Zone (band)

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For other uses, see Zone.
ZONE
[[Image:Image:ZONE_band.jpg|220px|From left to right: Mizuho, Tomoka, Miyu and Maiko]]
From left to right: Mizuho, Tomoka, Miyu and Maiko
Background information
Origin Sapporo, Japan
Genre(s) J-Pop
Years active 1999–2005
Label(s) Sony Music Records
Members
Miyu Nagase
Mizuho Saito
Tomoka Nishimura
Maiko Sakae
Former members
Takayo Ookoshi

ZONE was a J-Pop band started in Sapporo, Japan in 1999, that went on to become a hit in 2000 with their single GOOD DAYS. Their most famous song is Secret Base (君がくれたもの kimi ga kureta mono?). ZONE has been categorized in a new genre called "bandol" (a portmanteau of the words band and idol) and was started by Studio RunTime.

Contents

[edit] History

At first, ZONE started off with eight members in 1997, then reduced to six and finally four – these members were Miyu Nagase, Mizuho Saito, Maiko Sakae, and Takayo Ookoshi – by the time they released their first indie disc in 1999.

Mr. Ominami Tadayuki, a representative of Sony Records, noticed that the crowd reaction to the debut concert was particularly enthusiastic. Back then, ZONE was solely concentrated on singing and dancing. Following his belief that ZONE had the makings of a hit, Tadayuki watched a live video of the band playing with instruments at the KomeKome Klub and felt that, due to the overabundance of dance groups, ZONE had the makings of a breakthrough act, providing they could play their instruments as well as sing and dance.

In late 2003, Takayo Ookoshi announced her graduation from ZONE to pursue her studies and has been since replaced by Tomoka Nishimura, one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four.

Between 1999 and 2005, ZONE released seventeen hit singles, three full lengths CDs, three DVDs, did commercials, and had their own television special, in addition to attending high school. They all graduated.

ZONE officially disbanded on April 1, 2005, after playing their final concert at Nippon Budokan.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Past members


[edit] Music

ZONE's music has been used in the 2003 Astro Boy series (opening theme, True Blue) and the Japanese release of Ice Age (theme song, Hitoshizuku).

Shiroi Hana was used as the theme song to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance in Japan.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • believe in love (Indies Single)
  • GOOD DAYS (2001/02/07)
  • 大爆発 NO.1 (2001/05/23) Dai Bakuhatsu NO.1
  • secret base ～君がくれたもの～ (2001/08/08) Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~
  • 世界のほんの片隅から (2001/11/14) Sekai No Hon No Katasumi Kara
  • 夢ノカケラ・・・ (2002/02/14) Yume No Kakera
  • 一雫 (2002/07/17) Hito-shizuku
  • 証 (2002/09/26) Akashi
  • 白い花 (2002/11/27) Shiroi Hana
  • true blue／恋々・・・ (2003/04/16) True Blue/Renren...
  • H・A・N・A・B・I ～君がいた夏～ (2003/07/30) H.A.N.A.B.I ~Kimi ga Ita Natsu~
  • 僕の手紙 (2003/10/29) Boku No Tegami
  • 卒業 (2004/02/04) Sotsugyō
  • 太陽のKiss (2004/06/02) Taiyō No Kiss
  • glory colors ～風のトビラ～ (2004/08/04) Glory Colors ~Kaze No Tobira~
  • 笑顔日和 (2005/03/09) Egao Biyori

[edit] Albums

  • Z (2002/02/14)
  • O (2002/11/27)
  • ASTRO Girlz & Boyz (2003/07/16)
  • N (2004/02/18)
  • E ～Complete A side Singles～(2005/04/13)
  • ura E~Complete B side Melodies~ (2006/04/19)

[edit] DVDs

  • ZONE CLIPS 01 ~Sunny Side~ (2003/10/29)
  • ZONE CLIPS 02 ~Forever Side (2004/03/17)
  • ZONE TV special "ユメハジマッタバカリ" DVD edition (2004/09/29)
  • ZONE CLIPS 03 ~2005 卒業~ (2005/05/18)
  • ZONE FINAL in 日本武道館 2005/04/01 ～心を込めてありがとう～ (2005/06/22) ZONE FINAL LIVE in NIPPON BUDOKAN ～Thank you from the bottom of my heart～

[edit] External links

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[edit] Fan Sites