Abe Natsumi

Natsumi Abe (安倍 なつみ, Abe Natsumi), born August 10, 1981 in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan, is a Japanese singer and actress, and a former member of Morning Musume. In Morning Musume, she often took the lead in the songs and on occasion singing the entire lead vocal with the other girls acting as backup singers. She has sold over 594,458, copies alone in Japan Abe Natsumi's highest selling single is 22sai no Watashi. She's a part of Morning Musume OG.

1998
Natsumi Abe was one of 5 runners-up in a 1997 talent contest for a new Japanese rock idol. After the contest, musician and producer Tsunku offered Abe and four of the other runners-up (Iida Kaori, Nakazawa Yuko, Ishiguro Aya, and Fukuda Asuka) the chance to be taken under his wing on one condition: that they sell 50,000 CDs of their song "Ai no Tane" in 5 days. The quintet accomplished that task in four and, thus, in 1997, Morning Musume was born (and their first official single "Morning Coffee" was released in 1998). The group has since been increasingly popular in Japan, has achieved a cult following in the Western world and is infamous for its fluctuation of memberships, with members "graduating" and joining frequently.

2003
She released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi", on August 13, 2003, just a few days after her 22nd birthday. Her first full length album, Hitoribotchi, was then released on February 4, 2004, containing many solo versions of Morning Musume songs.

Abe also teamed up with Yosumi Keiko, a former member of Rokusenmon, as a so-called "mother and daughter" duo and released a single to prepare her for her solo efforts. To date she has released two albums, one mini album, and ten solo singles.

2004
In 2004, she graduated from the Morning Musume to pursue a solo career. On February 4, 2004, her first full length album, Hitoribotchi, was released, containing many solo versions of Morning Musume songs.

Near the end of 2004, Abe Natsumi was accused of plagiarizing some poetry works which were included in her poetry collection books and recited in her radio program many times. The poems were published in the book NATCHI, which was released on June 1, 2000. Some of the works she published were from famous producer Komuro Tetsuya and the singer aiko.

The song that was already recorded and supposed to be released as a single was Nariyamai Tambourine, which never was publicly released because Abe was suspended. The song was only released in 2008 in Abe's Best album as a new track.

2005
After the scandal, she started her career again in March 2005, forming Nochiura Natsumi, a temporary unit that included Goto Maki, Abe Natsumi and Matsuura Aya.

In August 2005, her fifth single, "Koi no Hana", was released, and she also became a member of the Hello! Project special unit DEF.DIVA together with Maki Goto, Rika Ishikawa and Aya Matsuura in October. The single "Takaramono" was also released in November credited as "Sen", who is the main character of the drama "Takaramono", played by Abe.

2006
In the spring of 2006, Abe released a new single, "Sweet Holic", together with a new album, "2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~".

June 2006 saw Abe release "The Stress," a cover of the 1989 song by pop idol Chisato Moritaka. In October of the same year "Amasugita Kajitsu" was released, reaching 5th on the Oricon Chart, the highest place she achieved since "Koi no Telephone Goal" in 2004.

2007134photo.jpg
Abe was prosecuted after causing a traffic accident on October 6, 2007. According to police, she was making a right turn out of a car park on Sunday evening when she hit a motorbike. Abe was unhurt but the rider suffered minor injuries to his elbow and back. Abe has had her driving license for less than a year and still has a learner's sticker on her car.

On November 16, 2007, it was also announced that Abe would be collaborating with ºC-ute member Yajima Maimi. They will release the single 16sai no Koi Nante on January 16, 2008. It will be the first Hello! Project single of 2008.

2008-2009
On October 5, 2008, Abe performed in an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sunshine City building in Ikebukuro. She was joined by other artists who were popular in the 1980s, such as Hiroko Moriguchi and Ayumi Nakamura.

It was announced on October 19, 2008, on the official Hello! Project website, that Abe will graduate from Hello! Project along with the rest of Elder Club on March 31, 2009.

2010
In September, It was announced that Abe Natsumi, Yasuda Kei, and Kusumi Koharu will be in a stage play titled Abe Naikaku. The play is abot the prime minister and politics.

