Moa Kikuchi

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Moa Kikuchi
菊地きくち 最愛さいあい
Kikuchi performing with Babymetal in September 2023
Background information
Also known asMoametal (in Babymetal)
Born (1999-07-04) July 4, 1999 (age 24)[1]
OriginNagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan[2]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2010–present
LabelsAmuse, Inc.
Member of
Formerly of
Website

Moa Kikuchi (菊地きくち 最愛さいあい, Kikuchi Moa, born July 4, 1999), known by her stage name Moametal, is a Japanese musician, singer, and dancer. She is represented by the talent agency Amuse, Inc. She is a member of the kawaii metal group Babymetal and a former member of the idol group Sakura Gakuin.

Biography[edit]

Moa Kikuchi was signed to the talent agency Amuse, Inc. at the age of 8, after winning Semi-Grand Prix (becoming a runner-up) in the Ciao Girl Audition 2007 held by the company.[1]

On August 2, 2010, at the age of 11, Kikuchi joined Sakura Gakuin, an idol group also managed by Amuse, Inc. She joined at the same time as another future Babymetal member, Yui Mizuno. Sakura Gakuin had not yet released its debut single.[3][1] During their audition, Kikuchi and Mizuno performed a duo dance cover of "Over The Future" by Karen Girl's; two members of that group, Ayami Mutō and Suzuka Nakamoto, had also recently joined Sakura Gakuin.[4]

Besides performing as a whole group, Sakura Gakuin members were also divided into smaller subgroups known as "clubs”. Each club had its own musical group that recorded its own songs. Kikuchi and Mizuno first became members of the "Baton Club" and its musical group Twinklestars. As backing singers and dancers, they were later teamed with lead singer Suzuka Nakamoto in a "Heavy Music" club,[5] with the associated music group being named Babymetal. Before the formation of this club, none of the three members knew what heavy metal was.[6]

Babymetal became an independent recording group in 2013.[7] Kikuchi "graduated" from Sakura Gakuin in 2015,[8] and now performs with Babymetal exclusively. Kikuchi and Mizuno have a writing credit under the name "Black Babymetal" on the first Babymetal album in 2014, having written "Song 4" together during a bus trip.[9] The second Babymetal album, Metal Resistance, was released in 2016. A third album, Metal Galaxy, followed in 2019.

Personal life[edit]

Kikuchi is an idol otaku, which was notably mentioned as part of her introduction in the Sakura Gakuin song "Mezase! Super Lady".[10][a] Her favorite group is °C-ute, and she is acquainted with her favorite former member of the group, Airi Suzuki.[11] In interviews, she has also mentioned Bring Me the Horizon,[12] Limp Bizkit,[13] Måneskin,[14] and Metallica as her favorite bands. In her spare time, Kikuchi also likes to watch anime,[9] and her favorite show is Love Live!, which is a series about idols.[15]

Kikuchi is an only child.[2] She has revealed that her mother was also approached by a talent agent as a student, but never joined the entertainment industry.[16][17]

Associated acts[edit]

Discography[edit]

With Sakura Gakuin[edit]

With Babymetal[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The lyrics are updated annually to accommodate member lineup changes.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Moa Kikuchi profile at Amuse Inc". Archived from the original on 2017-04-24.
  2. ^ a b Kikuchi, Moa (2014-02-15). "待まってる時間じかんに読よんでください" (in Japanese).
  3. ^ "水野みずの 由ゆかり結ゆい - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse Official Site. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  4. ^ Mila Puspita (2013-09-25), Sakura Gakuin Yui&Moa Sakura Gakuin Entrance exam Over The Future], retrieved 2017-12-26
  5. ^ Hudson, Alex (10 July 2014). "Did Babymetal invent 'cute metal' and what is it?". BBC. UK. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  6. ^ McQuistan, Colin (2014-07-14). "An Interview With Babymetal - Bow Down to Your Kitsune". Huffington Post UK. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  7. ^ "12～13歳さい女おんなの子この「ヘビメタアイドル」 「さくら学院がくいん BABYMETAL」に世界せかいが大だい注目ちゅうもく" [12 to 13 Year Old Girls World's Hottest "Heavy Metal Idols" – Sakura Gakuin's BABYMETAL]. J-CAST (in Japanese). 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  8. ^ さくら学院がくいんが転入生てんにゅうせい6名めい迎むかえ12名めい体制たいせいに、生徒せいと会長かいちょうは磯野いその莉音 [Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President]. Natalie (in Japanese). Japan: Natasha, Inc. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  9. ^ a b "K-bleJungle intervista BABYMETAL (KJ on the Road)". Associazione Ochacaffè. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  10. ^ Kitsune Gakuin (2015-07-14), Sakura Gakuin - Mezase Super Lady 2012 [English & Romaji Subs], retrieved 2018-05-04
  11. ^ "Headbanging with BABYMETAL at Rock In Japan 2013 - Interviews - MTV 81". MTV 81. 2013-08-26. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  12. ^ "Babymetal on Their Choreography + Favorite Metal Bands". YouTube. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  13. ^ "Babymetal: Limp Bizkit, Wembley and Christmas Presents! - Metal Hammer". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  14. ^ Aldersladepublished, Merlin (2023-09-24). ""Even if I invite them, I'm not sure if they would really show up." Babymetal's Moametal wants to host a dinner party with Metallica, Maneskin, Tom Morello and Bring Me The Horizon". louder. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  15. ^ "さくら学院がくいん 菊地きくち最愛さいあいへの100の質問しつもん【完全かんぜん版ばん】". EntameNext. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  16. ^ Kikuchi, Moa (2014-12-25). "Mama". Sakura Gakuin Official Blog. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  17. ^ "2014.12.25 - Moa Kikuchi new Diary "My Mom"". Unofficial BABYMETAL Fan Site. 2014-12-25. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  18. ^ "さくら学院がくいん - 部ぶ活動かつどう紹介しょうかい - バトン部ぶ Twinklestars". www.sakuragakuin.jp. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  19. ^ "さくら学院がくいん - 部ぶ活動かつどう紹介しょうかい - クッキング部ぶ ミニパティ". さくら学院がくいん. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  20. ^ "さくら学院がくいん、タワレコ新宿しんじゅく店てんでパフォーマンス". Barks (in Japanese). 2011-05-02. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  21. ^ "音楽おんがく室しつ - さくら学院がくいん 2014年度ねんど ～君くんに届とどけ～ 通どおり常盤ときわ". Sakura Gakuin. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-16.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moa_Kikuchi&oldid=1211907208"