Kanako Momota

Quick Facts: Who was Kanako Momota?

Subject:

Kanako Momota

Known for:

Japanese idol, actress, and singer, best known as the leader of Momoiro Clover Z.

Born:

1994-07-12

Century / Era:

1994s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kanako Momota (百田 夏菜子, Momota Kanako; born July 12, 1994) is a Japanese singer and actress, represented by Stardust Promotion. She is best known as the leader of the girl group Momoiro Clover Z. She has also provided the Japanese dub for Shuri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting from Black Panther (2018). Momota was ranked the 12th most popular Japanese idol of 2013 by Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Kanako Momota was born on July 12, 1994, in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2013, she still lived near Hamamatsu Station with her parents and two brothers.

Career & Major Achievements

Momota has trained in rhythmic gymnastics since the age of three, and jazz dance lessons since she was in the third grade of elementary school. In fifth grade, Momota auditioned for the Stardust Promotion talent agency with the encouragement of her mother and was subsequently signed to the agency's 3B Junior section, dedicated to training girls under 18 to become actresses. In the spring of 2008, Stardust Promotion put her in a then unnamed idol (vocal and dance) group consisting of girls close to Momota's age. The project was very low budget, so they performed on the walkways in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo. A few months later, Momota replaced Reni Takagi as group leader.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In a later interview, Momoiro Clover's manager Akira Kawakami recalled that from the very beginning Momota was the hardest worker and stated that she could be serious when needed, but naïve and spontaneous at the same time. As of 2014, she held the lead performer position for all Momoiro Clover Z songs. Her performances incorporate elements of ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics. In 2011, Momota appeared in Mika Ninagawa's cosplay photoshoot series in the fashion magazine Zipper dressed as a bee and a ladybug. She continued to appear as a model in Ninagawa's works in Mgirl magazine from Fall/Winter 2011/2012 and again in the issue from Spring/Summer 2013.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1994 (1994-07-12): Birth of Kanako Momota — Japanese idol, actress, and singer, best known as the leader of Momoiro Clover Z.
2. 2008: 2008 Milestone — In the spring of 2008, Stardust Promotion put her in a then unnamed idol (vocal and dance) group consisting of girls close to Momota's age.
3. 2011: 2011 Milestone — In 2011, Momota appeared in Mika Ninagawa's cosplay photoshoot series in the fashion magazine Zipper dressed as a bee and a ladybug.
4. 2013: 2013 Milestone — Momota was ranked the 12th most popular Japanese idol of 2013 by Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
5. 2014: 2014 Milestone — As of 2014, she held the lead performer position for all Momoiro Clover Z songs.
6. 2018: 2018 Milestone — She has also provided the Japanese dub for Shuri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting from Black Panther (2018).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kanako Momota

True or False: “Kanako Momota was immediately recognized as a top-tier idol upon joining Stardust Promotion in 2008.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): When she first joined the group, neither Kanako Momota nor Momoiro Clover Z were widely known.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Kanako Momota