Hikaru Genji 光GENJI | |
---|---|
Origin | Japan |
Genres | Pop |
Years active | 1987 | –1995
Labels | Pony Canyon |
Past members | Hikaru Kohji Uchiumi Mikio Osawa (1987–1994) Genji Kazumi Morohoshi Hiroyuki Sato (1987–1994) Junichi Yamamoto Akira Akasaka Atsuhiro Sato Hidetaka Tashiro |
Hikaru Genji (光GENJI) was a Japanese pop music idol group named after the character Hikaru Genji of The Tale of Genji. They were managed by Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates from 1987 to 1995.
History
[edit]Until the appearance of another pop group represented by Johnny & Associates (Hey! Say! 7) in 2007, Hikaru Genji held the record for the youngest male group to top the Oricon singles charts.[1] In 1988, Hikaru Genji became the second artist in history to monopolize the top three spots on the Oricon singles chart[2] and the third artist in history to dominate the top two spots on the charts.[3][4] They also won the Japan Record Award in the 30th Japan Record Awards for their song "Paradise Ginga" that same year,[5] making them the second Johnny's artist to win the award after Masahiko Kondo and the last before Johnny & Associates established a policy that would decline all future nominations of awards from organizations such as the Japan Record Awards and the Japan Academy Awards.[6]
In 1994, Mikio Osawa and Hiroyuki Sato left the group and the remaining members formed Hikaru Genji Super 5, which disbanded a year later. Of these five, Kazumi Morohoshi and Junichi Yamamoto have since left the company. Only Atsuhiro Sato and Kohji Uchiumi currently remain with Johnny & Associates as Akira Akasaka was arrested for possession of methamphetamine on October 28, 2007, and was subsequently fired.[7][8]
Members
[edit]Hikaru
- Kohji Uchiumi (内海 光司, Uchiumi Kōji, born January 11, 1968): Leader
- Mikio Osawa (大沢 樹生, Ōsawa Mikio, born April 20, 1969): Vocal
Genji
- Kazumi Morohoshi (諸星 和己, Morohoshi Kazumi, born August 12, 1970): Center
- Hiroyuki Sato (佐藤 寛之, Satō Hiroyuki, born November 2, 1970): Vocal
- Junichi Yamamoto (山本 淳一, Yamamoto Jun'ichi, born February 28, 1972): Main Vocal
- Akira Akasaka (赤板 晃, Akasaka Akira, born May 8, 1973): Vocal
- Atsuhiro Sato (佐藤 敦啓, Satō Atsuhiro, born August 30, 1973): Vocal
Hikaru Genji Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- "Star Light"
- "Glass no Jūdai" (ガラスの十代)
- "Paradise Ginga" (パラダイス銀河)
- "Diamond Hurricane" (Diamondハリケーン)
- "Tsurugi no Mai" (剣の舞)
- "Chikyū wo Sagashite" (地球をさがして)
- "Taiyō ga Ippai" (太陽がいっぱい)
- "Kōya no Megalopolis" (荒野のメガロポリス)
- "Little Birthday"
- "Co Co Ro"
- "Waratte Yo" (笑ってよ)
- "Kaze no Naka no Shonen" (風の中の少年)
- "Kiseki no Megami" (奇跡の女神)
- "Winning Run"
- "Growing Up"
- "Take Off"
- "Lila no Saku koro Barcelona" (リラの咲くころバルセロナへ)
- "Meet Me"
- "Ai Shite mo ii Desu Ka" (愛してもいいですか)
- "Kimi to Subayaku Slowly" (君とすばやくSLOWLY)
- "Yūki 100%" (勇気100%, Courage 100%)
- "Boys in August"
- "Kono Aki... Hitorijanai" (この秋···ひとりじゃない)
- "Bravo! Nippon: Yuki to Kōri no Fantasy" (BRAVO!Nippon~雪と氷のファンタジー~)
- "Yōsorō! Mirai he Yoroshiku" (ヨーソロー!未来へよろしく)
- "Try to Remember"
Albums
[edit]- Hikaru Genji (光GENJI)
- Hi!
- Hey! Say!
- Hello... I Love You
- Furikaette Tomorrow (ふりかえってTomorrow)
- Cool Summer
- White Dreaming with Hikaru Genji (White Dreaming with 光GENJI)
- 333 Thank You
- Hito Natsu Hito Yoru (ひと夏ひと夜)
- Victory
- Best Friends
- Pocket Album: 7 Tsuno Hoshi (Pocket Album~7つの星)
- Dream Passport
- Speedy Age
- Welcome
- Uchū Yū Ei (宇宙遊詠)
- Heart'n Hearts
- Forever Yours
- Super Best Try to Remember
- See You Again
Hikaru Genji Super 5 Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- "Melody Five"
- "Don't Mind Namida" (Don't mind 涙)
- "Bye-Bye"
Album
[edit]- Someone Special
Awards
[edit]Japan Record Awards
[edit]Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | "Paradise Ginga" | Japan Record Award | Won[5] |
Japan Gold Disc Awards
[edit]Hikaru Genji won fifteen awards from Recording Industry Association of Japan's annual music awards ceremony, the Japan Gold Disc Awards.[9]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Hikaru Genji | New Artist Award | Won |
Best 5 New Artist Award | Won | ||
"Glass no Jūdai" | Singles Award | Won | |
"Starlight" | Won | ||
Hikaru Genji | Album Award | Won | |
1989 | Hikaru Genji | Best 5 Artists | Won |
"Paradise Ginga" | Grand Prix Singles Award | Won | |
Best 5 Singles Award | Won | ||
"Diamond Hurricane" | Won | ||
"Tsurugi no Mai" | Won | ||
Hi! | Album Award | Won | |
1990 | "Taiyō ga Ippai" | Best 5 Singles Award | Won |
1991 | Furikaette Tomorrow | Album Award | Won |
1992 | 333 Thank You | Won | |
1993 | Best Friends | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "Oricon charts: Hey! Say! 7 youngest to reach #1". Tokyograph. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ "嵐、史上初の"CD、DVD4 冠"達成〜シングルTOP3独占は光GENJI以来21年ぶり". Oricon (in Japanese). 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ "EXILE tops sales ranking for first half '09". Tokyograph. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ 【年間ランキング】嵐、19年ぶりのシングル1位、2位独占 (in Japanese). Oricon. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ a b "List of winners of the Japan Record Award from 1959–2007". Japan Record Award (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ キムタクが日本アカデミー賞辞退 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "Former Hikaru Genji member arrested on drug charges". Tokyograph. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ "Akasaka given suspended 18-month sentence". Tokyograph. 2007-11-22. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ "Japan Gold Disc Awards list" (PDF). Japan Gold Disc Award (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-01-03.