On September 10, 2010, It was announced that Abe Natsumi will appear on Happy Music to promote her 12th single titled Ameagari no Niji no Youni. The appearance is scheduled for 9/18.

In later 2010, Abe announced her 12th single called Ame Agari no Niji no You ni.

She also joined the special unit for old Morning Musume members called Afternoon Musume, that is going to promote Georgia Coffee drinks

2011
On January 19, 2011, Abe Natsumi’s Fan Club Tour in Hokkaido, currently untitled has been announced. The concert tour will be held from March 20 to 22, for 3 days and 2 nights at Hokkaido. 

On February 26, 2011, It was announced that Abe Natsumi will play Lucy in the musical Dracula. According to the site the musical is based of another Dracula musical from Graz, Austria. The musical will run from 8/20 ~ 9/18. 

On January 28, 2011, It was announced that Abe was part of the OG member group Dream Morning Musume and that they will be releasing the groups first album, called "Dreams. 1", on April 20th, 2011.

In May, it was announced that she would star in the drama adaptation of "Arakawa Under the Bridge".

Profile

 * DOB: 08.10.1981
 * Place of Birth: Hokkaido, Japan
 * Blood type: A
 * Height: 152 cm (4'11.8")
 * Eye Color: Brown
 * Hair Color: Black
 * Hello! Project Status:
 * 1997-09-07: Member
 * 1997-09-07: Morning Musume Member
 * 2004-04-25: Graduated Morning Musume
 * 2004-11-30: Suspended
 * 2005-02-07: Member
 * 2009-03-31: Graduated
 * Up-Front Agency Status:
 * 1997-09-07: Member
 * 2004-11-30: Suspended
 * 2005-02-07: Member
 * Hobbies: Looking at different fashions, Singing, Smiling, Talking, Poetry, Cooking, Sleeping
 * Favorite words: Freedom, life, love, heart
 * Favorite colors: Baby pink, Blue, sparkling colors
 * Favorite flowers: Sunflowers, gerberas, cherry blossoms
 * Favorite season: Autumn
 * Favorite food: Sushi
 * Disliked food: Cilantro, pickles, wasabi
 * Favorite song: 22sai no Watashi
 * Hello! Project units:
 * Morning Musume (1997-2004)
 * Morning Musume Sakura Gumi (2003-2004)
 * Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai (2006-2007)
 * H.P. All Stars (2004)
 * Shuffles:
 * Kiiro 5 (2000)
 * 10nin Matsuri (2001)
 * Odoru 11 (2002)
 * SALT5 (2003)
 * SubgroupsL:
 * Nochiura Natsumi (2004-2005)
 * DEF.DIVA (2005-2006)
 * Current:
 * Afternoon Musume (2010-)
 * Dream Morning Musume (2011-)

Trivia

 * Attended Hokkaido Noboribetsu High School (currently known as Hokkaido Noboribetsu Seiryou High School).
 * Tsuji Nozomi calls her "Nachimi." Nakazawa Yuko and Yasuda Kei sometimes call her "Natsuan." Rinne was the first person to call her "Naccho".
 * Yaguchi Mari calls her "Nacchio"
 * Abe has credited her desire to become a singer during her time in middle school when she was feeling depressed after being bullied, she heard JUDY AND MARY's "Chiisa na Koro Kara" playing on the radio. Even now, she still has a great deal of respect for YUKI, the former lead singer of the band.
 * Abe got the name of "Natsumi" from a 1979 TV dorama series called "Chotto My Way" in which Momoi Kaori played the main character named "Asai Natsumi," and Abe's mother decided to name her daughter "Natsumi."
 * Her younger sister Asami started a musical career in her big sister's shadow in 2003.
 * As shown on ASAYAN, she originally wasn't the main vocalist for Morning Coffee. Iida Kaori was original main vocalist, but Tsunku changed his mind, and the rest is history.

