Sakura Gakuin
| Sakura Gakuin | |
|---|---|
| Native name | さくら学院 |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | J-Pop, Japanese Idol |
| Years active | April 2010–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts | Babymetal, Karen Girl's |
| Website |
sakuragakuin |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
Sakura Gakuin (さくら学院?, lit. Cherry Blossom Academy) [3] is a Japanese idol girl group formed in 2010 by the Amuse talent agency. The group typically contains between 10 and 12 members at a time who fall between the ages of 10 and 15.
Sakura Gakuin employs a line-up changing system in which older members leave the group and new members join each year. Since the group's theme is that of an elementary and junior high school, when a member graduates from junior high, she leaves Sakura Gakuin as well, during a ceremony the group holds around the end of the Japanese school year in which these members "graduate".[4] The group releases a video of this ceremony annually, as well as a yearly album.
History
2010
The group Sakura Gakuin was created in April 2010 by the talent agency Amuse. In August, the group participated in the Tokyo Idol Festival (TIF) 2010. This was the year when the event was held for the first time. In October 2010, a unit called Twinklestars, consisting of seven girls, was formed. In November, Twinklestars released their first single "Dear Mr.Socrates", which was sold only at live venues.[5] Sakura Gakuin held its first solo event on November 28, 2010.[6] On December 12, 2010, the group released its major debut single "Yume ni Mukatte / Hello! Ivy".
2011
Sakura Gakuin's first album, Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message, was scheduled to appear on March 23, 2011,[5] but it was postponed until April 27 due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. On May 30, came the announcement that Twinklestars were to have a new single, titled "Please! Please! Please!", out on the 6th of July.[7] In August, Sakura Gakuin took part in the Tokyo Idol Festival for the second time. On October 23, 2011, at an event held in Tokyo, it was announced that the group's second single would be called "Verishuvi" and it would be released on December 21 through Universal Music.[8] The new song was performed for the first time exactly one month later, on November 23.[9]
2012
Sakura Gakuin's third single, "Tabidachi no Hi Ni", was released on February 15, 2012,[10] debuting at number 6 in the Oricon Daily Singles Chart for February 14.[11] Three of the members, Ayami, Ayaka, and Airi, graduated from Sakura Gakuin in April 2012, and three new members—Yunano, Saki and Mariri—were transferred into the group in May 2012. In August 2012, TIF uploaded the schedule for their festival (August 4, 2012 / August 5, 2012), and it was revealed that a new Sakura Gakuin unit would be performing at the Sky Stage on the 4th;[12] on the following day, Sakura Gakuin released news of the new unit—a tennis club consisting of 4 members with Nene Sugisaki being the leader of the unit. On September 1, 2012, the science club was officially revealed as another new unit. On October 1, 2012, it was announced that the science club (Kagaku Kyumei Kikoh Logica?) would release their first single, "Science Girl ▽ Silence Boy" (サイエンスガール▽サイレンスボーイ), on November 21, 2012. On October 6, 2012, it was announced that Babymetal would be releasing their first major single, "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" on January 9, 2013. It was released in four different versions: three limited versions, "I" ,"D", and "Z", and a regular version.
2013
Sakura Gakuin released their fifth single, "My Graduation Toss", on February 27, 2013, and the 2012 album on March 13, 2013. The group held the 2012 Graduation Concert The Road to Graduation Final: Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo Sotsugyō (The Road to Graduation Final ～ さくら学院 2012年度 卒業～?, "The Road to Graduation Final: Sakura Gakuin 2012 School Year Graduation") for fellow member Suzuka Nakamoto at Tokyo International Forum on March 31, 2013.[13] After sending fellow members Suzuka and Mariri, the group started their new school semester on May 5, 2013 at Shibuya Cultural Center Owada with two new members and their new uniform.[14] The group later released their first single of 2013, "Ganbare!!", which ranked 6th on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
2014
Sakura Gakuin later released their seventh single, "Jump Up: Chiisana Yūki", and fourth DVD, "Sakura Gakuin Festival 2013: Live Edition" on February 12, 2014. "The Road to Graduation 2013 Final ～ さくら学院 2012年度 卒業～" was held at Shibuya Public Hall, where Marina, Raura, Nene and Hinata, the last of the original eight members, gave their farewells to the fans and remaining eight members. The group later welcomed two new members, Sara Kurashima and Megumi Okada, in May 2014, bringing the total to ten members.
