Risa Niigaki

Also known as :  Gaki-san, Omame-chan
Born                 :  October 20, 1988 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Genres             :  Pop
Occupations     :  Singer

Personal Life

Risa Niigaki 新垣 里沙 Niigaki Risa?, born October 20, 1988 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project]. She was a fifth generation member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at age six. She is currently the longest serving member of Morning Musume, and was the leader of the group from October 2011 to her graduation on May 18, 2012.

Niigaki performing at Morning Musume's Platinum 9 Disco concert tour in May 2009  Niigaki was the runner-up for the 'Kiss Girl Audition' in becoming Tomy image girl before joining Morning Musume. She also appeared with the winner Ai Hasegawa in a Tomy Karaoke Machine commercial.