Megumi Murakami

is a Japanese former singer and actress. She first gained recognition when she joined Hello! Project Kids and later became the lead vocalist of the girl group Cute. On November 1, 2006, Murakami left Cute and retired from the entertainment industry.

Career 2002–2005: Hello! Project Kids and ZYX

In 2002, Murakami auditioned for Hello! Project Kids with the song "Pittari Shitai X'mas!" by Petitmoni. Her audition tape was aired on Morning Musume's variety show Hello! Morning. She was placed in the group with 14 other girls. She made her first appearance in the 2002 film Koinu Dan no Monogatari.

In 2003, Murakami became a member of the subgroup ZYX along with Mari Yaguchi from Morning Musume, Erika Umeda, Maimi Yajima, Saki Shimizu, and Momoko Tsugunaga. They released their debut single, "Iku ZYX! Fly High" on August 6, 2003, followed by "Shiroi Tokyo" on December 10, 2003.

During the summer of 2004, Murakami appeared in the music video for "Yokohama Shinkirou" by Maki Goto. Later that year, she participated in singing "All for One & One for All!", a collaboration single released by all Hello! Project artists under the name "H.P. All Stars." Murakami sang the coupling track, "Suki ni Naccha Ikenai Hito", with Reina Tanaka and Airi Suzuki. but the idea was later scrapped, and the remaining girls who were not chosen were rebranded under the name Cute on June 11, 2005. Murakami became one of the lead vocals on all of the group's indies singles.

Murakami was grouped with Miki Fujimoto from Morning Musume and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Kobo for the shuffle unit Sexy Otonajan. They released the song "Onna, Kanashii, Otona" on June 22, 2005.

On November 1, 2006, shortly before Cute made their major label debut, Murakami left the group to concentrate on her studies. Following Cute's disbandment in 2017, she attended their final concert.

Choreography work

Murakami arranged the choreography for Musumen's 8th single, "Shinsen! Ryūgūjō RENBO."

Discography

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Koinu Dan no Monogatari Hitomi Ayada Supporting role

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes 2002–2006 Hello! Morning Herself TV Tokyo Morning Musume's variety show 2002–2004 Hello Kids Herself TV Tokyo Minimoni's variety show 2003 Little Hospital Aiko Murata TV Tokyo Lead role 2005 Musume Document 2005 Herself TV Tokyo Morning Musume's variety show 2005–2006 Musume Dokyu! Herself TV Tokyo Morning Musume's variety show 2005 Takaramono Chihiro Takeda (young) GyaO

Music video

Year Artist Song Notes 2004 Maki Goto "Yokohama Shinkirou"

Theater Year Title Role Notes 2004 Here's Love Susan Walker Double-cast with Airi Suzuki