is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and a member of Dream Morning Musume.

Biography She was born in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.

Career On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday. Her first full-length album, Hitoribotchi, was then released on February 4, 2004, containing many solo versions of Morning Musume songs. In August 2005, her fifth single, "Koi no Hana," which means "Flower of Love," was released, and she also became a member of the Hello! Project special unit Def.Diva together with Maki Goto, Rika Ishikawa and Aya Matsuura in October. The single "Takaramono" was also released in November credited as "Sen", who is the main character of the drama "Takaramono", played by Abe. In the spring of 2006, Abe released a new single, "Sweet Holic", together with a new album, "2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~". June 2006 saw Abe release "The Stress," a cover of the 1989 song by pop idol Chisato Moritaka. In October of the same year "Amasugita Kajitsu" was released, reaching 5th on the Oricon Chart, the highest place she achieved since "Koi no Telephone Goal" in 2004.

On October 5, 2008, Abe performed in an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sunshine City building in Ikebukuro. She was joined by other artists who were popular in the 1980s, such as Hiroko Moriguchi and Ayumi Nakamura. It was announced on October 19, 2008, on the official Hello! Project website, that Abe will graduate from Hello! Project along with the rest of Elder Club on March 31, 2009.

On September 15, 2010, Abe released her 12th single, . In 2010, it was announced that Natsumi Abe was going to form a new group named "Dream Morning Musume" with several other former Morning Musume members.

In summer 2011, Natsumi Abe was cast in the live action drama Arakawa Under the Bridge as P-ko.

Traffic accident On October 7, 2007, Abe's car collided with a motorcyclist in Shibuya, Tokyo. The motorcyclist suffered minor injuries, but Abe was unhurt. She had obtained her driver's license only in July of that year.

Personal life Abe married fellow actor Ikusaburo Yamazaki in December 2015. The couple has three sons. They welcomed their first child, on July 27, 2016, their second child on October 31, 2018, and their third child on December 27, 2022, respectively.

Discography

Singles Title Release date Peak chart position Copies sold Miscellaneous info April 30, 2003 18 15,689 A duet with August 12, 2003 2 81,460 Used as the theme song for . November 19, 2003 22 16,410 Abe is credited as , the song was a double A-side together with 's . June 1, 2004 7 55,113 August 10, 2004 5 47,351 April 19, 2005 5 36,248 August 30, 2005 9 30,450 November 30, 2005 23 11,851 Abe is credited as on this release. April 12, 2006 8 17,087 June 28, 2006 14 14,015 Chisato Moritaka cover. October 4, 2006 5 22,204 May 9, 2007 15 11,817 October 24, 2007 13 11,531 January 16, 2008 9 14,538 A duet with of °C-ute. December 3, 2008 29 6,474 September 15, 2010 22 3,741

Albums Title Release date Peak chart position Copies sold Type February 4, 2004 2 79,483 Studio album March 29, 2006 9 23,972 Studio album 25 ~Vingt-Cinq~ March 14, 2007 21 12,825 Mini album Dreams June 17, 2015 85 Studio album

Filmography Television

Dramas

Angel Hearts (2002)

Takaramono (November 2005) Arakawa Under the bridge (2012)

Radio

Movies Morning Cop Pinch Runner Tokkaekko Last Present Koinu Dan no Monogatari Prison Girl Tokyo Decibels

Dubbing PAW Patrol: The Movie, Liberty PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Liberty

Publications

Photobooks Title Release date ISBN Photobook information Solo December 1999 First solo photobook. November 11, 2001 Second solo photobook. February 25, 2004 Third solo photobook. Natsumi Abe in Hello! Project 2004 Summer September 28, 2004 May 27, 2005 Fourth solo photobook. July 6, 2005 November 1, 2005 Fifth solo photobook. Écru June 12, 2006 Sixth solo photobook. sCene March 28, 2007 Seventh solo photobook. Cám Ơn November 25, 2007 Eighth solo photobook. Photographed in Vietnam. Subway August 2012 Photographed in New York City. Fin no Hito November 14, 2015 Photographed in Finland. Group September 2003 Natsumi Abe & Berryz Kobo – Hello! Project 2005 Summer May 25, 2005 Natsumi Abe & v-u-den – Hello! Project 2006 Winter April 2006

Essay books Title Release date ISBN Album – 1998–2003 April 2003 July 2003 September 2003 Believe October 2003 May 21, 2004

Calendars

Natsumi Abe 2005 Calendar (September 2004) Natsumi Abe 2006 Calendar (October 12, 2005) Natsumi Abe 2007 Calendar (October 2006)

References

External links Official Hello! Project discography

Official Home Page Official Blog