Kaori Iida

2.1. Birth and Upbringing

Kaori Iida was born on August 8, 1981, in Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan. Interestingly, she was born in the same hospital in Muroran, just two days earlier than her future Morning Musume bandmate, Natsumi Abe, and they were reportedly in the same newborn nursery. She later moved to Sapporo, Hokkaido, where she was raised in the Teine Ward.

2.2. Education

Iida's educational journey included attending Hokkaido Sapporo Inanishi High School and Tokyo Metropolitan Yoyogi High School, though she withdrew from both institutions. During her time at Yoyogi High School, she was a classmate of the singer and television personality Takako Uehara from the group SPEED.

3.1. ASAYAN Audition and Debut

In 1997, Kaori Iida participated in the "Sharam Q Female Rock Vocalist Audition," a talent contest featured on the TV Tokyo variety show "ASAYAN". Although she was a finalist, she did not win the competition, which was ultimately won by Michiyo Heike. Prior to her debut, Iida had some modeling experience, including appearing on battery packaging in her hometown of Sapporo, and even made an appearance on the variety show "Waratte Iitomo!" Before the Sharam Q audition, she had also reached the final stage of the "Komuro Garcon Audition" on "ASAYAN" the previous year, where she famously stated, "Please make me Komuro-san's girlfriend."

Following the Sharam Q audition, musician and producer Tsunku offered Iida and four other finalists-Yuko Nakazawa, Aya Ishiguro, Natsumi Abe, and Asuka Fukuda-a unique opportunity. They were challenged to sell 50,000 copies of their independent single, "Ai no Tane" (Love Seed), within five days. The quintet successfully completed this task in just four days, culminating in a final hand-selling event at Nagoya Dome on November 30, 1997. This achievement led to their major debut as "Morning Musume." Their first official single, "Morning Coffee", was released on January 28, 1998. Initially, Iida was slated to be the main vocalist for "Morning Coffee," but due to a school exam, she missed the second day of recording and ended up performing harmony vocals, with Natsumi Abe taking over the main vocal role. Despite her ambition to become the group's first leader, the staff ultimately decided that the eldest member, Yuko Nakazawa, would assume the role.

3.2. Early Morning Musume Activities

As a founding member of Morning Musume, Kaori Iida played a crucial role in the group's formative years. Her signature song within Morning Musume is "Yume no Naka" (In a Dream), featured on the group's first album, First Time. From her debut until 2001, she maintained her distinctive long, black hair, which became one of her trademarks. Standing at 66 in ^{(168 cm)}, she was the tallest member in Morning Musume's history during her active period, a record she held within Hello! Project until Yurina Kumai of Berryz Kobo surpassed her in 2006.

4.1. Subgroup Activities

In October 1998, Tsunku formed the subgroup Tanpopo with Kaori Iida, Aya Ishiguro, and second-generation Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi. This unit specialized in slower, more mature songs. After Ishiguro's graduation from both Morning Musume and Tanpopo in January 2000, Iida and Yaguchi continued as a duet until fourth-generation Morning Musume members Ai Kago and Rika Ishikawa joined the subgroup. With these new additions, Tanpopo's musical style evolved to be more upbeat and pop-oriented, while still maintaining a slower tempo than Morning Musume's main releases. Tanpopo released three more singles, a compilation album, and a compilation DVD in this new formation. In July 2002, as part of a major reshuffling within Hello! Project's subgroups, Iida, along with Mari Yaguchi and Ai Kago, graduated from Tanpopo.

In 2003, when Morning Musume was temporarily divided into two subgroups for touring purposes, Iida was appointed the leader of Morning Musume Otome Gumi.

4.2. Leadership Role

Following the graduation of Yuko Nakazawa, the first leader of Morning Musume, on April 15, 2001, Kaori Iida assumed the role of the group's second leader. She also served as the second leader of the broader Hello! Project collective. Her responsibilities included guiding the group and maintaining its image during a period of significant member fluctuations.

