"mayuge beam!"

Name: Niigaki Risa Nicknames: Omame-chan, NiiNii, Gaki-san, Mame, MC Birthday: October 20, 1988 Zodiac: Libra Place of Birth: Kagoshima, grew up in Yokohama (Japan) Bloodtype: B Hobbies: Playing basketball

• Generation #5 "Gokkies"
• Subgroups & H!P units
• Interviews
• GakiKamei! (not available)
• Quotes
• Facts and tidbits
• Through the years

PROFILE OF CAREER AS DESCRIBED BY AIRI: As of June 01, 2007, one of the most underappreciated, overlooked members of Morning Musume becomes the sub-leader. That's right - her name is Risa Niigaki. Overall, this member in particular is probably one of the most energetic, spunky, outgoing members of the group that's not dripping with sex appeal (don't believe me? compare her to Ai Takahashi). Back in 2001, along with Ai Takahashi, Konno Asami, and Makoto Ogawa, she was one of the chosen girls to become part of the 5th Generation of Morning Musume. Their debut single was Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~, and ever since then, Risa has been an active member, alongside Ai Takahashi. Before the years of 2006-2007, Niigaki, like I mentioned above, is one of the underappreciated members. Why so? Though she has a strong, high voice that doesn't make windows shatter - but she just never stuck out (ever heard the term "sex sells"? she wasn't sexy enough to sell). I almost want to say she was sort of "plain jane" before she grew up - but that's not really the case. From the long pigtails and funky hairstyles, it just seemed like she was just another "cute" member of Morning Musume., and I don't blame fans for not noticing her earlier, I sure didn't. It also seemed from the beginning that Niigaki had trouble blending in the group, she couldn't quite follow the dance steps in the rigorous training that all new members had to go through. Though not long after, she pulled through it like any normal Momusu trainee. As the years pass on, she definitely bloomed into a thing of beauty; she released her first self-titled photobook in 2004, which didn't exactly hit big, but it was a decent photobook overall. It was not until her second photobook released in 2006 (way late, Tsunku!!), Amanatsu, that she began to catch peoples' attention. She's probably one of the most active members of the group, next to Ai Takahashi, and let's hope it remains that way. Risa deserves alot of attention from Momusu fans, and let's face it - though you, who is reading this, might be a big Risa Niigaki fan, in general, the Morning Musume. fanbase doesn't really acknowledge Risa as they would popular members like Miki Fujimoto (ex-member) or Ai Takahashi.