Risa Niigaki

Risa Niigaki (新垣 里沙, Niigaki Risa?, born October 20, 1988 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project], and an actress. She was a fifth generation member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at age six. She is currently the longest serving member of Morning Musume, and was the leader of the group from October 2011 to her graduation on May 18, 2012.