Moa Kikuchi

Moa Kikuchi was signed to the talent agency Amuse Inc. at the age of 8, after winning Semi-Grand Prix (becoming a runner-up) in the Ciao Girl Audition 2007 held by the company.{{cite web|url=http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/kikuchi_moa/|title=Moa Kikuchi profile at Amuse Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424211530/http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/kikuchi_moa/ |archive-date=2017-04-24}}

On August 2, 2010, at the age of 11, Kikuchi joined Sakura Gakuin, an idol group also managed by Amuse Inc. She joined at the same time as another future Babymetal member, Yui Mizuno. Sakura Gakuin had not yet released its debut single.{{cite web |title=水野 由結 - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト |url=http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/mizuno_yui/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325022404/http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/mizuno_yui/ |archive-date=2014-03-25 |access-date=2014-03-15 |website=Amuse Official Site}} During their audition, Kikuchi and Mizuno performed a duo dance cover of "Over The Future" by Karen Girl's; two members of that group, Ayami Mutō and Suzuka Nakamoto, had also recently joined Sakura Gakuin.{{Citation|last=Mila Puspita|title=Sakura Gakuin Yui&Moa Sakura Gakuin Entrance exam Over The Future]|date=2013-09-25|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dLoimjaeOs|access-date=2017-12-26}}

Besides performing as a whole group, Sakura Gakuin members were also divided into smaller subgroups known as "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 Suzuka Nakamoto in a "Heavy Music Club",{{cite news |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=10 July 2014 |title=Did Babymetal invent 'cute metal' and what is it? |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/28217125 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115213822/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-28217125 |archive-date=2021-01-15 |access-date=2014-12-06 |newspaper=BBC |location=UK}} with the associated music group being named Babymetal. Before the formation of this club, none of the three members knew what heavy metal was.{{Cite web |last=McQuistan |first=Colin |date=2014-07-14 |title=An Interview With Babymetal - Bow Down to Your Kitsune |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/colin-mcquistan/babymetal-interview_b_5578189.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211213522/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/colin-mcquistan/babymetal-interview_b_5578189.html |archive-date=2023-12-11 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Huffington Post UK |language=en}}

Babymetal became an independent recording group in 2013.{{cite web |date=2011-12-16 |title=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 |trans-title=12 to 13 Year Old Girls World's Hottest "Heavy Metal Idols" – Sakura Gakuin's BABYMETAL |url=https://www.j-cast.com/2011/12/16116731.html?p=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020054951/http://www.j-cast.com/2011/12/16116731.html?p=all |archive-date=2013-10-20 |access-date=2013-04-18 |website=J-CAST |language=ja}} Kikuchi "graduated" from Sakura Gakuin in 2015,{{cite web |date=2015-05-07 |title= |script-title=ja: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 |trans-title=Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President |url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/146332 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507123107/https://natalie.mu/music/news/146332 |archive-date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-07 |work=Natalie |publisher=Natasha, Inc. |language=ja |location=Japan}} and now performs with Babymetal exclusively. Kikuchi and Mizuno have a writing credit under the name "Black Babymetal" on the first Babymetal album in 2014, having written "Song 4" together during a bus trip.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGWnW95cZFw|title=K-bleJungle intervista BABYMETAL (KJ on the Road)|work=Associazione Ochacaffè|date=2015-06-15|access-date=2015-06-22}} The second Babymetal album, Metal Resistance, was released in 2016. A third album, Metal Galaxy, followed in 2019.

