Tanpopo

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This article is about the J-Pop group. For the film, see Tampopo. For the song, see Tanpopo (song).
Tanpopo
Tanpopo, 2002.L to R:  Risa Niigaki, Rika Ishikawa, Ayumi Shibata, Asami Konno
Tanpopo, 2002.
L to R: Risa Niigaki, Rika Ishikawa, Ayumi Shibata, Asami Konno
Background information
Origin Flag of Japan Tokyo, Honshū, Japan
Genre(s) Japanese pop
Years active 1998–2003
Label(s) Zetima
Associated acts Morning Musume, Mini Moni, Otomegumi, Sakuragumi, W, Melon Kinenbi
Website Hello! Project.com
Former members
Aya Ishiguro
Kaori Iida
Mari Yaguchi
Ai Kago
Rika Ishikawa
Asami Konno
Risa Niigaki
Ayumi Shibata

Tanpopo (タンポポ dandelion?) was the first official subgroup of Japanese pop girl group Morning Musume formed on November 1998. They specialized in singing slow and mature songs, which morphed to an old-fashioned and upbeat style—a genre somewhat similar to the band it originated from.

Contents

[edit] History

First Generation 1998-1999. (L-R) Mari Yaguchi, Kaori Iida, and Aya Ishiguro.
First Generation 1998-1999. (L-R) Mari Yaguchi, Kaori Iida, and Aya Ishiguro.

The group was founded in November 1998, consisting of three Morning Musume members: Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida, and Mari Yaguchi. After the formation, the group immediately released their first single, "Last Kiss," which was used on the anime, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen. The single has a sexy vibe that they used on their second single and first album. However, they created a fresh image when they released "Tanpopo". This new image didn't become popular enough like the first image they had created.

After the release of the group's fourth single, Aya Ishiguro graduated from Morning Musume and left the group. The remaining members continued performing their songs in concerts as Generation 1.5 Tanpopo.

On June 2000, Morning Musume 4th Generation members, Rika Ishikawa and Ai Kago, joined Tanpopo, making the two-member group a four-member group. The style of their songs changed also when the four released "Otome Pasta ni Kandō." The style of this song became analogous to the songs Morning Musume had released. They also used this style on their next singles, which became popular and reached the number one spot on Oricon, and their second (and last) album.

On July 31, 2002, it was announced that Tanpopo was going to be completely reformed. Kaori Iida, Mari Yaguchi, and Ai Kago graduated from the group and were replaced by Morning Musume 5th Generation members, Asami Konno and Risa Niigaki, and Ayumi Shibata of Melon Kinenbi. This newly formed group only released one single before they went on indefinite hiatus.

[edit] Members

Second Generation 2000-2002. (L-R) Rika Ishikawa, Mari Yaguchi, Ai Kago, and Kaori Iida.
Second Generation 2000-2002. (L-R) Rika Ishikawa, Mari Yaguchi, Ai Kago, and Kaori Iida.

[edit] First Generation

[edit] Second Generation

[edit] Third Generation

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

# Title Release date
1 Tanpopo 1 1999-03-31
2 All of Tanpopo (All of タンポポ?) 2002-09-04

[edit] Singles

# Title Release date
1 "Last Kiss" (ラストキッス?) 1998-11-18
2 "Motto" (もっと?) 1999-03-10
3 "Tanpopo" (たんぽぽ?) 1999-06-16
4 "Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru" (聖なる鐘がひびく夜?) 1999-10-20
5 "Otome Pasta ni Kandō" (乙女 パスタに感動?) 2000-07-05
6 "Koi wo Shichaimashita!" (恋をしちゃいました!?) 2001-02-21
7 "Ōjisama to Yuki no Yoru" (王子様と雪の夜?) 2001-11-21
8 "Be Happy Koi no Yajirobee" (Be Happy 恋のやじろべえ?) 2002-09-26

[edit] DVD

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Photobooks

Title Release date Company ISBN
Tanpopo Photobook (タンポポPhoto Book?) 2001-07-05 Wani Books ISBN 4-8470-2654-3

[edit] Radio

Program Radio station Start date End date
Tanpopo Hatake de Tsukamaete (タンポポ畑でつかまえて?) Nippon Hōsō 1999-10-09 2000-03-25
Tanpopo no Konya mo Mankai (タンポポの今夜も満開?) 2000-03-30 2001-04-12
Tanpopo Henshuubu Oh-So-Ro! (タンポポ編集部 Oh-So-Ro!?) TBS 2000-10-03 2003-09-23

[edit] External links