Hello! Project
Hello! Project | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | |
Website | Hello! Project official homepage |
Hello! Project (ハロー!プロジェクト Harō! Purojekuto) is the umbrella name for all female recording artists and groups under the Japanese idol entertainment company Up-Front Promotion (a subsidiary of Up-Front Group).
Artists
History
1997–2000: Beginning, Michiyo Heike & Morning Musume
In 1997, Japanese rock group Sharam Q, fronted by Tsunku, began auditions for a female vocalist. These auditions aired via the reality show Asayan, and resulted in Michiyo Heike being crowned winner. Tsunku, however, decided to give five of the runners-up, Yuko Nakazawa, Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Asuka Fukuda and Aya Ishiguro, a chance to become a group in their own right. The girls were set the task of selling 50,000 copies of their demo single "Ai no Tane," in just five days. The girls sold the required number of copies in four days, and subsequently became an official group.
Morning Musume's debut single, "Morning Coffee," was released on January 28, 1998 on the One Up Music label and charted at #6 on the Oricon weekly chart. The group's first official appearance was a joint live in August 1998, at Shibuya Public Hall (now Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall), under the name "Michiyo Heike and Morning Musume," (平家みちよとモーニング娘。) the fan club of the two acts was called "Hello!" The first official "units" were Tanpopo and Petitmoni, created in October 1998. The first "Michiyo Heike & Morning Musume Imotōbun Audition" took place, resulting in the "second generation" of Morning Musume to be added, made up of Sayaka Ichii, Mari Yaguchi and Kei Yasuda.
In January 1999, auditions for Country Musume were held on "Idol o Sagase!" (アイドルをさがせ! Search For an Idol!). In April of that year the girls' official fan club was renamed "Hello! Project", a name which was later used to represent an enterprise of member-changing girl groups. Auditions were once again held on Asayan between April and July, resulting in Taiyō to Ciscomoon and Coconuts Musume, with Country Musume's official formation announced. In July, the first live concert of Hello! Project, "Hello! Project '99 at Yokohama Arena," was held. The first shuffle units were formed in March 2000, releasing the "theme" of Hello! Project as a B-side. The first Hello! Project television show, "Hello! Morning," was created in April.
2001–2006: Rise to popularity, Berryz Kobo & C-ute
In March 2001, Morning Musume co-founder and leader Yuko Nakazawa announced her graduation from the group. The actual graduation took place in April, and Nakazawa was subsequently named as leader of the entirety of Hello! Project. Nakazawa's was the first graduation in the history of Hello! Project, and garnered considerable media attention as a result.
Between April and June 2002, the first, and to date only, Hello! Project Kids auditions were held. These auditions resulted in the future members of Japanese idol groups Berryz Kobo and Cute, who would go on to debut in March 2004 and February 2007 respectively, also spawning offshoot auditions such as auditions for Hello! Pro Egg and Hello! Project Kansai.
2007–2010: Expansion to Taiwan & South Korea and S/mileage formation
In 2007, Hello! Project attempted to expand towards the Chinese market by inviting prospective Chinese artists to audition in secret, eventually resulting in Li Chun and Qian Lin to Morning Musume's roster. Hello! Project also set up an overseas branch in Taiwan, titled Hello! Project Taiwan, and held the "Hello! Project New Star Audition" to recruit members.[1][2] In September, the group Ice Creamusume (アイスクリー娘。) was formed under a Taiwanese-affiliated label as Hello! Project's first overseas group.[3] Duo Frances & Aiko, later named Big Small Sister, was also announced from the same audition. In February 2009, Hello! Project also held a series of auditions in South Korea.[4][5] However, Hello! Project failed to break into the Chinese market due to piracy and their Chinese artists failing to draw an audience.[6] Ice Creamusume also performed below expectations.[7] Hello! Project scaled back on initial plans to expand overseas around 2010 and refocused their interests in Japan.
On October 19, 2008, Hello! Project announced its entire Elder Club would be graduating on March 31, 2009.[8] On February 1, 2009, at the Yokohama Arena, Hello! Project held its largest concert ever—the Hello! Pro Awards '09: Elder Club Graduation Special (決定!ハロ☆プロアワード’09 ~エルダークラブ卒業記念スべシャル~ Kettei! Hello Pro Awards '09: Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special)—featuring 21 groups and 72 members. During the concert, former Hello! Project leader Yuko Nakazawa passed her leadership position to Morning Musume leader Ai Takahashi.[9] This mass-graduation caused another large surge of fan backlash, resulting in even more fanclub cancellations and merchandise boycotts.
