History Niigaki was born in
Yokohama,
Kanagawa. She was the runner-up for the 'Kiss Girl Audition' in becoming the
Tomy image girl before joining Morning Musume. She appeared with the winner Ai Hasegawa in a Tomy Karaoke Machine commercial. In 2001, Niigaki joined Morning Musume as the fifth generation along with
Ai Takahashi,
Asami Konno, and
Makoto Ogawa. Morning Musume producer
Tsunku said he chose Niigaki because she "shined during the final studio recording" for the audition song that all the finalists had to sing. She debuted and lead on the group's 13th single, "
Mr. Moonlight (Ai no Big Band)" making her one of the few members of Morning Musume who was able to lead on her debut single. She first appeared in their 4th album,
4th Ikimasshoi!. In the summer of that year, she also debuted in a shuffle unit as part of Happy 7, with two other members of her generation (Ai Takahashi and Makoto Ogawa). Later in September, all fifth-generation members were placed into
subgroups. Niigaki was placed into
Tanpopo as a member of the third generation, along with Asami Konno. The new line-up only released one single before becoming inactive. Niigaki, along with many other members of Morning Musume at that time, starred in a drama entitled
Angel Hearts which was released in 2002. In 2003, she was placed into
Sakuragumi, which released two singles before also becoming inactive. In early 2007, Niigaki was chosen to be a member of the along with
Kaori Iida,
Natsumi Abe,
Maki Goto and
Koharu Kusumi – a unit created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary. Their first single, , was released on January 24, 2007. On June 1, 2007,
Miki Fujimoto's resigned from Morning Musume, Ai Takahashi replaced Fujimoto as leader, while Risa Niigaki took Takahashi's place as sub-leader. Following the announcement of
Nozomi Tsuji's pregnancy, Niigaki took over Tsuji's role as Athena in the animation series
Robby & Kerobby. In October 2007, Niigaki was placed in the unit
Athena & Robikerottsu along with fellow Morning Musume member
Aika Mitsui, as well as
Saki Nakajima and
Chisato Okai of
Cute. It then was announced in July 2008 that Niigaki and Ai Takahashi would play the 70s idol J-pop duo
Pink Lady in the TV drama
Hitmaker Aku Yū Monogatari. From August 6 until August 25, 2008, Morning Musume performed a version of
Rodgers and Hammerstein's
Cinderella with the
Takarazuka Revue, in which Niigaki starred as the Prince. On February 12, 2009, it was announced that Morning Musume would be performing in the United States at the 2009
Anime Expo, the nation's largest anime convention, as one of the first official guests of honor. In an interview Niigaki stated that "The movies that Disney makes are full of dreams, but when I have children, I'd like them to know about war, the pain of death and such things, so I hope they will watch [anime]." After Takahashi's graduation, Niigaki became the only member of Hello! Project that had joined before the
Hello! Project Kids, and holds the record for the longest-serving member of
Morning Musume and
Hello! Project. She would graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project on the last day of their Spring Concert Tour, May 18, at
Nippon Budokan. Niigaki was the fourth Morning Musume member to graduate at the Budokan. On May 18, 2012, Niigaki graduated from Morning Musume and Hello! Project alongside
Aika Mitsui. She handed down her position as leader of Morning Musume to
Sayumi Michishige. ==Personal life==