Momoka Ariyasu

Biography

Momoka Ariyasu was born in Kyoto Prefecture. And grew up in Saitama Prefecture. Already at the age of one, she started acting as a baby magazine model. She was later represented by talent agency Carotte C&T and appeared on television shows and in numerous commercials.

Starting in 2004, Ariyasu regularly appeared on the Fuji TV network's morning children's program Ponkikkids, where she acted as a member of a unit called Sister Rabbits. Around the same time, she joined EXPG, the boy-band Exile's dance and vocal school for kids. The school members performed as child dancers for Exile and also received acting lessons.

On November 1, 2008, Momoka moved from Carotte to the Stardust Promotion talent agency, and on February 2, 2009 was put into the agency's all-girl idol group Power Age. Power Age had been launched in 2005 with members of elementary to high-school age, but it was nearing the end of its existence when she joined. Three months later, in May, the band was disbanded. On July 26, 2009, Ariyasu was added as a sixth member to the idol group Momoiro Clover, which was about to release its first indies single.

On November 9, 2012, Momoka Ariyasu's video comment was projected at Hige Danshaku's live comedy show at Molière Theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo. At the performance Hige Danshaku revealed that he was an avid fan of Ariyasu and had even named his recently born daughter after her Momoka (百夏, a homonym, written with different kanji from those used in Ariyasu's name, but pronounced the same).

On January 1, 2013, it was announced that Momoka Ariyasu would refrain from singing and talking until the end of January. As it was explained, she was receiving treatment for her throat and needed to let her vocal cords rest. On February 7, it was announced that another full month, until the end of February, was needed to complete the treatment and therefore in the upcoming events and broadcasts, Momoka would communicate by means of writing and other members would take turns in performing her solo parts in songs.

She did not reveal what he had proceeded to university, but she attended the Department of Arts at Nihon University and announced that he graduated from Department of Photography Faculty of Arts in March 2017 (belonging to Asai Juniori). He was awarded the special prize of the art department (first in the university's nearly 100 years history) and the photography department encouragement prize (only 4 out of 96 graduates of photography department). The catchphrase is "a little stupid" small giant, but it was the only university graduate among the members. She says she has never dropped a unit during her studies.

Activities as a member

Personal

Image

Ariyasu's Momoiro Clover "image color" is green. At 148 cm (4′10″), she is the shortest member of the group. The tagline she uses when introducing herself to audiences is "Silly little giant" (ちょっぴりおバカな小さな巨人). She characterizes herself as "baka" ("silly", "stupid"), saying that at school she cannot understand fundamental things or remember anything, but her co-members say she actually studies all the time, even backstage. Momoka explains that it is exactly because she is stupid that she has to study hard. Her favorite subjects are English, mathematics and Japanese.

Associated acts

Movies

TV dramas

TV variety shows

Music videos

Sport