Natsumi Abe : Japanese singer and actress

Natsumi Abe (安倍 なつみ, Abe Natsumi?), born August 10, 1981 in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan, is a Japanese singer and actress, and a former member of Morning Musume.

Name: Abe Natsumi 安倍なつみ
Nicknames: Nacchi (なっち), Naccho, Nachimi and Nachinachi
Profession: Actress / Singer
Birthdate: 1981-Aug-10
Birthplace: Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Height: 152cm
Weight: 42kg
Star sign: Leo
Blood type: A
Family: Sister/actress/singer Abe Asami

Natsumi Abe was born in Muroran, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan. Her nickname is Nacci or Nacchi. Her younger sister, Asami Abe, is also a J-pop singer.

Abe was one of the first members of the group chosen in 1997. She was also the lead girl for many of the singles especially before Maki Goto joined, most notable in "Furusato" where all the other girls sang harmonies/back-up only. Abe has had a few solo songs including the theme for a commercial she was in, and "Otoko Tomodachi" from the album 4th Ikimasshoi!. She also has lead roles in Morning Musume productions like their play, Love Century and their movie, Pinch Runner. Abe also has done quite a bit of acting in television dramas such as Nurseman.

Abe has never been a part of a Morning Musume subgroup but has led each shuffle group she has been in. She was also the lead of Morning Musume Sakuragumi until her graduation at the end of the Hello! Project Winter tour on January 25, 2004.

She released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi", on August 13, 2003, just a few days after her 22nd birthday. Her first full length CD was released shortly afterwards, containing many solo versions of Morning Musume songs.

At one time, Abe was the most popular member of Morning Musume, and many songs featured her as a lead singer. However, it wasn't until the summer of 2003 that Abe officially went solo. She graduated not too long after that, in the early winter of 2004, to continue on with her solo career. She continued to release more singles while actively participating in other Hello! Project activities such as concerts, the special soloist group Nochiura Natsumi with Aya Matsuura and Maki Goto, and the Hello! Project super shuffle unit song "All for One & One for All", sung together with all other soloists and groups within Hello! Project at the time.

source by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsumi_Abe