4.3. Graduation from Morning Musume

On May 23, 2004, Kaori Iida announced her impending graduation from Morning Musume, alongside Rika Ishikawa. She officially graduated on January 30, 2005, following the "Hello! Project 2005 Winter All Stars Dairanbu ~A Happy New Power! Iida Kaori Graduation Special~" concert at Yokohama Arena. Her departure marked the graduation of all original first-generation members from Morning Musume. Upon her graduation, Mari Yaguchi succeeded her as the group's leader. As a symbolic gesture of her transition to a solo career, Iida cut her signature long hair into a short style after leaving the group, though she has since returned to long hair.

4.4. Longest-Serving Member Record

Kaori Iida's tenure of over seven years in Morning Musume was the longest of any member at the time of her graduation. She held this record until January 2009, when fifth-generation members Ai Takahashi and Risa Niigaki surpassed her. As of January 2009, she was one of only four members to have remained in the group for over seven years, an achievement later matched by fourth-generation member Hitomi Yoshizawa and the aforementioned Takahashi and Niigaki.

5.1. Solo Debut and Musical Style

Iida's solo career saw her venture into a unique musical style, often described by Western fans as "Euro-enka," a blend of European and Japanese enka influences. Her solo musical career includes two albums released outside of Hello! Project, where she performed covers of French, Greek, and Italian songs in their original languages. She also released two Japanese singles prior to her graduation from Morning Musume, which maintained this Mediterranean-esque style. Her first solo live concert, titled Avenir ~Mirai~, took place in March 2005.

5.2. Studio Albums

Kaori Iida has released several studio albums throughout her solo career:

5.3. Singles

Her solo singles include:

6.2. Television and Radio Appearances

Iida has been a regular presence on television and radio, hosting and appearing on various programs:

• Idol wo Sagase! (2000, TV Tokyo) - Co-host with Rinne
• Morning Musume no Heso (2000, TV Tokyo)
• Friday Night wa Onegai! Morning (2000, TV Tokyo)
• Hello! Morning (2000-2005, TV Tokyo)
• Bishoujo Kyōiku II (2002, TV Tokyo)
• Futarigoto (2004, TV Tokyo)
• Shall We Dance? (2006, TV Tokyo)
• Majo-tachi no 22-ji (2010, Nippon TV) - Appeared with Nozomi Tsuji, where Iida apologized for past bullying of Tsuji, and Tsuji revealed Iida's strictness as her "education officer."
• Ii Tabi - Yume Kibun (February 16, 2011, TV Tokyo) - Traveled with fellow Morning Musume OGs Yuko Nakazawa and Kei Yasuda.
• U-gata TV (2011, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting)
• Kita ni Koishita! (April 15, 2023 - present, HBC) - Regular appearance
• Iida Kaori - Konya mo Koushin Chū! (April 2001 - March 2003, Nippon Broadcasting System) - Her radio show, whose title translates to "Kaori Iida - Communicating Tonight Too!", reflecting her nickname related to "communicating with space."
• Chichukai Sound Stroll (April 2, 2005 - March 29, 2008; April 2009 - September 2011, NACK5) - Her radio show, with a one-year hiatus.

6.3. Music Video Appearances

• Southern All Stars - "Tengoku on the Beach" (2014)
• One Hokkaido Project - "Watashitachi no Michi" (2019)

6.4. Publications

Kaori Iida has authored and contributed to several published works, including photobooks, art books, and essays:

