Sakura Gakuin
Sakura Gakuin ( Japanese さ く ら 学院 ; Eng . "Cherry Blossom Academy") is a Japanese idol pop group that was founded in April 2010 by the Amuse agency . It consists of ten to twelve girls between the ages of 11 and 15 and serves as a kind of “talent factory” and as the first stage of a possible career in the entertainment industry. Sakura Gakuin focuses on everyday school life and is made up of several subgroups that are based on various leisure activities organized by schools. One of these subgroups formed the kawaii metal band Babymetal , which has been independent since 2013.
concept
The concept of Sakura Gakuin provides that the group appear like a typical Japanese school. For this reason, the ten to twelve members wear a uniform school uniform for all appearances (concerts, magazines, television programs, live streams) . The concerts, which usually take place in Tokyo and the surrounding area, have school-specific names such as “graduation ceremony”, “visiting day” or “school festival”. The managers and supervisors of the group are referred to as “teachers”, the members as “pupils”, the leader of the group as “student representative” and the fans as fukei (which can be roughly described as “parents and older siblings”).
The line- up changes at the end of each school year in March, when the oldest members are replaced by new, younger members. If a member has completed middle school or ninth grade, it is mandatory that they leave Sakura Gakuin. If they are still interested, the girls can then use the experience they have gained and pursue a career in the entertainment industry - be it as a model, actress, singer or musician.
Sakura Gakuin has different subgroups of variable sizes, each of which emphasizes one aspect of the school topic. As a rule, these are leisure activities as they are usually organized by schools in Japan. These subgroups are called "clubs" ( 部 , bu ) and some of them perform their own. The "club for hard music" ( 重音 部 , Jūon-bu ) appeared under the name Babymetal and was so successful that the management decided in 2013 to spin off the group from Sakura Gakuin and continue it independently.
Members
Current members (2019/20)
| Surname | origin | entry | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kano Fujihara ( 藤 平 華 乃 ) | Chiba | 2015 | Student representative substitute dancer at Babymetal (2019/20) |
| Soyoka Yoshida ( 吉田 爽 葉 香 ) | Osaka | 2015 | |
| Tsugumi Aritomo ( 有 友 緒 心 ) | Chiba | 2016 | |
| Momoe Mori ( 森 萌 々 穂 ) | Tokyo | 2016 | |
| Miku Tanaka ( 田中 美 空 ) | Ōita | 2017 | |
| Miki Yagi ( 八 木 美 樹 ) | Osaka | 2017 | |
| Sana Shiratori ( 白 烏 沙南 ) | Kumamoto | 2018 | |
| Kokona Nonaka ( 野 中 こ こ な ) | Nagasaki | 2018 | |
| Yume Nozaki ( 野 崎 結 愛 ) | Aichi | 2018 | |
| Sakia Kimura ( 木村 咲 愛 ) | Tokyo | 2019 | |
| Neo Satō ( 佐藤 愛 桜 ) | saga | 2019 | |
| Miko Todaka ( 戸 高 美 湖 ) | Hiroshima | 2019 |
former members
| Surname | origin | entry | exit | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayami Mutō ( 武 藤 彩 未 ) | Ibaraki | 2010 | 2012 | 1. Student representative, former member of Karen Girl’s |
