Momona Kasahara

is a Japanese singer and actress. She is the leader of the Japanese girl group ME:I, which was formed through the reality competition show Produce 101 Japan The Girls. She secured first place in the show's final ranking and debuted as a member of the group in 2024. Previously, she was a member of the idol group Angerme under Hello! Project from 2016 to 2021. She performs under the name MOMONA when appearing as a member of ME:I.

Background and Early Life Momona Kasahara was born on October 22, 2003. She began practicing ballet at the age of three and continued for nine years.

Career In April 2015, Kasahara joined Hello Pro Kenshusei (Hello! Project Trainee).

On May 5, 2016, she participated in the "Hello! Project Trainee Recital 2016 Spring" at Nakano Sunplaza, where she performed Morning Musume's "Itoshiku Kurushii Kono Yoru ni" and received the Best Performance Award. On July 16, 2016, during the opening day of the Hello! Project 2016 Summer concert tour at Nihon Tokushu Tōgyō Civic Center, it was announced that she would join Angerme.She joined Hello! Project in 2016 at the age of 12, making her the youngest member at the time. On October 19, 2016, she made her first appearance in a musical release as a member of Angerme with the group’s 22nd single.

On June 21, 2021, Kasahara announced that she would graduate from Angerme and Hello! Project by the end of the year, and that she planned to leave the entertainment industry temporarily to study singing and dancing abroad. On November 15, 2021, her graduation concert "Angerme Concert 2021 ~~Tougenkyo~~ Momona Kasahara Graduation Special" was held at Nippon Budokan. She officially graduated from the group and ended her exclusive contract with Up-Front Promotion. On the same day, her final photo book Dear sister, co-edited by Yū Aoi and Akiko Kikuchi, was released. The photo book project was initiated after Aoi and Kikuchi voluntarily submitted a proposal to Up-Front Promotion, inspired by Kasahara's graduation.

On September 3, 2023, Kasahara was announced as one of the 101 trainees on the survival audition program "Produce 101 Japan The Girls." From October 5, 2023, public voting began, and she ranked 1st in the first round, 3rd in the second, and 1st again in the third. On December 16, 2023, in the show's live finale broadcast on TBS, she ranked 1st with 1,116,716 votes,

On February 26, 2024, she was appointed as the leader of ME:I. On July 11, 2024, it was announced that her official member color in ME:I was black.

In March 2025, she served as the Host of The Month on Fuji TV's "Mezamashi TV." In April 2025, it was announced that she would voice the character Nani in the Japanese dub of the live-action Disney film "Lilo & Stitch (2025 film)," scheduled for release on June 6, 2025. She was selected through auditions held in the United States, with her acting and vocal abilities receiving high praise, marking her voice acting debut.

Produce 101 Japan The Girls Contestant Finished 1st,TBS

Mezamashi TV Host of the month

Japanese dub + Year Title Role Voice double Notes 2025 Lilo & Stitch Nani Pelekai Sydney Agudong Disney live-action film 2017 Yume Miru Television Chiyo Nitta Zenrosai Hall 2018 Attack No.1 Suzume Obata Zenrosai Hall

Streaming programs + Year Title Role Note 2025 Mr. Trot Japan Sub-MC (semi-final/final) Lemino

Radio + Year Title Role Note 2016–2019 Hello! Drive! - Harodora - Thursday/Friday host Radio NEO