Kanako Momota, a member of the idol group Momoiro Clover Z (hereafter Momoclo), was born on July 12, 1994, in Shizuoka Prefecture. Her nickname is "Kanako↑↑" and her catchphrase is "Cinderella of the Tea Fields." She serves as the center of the five members of Momoclo, and her image color is red. She is affectionately nicknamed the "idiot leader" for her ignorance, inability to read kanji, and confidence in saying the wrong things. Perhaps inheriting her grandmother's gymnastics skills, she was flexible from birth and began rhythmic gymnastics at the age of three. She excelled not only in rhythmic gymnastics but also in track and field and ball games. However, due to her lack of ambition, she never achieved great success in sports. However, her physical abilities are utilized in Momoclo's performances, including her signature "shrimp jump." When she entered elementary school, she began learning dance in addition to rhythmic gymnastics. Influenced by many girls around her who aspired to become professionals, Momota decided to audition in fifth grade. Aspiring to become an actress, she applied to her current agency, Stardust Promotion, on a whim because "many famous actresses are affiliated with them." She was accepted and began her entertainment career. Momoiro Clover was formed as part of Stardust's lessons to provide early teenage girls aspiring to become actresses or models with opportunities to appear in public. Formed on May 17, 2008, the group was created. The agency had no experience managing a full-fledged idol group, and initially struggled to find its feet. However, within a few months to a year, the lineup was solidified and Momota was given the role of leader. In August 2009, she made her indie debut with the single "Momoiro Punch." In May 2010, she made her major debut with "Ikuze! Kaitou Shoujo," which reached number one on the Oricon daily chart and number three on the weekly chart. A major turning point came for Momota (and the group) in April 2011, when one of the members, Akari Hayami, left the group. Hayami, who served as both sub-leader and spiritual pillar, encouraged each member to become more independent and grow rapidly, but Momota in particular showed a major change. Her previously reserved personality, one that disliked attention, faded away, and she climbed the ladder to become the undisputed leader of a top idol group. This development perfectly coincided with the rapid rise of Momoclo, who, as a five-member group and renamed Momoiro Clover Z, achieved their first appearance at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, a dream that had existed since their formation as street performers. In March 2014, they also achieved another goal: performing at the National Stadium. This was the first time a female group had performed there, and it was also a historic achievement, as the group performed there just six years after its formation. They have also been announced as the opening act for American singer Lady Gaga's Japan tour, which will be held at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on August 14th.

Momoclo's leader, Momota, also leaves a strong impression with her words. Even before the rock festival "Ozzfest Japan 2013" held in May 2013, there was strong opposition to Momoclo's appearance, with some saying, "Idols have no place at a metal festival." When it was Momoclo's turn to perform, Momota took the stage and immediately shouted, "Watch and decide!" She rebuked those who criticized them as if they had no right to sing simply because they were "idols," and then boldly proclaimed, "We, the people standing before you right now, are idols!" before delivering a stunning live performance. Also, at the aforementioned National Stadium live performance, they delivered a message to the 55,000 audience members saying, "The venue is not the goal. If the venue were the goal, then once we performed at a big venue, it would be over. We do this to make everyone smile. I don't think there is a goal in bringing smiles to everyone's faces." They continued, "We've come to take over the world. But not in the idol world, or in the entertainment world. We want to take over the world by bringing smiles to everyone's faces," promising further growth.