Otokogumi

Otokogumi
男闘呼組（おとこぐみ）
OriginJapan
GenresRock, Pop-rock, Rock'n Roll
Years active1988 (1988)–1993, 2022-2023
LabelsBMV Victor
Past membersShoji Narita
Kazuya Takahashi
Kenichi Okamoto
Koyo Maeda
Websiteotokogumi.tokyo

Otokogumi (男闘呼組（おとこぐみ）) was a Japanese pop music idol group managed by Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates from 1988 to 1993. They were the first talents from the agency, who would debut not only as idols but as musicians who could play on music instruments. In 2022, they announced resume of their music activities for the period of one year.

History

[edit]

Some of the members, such as Narita, Okamoto and Takahashi joined the idol agency Johnny's in 1984 and were part of the junior group. In 1986, they hosted their own variety television show "Idol Hanagumi Otokogumi" on NTV.

In early 1988, half a year before their debut, they made their first stage performances along with Shounen Ninja and Shonentai together as "Gosanke (少年御三家)" on Nippon Budokan. In August of the same year, they made music major debut with the single "Daybreak" released under BMG Victor label.[1] The single became a number one hit during its first week of released and remained on number four on the 1988 yearly single rankings. On 31 December 1988 they received an award from the category "Best New Artist" on the 30th Japan Record Awards[2] and made their first television appearance on the national end-year program Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[3] In 1991, with the release of the sixth single "Angel", they started to write and compose songs on their own. In 1993, after the departure of Takahashi, the group suddenly went on the hiatus. Soon after Narita and Maeda left the agency, leaving only Morita in the agency up until 2021.[4]

In 2022, the group suddenly announced the resuming of their music activities on the same day, when the list of performers on the TBS music television program "Ongaku no Hi" was announced.[5] It was later revealed that some of the members start to meet together few weeks before Johnny Kitagawa's death in 2019 and slowly built interest from each other to start doing music together again.[6] In the same year, they launched new rock band "Rockon Social Club" with the bassist Yohito Teraoka from the Jun Sky Walker(s).[7]

In 2023, they launched their final live tour "Otokogumi 2023 The Last Live". The group decided to focus on the venues where they had scheduled live performances at the time before their hiatus in 1993.[8]

In January 2024, they announced a public statement about donating 40 million yen from the final day of their concert to the victims of the 2024 Noto earthquake.[9][10]

Members

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  • Narita Shouji (成田（なりた） 昭次（しょうじ）, Shouji Narita, born August 1, 1968): Vocal, Lead Guitar
  • Takahashi Kazuya (高橋（たかはし） 和也（かずや）, Kazuya Takahashi, born May 20, 1969): Vocal, Bass
  • Okamoto Kenichi (岡本（おかもと） 健一（けんいち）, Kenichi Okamoto, born May 21, 1969): Vocal, Rhythm Guitar
  • Maeda Kouyou (前田（まえだ） 耕陽（こうよう）, Koyo Maeda, born August 16, 1968): Leader, Vocal, Keyboard, Drum

Former members

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  • Moriya Jirou (守屋二郎（もりや） 二郎（じろう）, Jirou Moriya, born January 21, 1967): Bass
  • Tsuchida Kazunori (土田（つちだ） 一徳（かずのり）, Kazunori Tsuchida, born June 28, 1969): Keyboard
  • Endou Naoto (遠藤（えんどう） 直人（なおと）, Naoto Endou, born April 20, 1969): Keyboard

Discography

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Singles

[edit]
Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[11] 		Label
1988 "Daybreak" 1 BMG Victor
"Aki" (秋)
1989 "Time Zone"
"Cross to You/Rockin' My Soul"
1990 "Don't Sleep" 2
1991 "Angel"
1992 "Nemuritsuku Mae Ni" (眠りにつく前に) 24
"Thursday Morning" 25
"The Front" 35
1993 "Tokyo Plastic Shonen" (TOKYOプラスティック少年) 68