2015
In March 2015, the group held a graduation concert at which Moa Kikuchi, Yui Mizuno, Hana Taguchi, and Yunano Notsu bid goodbye to the fans and remaining six members. On May 6, six new members joined the group, bringing the total to twelve members. At the same time, Rinon Isono was appointed as the fifth Student Council President. The remaining two Year 3 members, Saki Ooga became the Education Chairman, while Saki Shirai was appointed as the third Talk Chairman.[15]
2016
March 2016 marked the departure of Saki Ooga, Saki Shirai and Rinon Isono, although in May of the same year Momoe Mori, Tsugumi Aritomo and Yuzumi Shintani transferred in. 2016 also marked the departure of the "beige" uniforms, instating a dark gray one in its place, and the promotion of Sara Kurashima to Class President, Aiko Yamaide to Vice-President and Mirena Kurosawa to MC Chairman
Members
As of May 7, 2016, the group consists of the following twelve members.[16]
| Name | Date of birth | Prefecture of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sara Kurashima (倉島 颯良) | February 24, 2002 | Ibaraki | 6th Student Council President Twinklestars Logica? |
| Mirena Kurosawa (黒澤 美澪奈) | May 22, 2001 | Tokyo | Sleepiece |
| Aiko Yamaide (山出 愛子) | December 1, 2002 | Kagoshima | Twinklestars Mini-pati |
| Megumi Okada (岡田 愛) | April 4, 2002 | Aichi | Logica? |
| Momoko Okazaki (岡崎 百々子) | March 3, 2003 | Kanagawa | Mini-pati Logica? |
| Maaya Asou (麻生 真彩) | November 4, 2003 | Kanagawa | Sleepiece |
| Marin Hidaka (日髙 麻鈴) | December 1, 2003 | Kanagawa | Mini-pati |
| Yuzumi Shintani (新谷 ゆづみ) | July 20, 2003 | Wakayama | |
| Kano Fujihira (藤平 華乃) | August 28, 2004 | Chiba | Sleepiece |
| Soyoka Yoshida (吉田 爽葉香) | June 14, 2004 | Osaka | Koubaibu |
| Tsugumi Aritomo (有友 緒心) | September 7, 2004 | Chiba | Koubaibu |
| Momoe Mori (森 萌々穂) | December 8, 2004 | Tokyo |
Former members
| Name | Prefecture of origin |
Date of graduation |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayami Mutō (武藤 彩未)[17] | Ibaraki | March 25, 2012[18] | 1st Student Council President Former member of Karen Girl's Twinklestars |
| Ayaka Miyoshi (三吉 彩花)[17] | Saitama | Scoopers | |
| Airi Matsui (松井 愛莉)[17] | Fukushima | Scoopers | |
| Suzuka Nakamoto (中元 すず香)[17] | Hiroshima | March 31, 2013[19] | 2nd Student Council President Former member of Karen Girl's Babymetal |
| Mariri Sugimoto (杉本 愛莉鈴)[17] | Hiroshima | ||
| Marina Horiuchi (堀内 まり菜)[17] | Tokyo | March 30, 2014[20] | 3rd Student Council President Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece Pastel Wind Logica? (leader) |
| Raura Iida (飯田 來麗)[17] | Tokyo | Performance Chairman Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece | |
| Nene Sugisaki (杉﨑 寧々)[21] | Ibaraki | Talk Chairman Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece Pastel Wind (leader) | |
| Hinata Satō (佐藤 日向)[17] | Kanagawa | Mood Chairman Twinklestars Logica? | |
| Moa Kikuchi (菊地 最愛)[17] | Aichi | March 29, 2015[22] | 4th Student Council President Twinklestars Babymetal Mini-pati |
| Yui Mizuno (水野 由結)[17] | Kanagawa | Production Chairman Twinklestars Babymetal Mini-pati | |
| Hana Taguchi (田口 華)[17] | Nagano | Spirit Chairman Mini-pati Pastel Wind Pro-Wrestling Circle | |
| Yunano Notsu (野津 友那乃)[17] | Tokyo | Talk Chairman Pastel Wind Koubaibu Twinklestars | |
| Rinon Isono (磯野 莉音) | Kanagawa | March 27, 2016 | 5th Student Council President Logica? (leader) Pro-Wrestling Circle |
| Saki Ooga (大賀 咲希) | Tokyo | Education Chairman Pastel Wind Sleepiece | |
| Saki Shirai (白井 沙樹) | Niigata | 3rd Talk Chairman Koubaibu |
Member timeline
Subgroups
An italicized English name in the "club" column denotes that the group in question is presently known to be defunct.
| Club | Band name | Members |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Club (バトン部 Baton-bu) | Twinklestars |
|
| Heavy Music Club[lower-roman 1] (重音部 Jūon-bu) | Babymetal | |
| Cooking Club (クッキング部 Kukkingu-bu) | Mini-pati (ミニパティ) |
|
| Go Home Club (帰宅部 Kitaku-bu) | Sleepiece |
|
| Newspaper Club (新聞部 Shinbun-bu) | Scoopers |
|
| Tennis Club (テニス部 Tenisu-bu) | Pastel Wind |
|
| Science Club (科学部 Kagaku-bu) | Kagaku Kyūmei Kikō Logica?[lower-roman 2] (科学究明機構ロヂカ？?, Scientific Investigation Organization Logica?) |
|
| Pro-wrestling Fan Club (プロレス同好会 Puroresu dōkō-kai) | Pro-Wrestling Circle |
|
| Purchasing Club (購買部 Kōbai-bu) | Koubaibu |
|
- ↑ Babymetal continues to perform as a separate group, but the club is defunct in that there is not currently a group of this nature currently performing as a subgroup of Sakura Gakuin.
