Ai Takahashi

Hinode High School

Virgo

~ Ai Takahashi ~

Was selected from Love Audition 21 to join Morning Musume as a fifth generation member on August 26, 2001, along with Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto, and Niigaki Risa. Tsunku credited her exceptional singing ability as one of the reasons for choosing her. She debuted on the single "Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~," and she first appeared on the fourth studio album 4th Ikimasshoi!.

Early on, Takahashi's strong Fukui accent frequently drew comments from television interviewers and other Hello! Project members. She has gradually grown out of it since she moved to Tokyo and took up professional voice training, but she still occasionally slips into it when she is nervous or surprised. It was even the subject of her verse in the original "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari."

In September 2002, when the fifth generation were placed into the Morning Musume subgroups, Takahashi was added to the Minimoni roster, and she first appeared in the subgroup's movie, Minimoni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibouken!. Takahashi filled the spot left open by the graduation of leader Yaguchi Mari, and she went on to release a total of seven singles and one full-length album, Minimoni Songs 2.

Takahashi was placed in Morning Musume Sakura Gumi in January 2003 and released two singles as a part of the group before it went inactive.

Although Takahashi had received a big push to the center since the release of "Do it! Now," it wasn't until "Roman ~MY DEAR BOY~" that Takahashi began to be prominently featured on songs. "THE Manpower!!!," Morning Musume's first single of 2005, featured Takahashi as a co-lead vocal and it is a position she has retained on most singles released since then. She even went on to sing with Tsunku on his solo album, TAKE 1, covering a re-arranged version of his duet with Hamasaki Ayumi, "Love ~since 1999~."

In 2006, she became a member of the kickball team Metro Rabbits H.P.. When Kago Ai was suspended from activities due to her smoking scandal, Takahashi was named as the new team captain.

In Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical, Morning Musume's summer musical for 2006, Takahashi played the lead role of Sapphire.

In summer 2006, Takahashi released her first solo single "Yume Kara Samete" as an online-only audio purchase.

After the graduation of Yoshizawa Hitomi on May 6, 2007, Fujimoto Miki became Morning Musume's new leader and Takahashi would support her as sub-leader. However on June 1, 2007, UFA made a sudden announcement that Fujimoto Miki had "resigned" from Morning Musume for reasons similiar to Yaguchi Mari's sudden resignation from the group in 2005. Takahashi was named the new leader with Niigaki Risa as her sub-leader.

Hello! Project Groups:

* Morning Musume (2001-)
* High-King (2008)

~ Trivia ~

* Love Audition 21 audition songs:
o Round 1: "Tsumetai Umi" (Kuraki Mai)
o Round 2: "Tsumetai Umi" (Kuraki Mai)

* Graduated from Hinode High School, a private academy known for its many celebrity students.

* First child in family and has one sister.

* Highly skilled and trained in classical ballet and singing. Entered a nation-wide competition with her junior high choir.

* On October 7, 1999, she appeared on the "BS Junior Nodo Jiman" singing competition held in Sabaeshi in Fukui and won the Best Stage Award.

* Her black catsuit from Minimoni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibouken! earned her the popular nickname "Takitty" amongst non-Japanese fans.

* The nickname "Tettekete" was given to her by Ishibashi Takaaki on Utaban. It was a play on her staccato, Morse Code-like speech pattern (e.g., "tette-te-tette-ke-kete"). However, she has mostly grown out of that pattern — as well as her Fukui accent — in the years since.

* Her photobook 19 holds the #1 spot in photobook rankings in 2006.

* A huge fan of Takarazuka since childhood. Wanted to be a Takarasienne but gave up on it due to her short height. She is noted by other members for trying to make them watch videos of Takarazuka productions. Her favorite performer is Mizu Natsuki.

* Has personally acknowledged she is not good at talk/interview portions.

* Like Tsuji Nozomi, she also considers Matsuura Aya as her rival.

* Scored the second-highest in the Mechaike Okajo Taiikusai Test.

* Is close friends with Ogawa Makoto, Konno Asami and Niigaki Risa.