Makoto Ogawa

Makoto Ogawa (小川 麻琴 Ogawa Makoto?, born October 29, 1987 in Kashiwazaki, Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese pop singer and actress best known as a former member of Morning Musume. She joined the group in August 2001 along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, and Asami Konno. Ogawa is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.

Biography
Before joining to Japanese idol group Morning Musume, Makoto Ogawa was enrolled at an entertainment school Apple Little Performers (ALP) in Niigata, where she was one of the top students. She even made her CD debut on a cheer song for the J2 soccer team, Albirex Niigata. She has also been a model for magazines and campaign, such as one for automobile safety for the elderly. Tsunku—producer and lyricist of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project Hello! Project]—also commented that she was selected to join the group because she displayed great dancing skills and shined during the audition process.

Ogawa graduated from Morning Musume on August 27, 2006 at the final performance of Hello! Project's musical rendition of Ribbon no Kishi. She left Morning Musume to study languages abroad, with the intent to return to Hello! Project. On June 6, 2008, a Japanese newspaper announced that Ogawa had returned to Hello! Project and would appear on the next Haromoni@ episode. She has just returned from studying English in New Zealand for nearly two years.[1]

In 2010, It was announced that Makoto Ogawa will be joining the new group "Dream Morning Musume" alongside other former-Morning Musume members.

Trivia

 * In her primary school days, her friends called her "Tomato Ketchup 100% OK" and "Machiko."[2]
 * Makoto Ogawa competed in the eighth "Women of Ninja Warrior" competition (known as KUNOICHI in Japan) and was eliminated on the second stage's "Dancing Stones."
 * She studied English in New Zealand.

Joined groups
Makoto Ogawa became a member of the following units within Hello! Project:
 * Morning Musume (モーニング娘. ?) (2001–2006)
 * Petitmoni (プッチモニ?) (2002–2006)
 * Hello! Project shuffle units
 * Happy 7 (ハッピー7?) (2002)
 * Salt5 (2003)
 * H.P. All Stars (H.P.オールスターズ?) (2004)


 * Morning Musume Otomegumi (モーニング娘. おとめ組?) (2003–2004)
 * Gatas Brilhantes H.P. (2003–2004)
 * Metro Rabbits H.P. (メトロラビッツH.P.?) (2006)
 * Dream Morning Musume (2010)
 * Afternoon Musume

Movies

 * 2002 – Tokkaekko (とっかえっ娘. ?)
 * 2003 – Koinu Dan no Monogatari (子犬ダンの物語?)

Dramas

 * 2002 – Angel Hearts
 * 2004 – Aijō Ippon! (愛情イッポン！?)
 * 2009 – Q.E.D - Cameo as Art teacher

Musicals

 * 2006 – Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical (リッボンの騎士ザ・ミュージカル?) as Nylon