Koharu Kusumi

Koharu Kusumi
久住 小春
Born (1992-07-15) July 15, 1992 (age 32)[1]
Niigata Prefecture, Japan[1]
NationalityJapanese
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
Years active2005–present
Agents
Notable workKirarin Revolution as Kirari Tsukishima
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
InstrumentVocals
LabelsZetima
Member of
Formerly of

Koharu Kusumi (久住 小春, Kusumi Koharu, born July 15, 1992 in Niigata Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, model, television personality, and singer. In 2005, she became the only seventh generation member of the Japanese idol girl group Morning Musume, a part of Hello! Project.

While Kusumi was in Morning Musume, she provided the voice for Kirari Tsukishima, the main character of the anime series Kirarin Revolution, and portrayed her in real life on Oha Suta. In addition, she was featured in several musical releases affiliated with the series, including both solo releases under the name Kirari Tsukishima starring Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume) (月島きらりstarring久住小春(モーニング娘。)) and group releases for the units Kira Pika and Milky Way.

After leaving Morning Musume in 2009, Kusumi pursued modeling, discussing her career changes in her 2011 autobiography, 17-sai no Tenshoku. After making her runway debut in 2011, she modeled exclusively for magazines CanCam and Steady, while also making regular appearances on variety shows. At the same time, Kusumi continued to perform at music events and took part in Dream Morning Musume. Kusumi also ventured into acting, appearing in shows such as Woman Prisoner 7 and Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon.

Early life

Koharu Kusumi was born in Ojimaya, Washima Village in Niigata Prefecture, and grew up in a rural neighborhood.[2] Her family consisted of her parents, an older sister, and an older brother.[2] Around the middle of elementary school, Kusumi became interested in modeling from reading magazines like CanCam.[2] Prior to joining Morning Musume, Kusumi was the captain of her school's volleyball team.

Career

2005-2009: Morning Musume, Kirarin Revolution

In 2005, after seeing an audition call for new members for the Japanese idol group Morning Musume in a magazine, Kusumi considered applying after noticing she was eligible based on the minimum age requirements to participate.[2] With her sister's help, Kusumi auditioned in secret with the song "As a Person" by Tomomi Kahara.[2] She sang "Furusato" during the final audition[2] and was selected for the group as the only seventh generation member, a feat which earned her the nickname "Miracle" from producer Tsunku.[3] Kusumi debuted on the single "Iroppoi Jirettai" and was one of the founding members of Hello! Project's kickball team, Metro Rabbits H.P., in 2006.

In April 2006, Kusumi was cast as the voice actress for Kirari Tsukishima, the main character in the anime Kirarin Revolution and also released music under the character's name.[3] Kusumi also made crossover television and concert appearances as Kirari on Haromoni@ and Oha Suta,[4] leading her to become closely associated with the character.[3] The success of Kirarin Revolution and Kusumi's real-world appearances as Kirari made her one of the earliest examples of the "idol voice actor" crossover that became popular beginning in the late 2000s.[5] Throughout the show's run, Kusumi also released music as groups Kira Pika and MilkyWay with other cast members. Kusumi was named #17 in Daitan Map's "Top 50 Voice Actors of Popular Characters" in 2007.[6]

In early 2007, Kusumi became part of Morning Musume Tanjō 10nen Kinentai, a subgroup created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary, with their first single, "Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia", releasing on January 24, 2007. In 2009, she released a song with the subgroup ZYX-α.

A manga adaptation by Rio Fujimi recounting Kusumi's rise to stardom was serialized in Ciao, titled Miracle Revolution: Koharu Kusumi's Story.[7] Preferring the freedom she had working on her solo projects, Kusumi decided to pursue a solo career after Kirarin Revolution ended,[2] mainly in modeling[8] as well as other paths in entertainment, including comedy.[9] On September 19, 2009, Tsunku announced that Kusumi would leave Morning Musume and Hello! Project on December 6, at the final performance of Morning Musume's 2009 fall tour, Nine Smile.[10][11] Roughly 4,000 fans attended the graduation concert.[12]

2010-2015: Solo television hosting and model runway debut

After graduating from Morning Musume, Kusumi continued to appear on Oha Suta, as well as Oha Coro. In January 2010, she joined other former Morning Musume members in the group Dream Morning Musume, which later debuted in April 2011.[13] In July 2010, she performed with Li Chun, Qian Lin, and Miyabi Natsuyaki at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 under the group name Ex-ceed.[14] From December 22–27, 2010, Kusumi appeared in the stage play Abe Naikaku alongside Natsumi Abe and Kei Yasuda.[15]

Kusumi released an autobiography titled 17-sai no Tenshoku on February 12, 2011, which documented her childhood, Morning Musume, and interest in healthy lifestyles, all of which discussed her interest in pursuing a new career.[16] She also appeared in a series of advertisements directed towards a healthy lifestyle.[17]