| Airi Matsui ( 松井 愛莉 ) | Fukushima | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Ayaka Miyoshi ( 三 吉 彩 花 ) | Saitama | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Suzuka Nakamoto ( 中元 す ず 香 ) | Hiroshima | 2010 | 2013 | 2. Student representative, former member of Karen Girl's |
| Mariri Sugimoto ( 杉 本 愛莉 鈴 ) | Hiroshima | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Marina Horiuchi ( 堀 内 ま り 菜 ) | Tokyo | 2010 | 2014 | 3. Student representative |
| Raura Iida ( 飯 田 來 麗 ) | Tokyo | 2010 | 2014 | |
| Nene Sugisaki ( 杉 﨑 寧 々 ) | Ibaraki | 2010 | 2014 | |
| Hinata Satō ( 佐藤 日 向 ) | Kanagawa | 2010 | 2014 | |
| Moa Kikuchi ( 菊 地 最愛 ) | Aichi | 2010 | 2015 | 4. Student representative |
| Yui Mizuno ( 水 野 由 結 ) | Kanagawa | 2010 | 2015 | |
| Hana Taguchi ( 田 口 華 ) | Nagano | 2011 | 2015 | |
| Yunano Notsu ( 野 津 友 那 乃 ) | Tokyo | 2012 | 2015 | |
| Rinon Isono ( 磯 野 莉 音 ) | Kanagawa | 2011 | 2016 | 5. Student representative |
| Saki Ooga ( 大 賀 咲 希 ) | Tokyo | 2012 | 2016 | |
| Saki Shirai ( 白 井 沙 樹 ) | Niigata | 2013 | 2016 | |
| Sara Kurashima ( 倉 島 颯 良 ) | Ibaraki | 2014 | 2017 | 6. Student representative |
| Mirena Kurosawa ( 黒 澤 美 澪 奈 ) | Tokyo | 2015 | 2017 | |
| Aiko Yamaide ( 山 出 愛 子 ) | Kagoshima | 2013 | 2018 | 7. Student representative |
| Megumi Okada ( 岡田 愛 ) | Aichi | 2014 | 2018 | |
| Momoko Okazaki ( 岡 崎 百 々 子 ) | Kanagawa | 2015 | 2018 | Replacement dancer at Babymetal (2019/20) |
| Maaya Asō ( 麻 生 真彩 ) | Kanagawa | 2015 | 2019 | |
| Marin Hidaka ( 日 髙 麻 鈴 ) | Kanagawa | 2015 | 2019 | |
| Yuzumi Shintani ( 新 谷 ゆ づ み ) | Wakayama | 2016 | 2019 | 8. Student representative |
Members timeline
Subgroups
| Club | Name of the subgroup | Members | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Club ( バ ト ン 部 , Baton-bu ) | Twinklestars | 2010–2011: Horiuchi, Iida, Kikuchi, Mizuno, Mutō, Satō, Sugisaki | |
| 2014: Kikuchi, Kurashima, Mizuno, Notsu, Yamaide | |||
| Heavy Music Club ( 重音 部 , Jūon-bu ) | Babymetal | 2010–2012: Kikuchi, Mizuno, Nakamoto | |
| Cooking club ( ク ッ キ ン グ 部 , Kukkingu-bu ) | Mini Pati ( ミ ニ パ テ ィ ) | 2010: Horiuchi, Iida, Sugisaki | |
| 2011–2014: Kikuchi, Mizuno, Taguchi | |||
| 2015–2017: Hidaka, Okazaki, Yamaide | |||
| Go Home Club ( 帰 宅 部 , Kitaku-bu ) | Sleepiece | 2010-2013: Horiuchi, Iida, Sugisaki | |
| 2015: Asō, Kurosawa, Ooga | |||
| 2016: Asō, Fujihara, Kurosawa | |||
| Newspaper Club ( 新聞 部 , Shinbun-bu ) | Scoopers | 2010-2011: Matsui, Miyoshi | |
| Tennis club ( テ ニ ス 部 , Tenisu-bu ) | Pastel wind | 2012: Horiuchi, Notsu, Sugisaki, Taguchi | |
| 2013: Notsu, Ooga, Sugisaki, Taguchi | |||
| Science Club ( 科学 部 , Kagaku-bu ) | Kagaku Kyūmei Kikō Logica? ( 科学 究 明 機構 ロ ヂ カ？ ) |
2012–2013: Horiuchi, Isono, Satō | |
| 2015: Isono, Kurashima, Okada | |||
| 2016: Kurashima, Okada, Okazaki | |||
| Fan club for pro wrestling ( プ ロ レ ス 同好 会 , Puroresu dōkō-kai ) |
Pro-Wrestling Circle | 2014: Isono, Taguchi | |
| Shopping club ( 購買 部 , Kōbai-bu ) | Kōbaibu | 2014: Notsu, Shirai | |
| 2015: Shirai, Yoshida | |||
| 2016–: Aritomo, Yoshida | |||
| Art Club (美術 部, Bijutsu-bu ) | Trico Dolls | 2018–: Shintani, Mori, Nozaki | |
- ↑ means twirling
- ↑ Spun off from Sakura Gakuin in 2013 and has been an independent group since then.
