-tp0-20061219-132244.html|title= Nikkan Sports article|accessdate= 2007-12-17|language= Japanese] [cite web|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/2862780/?rd|title= Livedoor article|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese] On December 28 2006, she has confirmed these claims personally, in a message she sent to Hello! Project which was posted on the main website. [cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/konno_0612281430.html|title= Hello! Project's official site: Konno's message (after graduation)|accessdate= 2007-12-28|language= Japanese]

Although she was officially no longer part of Hello! Project at the time, on January 28, 2007, she appeared on stage at Hello! Project's 10th anniversary concert (the first graduated member to do so), giving her last messages to Asami and Miuna of Country Musume, who were graduating that night. [cite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/f-et-tp0-20070128-148482.html|title= Nikkan Sports article|accessdate= 2007-01-28|language= Japanese] [cite web|url= http://natalie.mu/index.php/news/show/id/620|title= Natalie: Hello! Project's 10th anniversary concert DVD article|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese] [cite web|url= http://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2007/01/28/0000227327.shtml|title= Daily Sports news article|accessdate= 2007-03-12|language= Japanese]

On June 18 2007, Up-Front Agency confirmed that Konno was returning to Hello! Project to rejoin members of Gatas Brilhantes H.P. in the group Ongaku Gatas. Their first single, titled "Narihajimeta Koi no Bell" was released on August 22 2007. Konno will remain an active member within the agency and Ongaku Gatas while continuing her university studies. [cite web|url= http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?act=helloonline&CODE=news&topic=108|title= The Return of Konno Asami|date= June 18 2007|publisher= Hello!Online.org]

Trivia

* Love Audition 21 audition songs:
** Round 1: "Ai no Bakayarō" (Maki Goto)
** Round 2: "Dokki Doki! Love Mail" (Aya Matsuura)
* In her primary school days, her friends called her nihongo|"Imonee"|イモネェ. [On Hello! Morning's 2004-05-09 episode.]
* She did track & field during middle school.cite web|url= http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B4%BA%E9%87%8E%E3%81%82%E3%81%95%E7%BE%8E|title= Japanese Wikipedia|accessdate= 2007-04-07|language= Japanese]
* She is certified level 3 for the Japanese Kanji Aptitude Test.
* She has a brown belt in karate. [On Matthew's Best Hit TV, while with Risa Niigaki on October 30, 2002. It has also been said on various other shows.]
* Her nickname "Pon-chan" was given to her by Matthew Minami, when he made a mistake while wanting to say "Kon-chan." [On Matthew's Best Hit TV, while with Miki Fujimoto on February 25, 2004.] Reina Tanaka now uses the nickname for her.

Appearances

Filmography

DVDs

Source: [cite web|url= http://www.helloproject.com/schedule/01/01/list03.html|title= Hello! Project official website: Photobooks listing|accessdate= 2007-01-23|language= Japanese]

Radio

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.helloproject.com/artist/44/ Official Hello! Project Profile]
* [http://hpdb.vicion.net/show/People/Asami+Konno.html Hello! Database entry]
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Persondata
NAME=Konno, Asami
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=紺野 あさ美 (Japanese)
SHORT DESCRIPTION= J-pop singer
DATE OF BIRTH= May 7 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH= Hokkaidō, Japan
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=