Momota has trained in rhythmic gymnastics since the age of three, and jazz dance lessons since she was in the third grade of elementary school.[5] In fifth grade, Momota auditioned for theStardust Promotion talent agency with the encouragement of her mother[1][3][5] and was subsequently signed to the agency's3B Junior section, dedicated to training girls under 18 to become actresses.[6]
In the spring of 2008, Stardust Promotion put her in a then unnamedidol (vocal and dance) group consisting of girls close to Momota's age.[5] The project was very low budget, so they performed on the walkways inYoyogi Park inShibuya, Tokyo.[7][8] A few months later, Momota replacedReni Takagi as group leader.[9] In a later interview, Momoiro Clover's manager Akira Kawakami recalled that from the very beginning Momota was the hardest worker and stated that she could be serious when needed, but naïve and spontaneous at the same time.[10]
Momota was ranked the 12th most popular Japanese idol of 2013 byNihon Keizai Shimbun.[11] As of 2014[update], she held the lead performer position for all Momoiro Clover Z songs.[4][12] Her performances incorporate elements of ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics.[13][14][15]
In 2011, Momota appeared inMika Ninagawa's cosplay photoshoot series in the fashion magazineZipper dressed as a bee and a ladybug.[16][17] She continued to appear as a model in Ninagawa's works inMgirl magazine from Fall/Winter 2011/2012 and again in the issue from Spring/Summer 2013.[18] On April 14, 2012, Momota succeeded famous child actressMana Ashida[19] as subhost of theNippon Television showMeringue no Kimochi.[20][21] At that time, neither she nor Momoiro Clover Z was widely known. But when in 2013 it was announced that she would leave the program after almost a year and a half, there were worries that it would affect the popularity of the show.[22] In August 2013, Momota became the first person to appear on both the front and back covers of an issue ofQuickJapan magazine, which also published a lengthy interview with her.[23][24]
Momota's trademark stunt is a "shrimp jump" (jumping with an arched back and both legs bent backwards), which she performs during the song "Ikuze! Kaitō Shōjo"[25][26] and which some consider a highlight of the group's live concerts.[27] On October 4, 2013, she failed to land the jump and fell on her buttocks. The accident caused a stir among fans and was widely reported by the Japanese media,[28][29] appearing at the top ofYahoo! Japan website.[30] Momota was not injured.[30]
Gekijo Sujinashi in Nagoya Dai Ni Ya (2) Momota Kanako (Momoiro Clover Z) Kanzen Hozon Ban (劇場スジナシ in 名古屋 第二夜 百田夏菜子(ももいろクローバーZ)完全保存版) - (theatrical performance withShōfukutei Tsurube II, released on DVD in 2015)
Momotamaikon (ももたまい婚) - (duo concert withShiori Tamai, released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2017)
^百田夏菜子が地元凱旋！ももクロ浜松で縦横無尽のバカ騒ぎ [Kanako Momota trumphs locally! Momoclo's most comprehensively idiotic commotion in Hamamatsu].Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-07-22. Retrieved2012-12-07.
^ab"【エンタがビタミン♪】「将来の夢はなんですか？」"ももクロ"百田夏菜子が母校で講師に。" [[Enta Vitamin] "What are your dreams for the future?" - Momota Kanako becomes a lecturer at her alma mater].TechinsightJapan. 2013-03-12. Retrieved2013-12-31.
^"ももエビしゃち前橋に集結！3Bライブ「俺の藤井」大成功" [Momo, Ebi, Shya all gather in Maebashi! 3B's live "Ore no Fuji" is a big success!].Natalie (in Japanese). 2014-01-05. Retrieved2014-02-09.
^『ももいろクローバーＺ』マネジャー・川上アキラの芸能界トップを獲るための“戦略”とは？ [What is Momoiro Clover Z's manager Akira Kawakami's strategy "for getting to the top of the entertainment industry"?] (in Japanese).Shueisha. 2013-03-26. Archived fromthe original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved2014-01-28.
^"PROFILE | 週末ヒロイン ももいろクローバーZ オフィシャルサイト" [Profile - Weekend heroines Momoiro Clover Z official site] (in Japanese). Momoiro Clover Z official site. Retrieved2012-12-11.
^ももクロ、初のＡＫＢ超え タレントパワーランキング [Momoclo is ahead of AKB48 in the Talent Power Ranking for the first time].日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2013-06-24. Archived fromthe original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved2014-01-26.
^"starchildももいろクローバーZ" [Starchild - Momoiro Clover Z] (in Japanese). Stardust Promotion. Archived fromthe original on 2010-08-26. Retrieved2014-01-31.
^「ももクロ・百田夏菜子は長嶋茂雄である」 その理由は？ ["Momoclo's Kanako Momota is Shigeo Nagashima". The reason is] (in Japanese). NEWSポストセブン. 2013-10-08. Archived fromthe original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved2013-12-30.