Albums

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[11]
Otokogumi (男闘呼組) 2
Otokogumi Nimaime (男闘呼組 二枚目)
  • Released: 1989.6.28
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape
San (参)
  • Released: 1990.3.28
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape
 1
I'm Waiting 4 You
  • Released: 1991.2.21
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape
 3
5-1 Higenjitsu (5-1…非現実…)
  • Released: 1992.6.21
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 9
5-2 Saininshiki (5-2…再認識…)
  • Released: 1992.7.22
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 12
5-3 Mugenjitsu (5-3…無現実…)
  • Released: 1992.8.21
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 11
Rokudenashi (ロクデナシ)
  • Released: 1993.8.21
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 35

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[11]
Best of Ballads
  • Released: 1992.12.2
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 -
New Best Otokogumi (男闘呼組)
  • Released: 1994.11.23
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 -
Hit Collection
  • Released: 1999.11.20.
  • Label: BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
 -

Videography

[edit]
Release Title
1 1987.8.3日[12] Made in U.S.A.
2 1987.12.16[13] Best Friend
3 1988.2.18[14] Xing point
4 1989.9.6[15] Endless Trip
5 1989.11.21[16]
 Otokogumi Big Tour'89 in Dome
6 1990.8.24[17] Otokogumi 2,050,000 Byo no Kiseki
7 1991.7.21[18][19]
[20][21] 		Otokogumi Live in Yokohama 1991 vol.1
8 Otokogumi Live in Yokohama 1991 vol.2
9 1992.11.1[22] Kara to Boku、Watasi to Jibun wa Minna Nakayoshi
10 2024.3.15[23] Otokogumi Last Forever

References

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  1. ^ "男闘呼組が『SONGS』初登場、デビュー曲「DAY BREAK」などパフォーマンス". billboard Japan. 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ "活動〜日本レコード大賞〜". jacompa.or.jp. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  3. ^ "NHK紅白歌合戦ヒストリー". NHK. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  4. ^ "岡本健一、10月末でジャニーズ事務所と専属契約終了 エージェント契約へ「新たな挑戦が必要」". Oricon. 19 October 2021.
  5. ^ "男闘呼組 ２９年ぶり再結成、ＴＢＳ系「音楽の日」サプライズゲストで３曲披露を発表". Sports Hochi. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  6. ^ "男闘呼組、こんな夢も見られるのだから（１）29年ぶりの再始動". xtrend.nikkei.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Rockon Social Club成田昭次&岡本健一&寺岡呼人、"欲が出てきた"2ndアルバムを語る". Natalie.mu. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  8. ^ "男闘呼組、ラストライブで〝男闘呼泣き〟 前田「人生の誇り」高橋「また会おうぜ！」 復活１年、日比谷野音で燃え尽きた". Sunspo. 12 January 2024.
  9. ^ "男闘呼組、ライブ収益4000万円を能登半島地震災害義援金へ寄付【報告全文】". Oricon. 12 January 2024.
  10. ^ "『男闘呼組』が能登半島地震の被災地支援、ライブ収益金から4000万円寄付「貢献したい」". Chuunichi Sport. 12 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "男闘呼組の作品". Oricon (in Japanese). December 30, 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ^ "男闘呼組/メイド・イン・U.S.A.［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  13. ^ "男闘呼組/ベスト・フレンド［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  14. ^ "男闘呼組/Xing Point〔krosig point〕［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  15. ^ "男闘呼組/エンドレス・トリップ［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  16. ^ "男闘呼組/ビッグ・ツアー'89イン・ドーム［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  17. ^ "男闘呼組/2、050、000秒の軌跡［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  18. ^ "男闘呼組/ライヴ・イン・ヨコハマ1991(vol.1)［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  19. ^ "男闘呼組/ライヴ・イン・ヨコハマ1991(vol.2)［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  20. ^ "男闘呼組/LIVE IN YOKOHAMA 1991・Vol.1〈2004年1月31日までの期間限定出荷〉［DVD］［廃盤］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  21. ^ "男闘呼組/LIVE IN YOKOHAMA 1991・Vol.2〈2004年1月31日までの期間限定出荷〉［DVD］［廃盤］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  22. ^ "男闘呼組/彼らと僕、私と自分はみんな仲よし［VIDEO他］". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  23. ^ "男闘呼組の日本武道館＆日比谷野音ライブがBD/DVD化、1年間の軌跡を追ったドキュメンタリーも収録". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-01-05.

Sites

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