Nozomi Tsuji

Nozomi Tsuji

Nozomi Tsuji (辻 希美, Tsuji Nozomi), also Nozomi Sugiura (杉浦 希美, Sugiura Nozomi) (born June 17, 1987) is a Japanese tarento and a former member of J-pop idol group Morning Musume, its subgroup Mini Moni, and J-pop duo W. She has participated in the shuffle groups 10-nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, and 11Water, H.P. All Stars, as well as being a member of the Morning Musume splinter group Morning Musume Otomegumi.

Career

2000–2001

In 2000, Tsuji auditioned for the pop group Morning Musume. Group producer Tsunku originally planned on selecting only three members; Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, and Ai Kago were chosen. However, he made the decision to add Tsuji as a fourth member, creating Morning Musume's fourth generation. Their debut single was the group's 9th, "Happy Summer Wedding", marking Tsuji's debut just one month before turning age 13.

In January 2001, she formed Mini Moni with Mari Yaguchi and Ai Kago.

2002–2006

As the youngest two members of the group, she and Kago assumed the roles of the hyperactive troublemakers of Morning Musume. The two were featured in a May 2002 duo compilation photobook, Tsuji Kago. Fans took to them quickly, dubbing them "The Twins", based on their similar looks and personalities. They both retained these personalities for their first years with the group, but by 2003, they were no longer the youngest or the most childish, so their hyperactivity toned down. However, Tsuji and Kago continued their strong association with each other inside the group (and their friendship outside of it). To most casual fans of Morning Musume, the two were inseparable and followed each other. Kago and Tsuji were also known as "Two Top" on the television comedy show Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!: during a special "final exam" episode featuring Morning Musume, the two were both the least knowledgeable when given surprise pop quizzes on several grade school problems, Tsuji being the least knowledgeable and Kago being second, resulting in Tsuji being crowned Bakajo, which means "idiot girl".

From January 2003 to June 2003, she was a temporary world record holder in the Guinness World Records for spinning the largest Hula Hoop (12.5 m). She regained the title in January 2004 and simultaneously held it with Kago until September 2005, when Ashrita Furman of Brooklyn, New York City surpassed their record. Tsuji was also goalkeeper for Gatas Brilhantes H.P., the Hello! Project futsal team.

In November 2003, the 16-year-old Tsuji released her first solo photobook, Nono.

In May 2004, Tsunku announced the graduation of both Tsuji and Kago from Morning Musume and created the group W, featuring the pair. On August 1, 2004, they officially graduated from Morning Musume.

She appeared in several episodes of Mini Moni's 2005 television series, Brementown Musicians. For a Christmas special, Tsuji contributed to Hello! Project Shirogumi, eventually embarking on the December 2005 ~A HAPPY NEW POWER!~ Concert Tour.

In February 2006, photographs of Kago smoking were published to Friday Magazine. Additional controversy surfaced because she was two years below the Japanese legal smoking age; Hello! Project soon issued a press statement, stating that the singer had been "suspended indefinitely". The ban lasted an entire year. During this time, Tsuji was not allowed to speak to Kago and continued to make appearances on television.

2007–present

Hello! Project's official website announced on January 30, 2007 that Tsuji would be voice-acting as a guest for Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 2: The Deep Sea Princess.

In line with Mari Yaguchi's involvement in the 2007 Japanese adaptation of the popular 1955 Broadway play, "Damn Yankees", Tsuji was scheduled to be double cast alongside Rika Ishikawa in "When Will You Return?" (『いつの日君帰る』, Itsu no Hi Kimi Kaeru), which opened on May 4, 2007 at the Nissei Theatre in Tokyo, where she was to perform until the 22nd, but due to experiencing health problems (gastroenteritis, according to the official Hello! Project website), she was eventually replaced by Hitomi Yoshizawa.

In March 2007, after Ai Kago's contract cancellation with Hello! Project, W disbanded. Several weeks later, news about Tsuji's new unit, Gyaruru, was released. It was intended to be made up of Tsuji alongside Ami Tokito and Gal Sone. Tsuji voiced Athena in the animation series Robby & Kerobby, and released a single "Koko ni Iruzee!" in May 2007 as the character, a cover version of the Morning Musume song by the same name. After Tsuji's marriage and pregnancy were announced, her position within Gyaruru was filled by Asami Abe, and Risa Niigaki eventually played her role as Athena in Robby & Kerobby.

