[3][4] In 2003, Murakami became a member of the subgroup ZYX along with Mari Yaguchi from Morning Musume, Erika Umeda, Maimi Yajima, Saki Shimizu, and Momoko Tsugunaga.
"[9] Murakami sang the coupling track, "Suki ni Naccha Ikenai Hito", with Reina Tanaka and Airi Suzuki.
Project Kids to make time for school,[10] but the idea was later scrapped, and the remaining girls who were not chosen were rebranded under the name Cute on June 11, 2005.
Murakami was grouped with Miki Fujimoto from Morning Musume and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Kobo for the shuffle unit Sexy Otonajan.
[13] On November 1, 2006, shortly before Cute made their major label debut, Murakami left the group to concentrate on her studies.