• Kokoro no Sketchbook (心のスケッチブック。_{Kokoro no Suketchibukku}^Japanese, December 2001, Kindai Eiga Sha) - A collection of poems and illustrations.
• Lion no Marujan (ライオンのマルジャン_{Raion no Marujan}^Japanese, December 2002, Shufu to Seikatsu Sha) - A picture book, co-authored with non-fiction writer Satoshi Kamata.
• Iida Kaori Shashinshū Kaori Kaori Kaori (飯田圭織写真集かおりKaori圭織_{Iida Kaori Shashinshū Kaori Kaori Kaori}^Japanese, May 2, 2002, Wani Books) - Her first solo photobook, part of the Morning Musume Solo Photobook Series.
• Aegekai Aida Shoko & Iida Kaori Shashinshū (エーゲ海-相田翔子&飯田圭織写真集_{Aegekai Aida Shoko & Iida Kaori Shashinshū}^Japanese, January 28, 2004, Kadokawa Shoten) - A collaborative photobook with Shoko Aida.
• Paranoia Diary (パラノイアダイアリー_{Paranoia Daiarī}^Japanese, May 1999 - June 2001) - An essay series published in the magazine CD Data (Kadokawa Shoten).

6.5. Commercials and Endorsements

Iida has appeared in various advertising campaigns:

• Fuku Musume Jozo "Fuku Musume Kaori no Sake" (2003)
• FT Shiseido "Suibun Hair Pack Shampoo" (2003) - Notably, she leveraged her long hair for this commercial, playing the role of a marathon runner.
• Glico Mousse Pocky (2000)
• Nihon Coca Cola "Georgia Gohoubi Break" (September 2010 -) - Appeared as part of Afternoon Musume.
• Ribbon Napolin (2016)

7.1. Marriage and Children

On July 6, 2007, Iida's agency announced that she was ten weeks pregnant and would soon marry Kenji, a former member of the disbanded band 7 House, which was produced by Tsunku. Their wedding took place the following day, July 7, 2007. Iida began her maternity leave after the "Morning Musume 10th Year Anniversary Concert Tour: Summer '07 Thank You My Dearest" on September 1, 2007.

On February 3, 2008, Iida released a statement to her fan club announcing the birth of her first child, a baby boy, on January 22 at 10:30 AM. Tragically, on November 28 of the same year, she announced that her son had died on July 27 from renal failure at just six months old. Following this profound loss, she publicly stated her intention to continue her career in his memory. She returned to the concert stage at the "Hello! Project 2009 Winter Elder Club: Thank You for Your Love!" series, marking her first performance in over a year.

On December 25, 2012, Iida announced via her blog that she was pregnant with her second child, due in spring 2013. She gave birth to a healthy boy on May 13, 2013, announcing it on her blog the next day. On May 2, 2017, she announced her third pregnancy, and on September 19, 2017, she gave birth to a baby girl.

7.2. Personal Traits and Nicknames

Kaori Iida is known for her calm demeanor, often described as being "spaced out" or "communicating with space" by her fellow members and fans due to her tendency to daydream. Her first-person pronoun is typically "Kaori" or "Kao." Tsunku, in his book LOVE론 (LOVE론_LOVEron^Korean, LOVE Theory), described her as a "woman whose angry face is cute." She is also noted for her physical strength.

Her hobbies include drawing and poetry, talents which have led to her publishing picture books and holding art exhibitions. She is also skilled in sports, particularly running, and received the MVP award at the Hello! Project Grand Sports Festival in March 2001. However, despite her individual athletic prowess, she is reportedly not skilled in team sports, especially ball games like volleyball, and struggled with dancing during her time in Morning Musume. She also enjoys cooking and frequently shares her culinary creations on her blog.

Iida is recognized for her good physique; Tsunku once commented that she had "by far the best style" before Rika Ishikawa joined the group. Takaaki Ishibashi also remarked on her long legs, saying, "She wore pink tight pants, and I thought, 'Wow, her legs are long.'" Yuko Nakazawa jokingly referred to her style as "alien-like length."

Iida is also known for coining nicknames for other Hello! Project members, including Aya Matsuura's "Ayaya" (derived from the lyrics "Ai-yai-yai" in "Koi no Dance Site"), Miki Fujimoto's "Mikitty," Kei Yasuda's "Kemeko," and Rika Ishikawa's "Rika" or "Charmy." She was also instrumental in bringing enka singer Yuki Maeda into Hello! Project.