On June 19, 2008, Tsuji made an appearance at the Yuko Nakazawa Birthday Live 2008 event, handing a birthday cake to Nakazawa. On January 30, 2009, Tsuji started an online blog on Ameba, the title of which is commonly rendered as either Non Peace or Non Piece (のんピース). It was well-received and quickly became one of the most popular blogs on the website. A May 2009 survey concluded that she was voted "Best Mom" by Japanese middle and high school girls. Tsuji performed at Hello Pro Award '09 ~Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special~ on February 1, 2009, her first concert performance in nearly two years.

Marriage and family

Tsuji met actor Taiyo Sugiura (杉浦 太陽, Sugiura Taiyo) in April 2006; they began dating several months later. A native of Okayama, he was famed for playing the lead role in Ultraman Cosmos and is six years her senior. On May 8, 2007, multiple Japanese news sources announced that Tsuji was pregnant and engaged to Sugiura. A press conference was held on May 10, in which both entertainers expressed their apologies to the public, amidst both praise and criticism coming from other renowned artists. Hitomi Yoshizawa, who worked alongside Tsuji while they were both in Morning Musume, was called in at the last minute to replace her in the play When Will You Return? and consequently was forced to learn all required lines in a relatively short period of time. Akiko Wada expressed concerns that Tsuji's pregnancy and shotgun marriage were signs of irresponsibility. Tsuji commented: "I will return to the public eye when things calm down after childbirth."

Tsuji married Sugiura on her twentieth birthday, June 17, 2007. She changed her name to Nozomi Sugiura (杉浦 希美, Sugiura Nozomi), but has continued to use Tsuji as her stage name. The couple's first child, a daughter named Noa Sugiura (杉浦 希空, Sugiura Noa), was born on November 26, 2007. At a September 2010 Tohato press conference, she spoke up about the marriage: "Have a good fight once a while, and say everything you need to say." Tsuji is currently pregnant with their second child, a son, due in January 2011.

Discography

For releases as a member of Morning Musume, Minimoni, and W, please see the Morning Musume discography, Minimoni discography, and W discography.

Single

#	Title	Release Date
1	"Koko ni Iruzee!" (ここにいるぜぇ!)	2007-05-16

Acts

Film

• Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! (2002)
• Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 2: The Deep Sea Princess (超劇場版 ケロロ軍曹２ 深海のプリンセスであります！, Chō Gekijōban Keroro Gunsō 2 Shinkai no Purinsesu de Arimasu!) (2007)

Television shows

• Hello! Morning (ハロー！モーニング。) (2000–2007)
• Futarigoto (二人ゴト)
• Angel Hearts (2002)
• Mini Moni's Brementown Musicians (ミニモニ。でブレーメンの音楽隊, Minimoni de Bremen no Ongakutai) (2004)
• Quiz! Hexagon II (クイズ！ヘキサゴンII) (2009–)

Publications

Photobooks

#	Title	Release date	Publisher	ISBN	Photobook information
–	Nozomi Tsuji/ Kago Ai Shashinshū - "Tsuji Kago" (辻希美・加護亜依写真集 「辻加護」)	2002-05-22	Wani Books	ISBN 4-8470-2710-8	Duo photobook with Ai Kago
1	Tsuji Nozomi Shashinshū "Nono" (辻希美写真集 「のの♥」)	2003-11-10	Wani Books	ISBN 4-8470-2782-5	First solo photobook
2	Tsuji Nozomi Shashinshū "Non no 19" (辻希美写真集 「のんの19」)	2006-11-18	Takeshobo	ISBN 978-4-8124-2953-2	Second solo photobook

Others

Title	Release date	Publisher
U+U=W	2004-12-04	Takeshobo Co., Ltd

External links

• Official Hello! Project profile
• Official blog のんピース
• Nozomi Tsuji at IMDb
• Entry on the Hello! Project Wiki