Morning Musume Sakuragumi
Encyclopedia
, meaning "Sakura Group", was one of the subgroups derived from the Japanese pop
group Morning Musume
in 2003. Its equivalent was Morning Musume Otomegumi
. Like its counterpart, the sole purpose of Sakuragumi was to accommodate towns with smaller concert venues. The group was meant to embody the traditional Japanese woman. Sakuragumi (as well as Otomegumi) became inactive in March 2004, after releasing two singles.
made the decision to split the girls into two groups, "Sakura" and "Otome". Each group had its own theme - the Sakuragumi girls were much more traditional in song and clothing than Otomegumi, performing ballads, with a calmer and more subdued image. The group's name derives both from the Japanese cherry blossom, associated with spring, and Tsunku's wish for the girls to "bloom like beautiful flowers." The two groups would perform almost identical set-lists, and perform in the same towns simultaneously, at different venues. Natsumi Abe
, a first-generation Morning Musume member, was assigned to be the leader. The group released their first single, "Hare Ame Nochi Suki
", on September 18, 2003. The single sold well, reaching a peak of #2 on the weekly Oricon
charts. Their first tour, "Morning Musume Sakuragumi Hatsukōen: Sakura Saku", began on November 24.
It was later announced that Abe would be graduating from both Morning Musume and Sakuragumi in 2004. Sakuragumi performed "Hare Ame Nochi Suki" with Abe for the final time at her graduation concert in January. After Abe's graduation Mari Yaguchi
was elected as the next leader, and the group continued to tour. Their second and final single, "Sakura Mankai
", was released on February 25, 2004 and featured the new line-up of seven girls. This single, like the first, sold well and charted at #2, outselling Otomegumi's single. In June their first concert DVD was released.
Following the cessation of their tour, the group made no more releases and became dormant, after the two subgroups merged back into one. In the years that followed both Yaguchi and Ai Kago
left Morning Musume and Up-Front Works respectively due to scandals, and both Asami Konno
and Hitomi Yoshizawa
graduated in 2007. In February 2009, at the Elder Club's graduation concert, Sakuragumi (minus Kago, who had been fired from the agency altogether in 2007) performed together for the first time in almost five years, singing "Hare Ame Nochi Suki". At Morning Musume's 2009 autumn tour, a Sakuragumi unit composed of Ai Takahashi
, Risa Niigaki
, Eri Kamei
, Aika Mitsui
, and Linlin performed "Sakura Mankai".
As of December 2010, following Eri Kamei's graduation, the only remaining Sakuragumi members will be Ai Takahashi and Risa Niigaki, leaving the group in an indefinite hiatus once more.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
in 2003. Its equivalent was Morning Musume Otomegumi
Morning Musume Otomegumi
was one of the subgroups that the Japanese pop group Morning Musume was divided into in 2003. Its counterpart was Morning Musume Sakuragumi. The group's name is made up of and , meaning "Young Girls' Group". Like Sakuragumi, purpose of Morning Musume Otomegumi was to perform in small towns with...
. Like its counterpart, the sole purpose of Sakuragumi was to accommodate towns with smaller concert venues. The group was meant to embody the traditional Japanese woman. Sakuragumi (as well as Otomegumi) became inactive in March 2004, after releasing two singles.
History
By 2003, Morning Musume's ranks had swelled to a total of fifteen members. In January, producer TsunkuTsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
made the decision to split the girls into two groups, "Sakura" and "Otome". Each group had its own theme - the Sakuragumi girls were much more traditional in song and clothing than Otomegumi, performing ballads, with a calmer and more subdued image. The group's name derives both from the Japanese cherry blossom, associated with spring, and Tsunku's wish for the girls to "bloom like beautiful flowers." The two groups would perform almost identical set-lists, and perform in the same towns simultaneously, at different venues. Natsumi Abe
Natsumi Abe
is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.-Career:On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday...
, a first-generation Morning Musume member, was assigned to be the leader. The group released their first single, "Hare Ame Nochi Suki
Hare Ame Nochi Suki
- Single V DVD:-Members at time of single:*1st generation: Natsumi Abe*2nd generation: Mari Yaguchi*4th generation: Hitomi Yoshizawa, Ai Kago*5th generation: Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno, Risa Niigaki*6th generation: Eri Kamei-External links:...
", on September 18, 2003. The single sold well, reaching a peak of #2 on the weekly 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...
charts. Their first tour, "Morning Musume Sakuragumi Hatsukōen: Sakura Saku", began on November 24.