- ↑ The group's name in official sources is "Kagaku Kyumei Kikoh Logica?", but the name here has been romanized using Hepburn romanization in order to align with the method used in the rest of the table.
Discography
Sakura Gakuin
Albums
| Title | Release date | Charts | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Weekly Albums Chart [23] | ||||
| Top position |
Weeks on chart | |||
| Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message (さくら学院 2010年度 ～message～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2010: Message") |
April 27, 2011 | 54 | 1 | Toy's Factory |
| Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo: Friends (さくら学院 2011年度 ～FRIENDS～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2011: Friends") |
March 21, 2012 | 56 | 2 | Universal Music Japan |
| Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation (さくら学院 2012年度 ～My Generation～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2012: My Generation") |
March 13, 2013 | 39 | 2 | |
| Sakura Gakuin 2013 Nendo: Kizuna (さくら学院 2013年度 〜絆〜, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2013: Bond") |
March 12, 2014 | 29 | 2 | |
| Sakura Gakuin 2014 Nendo: Kimi ni Todoke (さくら学院2014年度 ～君に届け～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2014: Reaching You") |
March 25, 2015 | 18 | 2 | |
| Sakura Gakuin 2015 Nendo: Kirameki no Kakera (さくら学院2015年度 ～キラメキの雫～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2015: Pieces of Sparkles") |
March 3, 2016 | Amuse | ||
Singles
| Title | Release date | Charts | Sales (Oricon) |
Label / Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart [24] | |||||
| Top position |
Weeks on chart |
First week | |||
| "Yume ni Mukatte / Hello! Ivy" (夢に向かって／Hello！IVY, "Toward the dream / Hello! Ivy") |
December 8, 2010 | 35 | 2 | 2,933[25] | Toy's Factory |
| "Friends" (FRIENDS) | November 23, 2011 | — | — | — | Sold only at live venues |
| "Verishuvi" (ベリシュビッッ) | December 21, 2011 | 29 | 2 | 3,419[26] | Universal Music Japan |
| "Tabidachi no Hi Ni" (旅立ちの日に, "On the day of departure") |
February 15, 2012 | 14 | 2 | 4,797[27] | |
| "Wonderful Journey" (WONDERFUL JOURNEY) | September 5, 2012 | 23 | 1 | 5,649[28] | |
| "My Graduation Toss" | February 27, 2013 | 13 | 1 | 6,963 | |
| "Ganbare!!" (顔笑れ!!, "Hang in there!!") | October 9, 2013 | 6 | 2 | 10,233 | |
| "Jump Up: Chiisana Yūki" (Jump Up ～ちいさな勇気 ～, "Jump Up: A small courage") |
February 12, 2014 | 25 | 2 | 4,021 | |
| "Mathematica!" (マセマティカ！) | September 27, 2015 | — | — | — | Sold only at live venues |
| "Melodic Solfege" (メロディック・ソルフェージュ) | September 17, 2016 | — | — | — | |
DVD singles
- "Heart no Hoshi" (ハートの地球, "Heart Earth") (October 22, 2014, Universal Music Japan)
- "Aogeba Tōtoshi: from Sakura Gakuin 2014" (仰げば尊し 〜from さくら学院 2014〜) (March 4, 2015, Universal Music Japan)
- "School Days -2015-" (School days -2015-) (December 8, 2015) (sold only at live venues and online)
Twinklestars
Singles
- "Dear Mr. Socrates" (Dear Mr.Socrates) (November 28, 2010) (sold only at live venues and online)
- "Please! Please! Please!" (プリーズ!プリーズ!プリーズ!) (July 6, 2011, Goflag/Avex Marketing)
DVD singles
- "Dear Mr. Socrates" (Dear Mr.Socrates) (January 26, 2011) (sold only at live venues and online)
Babymetal
Singles
| Title | Release date | Charts | Sales (Oricon) |
Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart [29] | |||||
| Top position |
Weeks on chart |
First week | |||
| "Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba" (BABYMETAL×キバオブアキバ)[30]
|
March 7, 2012 | 46 | 2 | 2,028[31] | Juonbu Records (Toy's Factory) |
| "Headbanger" (ヘドバンギャー!!) | July 4, 2012 | 30 | 3 | 4,144 | |
| "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" (イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ, "No more bullying") |
January 9, 2013 | 6 | 6 | 18,789 | |
DVD singles
- "Doki Doki ☆ Morning" (ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング) (October 22, 2011, Juonbu Records (Toy's Factory))
Kagaku Kyumei Kikoh Logica?