Later in 2009, several of the old, dormant units were revived. Tanpopo, Minimoni, Petitmoni, ZYX, Aa! and v-u-den all returned with new line-ups, and High-King returned from hiatus with its original members. These groups became a new concert unit, "Champloo".
In April 2009, Tsunku announced a new group consisting of four Hello! Pro Egg members, named S/mileage, who later debuted on a major label in May 2010 with the single "Yume Miru 15".
2011–2014: Line-up and production changes
Aside from new members being added to Morning Musume, on January 28, 2011, Dream Morning Musume was formed consisting of previous Morning Musume members. On April 20, 2011, the group released their first album Dorimusu 1. Their first single was released on February 15, 2012 called Shining Butterfly. The group lasted until their last concert held at the Nippon Budokan on March 10, 2012 which featured former Morning Musume members Aya Ishiguro, Maki Goto, and current Morning Musume members.
On September 30, 2011, Ai Takahashi graduated and handed her position as leader of Morning Musume and Hello! Project over to fellow member Risa Niigaki, who also graduated on May 18, 2012. Sayumi Michishige was named the group's new leader.
During the last concert of the Winter 2013 Hello! Project concert, a new unit consisting of Hello! Pro Kenshuusei members were announced,[10] later named Juice=Juice.[11] At a Hello Project concert series held on March 2–3, Juice=Juice already premiered the song.[12]
On November 26, 2014, Sayumi Michishige graduated and also handed her position as Hello! Project's leader to C-ute's Maimi Yajima. Tsunku revealed in his 2015 memoir, "Dakara, Ikiru" that he stepped down as Hello! Project's general manager sometime after Morning Musume's New York concert in 2014; however, he still remains involved with Morning Musume as their sound producer.
2015–Present: Post-Tsunku era
On January 2, 2015, during the Hello! Project 2015 WINTER concert, a new Hello! Project unit consisting of Hello Pro Kenshusei members was announced[13] and was named Magnolia Factory. On April 29, 2015, Magnolia Factory's sister group, Camellia Factory was also formed. Former Berryz Kobo member Saki Shimizu helped pick out the group name which carries on Berryz Koubou's spirit similar to Kobushi Factory.[14]
Leaderships
Hello! Project leaders
# | Leader | Sub-Leader* | Period of time |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Yuko Nakazawa[15] | N/A | April 15, 2001 - March 31, 2009 |
2nd | Ai Takahashi | April 2009[16] - September 30, 2011 | |
3rd | Risa Niigaki[17] | October 1, 2011 - May 18, 2012 | |
4th | Sayumi Michishige[18] | May 19, 2012 - November 26, 2014 | |
5th | Maimi Yajima[19] | November 27, 2014 - December 31, 2016 | |
6th | Ayaka Wada[20] | Mizuki Fukumura | January 1, 2017 – 2019 |
* The Hello! Project Sub-Leader position did not exist until January 1, 2017
Filmography
TV
- Hello! Morning (2000-2007)
- Hello Kids (2002-2004)
- Haromoni@ (2007-2008)
- Berikyū! (2008)
- Yorosen! (2008)
- Bijo Houdan (2009)
- Bijo Gaku (2010)
- Hello Pro! Time (2011-2012)
- Hello! Satoyama Life (2012-2013)
- The Girls Live (2014-present)
Radio
Internet
- Hello! Project Station (2013-)
Theatre
- Princess Knight: The Musical (August 1, 2006 – August 27, 2006)
- Cinderella: The Musical (2008)
- Fashionable: The Musical (2010)
Sports festivals
- Hello! Project Daiundōkai (March 31, 2001 at Saitama Super Arena)
- Hello! Project Daiundōkai (November 3, 2002 at Osaka Dome)
- Hello! Project Sports Festival 2003 (November 16, 2003 at Osaka Dome)
- Hello! Project Sports Festival 2003 (November 22, 2003 at Tokyo Dome)
- Hello! Project Sports Festival 2004 (November 14, 2004 at Toyota Stadium)
