was a Japanese musical group named after the character Hikaru Genji

Hikaru Genji

is the protagonist of Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji. In the story, he is described as the most handsome man in the world and he attracts all women. Genji is the second son of Emperor Kiritsubo , but he is delegated to civilian life for political reasons and begins a career as an imperial...

 of The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji

is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, around the peak of the Heian period. It is sometimes called the world's first novel, the first modern novel, the first psychological novel or the first novel still to be...

. They were managed by Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates

Johnny & Associates

is a talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. Johnny & Associates trains and promotes groups of male idols, collectively known as , in Japan.-1962–1989:...

 from 1987 to 1995.

History

Until the appearance of temporary Johnny's unit Hey! Say! 7 in 2007, Hikaru Genji held the record for the youngest male group to top the Oricon

Oricon

, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...

 singles charts. In 1988, Hikaru Genji became the second artist in history to monopolize the top three spots on the Oricon singles chart and the third artist in history to dominate the top two spots on the charts. They also won the Japan Record Award in the 30th Japan Record Awards

30th Japan Record Awards

The 30th Japan Record Awards were held on December 31, 1988, and were broadcast live on TBS.- Award winners :*Japan Record Award:**Hikaru Genji for "Paradise Ginga"*Best Vocalist:**Chiyoko Shimakura*Best New Artist:**Otokogumi*Best Album:...

 for their song "Paradise Ginga" that same year, making them the second Johnny's artist to win the award after Masahiko Kondo

Masahiko Kondo

or Matchy is a Japanese singer, lyricist and actor represented by Johnny & Associates.Kondō is also a semi-professional racing driver and a racing team owner. He founded the racing team Kondo Racing in 2000 which competes in Formula Nippon and the Super GT.- 1980–1987: Early recording career :As a...

 and the last before Johnny & Associates established a policy that would decline all future nominations of awards from organizations such as the Japan Record Awards and the Japan Academy Awards.

In 1994, Mikio Osawa and Hiroyuki Sato left the group and the remaining members formed Hikaru Genji Super 5, which disbanded a year later. Of these five, Kazumi Morohoshi and Junichi Yamamoto have since left the company. Only Atsuhiro Sato and Kohji Uchiumi currently remain with Johnny & Associates as Akira Akasaka was arrested for possession of methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...

s on October 28, 2007 and was fired the following Monday.

Singles

1. "Star Light"
9. "Little Birthday"
10. "Co Co Ro"
14. "Winning Run"
15. "Growing Up"
16. "Take Off"
18. "Meet Me"
22. "Boys in August"
26. "Try to Remember"

Albums

2. Hi!
3. Hey! Say!
4. Hello... I Love You
6. Cool Summer
8. 333 Thank You
10. Victory
11. Best Friends
13. Dream Passport
14. Speedy Age
15. Welcome
17. Heart'n Hearts
18. Forever Yours
19. Super Best Try to Remember
20. See You Again

Japan Record Awards

|-
| 1988
| "Paradise Ginga"
| Japan Record Award

30th Japan Record Awards

The 30th Japan Record Awards were held on December 31, 1988, and were broadcast live on TBS.- Award winners :*Japan Record Award:**Hikaru Genji for "Paradise Ginga"*Best Vocalist:**Chiyoko Shimakura*Best New Artist:**Otokogumi*Best Album:...

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Japan Gold Disc Awards

Hikaru Genji won fifteen awards from Recording Industry Association of Japan's

Recording Industry Association of Japan

The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...

 annual music awards ceremony, the Japan Gold Disc Award

Japan Gold Disc Award

The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************...

s.
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1988
| rowspan="2"| Hikaru Genji
| New Artist Award
|
|-
| Best 5 New Artist Award
|
|-
| "Glass no Jūdai"
| rowspan="2" | Singles Award
|
|-
| "Starlight"
|
|-
| Hikaru Genji
| Album Award
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1989
| Hikaru Genji
| Best 5 Artists
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| "Paradise Ginga"
| Grand Prix Singles Award
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| Best 5 Singles Award
|
|-
| "Diamond Hurricane"
|
|-
| "Tsurugi no Mai"
|
|-
| Hi!
| Album Award
|
|-
| 1990
| "Taiyō ga Ippai"
| Best 5 Singles Award
|
|-
| 1991
| Furikaette Tomorrow
| rowspan="3"| Album Award
|
|-
| 1992
| 333 Thank You
|
|-
| 1993
| Best Friends
|
|}