Native name カントリー・ガールズ Labels zetima | Origin Japan Active until 2009 | |
Also known as Country Musume, Kan Musume, Kan Musu, Country Musume ni Rika Ishikawa, Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto Years active 1999–2009 (Country Musume)
2014– (Country Girls) Associated acts Morning Musume
Ongaku Gatas
H!P Summer Shuffles
v-u-den Albums Country Musume Daizenshū 1 Genres Pop music, Dance-pop, Electropop Members Momoko Tsugunaga, Mai Satoda, Risa Yamaki, Manaka Inaba, Rika Ishikawa | ||
good boy bad girl country girls good boy bad girl promotion edit
Country Musume (カントリー娘。, Kantorī Musume) is a Japanese female idol group that is a part of the Hello! Project.
Contents
- good boy bad girl country girls good boy bad girl promotion edit
- Country musume honey pie live
- History
- DVD
- Songs
- References
On November 5, 2014, Country Musume was renamed to Country Girls (カントリー・ガールズ, Kantorī Gāruzu).
Country musume honey pie live
History
Country Musume was formed in 1999 and was billed as "Country Girls from Hokkaidō". The initial group consisted of members and natives of Hokkaidō; Rinne Toda, Azusa Kobayashi, and Hiromi Yanagihara.
Shortly, before release of their first single in July 1999, Yanagihara died in a car accident. After the tragedy, Kobayashi departed from the group and Toda carried on as a soloist, releasing two singles under the "Country Musume" name by herself. In the summer of 2000, Asami Kimura was added to the group and the duo released one more single.
Their popularity rose when Morning Musume's Rika Ishikawa—who is from Kanagawa instead of Hokkaidō—was lent to the group in April 2001. Country Musume had their first charting single in Japan with the release of "Hajimete no Happy Birthday." The trio, under the name "Country Musume ni Rika Ishikawa", released two singles and an album. Early in 2002, Mai Satoda was recruited for the group although she initially auditioned to be a Morning Musume member.
The quartet released one single before Toda (the remaining original member) bid farewell at the end of 2002. Afterwards, Kimura, Ishikawa, and Satoda released one more single.
In mid-2003, Country Musume had a major shift in its roster. Miuna Saito, who is from Shizuoka, was recruited into the group. Instead of Rika Ishikawa, the group featured Asami Konno and Miki Fujimoto, both from Morning Musume and are Hokkaidō natives. Under this new formation (named "Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto"), the quintet has released three singles as of date. In 2004, Country Musume (except the featured singers) participated on the fifth edition of Hello! Project's Folk Songs series, where various H!P artists sing covers of Japanese and Western folk songs.
Kimura and Saito graduated from Country Musume and Hello! Project in its 10th anniversary concert on January 28, 2007 leaving Satoda as the only remaining member.
On February 11, 2014 it was announced during the Hello! Project 2014 WINTER ~GOiSU MODE~ concert held at Sendai Sun Plaza Hall that audition applications for Country Musume would be accepted until March 31, 2014. On August 7, it was announced that the Country Musume audition has come to an end without any additions.
On November 5, 2014, it was announced that Hello! Pro Kenshūsei members Risa Yamaki and Manaka Inaba, Morning Musume '14 auditionees Chisaki Morito, Uta Shimamura and Mai Ozeki were selected to join Country Musume. Berryz Kobo member Momoko Tsugunaga was also added to the group to become their "playing manager," while Mai Satoda takes the role of "supervisor." It was also announced that Country Musume was renamed to Country Girls, hoping for the group to attract fans from overseas.
On March 25, 2015, Country Musume released their first single as Country Girls and their twelfth single overall with "Itōshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobō".
On June 12, 2015, Uta Shimamura resigned from Country Girls due to issues between Up-Front and Uta's parents regarding the terms of her contract. Country Girls will continue as a five-member group, excluding group supervisor Mai Satoda.
On June 24, Country Girls performed at the TV Tokyo Music Festival(2) along many other artists, including Morning Musume '15 and Morning Musume OG.
On August 5, Country Girls released their 2nd single "Wakatteiru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summer Time."
On November 5, during Country Girls' first anniversary event in Shinjuku, it was announced that Funaki Musubu and Yanagawa Nanami would be joining the group.
On December 2, Country Girls performed at the UPDATE girls LIVE, alongside idol groups lyrical School and Tokyo Performance Doll.
On February 9, during the 67th Sapporo Snow Festival, Country Girls performed a special live titled Country Girls Boogie Woogie LIVE. It took place in Odori Park in front of the HTB Snow Square.
On February 18, Country Girls performed a joint live with Idol Renaissance for the DOUBLE COLOR session11 at Shinjuku BLAZE.
On February 28, Country Girls performed at the SKY PerfecTV! Ongakusai 2016.
On March 9, Country Girls released their 3rd single "Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~". It is Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu's debut single.
On April 28, it was announced that Inaba Manaka would be taking a break from Country Girls' activities due to asthma. This was after consulting with her doctors. It was initially stated that she would be returning to Country Girls when she recovered from her illness, but on August 4th, she graduated from the group.
On September 28, Country Girls released their 4th single "Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request."
In November 5, during the Country Girls Live Tour 2016 Fuyu day concert at Shinjuku ReNY, Country Girls' second anniversary, Tsugunaga announced that she will be graduating from the group and Hello! Project on June 30, 2017.
DVD
Songs
Uwaki na Honey PieCountry Musume Daizenshuu 2 · 2006
Koibito wa Kokoro no OuendanCountry Musume Daizenshū 1 · 2001
Shining Itoshiki AnataCountry Musume Daizenshuu 2 · 2006