Albums

 * [2004.02.04] Hitoribocchi (一人ぼっち)
 * [2006.03.29] 2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~ (2nd～染みわたる想い～)

Mini-Albums

 * [2007.03.14] 25 ~Vingt-Cinq~ (25～ヴァンサンク～)

Best-Of Albums

 * [2008.12.10] Abe Natsumi ~Best Selection~ 15 Shoku no Nigaoe Tachi (安倍なつみ 〜Best Selection〜 15色の似顔絵たち)

Other Albums

 * [2006.11.18] Musical "Hakujaden ~White Lovers~" Song Selection (ミュージカル「白蛇伝～White Lovers～」ソング・セレクション) (musical album)

Singles

 * [2003.05.01] Haha to Musume no Duet Song (with Yosumi Keiko) (母と娘のデュエットソング)
 * [2003.08.13] 22sai no Watashi (22歳の私)
 * [2003.11.19] Mirakururun Grand Purin! / Pi~hyara Kouta (as Purin-chan with Minihamus) (ミラクルルン グランプリン！/ピ〜ヒャラ小唄)
 * [2004.06.02] Datte Ikitekanakucha (だって 生きてかなくちゃ)
 * [2004.08.11] Koi no Telephone GOAL (恋のテレフォン GOAL)
 * [2005.04.19] Yume Naraba (夢ならば)
 * [2005.08.31] Koi no Hana (恋の花)
 * [2005.11.30] Takaramono (as Sen) (たからもの)
 * [2006.04.12] Sweet Holic (スイートホリック)
 * [2006.06.28] The Stress (ザ・ストレス)
 * [2006.10.04] Amasugita Kajitsu (甘すぎた果実)
 * [2007.05.09] Too far away ~Onna no Kokoro~ (Too far away ～女のこころ～)
 * [2007.10.24] Iki wo Kasanemashou (息を重ねましょう)
 * [2008.01.16] 16sai no Koi Nante (with Yajima Maimi) (16歳の恋なんて)
 * [2008.12.03] Screen (スクリーン)
 * [2010.09.15] Ameagari no Niji no you ni (雨上がりの虹のように)

Morning Musume

 * Ai no Tane
 * Morning Coffee
 * Summer Night Town
 * Daite HOLD ON ME!
 * Memory Seishun no Hikari
 * Manatsu no Kousen
 * Furusato
 * LOVE Machine
 * Koi no Dance Site
 * Happy Summer Wedding
 * I WISH
 * Renai Revolution 21
 * The☆Peace!
 * Mr.Moonligt ~Ai no Big Band~
 * Souda! We're ALIVE
 * Do it! Now
 * Koko ni Iruzee!
 * Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima
 * AS FOR ONE DAY
 * Shabondama
 * Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~
 * Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT

Morning Musume Sakura Gumi

 * Hare Ame Nochi Suki
 * Sakura Mankai

Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai

 * Bokura ga Ikiru MY ASIA
 * Itoshiki Tomo e

Concert DVDs

 * [2004.10.27] 安倍なつみファーストコンサートツアー2004 ～あなた色～ (Abe Natsumi First Concert Tour 2004 ~Anata Iro~)
 * [2006.01.25] 安倍なつみコンサートツアー2005秋 ～24カラット～ (Abe Natsumi Concert Tour 2005 Aki ~24 Carat~)
 * [2006.08.23] 安倍なつみコンサートツアー2006春 ～おとめちっくBａｎｋ～ (Abe Natsumi Concert Tour 2006 Haru ~Otomechikku Bank~)
 * [2006.12.27] NATSUMI ABE ACOUSTIC LIVE at Shibuya O-EAST
 * [2007.07.11] 安倍なつみコンサートツアー２００７春　２５～ヴァンサンク～ (Abe Natsumi Concert Tour 2007 Haru ~25 Vingt-Cinq~)
 * [2008.02.06] 安倍なつみ Special Live 2007秋 ～Acousticなっち～ (Abe Natsumi Special Live 2007 Aki ~Acoustic Nacchi~)
 * [2008.11.05] 安倍なつみ Birthday Special Concert (Abe Natsumi Birthday Special Concert)
 * [2009.01.28] 安倍なつみコンサートツアー2008秋 ～Angelic～ (Abe Natsumi Concert Tour 2008 Aki ~Angelic~)
 * [2009.11.11] 安倍なつみ Summer Live Tour 2009～やっぱりスニーカーがすき！～Tour FINAL “新たな誓い” (Abe Natsumi Summer Live Tour 2009 ~Yappari Sneaker ga Suki~)

