Takahashi, Ai

Ai Takahashi is a Japanese pop singer associated with Hello! Project. She is best known as the former leader of Morning Musume and as a former member of its popular subgroup, Minimoni. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 through the fifth generation auditions. In 2009, Takahashi became leader of Hello! Project. On September 30, 2011, she passed her leadership of Morning Musume and Hello! Project to Niigaki Risa. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving Leader. She graduated from Morning Musume and Hello!Project to pursue her dream as an actress.