Berryz Kobo (Berryz工房) is a Japanese idol group formed in 2004.
It is part of Hello! Project and produced by Tsunku♂ (つんく♂).
Berryz Kobo currently consists of 7 members. Each one of them has been assigned a color.
The captain is Shimizu Saki.
The name of the idol unit means “Berryz Workshop”. It refers to the idea that the line-up was initially planned to change over time.
Natsuyaki Miyabi and Tsugunaga Momoko are also part of Buono!.
Biography / History
The girls passed the audition and joined Hello! Project in 2002. They were members of Hello! Project Kids along with °C-ute before the creation of Berryz Kobo.
They released their debut single Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai (あなたなしでは生きてゆけない) in March 2004.
Their 1st album was released 4 months later in July 2004.
In March 2005, the idol group appeared for the first time in the Top 10 in the Oricon chart with the single Special Generation (スッペシャル ジェネレ〜ション) which reached the 7th place.
Their 1st photobook was released in May 2005.
Ishimira Mahia graduated in October 2005. She retired from show business in order to focus on her studies.
In October 2006, they were appointed as official supporters of the Volleyball World Championship along with Morning Musume and Def. Diva.
The idol group held their first fan club tour in March 2007. The event took place in Aichi Prefecture and lasted 2 days.
Berryz Kobo gave their 1st concert in April 2007 in Saitama Super Arena.
In December 2007, the girls participated in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen (NHK紅白歌合戦). It is a popular annual music show broadcast on New Year’s Eve.
In October 2008, the idol unit won the Best New Artist Award (アジア最高新人歌手賞) at the Asia Song Festival (アジアソングフェスティバル) in South Korea.
Berryz Kobo first fan club tour in Hawaii was held in March 2009.
Their 1st live performance overseas took place in June 2009 in South Korea.
In January 2010, Shimizu Saki, Tokunaga Chinami and Kumai Yurina served as PR in Thailand. They appeared on TV shows in this country.
Berryz Kobo held a live performance in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2010.
Sugaya Risako made her solo debut with the song Elegant Girl (エレガントガール) as Himuro Ibu in October 2010.
In March 2011, the single Heroine ni Narou ka! (ヒロインになろうか!) ranked 1st in the Oricon daily chart.
Berryz Kobo participated in Sakura-Con in Seattle, USA, in April 2011.
Their show Kaettekita Berryz Kamen (帰ってきたBerryz仮面) was broadcast on BS-TBS between October 2011 and March 2013. The members played as sentai heroins fighting to save the world.
The idol group went to animeNEXT in New Jersey, USA, in June 2012.
Tsugunaga Momoko made her solo debut in July 2012 with the song Momochi! Yurushite Nyan♡Taisou (ももち! 許してにゃん♡体操).
They held new live performances in Bangkok, Thailand, in August 2012 and in March 2013.
Natsuyaki Miyabi was appointed vice-captain by Tsunku♂ in April 2013.
The idol unit held its first concert at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in November 2013.
They celebrated their 10th anniversary in the beginning of 2014.
Berryz Kobo participated in Japan Expo in Paris Nord Villepinte, France, in July 2014 along with °C-ute as the guests of honor.
Their 36th and last single Romance wo Katatte / Towa no Uta (ロマンスを語って / 永久の歌) went on sale in November 2014.
The girls appeared in the Thai movie The One Ticket released in December 2014. The movie is a comedy about the father of a young girl who is a fan of Berryz Kobo and his efforts to get a ticket for the idol group’s concert.
The members announced that Berryz Kobo is going to be on hiatus for an indefinite period of time in spring 2015.
Berryz Kobo’s last concert will be held on March 3, 2015 at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo.
Profile
- Berryz Kobo (Berryz工房)
- Years active : 2004 – 2015
- Label : Piccolo Town
- Agency : Up-Front
Members
- Shimizu Saki (清水佐紀) – Yellow
- Tsugunaga Momoko (嗣永桃子) – Pink
- Tokunaga Chinami (徳永千奈美) – Orange
- Sudo Maasa (須藤茉麻) – Blue
- Natsuyaki Miyabi (夏焼雅) – Purple
- Kumai Yurina (熊井友理奈) – Green
- Sugaya Risako (菅谷梨沙子) – Red
Former Members
- Ishimura Mahia (石村舞波)
Discography
Singles
- 03/03/2004 : Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai (あなたなしでは生きてゆけない)
- 28/04/2004 : Fighting Pose wa Date ja nai! (ファイティングポーズはダテじゃない!)
- 26/05/2004 : Piriri to Yukou! (ピリリと行こう!)