- Hello! Project Sports Festival 2004 (December 5, 2004 at Saitama Super Arena)
- Hello! Project Sports Festival 2006 ~Hello!Diva Athlete~ (March 19, 2006 at Saitama Super Arena)
Concerts
Name | Start date | End date | Performances | Release format (date) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Concert "Hello!" | July 12, 1998 | July 27, 1998 | 3 in 3 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project Happy New Year '99 | January 2, 1999 | January 3, 1999 | 2 in 1 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project Summer Concert '99 | August 14, 1999 | August 26, 1999 | 4 in 3 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project Happy New Year 2000 | January 2, 2000 | January 30, 2000 | 16 in 3 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project 2000 Atsumare! Summer Party | July 15, 2000 | September 10, 2000 | In 12 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project 2001 Sugoizo! Nijū-seiki | January 2, 2001 | February 25, 2001 | 19 in 3 cities | VHS |
Hello! Project 2001 Together! Summer Party! | July 14, 2001 | July 29, 2001 | 13 in 3 cities | VHS, DVD |
Hello! Project 2002 ~Kotoshi mo Sugoizo~ | January 2, 2002 | February 17, 2002 | 28 in 7 cities | VHS, DVD (March 20, 2002) |
Hello! Project 2002 ~One Happy Summer Day~ | July 13, 2002 | July 28, 2002 | 12 in 3 cities | VHS, DVD (October 17, 2002) |
Hello! Project 2003 Winter ~Tanoshinjattemasu!~ | January 2, 2003 | February 2, 2003 | 25 in 4 cities | VHS, DVD (March 19, 2003) |
Hello! Project 2003 Summer ~Yosha! Bikkuri Summer!!~ | July 19, 2003 | July 27, 2003 | 12 in 3 cities | VHS, DVD (October 8, 2003) |
Hello! Project 2004 Winter ~C'mon! Dance World~ | January 3, 2004 | January 25, 2004 | 23 in 4 cities | DVD (March 17, 2004) |
Hello! Project 2004 Summer ~Natsu no Dōn!~ | July 17, 2004 | August 1, 2004 | 12 in 3 cities | DVD (October 6, 2004) |
Hello! Project 2005 Winter All Stars Dairanbu ~A Happy New Power! Kaori Iida Graduation Special~
|
January 29, 2005
|
January 30, 2005
|
2 in Yokohama
|
DVD (March 16, 2005) |
Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayō Show ~'05 Selection Collection!~ | July 10, 2005 | July 24, 2005 | 8 in 3 cities | DVD (October 5, 2005) |
Hello! Project 2006 Winter ~Zeninshū Go!~
|
January 28, 2006
|
January 29, 2006
|
2 in Yokohama
|
DVD (cancelled original release: March 29, 2006. Released later as a fan club item on December 20, 2008) |
Hello! Project 2006 Summer ~Wonderful Hearts Land~ | July 9, 2006 | July 23, 2006 | 7 in 3 cities | DVD (October 4, 2006) |
Hello! Project 2007 Winter Shūketsu! 10th Anniversary
|
January 27, 2007
|
January 28, 2007
|
3 in Yokohama
|
DVD (4-disc DVD set including footage from the three concerts and backstage, Winter Shūketsu! 10th Anniversary: March 28, 2007) |
Hello! Project 2007 Summer 10th Anniversary Dai Kanshasai ~Hello☆Pro Natsu Matsuri!~ |
July 15, 2007 | July 29, 2007 | 11 in 3 cities | DVD (October 16, 2007) |
Hello! Project 2008 Winter ~Kettei! Hello☆Pro Awards '08~
|
January 26, 2008
|
January 27, 2008
|
3 in Yokohama
|
DVD (Kettei! Hello☆Pro Awards '08, Kashimashi Elder Club, Wonderful Hearts Nenjū Mukyū: March 26, 2008) |
Hello! Project 2008 Summer Wonderful Hearts Kōen ~Hishochi de Date Itashima Show~ |
July 19, 2008 | August 3, 2008 | 11 in 3 cities | DVD (October 22, 2008) |
Hello! Project 2009 Winter Kettei! Hello☆Pro Awards '09 ~Elder Club Graduation Special~
|
January 31, 2009
|
February 2, 2009
|
3 in Yokohama
|
DVD (Thank You For Your Love!, Kakumei Gannen: March 25, 2009, Kettei! Hello☆Pro Awards '09 ~Elder Club Graduation Special: April 15, 2009) |
