Hikaru Genji (band)

Hikaru Genji
光GENJIひかるゲンジ
OriginJapan
GenresPop
Years active1987 (1987)–1995
LabelsPony Canyon
Past membersHikaru
Kohji Uchiumi
Mikio Osawa (1987–1994)
Genji
Kazumi Morohoshi
Hiroyuki Sato (1987–1994)
Junichi Yamamoto
Akira Akasaka
Atsuhiro Sato
Hidetaka Tashiro (1987)

Hikaru Genji (光GENJIひかるゲンジ) 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

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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

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Hikaru

  • Kohji Uchiumi (内海うちうみ 光司こうじ, Uchiumi Kōji, born January 11, 1968): Leader
  • Mikio Osawa (大沢おおさわ 樹生みきお, Ōsawa Mikio, born April 20, 1969): Vocal

Genji

  • Kazumi Morohoshi (諸星もろほし 和己かずみ, Morohoshi Kazumi, born August 12, 1970): Center
  • Hiroyuki Sato (佐藤さとう 寛之ひろゆき, Satō Hiroyuki, born November 2, 1970): Vocal
  • Junichi Yamamoto (山本やまもと 淳一じゅんいち, Yamamoto Jun'ichi, born February 28, 1972): Main Vocal
  • Akira Akasaka (赤坂あかさか あきら, Akasaka Akira, born May 8, 1973): Vocal
  • Atsuhiro Sato (佐藤さとう 敦啓あつひろ, Satō Atsuhiro, born August 30, 1973): Vocal

Hikaru Genji Discography

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Singles

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  1. "Star Light"
  2. "Glass no Jūdai" (ガラスの十代)
  3. "Paradise Ginga" (パラダイス銀河)
  4. "Diamond Hurricane" (Diamondダイヤモンドハリケーン)
  5. "Tsurugi no Mai" (剣の舞)
  6. "Chikyū wo Sagashite" (地球をさがして)
  7. "Taiyō ga Ippai" (太陽がいっぱい)
  8. "Kōya no Megalopolis" (荒野のメガロポリス)
  9. "Little Birthday"
  10. "Co Co Ro"
  11. "Waratte Yo" (笑ってよ)
  12. "Kaze no Naka no Shonen" (風の中の少年)
  13. "Kiseki no Megami" (奇跡の女神)
  14. "Winning Run"
  15. "Growing Up"
  16. "Take Off"
  17. "Lila no Saku koro Barcelona" (リラの咲くころバルセロナへ)
  18. "Meet Me"
  19. "Ai Shite mo ii Desu Ka" (愛してもいいですか)
  20. "Kimi to Subayaku Slowly" (君とすばやくSLOWLY)
  21. "Yūki 100%" (勇気100%, Courage 100%)
  22. "Boys in August"
  23. "Kono Aki... Hitorijanai" (この秋···ひとりじゃない)
  24. "Bravo! Nippon: Yuki to Kōri no Fantasy" (BRAVO!Nippon~雪と氷のファンタジー~)
  25. "Yōsorō! Mirai he Yoroshiku" (ヨーソロー!未来へよろしく)
  26. "Try to Remember"

Albums

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  1. Hikaru Genji (光GENJI)
  2. Hi!
  3. Hey! Say!
  4. Hello... I Love You
  5. Furikaette Tomorrow (ふりかえってTomorrow)
  6. Cool Summer
  7. White Dreaming with Hikaru Genji (White Dreaming with 光GENJI)
  8. 333 Thank You
  9. Hito Natsu Hito Yoru (ひと夏ひと夜)
  10. Victory
  11. Best Friends
  12. Pocket Album: 7 Tsuno Hoshi (Pocket Album~7つの星)
  13. Dream Passport
  14. Speedy Age
  15. Welcome
  16. Uchū Yū Ei (宇宙遊詠)
  17. Heart'n Hearts
  18. Forever Yours
  19. Super Best Try to Remember
  20. See You Again

Hikaru Genji Super 5 Discography

[edit]

Singles

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  1. "Melody Five"
  2. "Don't Mind Namida" (Don't mind 涙)
  3. "Bye-Bye"

Album

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  1. Someone Special

Awards

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Japan Record Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1988 "Paradise Ginga" Japan Record Award Won[5]

Japan Gold Disc Awards

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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

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  1. ^ "Oricon charts: Hey! Say! 7 youngest to reach #1". Tokyograph. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "EXILE tops sales ranking for first half '09". Tokyograph. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  4. ^ 【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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Former Hikaru Genji member arrested on drug charges". Tokyograph. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  8. ^ "Akasaka given suspended 18-month sentence". Tokyograph. 2007-11-22. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  9. ^ "Japan Gold Disc Awards list" (PDF). Japan Gold Disc Award (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-01-03.