In late 2003, it became apparent to Tsunku that Morning Musume, then at fifteen members, was growing to a size that some venues simply could not support. As a result, he created two sub groups, Morning Musume Sakuragumi and Morning Musume Otomegumi.
Morning Musume Otomegumi was comprised of seven of the existing members of Musume: Kaori Iida, Rika Ishikawa, Nozomi Tsuji, Makoto Ogawa, Miki Fujimoto, Reina Tanaka and Sayumi Michishige. Despite being created from the same group, Tsunku insisted that the smaller unit create a more individualistic sound for the singers to differentiate themselves from both Morning Musume and Sakuragumi.
With the release of their first single ai no sono ~Touch My Heart!~, it was clear that Otomegumi were headed in the direction of creating energetic dance tracks. Unfortunately for them, however, Morning Musume Sakuragumi proved to be the more popular of the division groups with both of their singles reaching the number one spot on the Oricon whilst Otomegumi merely had to be content with number three for their first single and fourth for their second single: yuujou ~kokoro no BUSU niwa nara nee!~
After these releases, both Sakuragumi and Otomegumi were dissolved and the members returned to Morning Musume. Although over the years a few of the members graduated, in February 2009, along with their counterpart, Otomegumi appeared with all original seven members and performed their debut single during the graduation concert for the Elder Club.
At this time, with only two of the original members remaining, Otomegumi has been placed in an indefinite hiatus, with little hope for a future revival.
