Zone (band)
Encyclopedia
Zone was an all-female pop rock
band started in Sapporo, Japan
in 1999. Although it initially started as a dance group, they turned to an all-female band. Zone has been categorized in a new genre
called "bandol" (a portmanteau of the words band and idol
). The band was started by Studio RunTime and released their first single, "Good Days", under the major record label Sony Records
, on February 7, 2001.
Their most famous song is "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)", released on August 8, 2001. The single sold about 744,000 copies on Japanese Oricon
charts.
Tadayuki Ominami, a representative of Sony Records, noticed that the crowd reaction to the group's debut concert was particularly enthusiastic. Initially, Zone was solely focused on singing and dancing. Ominami watched a live video of the band playing with instruments at the KomeKome Klub and felt that, due to the overabundance of dance groups, Zone had the makings of a breakthrough act, provided they could play their instruments as well as sing and dance.
In late 2003, Takayo Ookoshi announced her departure from Zone to pursue her studies and was replaced by Tomoka Nishimura, one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four.
Between 1999 and 2005, Zone released seventeen hit singles, three full-length CDs, and three DVDs, appeared in commercials, and had their own television special, in addition to attending high school. They all graduated.
Zone officially disbanded on April 1, 2005, after playing their final concert at Nippon Budokan
. On April 13, their greatest hits
album E: Complete A Side Singles was released. The album debuted at number 1 with first-week sales of about 98,000 copies, becoming their first number-one album on Japanese Oricon
charts.
, guitar
& leader
(1999–2003)—lead vocals & guitar
(1999–2005)—vocals
, drums
(1999–2005); took over the leader's position after Takayo's departure—vocals
& bass guitar
(1999–2005)—vocals
& guitar
(2004–2005)
(theme song, "Hitoshizuku").
"Shiroi Hana" was used as the theme song to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
in Japan.
"Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)" were covered by SCANDAL and used as the ending theme to the anime Kyō no Go no Ni and Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band started in Sapporo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1999. Although it initially started as a dance group, they turned to an all-female band. Zone has been categorized in a new genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
called "bandol" (a portmanteau of the words band and idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
). The band was started by Studio RunTime and released their first single, "Good Days", under the major record label Sony Records
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
, on February 7, 2001.
Their most famous song is "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)", released on August 8, 2001. The single sold about 744,000 copies on Japanese 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.
History
Zone started off with eight members in 1997, then reduced to six and finally to four – Miyu Nagase, Mizuho Saito, Maiko Sakae, and Takayo Ookoshi – by the time they released their first indie disc in 1999.Tadayuki Ominami, a representative of Sony Records, noticed that the crowd reaction to the group's debut concert was particularly enthusiastic. Initially, Zone was solely focused on singing and dancing. Ominami watched a live video of the band playing with instruments at the KomeKome Klub and felt that, due to the overabundance of dance groups, Zone had the makings of a breakthrough act, provided they could play their instruments as well as sing and dance.
In late 2003, Takayo Ookoshi announced her departure from Zone to pursue her studies and was replaced by Tomoka Nishimura, one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four.
Between 1999 and 2005, Zone released seventeen hit singles, three full-length CDs, and three DVDs, appeared in commercials, and had their own television special, in addition to attending high school. They all graduated.
Zone officially disbanded on April 1, 2005, after playing their final concert at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
. On April 13, their greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album E: Complete A Side Singles was released. The album debuted at number 1 with first-week sales of about 98,000 copies, becoming their first number-one album on Japanese 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.
Band members
—vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
& leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
(1999–2003)—lead vocals & guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1999–2005)—vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1999–2005); took over the leader's position after Takayo's departure—vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
& bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1999–2005)—vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
& guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2004–2005)
Music
Zone's music has been used in the 2003 Astro Boy series (opening theme, "True Blue" and second ending theme, "Tetsuwan Atomu: ballad version") and the Japanese release of Ice AgeIce Age (film)
Ice Age is a 2002 American computer-animated film created by Blue Sky Studios and released by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge from a story by Michael J. Wilson. The story follows three Paleolithical mammals attempting to return a lost human baby to its parents...
(theme song, "Hitoshizuku").
"Shiroi Hana" was used as the theme song to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
in Japan.
"Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)" were covered by SCANDAL and used as the ending theme to the anime Kyō no Go no Ni and Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
, also known as AnoHana for short, is a 2011 Japanese anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai. The anime aired in Fuji TV's noitaminA block between April 15, 2011 and June 24, 2011.- Plot :...
.
Singles
- "Believe in Love" (December 18, 1999) (indies)
- "Good Days" (February 7, 2001)
- (May 23, 2001)
- (August 8, 2001)
- (November 14, 2001)
- (February 14, 2002)
- (July 17, 2002)
- (September 26, 2002)
- (November 27, 2002)
- (April 16, 2003)
- (July 30, 2003)
- (October 29, 2003)
- (February 4, 2004)
- (June 2, 2004)
- (August 4, 2004)
- (March 9, 2005)
Studio albums
- Z (February 14, 2002)
- O (November 27, 2002)
- N (February 18, 2004)
- E: Complete A side Singles (2 discs) (April 13, 2005)
- Ura E: Complete B side Melodies (April 19, 2006)
Other album appearances
- Music for Atom Age (March 19, 2003)
- Astro Girlz & Boyz (July 16, 2003)
- Love for Nana: Only 1 Tribute (March 16, 2005)
DVDs
- Zone Clips 01: Sunny Side (October 29, 2003)
- Zone Clips 02: Forever Side (March 17, 2004)
- (September 29, 2004)
- (May 18, 2005)
- (June 22, 2005)
- Zone Best Memorial Clips (May 24, 2006)