Kikuchi is an idol otaku, which was notably mentioned as part of her introduction in the Sakura Gakuin song "Mezase! Super Lady".{{Citation|last=Kitsune Gakuin|title=Sakura Gakuin - Mezase Super Lady 2012 [English & Romaji Subs]|date=2015-07-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LQWswaqaPYI|access-date=2018-05-04}}{{efn|The lyrics are updated annually to accommodate member lineup changes.}} Her favorite group is °C-ute, and she is acquainted with her favorite former member of the group, Airi Suzuki.{{cite web |date=2013-08-26 |title=Headbanging with BABYMETAL at Rock In Japan 2013 - Interviews - MTV 81 |url=http://www.mtv81.com/features/interviews/headbanging-with-babymetal-at-rock-in-japan-2013/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323154647/http://www.mtv81.com/features/interviews/headbanging-with-babymetal-at-rock-in-japan-2013/ |archive-date=2014-03-23 |access-date=2014-05-14 |work=MTV 81}} In interviews, she has also mentioned Bring Me the Horizon,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TpxA-gIi6o|title=Babymetal on Their Choreography + Favorite Metal Bands|website=YouTube |date=2016-04-21|access-date=2017-09-30}} Limp Bizkit,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgvGjm_jfgU|title=Babymetal: Limp Bizkit, Wembley and Christmas Presents! - Metal Hammer|website=YouTube |access-date=2017-10-04}} Måneskin,{{Cite web |last=Alderslade |first=Merlin |date=2023-09-24 |title="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 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/moametal-babymetal-dream-dinner-party |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227180033/https://www.loudersound.com/news/moametal-babymetal-dream-dinner-party |archive-date=2023-12-27 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Louder |language=en}} and Metallica as her favorite bands. In her spare time, Kikuchi also likes to watch anime, and her favorite show is Love Live!, which is a series about idols.{{cite web |date=2014-07-01 |title=さくら学院 菊地最愛への100の質問【完全版】 |url=http://www.entamenext.com/news/detail/id=718 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924001525/https://entamenext.com/news/detail/id=718 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2015-06-22 |work=EntameNext}}

Kikuchi is an only child.{{cite web |last=Kikuchi |first=Moa |date=2014-02-15 |title=待ってる時間に読んでください |url=http://ameblo.jp/sakuragakuin/entry-11772092273.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105171502/https://ameblo.jp/sakuragakuin/entry-11772092273.html |archive-date=2021-11-05 |access-date=2021-11-05 |website=Sakura Gakuin Official Blog |language=ja}} She has revealed that her mother was also approached by a talent agent as a student, but never joined the entertainment industry.{{Cite web |last=Kikuchi |first=Moa |date=2014-12-25 |title=Mama |url=https://ameblo.jp/sakuragakuin/entry-11968960436.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201150139/https://ameblo.jp/sakuragakuin/entry-11968960436.html |archive-date=2021-02-01 |access-date=2019-10-18 |website=Sakura Gakuin Official Blog}}{{Cite web |date=2014-12-25 |title=2014.12.25 - Moa Kikuchi new Diary "My Mom" |url=http://babymetalnewswire.jimdo.com/2014/12/25/2014-12-25-moa-kikuchi-new-diary-my-mom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105144347/https://babymetalnewswire.jimdofree.com/2014/12/25/2014-12-25-moa-kikuchi-new-diary-my-mom/ |archive-date=2021-11-05 |access-date=2019-10-18 |website=Unofficial BABYMETAL Fan Site |language=en-US}}

• Sakura Gakuin (2010–2015)
• Twinklestars (Sakura Gakuin sub-unit){{Cite web |title=さくら学院 - 部活動紹介 - バトン部 Twinklestars |url=https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/club/baton.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201165015/https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/club/baton.html |archive-date=2023-12-01 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=さくら学院}}
• Mini-Pati (Sakura Gakuin sub-unit){{Cite web |title=さくら学院 - 部活動紹介 - クッキング部 ミニパティ |url=https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/club/cooking.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405020049/https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/club/cooking.html |archive-date=2023-04-05 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=さくら学院}}
• Babymetal (2010–present)
• Black Babymetal (Babymetal sub-unit)

• Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message (2011){{Cite web |date=2011-05-02 |title=さくら学院、タワレコ新宿店でパフォーマンス |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000069601 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216015937/https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000069601 |archive-date=2024-02-16 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Barks |language=ja}}
• Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo: Friends (2012)
• Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation (2013)
• Sakura Gakuin 2013 Nendo: Kizuna (2014)
• Sakura Gakuin 2014 Nendo: Kimi ni Todoke (2015){{Cite web |title=音楽室 - さくら学院 2014年度 ～君に届け～ 通常盤 |url=https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/music/a_sakuragakuin2014.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216015502/https://www.sakuragakuin.jp/music/a_sakuragakuin2014.html |archive-date=2024-02-16 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Sakura Gakuin}}

• Babymetal (2014)
• Metal Resistance (2016)
• Metal Galaxy (2019)
• The Other One (2023)
• Metal Forth (2025)

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/kikuchi_moa/ Official profile at Amuse Inc.]

{{Babymetal}}

{{Sakura Gakuin}}

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Category:Babymetal members

Category:Sakura Gakuin members

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Japanese female idols

Category:Japanese women heavy metal singers

Category:21st-century Japanese women singers

Category:Singers from Nagoya

Category:Kawaii metal musicians

Category:Amuse Inc. talents