In September 2011, Kusumi made her runway debut at the Kobe Collection 2011 Autumn/Winter Show. Beginning in the same month, she modeled exclusively for the fashion magazine CanCam, starting from the November 2011 issue[18][19] until the September 2015 issue.[20] In 2012, Kusumi made runway appearances at the CanCam × AneCan Collaboration Fashion Show: Can Colle!,[21] Stock Style 2012 Spring/Summer,[22] and Girls Award 2012 Autumn/Winter shows.[23] In 2013, she made runway appearances at the Girls Award 2013 Spring/Summer,[24] Tokyo Girls Collection 2013 Spring Live, ReaMa Pastel Party 2013 in Tokyo Show,[25] and Girls Award 2013 Autumn/Winter shows.[26]

In 2014, Kusumi left Oha Suta and later hosted Blurred Sound Pops until 2015.[27] She also starred in two live-action dramas, Inauguration! Girl's Cabinet, and Again!!.

In May 2015, Kusumi became a host of "Boat Race Live." on BS Fuji.[28]

In November 2015. Kusumi started working as a model for the fashion magazine "steady." [29]

2016-present: Venture into acting

On January 9, 2016, Kusumi started hosting a weekly radio show called "This Happy Time (or KoHappy Time)."[30] On April 1, 2016, Kusumi started hosting a second radio program called "Kusumi Koharu's Mediaship 927" on BSN also in Niigata, Japan.[31]

On November 29, 2016, Kusumi announced that her contract with her talent agency, JP Room, would end on November 30.[32] In early 2017 it was announced that Kusumi would be represented by Oscar Promotion, and would have a role as geisha in a drama called "Woman Prisoner 7." [33]

In October 2017, Kusumi appeared in the fifth season of the popular medical drama, Doctor-X as Nurse Haruna Nagamori.[34]

On November 23, 2018, Kusumi appeared in a supporting role in the feature film, "Lady in White."

In 2019, Kusumi released a wall calendar [35] and appeared in the film "Shell and Joint.[36]"

In 2024, she plays the main role in the drama Uri wo waru, adapted from the manga Ripe for the Picking.

Discography

For releases with Morning Musume, see Morning Musume discography.

As Kirari Tsukishima

Main article: Kirarin Revolution discography

Publications

Photobooks

Year Title[37] Publisher ISBN
2006 Koharu Kusumi (久住小春) Wani Books ISBN 978-4-8470-2923-3
2007 Pop Kadokawa ISBN 978-4-04-894499-1
2008 Koharu Nikki (久住小春写真集「小春日記。」) Wani Books ISBN 978-4-8470-4102-0
Happy Memorial Photobook (月島きらり　starring 久住小春(モーニング娘。)『ハッピーメモリアル☆フォトブック)
(Kirarin Revolution; credited as Kirari Tsukishima starring Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume)) 		Shogakukan ISBN 978-4-09-132290-6
2009 Sugar Doll Wani Books ISBN 978-4-8470-4202-7
2017 Moment Futabasha ISBN 978-4-5753-1321-5

Autobiographies

Year Title[37] Publisher ISBN
2011 17-sai no Tenshoku (17歳の転職) Up-Front Books ISBN 978-4-8470-1965-4

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes
2005 Hello! Morning Herself TV Tokyo Morning Musume's variety show
Musume Dokyu! (娘DOKYU!) Herself Morning Musume's variety show
2006 Kirarin Revolution Kirari Tsukishima Voice; lead role
Oha Suta Kirari Tsukishima (2006-2009)
Herself (2009-2014) 		Variety show regular guest on Tuesdays
2007 Haromoni Herself
Kirari Tsukishima 		Morning Musume's variety show
2009 Piramekino Herself Variety show regular panelist
2010 Oha Coro Herself Variety show regular panelist
2014 Inauguration! Girl's Cabinet (発足！ギャル内閣) Yamato Singh TV Chiba
Otoboke Pops Herself BS-TBS Variety show regular panelist[38]
Last Kiss: Saigo ni Kiss Suru Date (ラストキス〜最後にキスするデート) Herself TBS Reality show; pilot episode; paired with Robin
Again!! (アゲイン!!) Abe TamaTakashi MBS [39]
2015 Boat Race Live Herself BS Fuji Host[40]
2016 Toto Television (トットてれび) Bubble NHK Cameo[41]
2017 Seven Women in Prison (女囚セブン) Koharu TV Asahi [42]
Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon Haruna Nagamori TV Asahi [34]
2024 Ripe for the Picking Maiko Kousaka TBS [43]

Radio

Program Start date End date Station
TBC Fun Fīrudo Mōretsu Mōdasshu (TBC Funふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ) November 7, 2005 November 18, 2005 TBC
This Happy Time (or KoHappy Time) (こはっぴーTIME) January 9, 2016 June 30, 2020 79.0 FM Port, Niigata[44]
Kusumi Koharu's Mediaship 927 April 1, 2016 March 31, 2017 BSN: Broadcasting System of Niigata, Inc.[31]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Lady in White Kumi Aikawa [45]
2019 Shell and Joint Customer in Restaurant. [46][47]

References

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