- 25/08/2004 : Happiness ~Koufuku Kangei!~ (ハピネス ~幸福歓迎!~)
- 10/11/2004 : Koi no Jubaku (恋の呪縛)
- 30/03/2005 : Special Generation (スッペシャル ジェネレ〜ション)
- 08/06/2005 : Nanchuu Koi wo Yatteruu You Know? (なんちゅう恋をやってるぅ You Know?)
- 03/08/2005 : 21ji Made no Cinderella (21時までのシンデレラ)
- 23/11/2005 : Gag 100 Kaibun Aishite Kudasai (ギャグ100回分愛してください)
- 29/03/2006 : Jiriri Kiteru (ジリリ キテル)
- 02/08/2006 : Waracchaou yo Boyfriend (笑っちゃおうよ Boyfriend)
- 06/12/2006 : Munasawagi Scarlet (胸騒ぎスカーレット)
- 07/03/2007 : Very Beauty
- 27/06/2007 : Kokuhaku no Funsui Hiroba (告白の噴水広場)
- 28/11/2007 : Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi (付き合ってるのに片思い)
- 12/03/2008 : Dschinghis Khan (ジンギスカン)
- 09/07/2008 : Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance (行け 行け モンキーダンス)
- 05/11/2008 : Madayade
- 11/03/2009 : Dakishimete Dakishimete (抱きしめて 抱きしめて)
- 03/06/2009 : Seishun Bus Guide / Rival (青春バスガイド / ライバル)
- 11/11/2009 : Watashi no Mirai no Danna-sama / Ryuusei Boy (私の未来のだんな様 / 流星ボーイ)
- 03/03/2010 : Otakebi Boy Wao! / Tomodachi wa Tomodachi Nanda! (雄叫びボーイ Wao! / 友達は友達なんだ!)
- 14/07/2010 : Maji Bomber!! (本気ボンバー!!)
- 10/11/2010 : Shining Power (シャイニング パワー)
- 02/03/2011 : Heroine ni Narou ka! (ヒロインになろうか!)
- 08/06/2011 : Ai no Dangan (愛の弾丸)
- 10/08/2011 : Aa, Yo ga Akeru (あぁ,夜が明ける)
- 21/03/2012 : Be Genki (Be 元気＜成せば成るっ！＞)
- 25/07/2012 : Cha Cha Sing
- 19/12/2012 : Want!
- 13/03/2013 : Asian Celebration (アジアン セレブレイション)
- 19/06/2013 : Golden Chinatown / Sayonara Usotsuki no Watashi (ゴールデン チャイナタウン／サヨナラ ウソつきの私)
- 02/10/2013 : Motto Zutto Issho ni Itakatta / Rock Erotic (もっとずっと一緒に居たかった / Rockエロティック)
- 19/02/2014 : Otona na no yo! / 1-oku 3-senman Sou Diet Oukoku (大人なのよ！/ 1億3千万総ダイエット王国)
- 06/06/2014 : Ai wa Itsumo Kimi no Naka ni / Futsuu, Idol 10-nen Yatterannai Deshou!? (愛はいつも君の中に / 普通、アイドル10年やってらんないでしょ!?)
- 12/11/2014 : Romance wo Katatte / Towa no Uta (ロマンスを語って / 永久の歌)
Other Singles
- 01/12/2004 : All for One & One for All! (H.P. All Star)
- 06/08/2011 : Makeruna Wasshoi! (負けるな わっしょい!) (Bekimasu)
- 09/11/2011 : Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku (甘酸っぱい春にサクラサク) (Berryz Kobo × °C-ute)
- 16/11/2011 : Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku (ブスにならない哲学) (Hello! Project Mobekimasu)
- 28/04/2012 : Chou Happy Song (超 Happy Song) (Berryz Kobo × °C-ute)
Albums
- 07/07/2004 : 1st Chou Berryz (1st 超ベリーズ)
- 16/11/2005 : Dai 2 Seichouki (第②成長記)
- 05/07/2006 : 3 Natsu Natsu Mini Berryz (3 夏夏ミニベリーズ)
- 01/08/2007 : 4th Ai no Nanchara Shisuu (4th 愛のなんちゃら指数)
- 10/09/2008 : 5 (Five)
- 31/03/2010 : 6th Otakebi Album (6th 雄叫びアルバム)
- 30/03/2011 : 7 Berryz Times (7 Berryz タイムス)
- 22/02/2012 : Ai no Album 8 (愛のアルバム 8)
- 30/01/2013 : Berryz Mansion 9 Kai (Berryzマンション9階)
Best-of Albums
- 07/12/2005 : Special! Best Mini ~2.5 Maime no Kare~ (スッペシャル! ベストミニ ~2.5枚目の彼~)
- 14/01/2009 : Berryz Kobo Special Best Vol.1 (Berryz工房 スペシャル ベスト Vol.1)
Links
News
