Biography
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Born
8 August 1981 (age 42)
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Born In
Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Iida Kaori was one of the five runner-ups in the 1997 ASAYAN female vocalist auditions that formed the idol group モーニング娘。 (Morning Musume); she became leader of the group when 中澤裕子 (Yuko Nakazawa) left. Iida graduated Morning Musume in 2005, the last of the original 5 to leave the group, but has stayed somewhat active in Hello! Project ever since being the only member appearing in a "Shuffle Unit" every year.
On July 6th 2007, she announced through her agency that she was 10 weeks pregnant and would be marrying the baby's father, Kenji, ex-vocalist of the now disbanded group 7House. After taking time off following the birth of her child, she said she would make a decision regarding her future in the music business.
On January 22, 2008, Kaori gave birth at 10:45 am to a baby boy, weighing 3200 grams. She also released a short statement on the Hello Project official website:
"To all the fans out there:
I, Iida Kaori, gave birth to a boy weighing 3200 grams on January 22nd at 10:45 am.
I've been passing each day one day at a time, waiting for this moment where I can finally say, "I can finally meet my child who has existed in my belly for so long…"
I can't begin to describe the happiness & joy I felt when I gave birth and was finally able to embrace my child, my tears just wouldn't stop. The sense of responsibility and parental love suddenly came forth all at once. I had this feeling that the only ones in this world who can protect this small life were the two of us parents.
I'm a new mother, but I'll do my best to start my child down the path toward a good life.
Please regard us kindly in the future.
2008.02.03
Iida Kaori"
Her son, however, died aged only 6 months of renal failure. Kaori said she would continue her music career in her son's memory.
Kaori made her return to Hello! Project at the Hello! Project 2009 Winter Elder Club: Thank You for Your Love! tour, her first performance in over a year, and officially graduated with the rest of the Elder Club at the Hello Pro Award '09: Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special in February 2009.
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