Li Chun (simplified Chinese: 李纯; traditional Chinese: 李純; pinyin: Lǐ Chún; born February 11, 1988 in Hunan, China), better known in Japan as Junjun (ジュンジュン, Junjun?) is a Japan-based Chinese singer. She is one of the two latest members of all-girl J-pop group Morning Musume. The two were announced to be joining as the eighth generation of Morning Musume on March 15, 2007.[1] Along with Qian Lin, she is one of the two members in the history of Morning Musume that is not of a Japanese origin.
Biography
In 2006 Li Chun participated in the Super Girl contest (and made it into the top 50, but did not win).[1]
After losing the contest, Japanese producer Tsunku had contacted her, along with other Super Girl contestants who had also failed, and held an audition for Morning Musume in Beijing, China, that was even kept from the members themselves.[2]
On March 15, 2007, Li Chun (along with Qian Lin) was officially announced to be joining the eighth generation of all girl J-pop group Morning Musume as a "foreign student".[1][3] Tsunku believes that she and Qian Lin will be key for Morning Musume's planned expansion into Asia in 2007.[2][4][5]
Three days later, on March 18, she made her Japanese television debut on Hello! Morning. Within the same week, she moved to Tokyo, Japan.[2]
Her first stage appearance took place during Morning Musume leader Hitomi Yoshizawa's graduation concert on May 6, 2007 at Saitama Super Arena.