- Sayumi Michishige
-
Sayumi Michishige
道重さゆみ
Sayumi Michishige at the Japan Expo on July 3, 2010Background information Also known as Sayumin, Shige-san, Sayu, Shige-pink, Misshige Born July 13, 1989 Origin Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan Genres Japanese pop Occupations Singer Years active 2003–present Labels Zetima Associated acts Morning Musume, Otomegumi, Ecomoni, H.P. All Stars, v-u-den Website Official Weblog
Hello! Project.comSayumi Michishige (道重 さゆみ Michishige Sayumi, (named after Sayumi Horie)[1] born July 13, 1989 in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) 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.[2] 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..
Contents
Biography
Aika Mitsui (left), Michishige (center), and Eri Kamei performing at Morning Musume's Platinum 9 Disc concert tour in May 2009.
Sayumi Michishige officially became a 6th generation member of Morning Musume, 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 Alo Hello! (アロハロ!) 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 Revelations of M (Mの黙示録 M no Mokushiroku), 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—"Star Sand Island, My Island - Island Dreamin'" (星砂の島、私の島－～Island Dreamin'～ Hoshisuna no Shima, Watashi no Shima - Island Dreamin'). 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 "Cool Down the Hot Earth" (熱っちぃ地球を冷ますんだ "Atchii Chikyū wo Samasunda") 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 Tensai! Let's Go Ayayamu (天才！Let's Go あややム Genius! Let's Go Ayayamu)—and appeared in subsequent festivals.
In 2005, Michshige and Rika Ishikawa released a duo photobook entitled Angels (エンジェルズ). 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 Rainbow Pink (レインボーピンク), and subsequently on the 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini! and Sexy 8 Beat albums, with Wa~Merry Pin Xmas! (わ～MerryピンXmas!) and Takara no Hako (宝の箱 Treasure Box), respectively.
Following in fellow Morning Musume member Miki Fujimoto's footsteps, Michishige began hosting a radio show entitled "Hypernight - Michishige Sayumi Konya mo Usa-chan Peace" (ハイパーナイト モーニング娘。道重さゆみの今夜も♥うさちゃんピース) 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 Longing (憧憬 Doukei), 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.[3]
Michishige has also starred in "Bow30°" (「おじぎ30度」), an original internet drama created for the purpose of advertising the Family Restaurant chain Gusto (ガスト), as Ruruka Chī (地井ルルカ), a novice waitress training under the supervision of her seniors Karin Kinoshita (木下花梨) (played by Morning Musume's Ai Takahashi) and Mika Mochizuki (望月深華) (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 Otona Gakuryoku Kentei SP (大人学力検定スペシャル Adult Knowledge Test Special) 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).
Usa-chan Peace
The phrase Usa-chan Peace (うさちゃんピース Bunny Peace) 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 photos with her sister, but after seeing how cute it looked, she started adopting it on official photoshoots and related events.[4]
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, Kazushige Abe (阿部 和重) 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.
Releases
Photobooks
# Title Release date Publisher ISBN Description – Morning Musume 6th Generation Member Shashinshū (ハロハロ! モーニング娘。6期メンバー写真集) July 15, 2003 Kadokawa Shoten 978-4-04-894251-5 With Eri Kamei and Reina Tanaka 1 Sayumi Michishige Shashinshū "Michishige Sayumi"
(道重さゆみ写真集「道重さゆみ」)October 30, 2004 Wani Books 978-4-8470-2833-5 First solo photobook – Rika Ishikawa & Sayumi Michishige "Angels"
(石川梨華&道重さゆみ写真集「エンジェルス」)November 16, 2005 978-4-8470-2895-3 Photobook with Rika Ishikawa 2 Sayumi Michishige Shashinshū "Dōkei"
(道重さゆみ写真集「憧憬」)January 15, 2007 978-4-8470-2987-5 Solo photobook 3 17: Love Hello! Sayumi Michishige
(17～ラブハロ！道重さゆみ写真集～)June 30, 2007 Kadokawa Shoten 978-4-04-894495-3 Solo photobook, shot in Guam 4 Sayumi Michishige Shashinshū "Sōsō"
(道重さゆみ写真集「蒼蒼~そうそう~」)December 14, 2007 Wani Books 978-4-8470-4055-9 Solo photobook 5 Sayumi Michishige Shashinshū "Love Letter"
(道重さゆみ写真集「LOVE LETTER」)September 25, 2008 ISBN 978-4-4121-1 Solo photobook 6 "Hatachi Shichigatsu Jūsannichi"
(道重さゆみ写真集「20歳7月13日」)July 13, 2009 978-4-8470-4183-9 Solo photobook, in Okinawa/Tokyo 7 Sayumi Michishige Shashinshū "La"
(道重さゆみ写真集『ラー』)April 26, 2010 978-4-8470-4269-0 Solo photobook, shot in Guam [5][6] DVDs
# Title Release date DVD information – Hello Hello! (ハロハロ!) July 16, 2003 DVD with Eri Kamei and Reina Tanaka 1 Love Hello! Michishige Sayumi DVD
(ラブハロ！道重さゆみDVD)July 18, 2007 First solo DVD,
filmed in Hawaiʻi2 20’s time July 22, 2009 Second solo DVD,
filmed in Okinawa3 Homey March, 2011 Released as part of the e-Hello! lineup. Acts
Movies
- Hoshisuna no Shima, Watashi no Shima ~Island Dreamin'~ (星砂の島、私の島～Island Dreamin'～) – Released September 29, 2003
- Tottoko Hamutaro Hamham Paradichu! Hamutaro to Fushigi no Oni no Ehonto (劇場版とっとこハム太郎はむはむぱらだいちゅ! ハム太郎とふしぎのオニの絵本塔) – July 20, 2005
- Cyborg Shibata 3 (サイボーグしばた 3) – September 28, 2005
Television
Show Start date End date Station Hello! Morning (ハロー!モーニング。) January 26, 2003 April 1, 2007 TV Tokyo Corporation Sore Yuke! Gorokkies (それゆけ!ゴロッキーズ) September 29, 2003 December 26, 2003 M no Mokushiroku (Mの黙示録) October 7, 2003 September 9, 2004 TV Asahi Corporation Futarigoto (二人ゴト) June 16, 2004 June 25, 2004 TV Tokyo Corporation July 14, 2004 July 22, 2004 Majokko Rika-chan no Magical v-u-den
(魔女っ娘。梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝)October 21, 2004 December 15, 2004 Musume Document 2005 (娘。ドキュメント2005) January 5, 2005 April 1, 2005 Musume Dokyu! (娘。DOKYU!) April 5, 2005 May 5, 2006 Haromoni@ (ハロモニ@ Haromoni) April 8, 2007 September 28, 2008 Yorosen! (よろセン!) October 6, 2008 March 27, 2009 Otona no Gakuryoku Kentei Special Shōgakkō Kyōkasho Quiz!
