Ai Kago

Ai Kago (加護 亜依) is a Japanese actress and singer.

In 2000, Kago debuted as a 4th generation member of the idol girl group Morning Musume.

During her time in the group, she was also part of Mini-Moni and other Hello! Project sub-groups.

At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by the Up-Front Works in 2000.

On April 15, she, along with Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, and Nozomi Tsuji, were inducted into the idol group Morning Musume as its fourth generation.

Their recording debut was in the group's ninth single "Happy Summer Wedding".

Kago and Tsuji's addition to the group received positive critical response.

With an increasing fan base, they, along with Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi and Coconuts Musume member Mika Todd, formed a new subgroup named Mini-Moni.

In addition to this, Kago was also admitted into established subgroup Tanpopo as a second generation member.

From 2001 to 2004 Kago participated in the annual Hello! Project shuffle units (3-nin Matsuri in 2001, Happy 7 in 2002, Salt5 in 2003, and H.P. All Stars in 2004).

In 2004, Kago departed from Morning Musume and became part of the duo W with Nozomi Tsuji.

In August 2004, Kago and Tsuji graduated from Morning Musume together after Minimoni began their indefinite hiatus.

Under the arrangement of their agency, Kago and Tsuji formed a new pop duo, W, releasing two albums and six singles together.

In 2006, Kago was suspended from her agency for underage smoking and subsequently dismissed in 2007, forcing her to leave W and Hello!

Project.

Before the release of their seventh single and their third album, W3: Faithful, on February 9, 2006, Friday published photos showing Kago smoking.

She was 15 at the time the photos were taken.

The following day, her agency issued a press statement saying that she and W's activities had been suspended "indefinitely."

Kago spent the remainder of the year under house arrest at her family's residence in Nara.

During this time, she was not allowed to have contact with Tsuji or any of the other members from her agency, and she was caught smoking again during her probation period.

In 2007 Up-Front Works reported that they were working on her comeback.

In late March 2007, photos of Kago going to an onsen with a man 18 years her senior and smoking for a third time circulated in the media, further tarnishing her reputation.

Not long after, Yuukichi Kawaguchi, the director of Up-Front Works, issued a statement announcing that she had been dismissed from the agency.

After Kago departed from Up-Front Agency, her mother attempted to sign her to a new talent agency in her hometown, Nara.

Later that year, Josei Seven published an interview with her mother, revealing that Kago left Japan and started residing in New York City.

Kago herself later revealed that she had actually not gone to New York, but rather to Los Angeles for three months because she felt like a criminal in Japan.

During her stay, she met people who encouraged her, including Winona Ryder, and was able to reflect on her situation.

She also considered suicide and cut her wrists.

In 2008, she returned to entertainment as an actress, appearing in Kung Fu Chefs (2009), Ju-On: Black Ghost (2009), and Battle of Demons (2009).

Kago made a well-publicized return to the entertainment industry in 2008 with plans of pursuing an acting career.

She began appearing in multiple Hong Kong movies, including Kung Fu Chefs.

On August 25, 2008, Kago released a book entitled Kago Ai Live—Miseinen Hakusho (ＬＩＶＥ—未成年白書).

On her blog, she described the book as "a book where I talk to young teens about their various troubles and dreams."

In 2009, Kago returned to music as well, releasing her debut solo single, "No Hesitation" (2009), followed by her jazz album, Ai Kago Meets Jazz (2010).

During 2009, Kago also focused on rebuilding her music career.

On June 24, 2009, she released her first solo single "No HesitAtIon" [sic] on independent record label In Da Groove.

On February 16, 2010, she held her first jazz concert at bar JZ Brat in Tokyo.

Kago's first jazz album, Ai Kago meets Jazz: The First Door, was released on March 31, 2010 through P-Vine Records and Avex Marketing.

In August 2010 she was invited to perform at music festival Summer Sonic.

She also formed her own girl group, Girls Beat!!, in 2013, of which she remained a member until 2016.