Qian Lin

Qian Lin (Chinese: 銭琳; pinyin: Qián Lín; born March 11, 1991 in Hangzhou, China), better known in Japan as Lin Lin (リンリン, Lin Lin?), is one of the two latest members of all-girl J-pop group Morning Musume. She was announced to be joining as the eighth generation of Morning Musume on March 15, 2007.[1] She is one of the two members in the history of Morning Musume that is not of a Japanese origin (the other being Li Chun).

[edit] Biography

When Qian Lin was in the second grade of elementary school (1999), she was scouted by a local television station. Since then, she has been active in the entertainment industry, appearing in many television dramas and other shows as a host.[1]

Through the recommendation of a friend of Tsunku, the producer of Hello! Project (which Morning Musume is under), Qian Lin joined Hello! Project as a part of Hello! Project Eggs.[2]

On March 15, 2007, she (along with Li Chun) was officially announced to be joining the eighth generation of all girl J-pop group Morning Musume, as a "foreign student".[1][3] After seeing her perform at concerts, Tsunku was impressed and believes that she and Li Chun will be key for Morning Musume's planned expansion into Asia in 2007.[2][4][5]

Three days later, on March 18, 2007, she made her Japanese television debut on Hello! Morning. Within the same week, she moved to Tokyo, Japan.