- ↑ literally: "Go home club". In Japanese jokingly for students who are not in a club / AG.
- ↑ literally: "Scientific research organization Logica?"
Discography
Albums
| title | Date label |
JP (Oricon) |
|---|---|---|
|
Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message ( さ く ら 学院 2010 年度 〜message〜 ) |
Apr 27, 2011 Toy's Factory |
54 |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo: Friends ( さ く ら 学院 2011 年度 〜FRIENDS〜 ) |
21 Mar 2012 Universal J. |
56 |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation ( さ く ら 学院 2012 年度 〜My Generation〜 ) |
13 Mar 2013 Universal J. |
39 |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2013 Nendo: Kizuna ( さ く ら 学院 2013 年度 〜 絆 〜 ) |
March 12 2014 Universal J. |
29 |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2014 Nendo: Kimi ni Todoke ( さ く ら 学院 2014 年度 〜 君 に 届 け 〜 ) |
25th Mar 2015 Universal J. |
18th |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2015 Nendo: Kirameki no Kakera ( さ く ら 学院 2015 年度 〜 キ ラ メ キ の 雫 〜 ) |
3rd Mar 2016 amuse |
15th |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2016 Nendo: Yakusoku ( さ く ら 学院 2016 年度 〜 約束 〜 ) |
3rd Mar 2017 amuse |
18th |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2017 Nendo: My Road ( さ く ら 学院 2017 年度 〜My Road〜 ) |
3rd Mar 2018 amuse |
16 |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2018 Nendo: Life Iroasenai Hibi
(さ く ら 学院 2018 年度 ～ Life 色 褪 せ な い 日 々 ～) |
3rd Mar 2019 | |
|
Sakura Gakuin 2019 Nendo: Story
(さ く ら 学院 2019 年度 ～ Story ～) |
3rd Mar 2020 |
Singles (main group)
| title | year | format | Oricon singles |
Oricon DVD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yume ni Mukatte / Hello! Ivy
(夢 に 向 か っ て / Hello! IVY) |
2010 | CD | 35 | - |
| Friends | 2011 | CD | - | - |
|
Verishuvi
(ベ リ シ ュ ビ ッ ッ) |
CD | 29 | - | |
|
Tabidachi no Hi ni
(旅 立 ち の 日 に) |
2012 | CD | 14th | - |
| Wonderful Journey | CD | 23 | - | |
| My Graduation Toss | 2013 | CD | 13 | - |
|
Ganbare !!
(顔 笑 れ !!) |
CD | 6th | - | |
|
Jump Up ~ Chiisana Yūki ~
(Jump Up ～ ち い さ な 勇 気 ～) |
2014 | CD | 25th | - |
|
Heart no Hoshi
(ハ ー ト の 地球) |
DVD | - | 4th | |
|
Aogeba Tōtoshi ~ From Sakura Gakuin 2014 ~
(仰 げ ば 尊 し ～ From さ く ら 学院 2014 ～) |
2015 | DVD | - | 4th |
|
Mathematica!
