Kei Yasuda

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, born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on December 6, 1980, is a former member and sub-leader of J-pop group Morning Musume. Kei, along with Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii, were the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume. Morning Musume had only released one official single (Morning Coffee) then.

Profile

Nicknames: ,
Date of Birth: December 6, 1980
Birthplace: Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Bloodtype: A

Information

Kei Yasuda attended Kimitsu Shogyo (Commercial) High School in Futtsu city, Chiba Prefecture, but dropped out to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry. Kei, along with Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii, were the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume. Morning Musume had only released one official single (Morning Coffee) then.

After the 2nd gen joined, Morning Musume went on to produce 1 album and 3 more singles until lead vocalist Asuka Fukuda decided to graduate to further pursue her studies. Kei was given almost all of Asuka's lines in future performances of these early songs. She had also collaborated with other Morning Musume members in special projects during these early days. One of the more notable ones was when she co-wrote and co-sang with Natsumi Abe the song "Sanpo" for a radio contest. It became wildly popular and a petition was circulated to make it an official single, though that never did happen.

Kei and Sayaka sang a particularly catchy duet known as "Otome no Shinrigaku" (Girl's Psychology) for Morning Musume's second album. In response to the popularity, Tsunku decided to lump them together with 3rd gen. Maki Goto to create Morning Musume subgroup Petitmoni (also known as Pucchi moni) in 2001. Their first single "Chokotto Love", was a hit.

After Sayaka graduated from Morning Musume and Petitmoni, 4th gen Hitomi Yoshizawa was placed into the subgroup. This formation of petitmoni went on to produce 3 more singles and an album.

After Morning Musume's then-leader Yuko Nakazawa graduated in 2001, Kei (who became the oldest in the group) became the sub-leader with Kaori Iida as leader of Morning Musume.

Kei graduated in mid-2003, at the same time when Morning Musume's 6th generation became full-fledged members. Tsunku commented that this one-time 16-member formation will be the largest Morning Musume will ever be. During her graduation concert, Kei sang a remixed rock version of "Never Forget," which was Asuka's graduation song. Additionally, as a special gift, Tsunku gave Kei a CD her own soloist version of "AS FOR ONE DAY", her last single with Morning Musume.

Because fellow petitmoni member Maki Goto had also graduated, Petitmoni now consists of Hitomi, 5th generation's Makoto Ogawa, and Coconuts Musume's Ayaka Kimura. Fellow 2nd gen Mari Yaguchi became Morning Musume's sub-leader after Kei's graduation.

Kei is still in Hello! Project after graduation but has worked on dramas outside of H!P. Within H!P, she has collaborated with Yuko Nakazawa and other H!P artists on 2 Folk Songs albums, guest starred and emceed in Natsumi Abe's solo concerts, sang backup for Maki Goto's single "Daite Yo! Please Go On," and was host of Morning Musume's weekly TV show "Hello! Morning". She recently participated in the Hello!Project All-Stars single "ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL" and the PURI PURI Pink shuffle unit. During a promotional appearance for "ALL FOR ONE...", Kei revealed that she has been learning how to play the flute.

She is a regular on several television shows, including "Hello! Morning".

Hello! Project Groups

Morning Musume (1997 – 2003)
Subgroups
*Pucchi Moni (1999 – 2003)
Shuffle Groups
*Kiiro 5 (2000)
*10-nin Matsuri (2001)
*Odoru 11 (2002)
*H!P All Stars (2004)
*Puripuri Pink (2005)

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