Television

 * Hello! Morning (ハロー！モーニング., April 9, 2000 – April 1, 2007)
 * Futarigoto (二人ゴト)

Dramas

 * [2001.01.?? – 2001.03.??] Aiken Rosinante no Sainan ~Mukai Ryūta no Dōbutsu Nikki! (向井荒太の動物日記～愛犬ロシナンテの災難～)
 * [2002.01.?? – 2002.03.??] Nurseman (ナースマン)
 * [2002] Angel Hearts
 * [April – June 2004] Koinu no Waltz (仔犬のワルツ)
 * [November 2005] Takaramono
 * [2001] Saigo no Natsuyasumi (最後の夏休み )
 * [2002] Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (時をかける少女 )
 * [2002] Shinshun Wide Jidaigeki Mibugishiden~Shinsengumi (新春ワイド時代劇 壬生義士伝～新撰組 )
 * [2002] Mikeneko Holmes no Hansaigaku Kouza (三毛猫ホームズの犯罪学講座 )
 * [2006] The Hit Parade ~Geinoukai wo Kaeta Otoko, Watanabe Shin Monogatari (ザ・ヒットパレード～芸能界を変えた男・渡辺晋物語～ )
 * [2006] (Konyakusha Kara no Isho ~Tokoutain ni Sasageta 60nen Ai~) (婚約者からの遺書～特攻隊員に捧げた60年愛～ )
 * [2007] (Natsugumo Agare) (夏雲あがれ )
 * [2011]Arakawa Under the Bridge(荒川アンダー ザ ブリッジ)

Radio

 * [2006-10-13] Hello Pro Yanen!! (ハロプロやねん!!)
 * [1999-2000] Abe Natsumi no Super Morning Rider (安倍なつみのスーパーモーニングライダー )
 * [2001-2003] Airmoni. (エアモニ. )
 * [2005] TBC FUN Field Moretsu Moodush (TBC FUNふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ)
 * [2008-2009] InterFM "FIVE STARS" (on Mondays) (インターFM 「FIVE　STARS」)
 * [2009] bayfm FRIDAY NIGHT MEETING (Anata ni Aetara) (安倍なつみ「あなたに会えたら」)

Musicals

 * [2001] Love Century - Yume wa Minakerya Hajimaranai (LOVEセンチュリー -夢はみなけりゃ始まらない)
 * [2002] Morning Town (モーニングタウン)
 * [2003] Edokko Chushingura (江戸っ娘. 忠臣蔵)
 * [2004] Okaeri. (おかえり. )
 * [2006] Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical (リボンの騎士ザ・ミュージカル )
 * [2006] Hakujaden (白蛇伝 )
 * [2007] Gekidan Senior Graffiti Shouwa Kayou Shiataa "FAR AWAY" (劇団シニアグラフィティ 昭和歌謡シアター『FAR AWAY』)
 * [2009]Sanmon Opera (三文オペラ)
 * [2010]Little Shop of Horrors (リトルショップ・オブ・ホラーズ)
 * [2010] Abe Naikaku (安倍内閣)
 * [2011] Dracula

Movies

 * [1998] Morning Cop
 * [2000] Pinch Runner
 * Last Present
 * [2002] [Koinu Dan no Monogatari] (仔犬ダンの物語, "Puppy Dan's Story")
 * Prison Girl
 * [2002] Tokkaekko (とっかえっ娘. )
 * [2012]Arakawa Under the Bridge(荒川アンダー ザ ブリッジ)

Calendars

 * Natsumi Abe 2004 Calendar (October 2003)
 * Natsumi Abe 2005 Calendar (September 2004)
 * Natsumi Abe 2006 Calendar (October 12, 2005)
 * Natsumi Abe 2007 Calendar (October 2006)
 * Natsumi Abe 2010 Calendar (August 2010)