It was later announced that Abe would be graduating from both Morning Musume and Sakuragumi in 2004. Sakuragumi performed "Hare Ame Nochi Suki" with Abe for the final time at her graduation concert in January. After Abe's graduation Mari Yaguchi
Mari Yaguchi
, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese pop artist and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Morning Musume and Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni...
was elected as the next leader, and the group continued to tour. Their second and final single, "Sakura Mankai
Sakura Mankai
is the second single of the J-pop idol group Morning Musume sub-group Morning Musume Sakuragumi. In addition to the title song and its karaoke version, the also single contains Morning Musume Sakuragumi versions of the earlier Morning Musume songs "Say Yeah!: Motto Miracle Night" and "Daite Hold on...
", was released on February 25, 2004 and featured the new line-up of seven girls. This single, like the first, sold well and charted at #2, outselling Otomegumi's single. In June their first concert DVD was released.
Following the cessation of their tour, the group made no more releases and became dormant, after the two subgroups merged back into one. In the years that followed both Yaguchi and Ai Kago
Ai Kago
is a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she...
left Morning Musume and Up-Front Works respectively due to scandals, and both Asami Konno
Asami Konno
, born May 7, 1987, is a Japanese pop singer, best known as former fifth generation member of the all-girl Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined the group in the August 2001, along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Makoto Ogawa, and Risa Niigaki.- Biography :Konno joined...
and Hitomi Yoshizawa
Hitomi Yoshizawa
is a former leader of the pop group Morning Musume and current member of the duo Hangry & Angry as Hangry. She is the current leader of the Hello! Project futsal team Gatas Brilhantes H.P...
graduated in 2007. In February 2009, at the Elder Club's graduation concert, Sakuragumi (minus Kago, who had been fired from the agency altogether in 2007) performed together for the first time in almost five years, singing "Hare Ame Nochi Suki". At Morning Musume's 2009 autumn tour, a Sakuragumi unit composed of Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
, Risa Niigaki
Risa Niigaki
is a fifth generation member and current leader of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at age six. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving sub-leader of Morning...
, Eri Kamei
Eri Kamei
was a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin....
, Aika Mitsui
Aika Mitsui
is a member of the J-pop group Morning Musume, joining as a member of the eighth generation from the audition in Japan during December 2006. Mitsui's audition process was documented during the late 2006 episodes of Hello! Morning...
, and Linlin performed "Sakura Mankai".
As of December 2010, following Eri Kamei's graduation, the only remaining Sakuragumi members will be Ai Takahashi and Risa Niigaki, leaving the group in an indefinite hiatus once more.
Members
- 1st generation: Natsumi AbeNatsumi Abeis a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.-Career:On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday...
(Former leader) - 2nd generation: Mari YaguchiMari Yaguchi, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese pop artist and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Morning Musume and Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni...
(Leader) - 4th generation: Hitomi YoshizawaHitomi Yoshizawais a former leader of the pop group Morning Musume and current member of the duo Hangry & Angry as Hangry. She is the current leader of the Hello! Project futsal team Gatas Brilhantes H.P...
, Ai KagoAi Kagois a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she... - 5th generation: Ai TakahashiAi Takahashiis a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
, Asami KonnoAsami Konno, born May 7, 1987, is a Japanese pop singer, best known as former fifth generation member of the all-girl Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined the group in the August 2001, along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Makoto Ogawa, and Risa Niigaki.- Biography :Konno joined...
, Risa NiigakiRisa Niigakiis a fifth generation member and current leader of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at age six. As of 2009, she was the longest-serving sub-leader of Morning... - 6th generation: Eri KameiEri Kameiwas a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined in late 2003 as a sixth generation member along with Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka. She graduated on December 15, 2010 in Yokohama Arena along with Junjun and Linlin....
Singles
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hare Ame Nochi Suki Hare Ame Nochi Suki - Single V DVD:-Members at time of single:*1st generation: Natsumi Abe*2nd generation: Mari Yaguchi*4th generation: Hitomi Yoshizawa, Ai Kago*5th generation: Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno, Risa Niigaki*6th generation: Eri Kamei-External links:... " |
2003-09-18 |
| 2 | "Sakura Mankai Sakura Mankai is the second single of the J-pop idol group Morning Musume sub-group Morning Musume Sakuragumi. In addition to the title song and its karaoke version, the also single contains Morning Musume Sakuragumi versions of the earlier Morning Musume songs "Say Yeah!: Motto Miracle Night" and "Daite Hold on... " |
2004-02-25 |
DVDs
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-16 | |
| 2 | 2004-03-24 | |
| 3 | 2004-06-06 |
External links
- Discography at the Up-Front Works official discography listing