Magnolia Factory

Magnolia Factory
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active 2015 (2015)–present
Labels Up-Front Works
Associated acts Hello Pro Kenshusei
Camellia Factory
Website helloproject.com/kobushifactory/
Members Ayaka Hirose
Minami Nomura
Ayano Hamaura
Sakurako Wada
Rei Inoue
Past members Rio Fujii
Rena Ogawa
Natsumi Taguchi

Magnolia Factory (こぶしファクトリー, Kobushi Fakutori) is a Japanese girl idol group, formed by Up Front Group under the umbrella of Hello! Project in January 2015. The group is composed of eight girls who were members of Hello Pro Kenshusei. Their sister group is Camellia Factory.

History

2015-2016: Formation and pre-debut

On January 2, 2015, during the first stage of the Hello! Project 2015 Winter concert series, it was announce that the new unit consisting of Rio Fujii, Ayaka Hirose, Minami Nomura, Rena Ogawa, Ayano Hamaura, Natsumi Taguchi, Sakurako Wada, and Rei Inoue, was formed.[1] Up Front Group announce that the name for the new unit was determined as Kobushi Factory on February 25.[2] On March 8, it was announced that the leader and the sub-leader of the unit were determined as Ayaka Hirose and Rio Fujii respectively.[3]

After member colors were announced through the episode #120 of YouTube program Hello! Project Station (ハロ!ステ, Haro! sute) on June 3,[4] their debut from a major label in Fall 2015, and the titles for their debut singles were announced during the first stage of the Roku-gatsu no nama-tamago Show! concert series on June 14.[5] The date for their debut from a major label was announced as September 2 through the episode #125 of Hello! Project Stationon July 8.[6]

2017: Line-up changes

On May 12, Rio Fujii announced she would graduate from the group to focus on becoming a nurse or a teacher.[7] Later on, the management issued a statement[8] on Hello! Project website that Rio Fujii would no longer be part of the group for not complying with the rules. As a result, her graduation would not take place and her contract was terminated, effective immediately.[9] Both Fujii and the management did not elaborate further, the details and nature of the violation remain unknown to public.

On July 13, Hello! Project announced that Rena Ogawa would take a hiatus from the group's activities until at least mid-August due to anxiety neurosis.[10] However, on September 6, it was announced that Ogawa had graduated from Magnolia Factory and Hello! Project after her condition failed to improve.

On December 6, Hello! Project announced that Natsumi Taguchi would no longer be part of the group for not complying with the rules. As a result, her contract was terminated.

Members

Their member color was announced through the episode #120 of Hello! Project Station, as well as Camellia Factory members.[4]

Current Members
Name Nicknames Birth date and age Prefecture
of origin		 Member color Notes
Ayaka Hirose (広瀬 彩海) Ayapan August 4, 1999 Kanagawa      Turquoise Leader, ex-member of Nice Girl Project!
Minami Nomura (野村 みな美) Minamina February 10, 2000 Tokyo      Royal blue
Ayano Hamaura (浜浦 彩乃) Hamachan April 26, 2000 Saitama      Pink
Sakurako Wada (和田 桜子) Wadasaku
Sako		 March 8, 2001 Aichi      Green
Rei Inoue (井上 玲音) Reirei July 17, 2001 Tokyo      Purple Ex-member of Nice Girl Project!
Former Members
Name Nicknames Birth date and age Prefecture
of origin		 Member color Notes
Rio Fujii (藤井 梨央) Riorio
Fujidon		 March 4, 1999 Aichi      Mustard Former Sub-leader, Left July 6, 2017
Rena Ogawa (小川 麗奈) Renako March 27, 2000 Tochigi      Red Left September 6, 2017
Natsumi Taguchi (田口 夏実) Tagucchi July 21, 2000 Saitama      Orange Left December 6, 2017

Timeline

  • Black (horizontal) = hiatus
  • Red (vertical) = Singles
  • Green (vertical) = Albums

Discography

Albums

#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Kobushi Sono Ichi
(辛夷其ノ壱)		 11

November 30, 2016

Singles

#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Dosukoi! kenkyo ni daitan / Ramen daisuki koizumi-san no uta / Nen ni wa nen (Nen-iri Ver.)
(ドスコイ！ケンキョにダイタン／ラーメン大好き小泉さんの唄／念には念(念入りVer.))		 3 September 2, 2015
2 Sakura Night Fever / Chotto Guchoku ni! Chototsu Moushin / Osu! Kobushi Tamashii
(桜ナイトフィーバー／チョット愚直に！猪突猛進／押忍！こぶし魂)		 1[11] February 17, 2016
3 Samba! Kobushi Janeiro / Bacchikoi Seishun! / Ora wa Ninkimono
(サンバ！こぶしジャネイロ／バッチ来い青春！／オラはにんきもの)		 3 July 27, 2016
4 Shalala! Yareru Hazu sa / Ee ja nai ka Ninja nai ka
(シャララ！やれるはずさ／エエジャナイカ ニンジャナイカ)		 4 June 14, 2017
5 Kore Kara da! / Ashita Tenki ni Naare
(これからだ!／明日テンキになあれ)		 3 March 28, 2018

DVD singles

#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Nen ni wa nen / Survivor
(念には念／サバイバー)		 N/A

March 26, 2015

Awards

Japan Record Awards

The Japan Record Awards is a major music awards show held annually in Japan by the Japan Composer's Association.

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2015 Magnolia Factory New Artist Award[12] Won
Best New Artist Award[12] Won

References

  1. ↑ "ハロプロに新ユニット誕生！３月末にはシングルリリースも". zakzak (Sankei Shimbun). 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  2. ↑ "ハロー！プロジェクトの新ユニット名はBerryz工房スピリットを継承する「こぶしファクトリー」". BARKS. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  3. ↑ "ハロプロ研修生の晴れ舞台で「こぶしファクトリー」のリーダーを発表!". ORICON STYLE. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  4. 1 2 "ハロ!ステ#120". Hello! Project Station. 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  5. ↑ "こぶしファクトリー メジャーデビュー決定のお知らせ！". Hello! Project official site. 2015-06-14. Archived from the original on 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  6. ↑ "ハロ!ステ#125". Hello! Project Station. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  7. ↑ "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  8. ↑ "The Fujii Rio termination". Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  9. ↑ "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". www.helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  10. ↑ "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". www.helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  11. ↑ "【オリコン】こぶしファクトリーが初首位 広瀬彩海「夢のよう」". Oricon. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  12. 1 2 "第57回 輝く！日本レコード大賞" (in Japanese). TBSテレビ. Archived from the original on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
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