Moa Kikuchi

Moa Kikuchi
菊地 最愛
Kikuchi performing in May 2025
Background information
Also known asMoametal
Born (1999-07-04) July 4, 1999
Nagoya, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
Years active2010–present
LabelsAmuse Inc.
Member of
Formerly of

Moa Kikuchi (菊地 最愛, Kikuchi Moa; born July 4, 1999), better known by her stage name Moametal, is a Japanese singer and dancer. She is best known as a member of the kawaii metal band Babymetal, and was formerly a member of the idol group Sakura Gakuin. She is represented by the talent agency Amuse Inc.

Early life

Kikuchi was born in Nagoya[1] on July 4, 1999.[2] She is an only child.[1] Before she was born, her mother was approached by a talent agent but chose not to join the entertainment industry.[3][4]

Career

Kikuchi was signed to the talent agency Amuse Inc. at the age of eight, after winning Semi-Grand Prix (becoming a runner-up) in the company's 2007 Ciao Girl Audition.[2] On August 2, 2010, at the age of 11, she joined Amuse's school-themed idol group Sakura Gakuin, which had not yet released its debut single.[2][5] She joined the group alongside Yui Mizuno, who would later become her bandmate in Babymetal. During their audition, the two performed a dance cover of "Over the Future" by Karen Girl's, two members of which—Ayami Mutō and Suzuka Nakamoto—had since joined Sakura Gakuin; Nakamoto would later join Kikuchi and Mizuno in Babymetal, completing the trio.[6]

Besides performing as a group, Sakura Gakuin members were also divided into smaller subgroups themed around school clubs. Each club had its own musical group that recorded its own songs. Kikuchi and Mizuno first became members of the Baton Club and its musical group Twinklestars. As backing singers and dancers, they were later teamed with lead singer Nakamoto in the Heavy Music Club,[7] with the associated music group being named Babymetal. Each member was also given a corresponding stage name consisting of their first name followed by "metal", with Kikuchi becoming "Moametal". Before this, none of the trio knew what heavy metal music was.[8]

Babymetal became an independent trio upon Nakamoto's "graduation" from Sakura Gakuin in 2013,[9] while Kikuchi and Mizuno graduated in 2015 and began performing with Babymetal exclusively.[10] The two gained a writing credit under the name of their Babymetal subgroup duo, Black Babymetal, on the band's self-titled debut album in 2014; they wrote "Song 4" together during a bus trip.[11] Babymetal have since toured extensively around the world and released the albums Metal Resistance (2016), Metal Galaxy (2019), The Other One (2023), and Metal Forth (2025).

Personal life

Kikuchi is a self-described otaku for Japanese idols, which was notably mentioned as part of her introduction in the Sakura Gakuin song "Mezase! Super Lady".[12][a] Her favorite idol group is °C-ute and she is a friend of Airi Suzuki, her favorite former member of the group.[13] She has mentioned Bring Me the Horizon, Limp Bizkit, Måneskin, and Metallica as some of her favorite bands.[14][15][16] She enjoys watching anime,[11] with her favorite show being Love Live! School Idol Project.[17]

Associated acts

Discography

With Sakura Gakuin

With Babymetal

Filmography

Film

Notes

  1. ^ The lyrics were updated annually to accommodate member lineup changes.

References

  1. ^ a b Kikuchi, Moa (2014-02-15). "待ってる時間に読んでください". Sakura Gakuin Official Blog (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  2. ^ a b c "Moa Kikuchi profile at Amuse Inc". Archived from the original on 2017-04-24.
  3. ^ Kikuchi, Moa (2014-12-25). "Mama". Sakura Gakuin Official Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  4. ^ "2014.12.25 - Moa Kikuchi new Diary "My Mom"". Unofficial BABYMETAL Fan Site. 2014-12-25. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  5. ^ "水野 由結 - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse Official Site. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  6. ^ Mila Puspita (2013-09-25), Sakura Gakuin Yui&Moa Sakura Gakuin Entrance exam Over The Future], retrieved 2017-12-26
  7. ^ Hudson, Alex (10 July 2014). "Did Babymetal invent 'cute metal' and what is it?". BBC. UK. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  8. ^ McQuistan, Colin (2014-07-14). "An Interview With Babymetal - Bow Down to Your Kitsune". Huffington Post UK. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  9. ^ "12～13歳女の子の「ヘビメタアイドル」 「さくら学院 BABYMETAL」に世界が大注目" [12 to 13 Year Old Girls World's Hottest "Heavy Metal Idols" – Sakura Gakuin's BABYMETAL]. J-CAST (in Japanese). 2011-12-16. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  10. ^ さくら学院が転入生6名迎え12名体制に、生徒会長は磯野莉音 [Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President]. Natalie (in Japanese). Japan: Natasha, Inc. 2015-05-07. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  11. ^ a b "K-bleJungle intervista BABYMETAL (KJ on the Road)". Associazione Ochacaffè. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  12. ^ Kitsune Gakuin (2015-07-14), Sakura Gakuin - Mezase Super Lady 2012 [English & Romaji Subs], retrieved 2018-05-04
  13. ^ "Headbanging with BABYMETAL at Rock In Japan 2013 - Interviews - MTV 81". MTV 81. 2013-08-26. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  14. ^ "Babymetal on Their Choreography + Favorite Metal Bands". YouTube. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  15. ^ "Babymetal: Limp Bizkit, Wembley and Christmas Presents! - Metal Hammer". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  16. ^ Alderslade, Merlin (2023-09-24). ""Even if I invite them, I'm not sure if they would really show up." Babymetal's Moametal wants to host a dinner party with Metallica, Maneskin, Tom Morello, and Bring Me The Horizon". Louder. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  17. ^ "さくら学院 菊地最愛への100の質問【完全版】". EntameNext. 2014-07-01. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  18. ^ "さくら学院 - 部活動紹介 - バトン部 Twinklestars". さくら学院. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  19. ^ "さくら学院 - 部活動紹介 - クッキング部 ミニパティ". さくら学院. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  20. ^ "さくら学院、タワレコ新宿店でパフォーマンス". Barks (in Japanese). 2011-05-02. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  21. ^ "音楽室 - さくら学院 2014年度 ～君に届け～ 通常盤". Sakura Gakuin. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  22. ^ "映画『ヘヴィ・トリップⅡ／俺たち北欧メタル危機一発！』公式サイト". Heavy Trip 2 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-05.
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