Hello! Project 2009 Summer Kakumei Gannen ~Hello! Champloo~ | July 19, 2009 | August 3, 2009 | 12 in 3 cities | DVD (November 14, 2009) |
Hello! Project 2010 Winter Kachō Fūgetsu ~Shuffle Date~
|
January 5, 2010
|
January 24, 2010
|
8 in 3 cities
|
DVD (Shuffle Date: March 31, 2010, Mobekimasu: April 8, 2010), Blu-ray Disc (Shuffle Date and Mobekimasu: August 4, 2010) |
Hello! Project 2010 Summer ~Fankora!~ | July 18, 2010 | August 8, 2010 | 13 in 4 cities | DVD (October 27, 2010), Blu-ray Disc (December 15, 2010) |
Hello! Project 2011 Winter ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~ | January 2, 2011 | January 23, 2011 | 20 in 3 cities | DVD (A Gana Live, B Kkuri Live: April 27, 2011), Blu-ray Disc (a Full Edition: May 18, 2011) |
Hello! Project 2011 Summer ~Nippon no Mirai wa~ | July 16, 2011 | August 14, 2011 | 18 in 3 cities | DVD (Wow Wow Live, Yeah Yeah Live: November 16, 2011), Blu-ray Disc (a Full Edition: December 14, 2012) |
Hello! Project 2012 Winter ~Hello☆Pro Tengoku~ | January 2, 2012 | January 22, 2012 | 19 in 3 cities | DVD (Rock Zzang, Punky Zzang: April 11, 2012), Blu-ray Disc (a Full Edition: May 16, 2012) |
Hello! Project Tanjou 15th Anniversary Live 2012 Summer | July 21, 2011 | August 19, 2011 | 18 in 3 cities | DVD (Ktkr, Wkwk: November 14, 2012), Blu-ray Disc (a Full Edition: December 5, 2012) |
Hello! Project Tanjou 15th Anniversary Live 2013 Winter | January 2, 2013 | February 3, 2013 | 24 in 4 cities | |
See also
- Hello! Project's futsal team Gatas Brilhantes H.P.
- Hello! Project shuffle units
References
- ↑ "New Star Audition website" (in Chinese). helloproject.com.tw. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ↑ "New Star Audition information" (in Japanese). helloproject.com.tw. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ↑ "Ice creamusume blog" (in Chinese). Pixnet. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
- ↑ "Japanese Girl Band Seeks Korean Member". The Korea Times. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ↑ "Japan's Hello! Project to Recruit Korean Members" (in Japanese). Yonhap News. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ↑ "Morning Musume not ready to graduate yet". The Japan Times. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- ↑ Li Ziying (2016-03-05). "新生代女團卡位 輕甜心竄出頭". China Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- ↑ "Elder Club members to graduate from Hello! Project". Hello!Online. October 19, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
- ↑ "The end of an era: Elder Club graduates". Hello!Online. February 1, 2009.
- ↑ Tsunku (3 February 2013). ハロプロ研修生内、新ユニット結成のお知らせ。. オフィシャルファンクラブWebサイト Hello! Project (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ↑ ハロプロ研修生のユニット名決定. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- ↑ "新アイドルユニット"Juice=Juice"、ハロプロ公演でデビュー曲初披露". De View. Oricon. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ↑ "ハロプロ 8人組新ユニット結成発表/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ↑ "UP-FRONT LINK". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ↑ "ハロー!プロジェクト オフィシャルサイト". Hello! Project. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ↑ "高橋愛の画像、高橋愛の経歴・プロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ↑ "【HMV-エルパカBOOKS限定特典付き】 ハロー!チャンネル Vol.8 カドカワムック|エルパカBOOKS". HMV ONLINE. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ↑ "Pocket Morning Weekly Q&A (2/20/2013)". Hello! Online. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ↑ "ハロー!プロジェクトのリーダーに関するお知らせ". helloproject.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
- ↑ kame (2016-12-31). "Hello! Project New Leader and Sub-leader Announced". Kimi.Kame. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
External links
- Hello! Project official website (in Japanese)