(おとなの学力検定スペシャル小学校教科書クイズ!)January 3, 2009 Nippon Television Bugroo!! (バグルー!!) February 12, 2009 Nagoya Broadcasting Network Otameshi ka! (お試しかっ!) February 23, 2009 March 9, 2009 Asahi Corporation Takatoshi no Soratobu Cherry Pie (タカトシの空飛ぶチェリーパイ) March 10, 2009 TV Tokyo Corporation Radio
Program Start date End date Station Regular Hypernight: Michishige Sayumi Konya mo Usa-chan Peace
(ハイパーナイト モーニング娘。道重さゆみの今夜も♥うさちゃんピース)October 5, 2006 Ongoing CBC Radio MBS Young Town Dōyōbi (MBSヤングタウン土曜日) June 9, 2007 Ongoing MBS Radio Non-regular TBC Fun Fīrudo Mōretsu Mōdasshu
(TBC Funふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ)May 2, 2005 May 13, 2005 TBC Radio May 30, 2005 June 10, 2005 July 25, 2005 August 5, 2005 January 22, 2007 February 2, 2007 Hello Pro Yanen!! (ハロプロやねん!!) February 27, 2004 ABC Radio March 5, 2004 June 10, 2005 June 24, 2005 December 16, 2005 November 3, 2006 November 10, 2006 December 15, 2006 Asa Made Hello Pro Yanen!! 2 (朝までハロプロやねん!2) December 18, 2005 Asa Made Hello Pro Yanen!! 4 (朝までハロプロやねん!4) December 17, 2006 B.B.L. November 6, 2005 November 13, 2005 Radio drama Radio Drama: Drama no Kaze "Girl Driver"
(ラジオドラマ ドラマの風「ガール☆ドライバー」)December 4, 2005 MBS Radio Internet
- Hello Pro Hour #05 (ハロプロアワー#05) (MC) – April 28, 2006
- Hello Pro Hour #06 (ハロプロアワー#06) (MC) – May 12, 2006
- Hello Pro Hour #15 (ハロプロアワー#15) (MC) – September 15, 2006
- Hello Pro Hour #19 (ハロプロアワー#19) – November 10, 2006
- Bow 30°Series 1 and 3 (おじぎ30度) – 2006, 2007
References and footnotes
- ^ According to Michishige (on the Youngtown Doyōbi radio show) her father was a fan of NHK announcer Sayumi Horie and so, hoping his own daughter would grow to resemble Horie, decided to name her Sayumi.
- ^ Music Fighter 2005-07-16
- ^ Wani Books Official Website
- ^ Hello Pro Hour ("Oshiete Sayumin" corner). No. 5.
- ^ "Hello! Project Official Site - Sayumi Michishige Photobooks" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. http://www.helloproject.com/book/photo_michi.html. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ^ "Sayumi Michishige "La" expected for release on 26/04/10". Wani Books. http://www.wani.co.jp/article.php?article=126897918998. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
External links
- Official blog
- Official Hello! Project profile (Japanese)
Morning Musume Risa Niigaki • Sayumi Michishige • Reina Tanaka • Aika Mitsui • Mizuki Fukumura • Erina Ikuta • Riho Sayashi • Kanon Suzuki • Haruna Iikubo • Ayumi Ishida • Masaki Satō • Haruka Kudō
Asuka Fukuda | Aya Ishiguro | Sayaka Ichii | Yuko Nakazawa | Maki Goto | Kei Yasuda | Natsumi Abe | Nozomi Tsuji | Ai Kago | Kaori Iida | Mari Yaguchi | Rika Ishikawa | Asami Konno | Makoto Ogawa | Hitomi Yoshizawa | Miki Fujimoto | Koharu Kusumi | Eri Kamei | Junjun | Linlin | Ai TakahashiStudio albums First Time · Second Morning · 3rd: Love Paradise · 4th Ikimasshoi! · No.5 · Ai no Dai 6 Kan · Rainbow 7 · 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini! · Sexy 8 Beat · Platinum 9 Disc · 10 My Me · Fantasy! Jūichi · 12, SmartCompilations Appearances • Auditions • Discography • Singles • Members Categories:- 1989 births
- Japanese idols
- Japanese actors
- Japanese female singers
- Japanese pop singers
- Japanese voice actors
- Living people
- Morning Musume members
- People from Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Japanese television personalities
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
