Happiness (Japanese band)

Happiness
Origin Japan
Genres J-pop
Years active 2008–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website happiness-ldh.jp
Members
  • Sayaka
  • Kaede
  • Karen Fujii
  • Miyuu
  • Yurino
  • Anna Suda
  • Ruri Kawamoto
Past members
  • Mimu
  • Mayu Sugieda

Happiness is a Japanese pop girl group formed by LDH in 2008 and signed to Rhythm Zone. They are a dance and vocal unit of collective girl group E-girls alongside Dream and Flower. The group consists of two vocalists and five performers.

History

Pre-debut and indie debut

Happiness first appeared during Exile's 2008 Live Tour as backup dancers, at the time being a five-member unit consisting of Miyuu, Mimu, Karen, Sayaka, and Kaede. Yurino was then added to the group after an LDH Audition in 2009 before the group was set to debut as a group. They released their debut DVD single, "Happy Talk", on October 21, 2009. It was also used as the theme song for Japanese brand Mister Donuts.

2009-2014: Major label and E-girls formation

Mayu Sugieda was added to the group and announced on December 25 2009,[1] before the group made their major debut on February 9, 2011 with the release of their first major label single, "Kiss Me".[2] They went on to release several more singles throughout 2011. Mimu was absent from the group's promotions after going on hiatus in December 2011,[3] including their single "We Can Fly", before leaving the group in October 2012, citing she wanted to focus on her studies.[4]

In November 2011, Happiness was confirmed to be joining sister groups Dream and Flower in the collective group E-girls.[5] Member Mayu also went on a hiatus in August 2012 to undergo medical treatment after being diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis.[6]

E-girls members Anna Suda and Ruri Kawamoto joined the group in May 2013 as a dancer and vocalist respectively,[7] and the group released their fifth single, "Sunshine Dream: Ichido Kiri no Natsu".

Miyuu was announced as the new leader of the group, replacing Mimu on January 30, 2014.[8] Mayu Sugieda, after months of hiatus, left both Happiness and E-girls on April 7, 2014.[9] Happiness continued to promote with E-girls, releasing their sixth single, "Juicy Love", on May 28, 2014 and their seventh single, "Seek A Light", on November 19, 2014, between E-girls singles.

Members

Current members

  • Sayaka Nagatomo (長友 さやか, "Sayaka")
  • Kaede Dobashi (土橋 楓, "Kaede")
  • Karen Fujii (藤井 夏恋)
  • Miyuu Ariiso (有磯 実結, "Miyuu") (Leader)
  • Yurino Suzuki (鈴木 結莉乃, "Yurino")
  • Anna Suda (須田 アンナ)
  • Ruri Kawamoto (川本 璃)

Former members

  • Mimu Hioki (日置 美夢, "Mimu")
  • Mayu Sugieda (杉枝 真結)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Title Peak chart position Album details
JPN
Oricon		 JPN
Billboard
Happy Time 10[10] 15[11]

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Oricon		 JPN
Billboard
2011 "Kiss Me" 22[12] 88[13] Happy Talk
"Friends" 20[14] —
"Wish" 12[15] 27[16]
2012 "We Can Fly" 19[17] 19[18]
2013 "Sunshine Dream: Ichido Kiri no Natsu" 7[19] 11[20]
2014 "Juicy Love" 7[21] 9[22]
"Seek a Light" 7[23] 24[24]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

DVD Singles

Title Peak chart position Album details
JPN
Happy Talk 138
  • Released: October 21, 2009
  • Format: DVD

References

  1. ↑ "大事な記念日★KAEDE". Happinessオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Dance unit Happiness announces major debut single, "Kiss Me"". tokyohive.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "あらま They Didn't ! Japanese Entertainment News - Happiness' MIMU on Hiatus Until Graduation". livejournal.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ↑ http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xg26t3KgrhsJ:www.dramanewsnetwork.com/happiness-performer-mimu-to-withdraw-from-the-group/+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
  5. ↑ "E-Girls to release their 1st single "Celebration"". tokyohive.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Happiness". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Happiness". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "発表 MIYUU｜Happinessオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba". Happinessオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "スタッフよりお知らせです。". Happinessオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Happy Time(初回限定盤)". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2011年02月07日〜2011年02月13日 21〜30位". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2011年04月25日〜2011年05月01日 11〜20位". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2011年08月15日〜2011年08月21日 11〜20位". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2012年05月14日〜2012年05月20日 11〜20位". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2013年08月05日〜2013年08月11日". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2014年05月26日〜2014年06月01日". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "オリコン週間 CDシングルランキング 2014年11月17日〜2014年11月23日". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 25 February 2015.

External links