(マ セ マ テ ィ カ！) |
CD | - | - | |
| School Days -2015- | CD | - | - | |
|
Melodic solfège
(メ ロ デ ィ ッ ク ・ ソ ル フ ェ ー ジ ュ) |
2016 | CD | - | - |
| Merry Xmas to you | 2019 | CD | - | - |
Singles (subgroups)
| title | Subgroup | year | Oricon singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dear Mr. Socrates | Twinklestars | 2010 | - |
| Please! Please! Please! | Twinklestars | 2011 | 67 |
| Doki Doki ☆ Morning | Babymetal | 2011 | - |
| Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba | Babymetal | 2012 | 46 |
| Headbangeeeeerrrrr !!!!! | Babymetal | 2012 | 20th |
| Science Girl ▽ Silence Boy | Kagaku Kyūmei Kikō Logica? | 2012 | 49 |
| Ijime, lady, Zettai | Babymetal | 2013 | 6th |
Video publications
| title | date | format |
|---|---|---|
| SAKURA GAKUIN FIRST LIVE & DOCUMENTARY 2010 to 2011 ~ SMILE ~ | Jun 27, 2012 | DVD |
|
Sakura Gakuin SUN! -Atoms-
(さ く ら 学院 SUN! - ま と め -) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | DVD |
|
The Road to Graduation Final ~ Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo Sotsugyo ~
(The Road to Graduation Final ~さ く ら 学院 2012 年度 卒業 ~) |
Jul 3, 2013 | DVD |
|
Sakura Gakuin Festival ☆ 2013 -Live Edition-
(さ く ら 学院 祭 ☆ 2013 -LIVE EDITION-) |
Feb 12, 2014 | DVD |
|
Sakura Gakuin The Road to Graduation 2013 ~ Kizuna ~
(さ く ら 学院 The Road to Graduation 2013 ~絆~ ) |
23 Jul 2014 | DVD |
|
The Road to Graduation 2014 ~ Kimi ni Todoke ~
(The Road to Graduation 2014 ～ 君 に 届 け ～) |
7 Jul 2015 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
The Road to Graduation 2015 ~ Kirameki no Kakera ~
(The Road to Graduation 2015 ～ キ ラ メ キ の 雫 ～) |
7 Jul 2016 | DVD-Blu-ray |
|
Shuoh Gakuen Gasshobu
(秋 桜 学園 合唱 部) |
Nov 2, 2016 | DVD |
|
The Road to Graduation 2016 ~ Yakusoku ~
(The Road to Graduation 2016 ～ 約束 ～) |
7 Jul 2017 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
Sakura Gakuin Festival ☆ 2017
(さ く ら 学院 祭 ☆ 2017) |
Feb. 14, 2018 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
The Road to Graduation 2017 ~ My Road ~
(The Road to Graduation 2017 ～ My Road ～) |
7 Jul 2018 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
Sakura Gakuin Festival ☆ 2018
(さ く ら 学院 祭 ☆ 2018) |
Feb. 14, 2019 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
The Road to Graduation 2018 ~ Life Iro Asenai Hibi ~
(The Road to Graduation 2018 ～ Life 色 褪 せ な い 日 々 ～) |
7 Jul 2019 | DVD / Blu-ray |
|
Sakura Gakuin Festival ☆ 2019
(さ く ら 学院 祭 ☆ 2019) |
Feb 14, 2020 | DVD / Blu-ray |
Web links
- Sakura Gakuin website (Japanese)
- Profiles at Amuse (Japanese)
- Sakura Gakuin YouTube channel
Individual evidence
- ↑ BABYMETAL プ ロ デ ュ ー サ ー KOBAMETAL 徹底 イ ン タ ビ ュ ー. In: Hedoban, No. 1, pp. 42-55. Shinko Music Entertainment, Chiyoda, July 2013, ISBN 978-4-401-63846-8 .
- ↑ a b Backup Dancers. babymetalnews.com, accessed March 6, 2020 .
- ↑ さ く ら 学院 の ラ ン キ ン グ (albums). Oricon , accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).
- ↑ さ く ら 学院 の ラ ン キ ン グ (Singles). Oricon, accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).
- ↑ さ く ら 学院 の ラ ン キ ン グ (DVD). Oricon, accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).
- ↑ Twinklestars. Oricon, accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).
- ^ Babymetal (Singles). Oricon, accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).
- ↑ さ く ら 学院 科学 部 科学 究 明 機構 ロ ヂ カ? Oricon, accessed January 20, 2018 (Japanese).