Hello! Project

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]

Hello! Project leaders

* The Hello! Project Sub-Leader position did not exist until January 1, 2017

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

• MBS Young Town Saturday on MBS Radio (the Kansai area)
• HelloPro Yanen! on ABC 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)