Momo Hirai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Momo Hirai
Momo in April 2024
Born	(1996-11-09) November 9, 1996 (age 28) Kyōtanabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Occupation	Singer dancer rapper
Musical career
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop J-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2015–present
Labels	JYP Warner Japan Republic
Korean name
Hangul	모모
Revised Romanization	Momo
McCune–Reischauer	Momo
Japanese name
Kanji	平井 もも
Romanization	Hirai Momo
Signature

Momo Hirai (born November 9, 1996) is a Japanese singer, dancer, and rapper. She is known simply as Momo. She lives and works in South Korea.

Momo is a member of the popular South Korean girl group Twice. She is also part of a special group called MiSaMo with other Twice members.

Momo's Early Life and Journey to K-Pop

Starting Dance at a Young Age

Momo Hirai was born in Kyōtanabe, a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She started dancing when she was only three years old. Her older sister, Hana, also danced with her.

Becoming a K-Pop Trainee

Momo became interested in the South Korean music scene early on. She appeared in a music video in 2008. She was also on a talent show called Superstar K in 2011.

In 2012, a big entertainment company, JYP Entertainment, saw a video of Momo and her sister online. They asked both sisters to audition. Only Momo passed the audition. She then moved to South Korea in April 2012 to become a K-Pop trainee. This means she trained hard to become an idol.

Joining the Group Twice

In 2015, Momo joined a TV show called Sixteen. This show was created by JYP Entertainment to find members for a new girl group. Momo was first eliminated from the show. However, the head of JYP Entertainment, Park Jin-young, brought her back. He recognized her amazing dance skills. Because of this, Momo became one of the final members of the group Twice.

Twice and MiSaMo: Momo's Music Career

Debuting with Twice

Momo in November 2015

In October 2015, Momo officially started her career with Twice. They released their first album, The Story Begins. Their first hit song was "Like Ooh-Ahh".

Forming MiSaMo

On February 9, 2023, JYP Entertainment announced something exciting. Momo, along with her bandmates Sana and Mina, would form a new sub-unit. This special group is called MiSaMo. They officially debuted in Japan on July 26 with an album called Masterpiece. Before their main debut, they released a song called "Bouquet" on January 25. This song was part of a TV show soundtrack.

Momo's Dance Style and Inspirations

Momo has shared that her older sister, Hana, was a big influence on her. She started dancing with her sister at age three. Momo also looks up to the Japanese singer Namie Amuro. She said she always wanted to be like her. She also loves the K-pop groups 2NE1 and Rain. Momo explained that she loves to thrill people with her dancing. K-pop dance really excited her.

Momo's Influence and Popularity

Momo at the 2018 Asia Artist Awards

Momo is known for her amazing physical fitness and dance moves. Fans often call her the "Dance Machine". Many people consider her the best dancer in Twice.

In 2018, a survey in South Korea voted Momo the 20th most popular idol. She was the second most popular Japanese person in the poll. Her popularity has helped improve relations between South Korea and Japan. In 2019, a video of her for the song Feel Special got a lot of attention online. In 2023, Momo reached a huge milestone. She became the first Japanese person to get 10 million followers on Instagram. She achieved this in just eight months after opening her page!

Momo's Other Activities

Brand Endorsements

Momo has worked with several brands. In 2022, she became the face of Wonjungyo, a makeup brand. This brand is overseen by Twice's own makeup artist. In October 2022, she became an ambassador for the Japanese sports brand, Onitsuka Tiger. In May 2023, Momo modeled for the Japanese news app SmartNews. In June 2023, she was chosen as the Japanese ambassador for the Italian fashion brand Miu Miu.

Songwriting

Momo has also helped write songs for Twice and MiSaMo. She is credited as a lyricist for several songs, including:

• "Shot Thru the Heart" (2018)
• "Hot" (2019)
• "Love Foolish" (2019)
• "21:29" (2019)
• "Celebrate" (2022)
• "Funny Valentine" (2023) for MiSaMo
• "Money in My Pocket" (2024) for her solo work

Television Appearances

Momo has appeared on several TV shows:

• Sixteen (2015) - She was a contestant.
• Hit the Stage (2016) - She was a contestant in some episodes.
• Real Class – Elementary Kid Teachers (2017) - She was part of the cast for a special show.

She also co-hosted the Suwon K-pop Super Concert in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Momo Hirai para niños