Hello! Database: Morning Musume, 4th Generation

After Morning Musume had released their third album, 3rd Love Paradise yet another audition was held.

The audition was supposed to produce only three new members - in this case Ai Kago, Rika Ishikawa and Hitomi Yoshizawa - but during the course of the auditions Tsunku decided to include an additional member as well - Nozomi Tsuji.

At 12 years old the youngest of the new members were a bit of a shock to the older members, but as time has shown, they were able to adapt to the situation. With the 4th generation the style of Morning Musume became somewhat more energetic and perhaps more typically pop-like.

As with the older generations, the 4th generation is also almost gone. Kago and Tsuji graduated in summer of 2004 and Rika will be graduating soon as well. Hitomi's graduation has not been announced.