Sayumi Michishige

Cancer

~ Michishige Sayumi ~

was selected from the Morning Musume LOVE Audition 2002 to join Morning Musume as a member of the sixth generation, along with Kamei Eri and Tanaka Reina. She first appeared on the single "Shabondama" and her first studio album was Ai no Dai 6 Kan.

While considered the weakest of her generation vocally, Michishige compensates for that with good looks and a narcissistic personality, openly referring to herself as the the cutest member of Morning Musume. She is sometimes considered the successor to Ishikawa Rika, given the role they have each played within the group.

In 2004, Michishige and Ishikawa formed the ecological awareness unit EcoMoni, and every summer they appear at various environmental and cultural festivals. In 2005, they released a joint photobook titled "Angels".

She was a regular co-host, with Kamei Eri and Nakazawa Yuko, of the "Eric Kamezou no Maido Arii" segment of Hello! Morning. She was also the designated mentor of seventh generation member Kusumi Koharu.

Michishige is currently hosting her own one hour long radio show, "Konya mo Usa-chan Peace," on CBC Radio every Tuesday at 12:00 AM.




TRIVIA

* Has an older brother and older sister.

* Became close friends with Kamei Eri during their training camp.

* Is also surprisingly close friends with Iida Kaori, who became her unofficial mentor during their time together in Morning Musume Otome Gumi.

* Is noted for not having changed her hair cut or color since she joined, although she occasionally uses extensions.

* Her catchphrase is "Usa-chan Peace!" while holding two peace signs beside her head like rabbit ears. It has also been used in place of the "Sexy Beam" during some performances of "Koi no Dance Site".

* She won an award for aerobics in elementary school, and also took piano lessons.

* Prior to joining Morning Musume, she most admired Takahashi Ai and Ishikawa Rika.

* Her father is a researcher for the chemical company Ube Industries.

* In a 2008 episode of Music Fighter, she admitted to having difficulty mentoring Kusumi Koharu, which led to her pulling her eyebrows out in frustration.

* In a 2008 episode of Midtown TV, she admitted to being a fan of Idoling!!! after Niigaki Risa asked her to stop wearing Idoling!!! t-shirts during Morning Musume rehearsals. She has also sent messages to Idoling!!!'s TV show using the pen name Suberishirazu (すべりしらず).

* Was given an Utaban nickname of "Yayaomo" by Ishibashi Takaaki during her first appearance (due to the kanji in "Michishige" being read an alternate way). However, this nickname was only used during this episode and was never heard about or mentioned again, although some fans bring it up.