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Natsumi Abe (born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actress, and former idol, best known as a first-generation member of Morning Musume and a central figure in Hello! Project. Hailing from Muroran, Hokkaido, she joined Morning Musume in 1997 after appearing on the audition show ASAYAN. The group gained national attention with the release of their debut single "Morning Coffee" in 1998, and Abe became one of its most recognizable faces through the early 2000s. During her tenure, she also pursued acting and commercial work, and began a solo music career in 2003 with the single "22-sai no Watashi". In 2004, Abe officially graduated from Morning Musume and released her debut solo album Hitoribocchi. She gained further recognition as a musical actress, starring in productions like The Little Shop of Horrors and Turandot. Despite a brief suspension in 2004 due to a plagiarism scandal, she returned to active performance and later joined temporary units like DEF.DIVA. In 2008, she released the duet "16-sai no Koi Nante" with ℃-ute’s Maimi Yajima. Abe has also explored classical crossover music, releasing "Hikari e" in 2014. Her solo single "Yume naraba" (2005) remains a highlight of her vocal career, showcasing her emotional delivery and mature musical evolution.
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