Hikaru Genji (band)

Hikaru Genji (光GENJI^?) was a Japanese musical 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

Until the appearance of temporary Johnny's unit 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 methamphetamines on October 28, 2007 and was fired the following Monday.^[7][8]

Members

Hikaru

• Kohji Uchiumi (内海光司, Uchiumi Kohji^?, born January 11, 1968)
• Mikio Osawa (大沢樹生, Osawa Mikio^?, born April 20, 1969): Leader

Genji

• Kazumi Morohoshi (諸星和己, Morohoshi Kazumi^?, born August 12, 1970)
• Hiroyuki Sato (佐藤寛之, Sato Hiroyuki^?, born November 2, 1970)
• Junichi Yamamoto (山本淳一, Yamamoto Junichi^?, born February 28, 1972)
• Akira Akasaka (赤板 晃, Asasaka Akira^?, born May 8, 1973)
• Atsuhiro Sato (佐藤敦啓, Sato Atsuhiro^?, born August 30, 1973)

Hikaru Genji Discography

Singles

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: Setsu to Koori no Fantasy" (BRAVO!Nippon～雪と氷のファンタジー～^?)
25. "Yoosoroo! Mirai he Yoroshiku" (ヨーソロー!未来へよろしく^?)
26. "Try to Remember"

Albums

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

Singles

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

Album

1. Someone Special

Awards

Japan Record Awards

Japan Gold Disc Awards

Hikaru Genji won fifteen awards from Recording Industry Association of Japan's annual music awards ceremony, the Japan Gold Disc Awards.^[9]

References

1. ^ "Oricon charts: Hey! Say! 7 youngest to reach #1". Tokyograph. 2007-08-06. http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-1510. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
2. ^ (Japanese) "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. 2009-12-18. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/71742/full/. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 
3. ^ "EXILE tops sales ranking for first half '09". Tokyograph. 2009-06-18. http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-4947. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
4. ^ (Japanese) "【年間ランキング】嵐、19年ぶりのシングル1位、2位独占". Oricon. 2008-12-11. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/61012/full/. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
5. ^ ^{a b} (Japanese) "List of winners of the Japan Record Award from 1959–2007". Japan Record Award. http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/s1959.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 
6. ^ (Japanese) "キムタクが日本アカデミー賞辞退". Nikkan Sports. 2006-12-20. http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/cinema/p-et-tp1-20061220-132636.html. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
7. ^ "Former Hikaru Genji member arrested on drug charges". Tokyograph. 2007-10-30. http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-1978. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
8. ^ "Akasaka given suspended 18-month sentence". Tokyograph. 2007-11-22. http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-2117. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
9. ^ (Japanese) "Japan Gold Disc Awards list" (PDF). Japan Gold Disc Award. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gdlist/pdf/gd1-20_list.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-03.