Singles
- "Science Girl ▽ Silence Boy" (サイエンスガール▽サイレンスボーイ) (November 21, 2012, Universal Music Japan)
References
- ↑ さくら学院 [Sakura Gakuin]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Universal Music. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ Each of these sources (except the first) has "Amuse" in the area for the label:
仰げば尊し 〜from さくら学院 2014〜 [Aogeba Tōtoshi ~from Sakura Gakuin 2014~] (case cover) (in Japanese). Sakura Gakuin. Amuse. 2015 – via Universal J.Marketed & Distributed by UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC
DVD「The Road to Graduation 2014 ～君に届け～」 [DVD "The Road to Graduation 2014 ~Kimi ni Todoke~]. Asmart (in Japanese). Amuse. 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-09.発売・販売元：アミューズ [Distributed by:Amuse]
School days -2015- (case cover) (in Japanese). Sakura Gakuin. Amuse. 2015.Manufactured, Marketed & Distributed by AMUSE INC
- ↑ Distefano, Alex (2014-05-14). "What the hell is Babymetal". Westword. Denver, Colorado, USA. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ "[Sakura Gakuin] "Tabidachi no Hi Ni" (On the departure day), the last single by the current members is to be released on February 15! We've heard best memories of 3 graduating members at Sakura Gakuin and new resolutions of every member. (2012-02-13)". Kawaii girl Japan. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
- 1 2 ""新・なっちゃん"三吉彩花所属のアイドルユニット・さくら学院が熱いバレンタイン・ライブ". De View. Oricon. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ↑ "ガールズユニット「さくら学院」が初の単独イベントを開催". De View. Oricon. 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ↑ "さくら学院、グループ内ユニットが新曲発表". Oricon. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
- ↑ "さくら学院、"学院祭"盛況 12月にユニバーサルから新曲発売決定". Oricon. 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ↑ "さくら学院、アイドル史上初の「学校説明会」開催 1年ぶり新曲も披露". Oricon. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ↑ ドリーム モーニング娘。明日「笑っていいとも！」に初登場 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
- ↑ "Oricon CD Single Weekly Ranking - ORICON STYLE Ranking (2012-02-14)" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
- ↑ "Tokyo Idol Festival TIME TABLE (2012.08.04)" (in Japanese). 2012 TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL. 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ↑ さくら学院、2012年度卒業式は東京国際フォーラムで実施 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
- ↑ さくら学院新生徒会長に堀内まり菜が就任、転入生2名加入 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
- ↑ さくら学院が転入生6名迎え12名体制に、生徒会長は磯野莉音 [Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President]. Natalie (in Japanese). Japan: Natasha,Inc. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
- ↑ "Sakura Gakuin Seito Shōkai" さくら学院 - 生徒紹介 [Sakura Gakuin - School Roll]. Sakura Gakuin (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse Inc. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 さくら学院 [Sakura Gakuin]. Amuse Official Website (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ 「夢に向かって旅立ちます！」さくら学院、涙の卒業式 ['Embark Toward Your Dream!' Sakura Gakuin Tearful Graduation Ceremony]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ さくら学院・中元すず香が涙と笑顔の卒業 [Sakura Gakuin: Suzuka Nakamoto's tearful and smiley graduation] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ さくら学院、12人の"絆"が見えた卒業式 [Sakura Gakuin: I watched the 12-member "Kizuna" [bond] graduation ceremony]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ 杉崎寧々 [Nene Sugisaki]. Sakura Gakuin (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ さくら学院、菊地最愛&水野由結ら涙の卒業式 [Sakura Gakuin: Moa Kikuchi, Yui Mizuno and others have tearful graduation ceremony] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- ↑ "さくら学院のCDアルバムランキング、さくら学院のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ↑ さくら学院のシングル売上ランキング [Sakura Gakuin Single Sales Rankings] (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ↑ CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
- ↑ CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
- ↑ CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
- ↑ CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
- ↑ "ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのCDシングルランキング、ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ↑ "ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬ×キバオブアキバ ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬ×キバオブアキバのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ↑ "Oricon Weekly Singles Chart (2012-03-19)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Official blog (Japanese)
- Official profile at Amuse Inc. (Japanese)
- Sakura Gakuin's channel on YouTube
- Sakura Gakuin on Twitter