Her most famous nicknames are "Kaorin" and "Johnson." "Kaorin" originated from a 1998 "All Night Nippon" broadcast where she expressed her desire to be called "Iida Kaoringo" because she liked apples (りんご_ringo^Japanese), but shortened it to "Kaorin" as "Kaoringo" was too long. "Kaotan" is another variation, primarily used by Yuko Nakazawa and Rika Ishikawa. Her pet dog is named "Ringo," with its full name being "Kaoringo."

The nickname "Johnson" was given to her by TV host Takaaki Ishibashi on the TBS music program "Utaban" on February 16, 1999. When asked by then-leader Yuko Nakazawa if he remembered the members' names, Ishibashi randomly listed names for each member, assigning "Johnson" to Iida, referencing Davey Johnson, a former player for the Yomiuri Giants. This nickname became widely popular, and Ishibashi, along with "Utaban" co-host Masahiro Nakai, continued to use it, even on the "NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen" in 2003. Although initially disliking the nickname, Iida later embraced it, sometimes introducing herself as "Johnson" or "the woman called Johnson, Kaori Iida."

8.1. Cultural Impact

Iida's contribution to the idol music genre is significant as a founding member and former leader of Morning Musume. Her performance of the line "Nee, Waratte" (Hey, Smile) in Morning Musume's third single, "Daite HOLD ON ME!" (Hold Me, HOLD ON ME!), became iconic. On a 1999 "Utaban" broadcast, host Takaaki Ishibashi humorously pointed out that her expression while singing the line looked angry, a running gag that significantly boosted both Iida's and Morning Musume's popularity. This song was also Morning Musume's first to reach number one on the Oricon charts. Tsunku himself acknowledged that while Iida was initially a candidate for the group's center, this comedic direction on "Utaban" ultimately proved beneficial for her career.

8.2. Public Perception and Career Evaluation

Throughout her career, Iida has been perceived by fans and media as a stylish and beautiful member, with her height and physique often highlighted. Her active participation in all Hello! Project shuffle units from 2000 to 2005 (including 2004) made her the only member to do so, demonstrating her consistent presence and versatility within the project. After the tragic death of her son, she announced her return to her career, performing at the "Hello! Project 2009 Winter Elder Club: Thank You for Your Love!" concert, which was her first performance in over a year and four months. She also performed at the "Hello Pro Award '09: Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special" concert on February 1, 2009, which celebrated her graduation from Hello! Project along with 21 other Elder Club members.

9.1. Shuffle Unit Participation

Iida was a consistent participant in Hello! Project's annual "shuffle units," making her the only member to appear in every iteration from their inception until her graduation from Hello! Project. Her participation included:

• Aoiro 7 (2000)
• 10nin Matsuri (2001)
• Odoru 11 (2002)
• 11WATER (2003)
• H.P. All Stars (2004)
• Puripuri Pink (2005)

9.2. Other Project Participation

Iida has also been involved in several other significant projects and units:

• Pocky Girls & Venus Mousse (2002) - A unit formed for a Glico Mousse Pocky commercial.
• Morning Musume Tanjō 10nen Kinentai (Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Unit) (2007) - A unit formed to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary, where she joined Natsumi Abe, Maki Goto, Risa Niigaki, and Koharu Kusumi. They released their first single, "Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia" (Our Living My Asia), on January 24, 2007.
• Afternoon Musume (2010) - A unit formed for a Nihon Coca-Cola Georgia coffee commercial.
• Dream Morning Musume (2011 - 2012) - A special group consisting of former Morning Musume members, which Iida joined as a founding member. They released their first single, "Shining Butterfly," on February 15, 2012.
• M-line club (2009 - present) - After graduating from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009, she joined this official fan club for Morning Musume graduates.
• She moved her agency from Up-Front Promotion to Up-Front Create on October 1, 2013.