Moa Kikuchi
菊地 最愛
Kikuchi performing with Babymetal in September 2023
Background information
Also known asMoametal (in Babymetal)
Born (1999-07-04) July 4, 1999[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 最愛, 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

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

Kikuchi is an idol otaku, which was notably mentioned as part of her introduction in the Sakura Gakuin song "Mezase! Super Lady".[10][lower-alpha 1] 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] 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

Discography

With Sakura Gakuin

With Babymetal

Notes

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Moa Kikuchi profile at Amuse Inc".
  2. 1 2 Kikuchi, Moa (2014-02-15). "待ってる時間に読んでください" (in Japanese).
  3. ↑ "水野 由結 - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse. 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. ↑ "BABYMETAL: 'Cutest Headbangers On The Planet'". Razor TV (in Japanese and English). Singapore. December 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  7. ↑ "12～13歳女の子の「ヘビメタアイドル」 「さくら学院 BABYMETAL」に世界が大注目" [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. ↑ さくら学院が転入生6名迎え12名体制に、生徒会長は磯野莉音 [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. 1 2 "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. 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 菊地最愛への100の質問【完全版】". EntameNext. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  16. ↑ "2014年12月25日のブログ｜さくら学院オフィシャルブログ「学院日誌」Powered by Ameba". ameblo.jp. 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 - 部活動紹介 - バトン部 Twinklestars". www.sakuragakuin.jp. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  19. ↑ "さくら学院 - 部活動紹介 - クッキング部 ミニパティ". さくら学院. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
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