Momoko Okazaki

Momoko Okazaki (岡崎百々子, Okazaki Momoko, born March 3, 2003), known by her stage name Momometal, is a Japanese musician, singer, and dancer. She is signed to the talent agency Amuse Inc. and was a member of its girl group Sakura Gakuin from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, she joined the touring line-up of the kawaii metal band Babymetal as a dancer, becoming an official member responsible for "scream and dance" in April 2023.

Momoko Okazaki
岡崎百々子
Okazaki performing with Babymetal at Zénith Paris in April 2023
Background information
Also known asMomometal
Born (2003-03-03) March 3, 2003
Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
OriginKanagawa Prefecture, Japan
GenresJ-pop, pop, heavy metal
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2015–present
Member ofBabymetal
Formerly ofSakura Gakuin

Biography

Okazaki is the second daughter of comedian Hanamaru Hakata.[1] She was born on 3 March 2003 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, moving with her family to Kanagawa at the age of three.

In 2014, she was signed to the talent agency Amuse, and one year later joined and started her musical career as a member of the girl idol group Sakura Gakuin.[1][2] on May 6, 2015 at the "Sakura Gakuin 2015 Nendo - Transfer Ceremony". She was part of the sub-units Cooking Club "Mini Pati" and the Science Club "Kagaku Kyumei Kiko LOGICA?". At the transfer ceremony in 2017, she was appointed as the Perseverance ("ganbare") Chairman". Along with her activities, she was also a regular model for "LOVE berry" and actress. From December 2017 to February 2018, she played the role of Elizabeth Midford in the musical "Black Butler" -Tango on the Campania-. On March 24, 2018, she left the group with the live performance "The Road to Graduation 2017 Final - Sakura Gakuin 2017 Graduation", ended her contract with Amuse at the end of the same month, and announced that she would study abroad to learn English.[3]

In 2019, Okazaki was appointed one of three support dancers, or "Avengers", of Babymetal, which would take turns filling in as the third dancer in the band's three-person dance choreographies. She made her first appearance with the band at the 2019 Super Slippa festival in Taiwan,[4] and also appeared in the music videos for "Da Da Dance"[5] and "Light and Darkness".[6] In August 2021, as Babymetal announced that it would go on hiatus, or be "sealed",[7] Okazaki joined the Korean survival reality show Girls Planet 999,[8] which winners would become members of the girl group Kep1er.[9]

On April 1, 2023, during Babymetal's "Black Night" concert at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Okazaki was officially introduced as their new member with the stage name "Momometal".[8]

References
  1. "さくら学院・岡崎百々子、博多華丸の次女だった". ORICON NEWS. 28 August 2015.
  2. "さくら学院『似てますか？』". さくら学院オフィシャルブログ「学院日誌」Powered by Ameba.
  3. "華丸の１５歳娘・岡崎百々子が海外に語学留学 さくら学院卒業ライブ/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  4. whosdandan (2019-08-05). "起點對談 / 「就讓我們帶新世代知道什麼是金屬」BABYMETAL 訪問". KEEDAN.COM (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  5. BABYMETAL - DA DA DANCE (feat. Tak Matsumoto) (OFFICIAL), retrieved 2023-04-07
  6. BABYMETAL - Light and Darkness (OFFICIAL), retrieved 2023-04-07
  7. Skinner, Tom (2021-08-03). "Babymetal to "disappear from our sight" later this year". NME. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  8. "BABYMETAL officially confirm new member MOMOMETAL". Kerrang!. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  9. Adhya, Arpita (2021-10-22). "Who are KEP1ER? Band name meaning and how to pronounce it". HITC. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
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