Passpo

PASSPO☆
Origin Japan
Genres Idol, Rock, Pop, Punk
Years active 2009–present
Labels Platinum Passport (management)
Jolly Roger (2010–2011)
Universal J (2011–present)
Associated acts Pre-dia
palet
BAND-MAID
3min
Silent Siren
Website www.passpo.jp
Members Negishi Ai (Leader)
Fujimoto Yukimi (Sub-Leader)
Iwamura Natsumi
Masui Mio
Mori Shiori
Makita Sako
Anzai Naomi
Tamai Anna
Past members Sakuma Kaho
Okunaka Makoto

PASSPO☆ (ぱすぽ☆ Pasupo, word play for passport) is a Japanese idol pop-rock girl group under the Platinum Passport (プラチナム・パスポート) brand of Avex Group's subsidiary Platinum Productions Inc. Their first major single, "Shoujo Hikou", reached number 1 at the Oricon charts on May 16, 2011.[1]

History

The group formed in 2009 after ten girls were selected from the Minna de Tsukuru Idol Unit contest in Akihabara. The group was named "PASSPO☆" soon after and weaved the theme of travel into the group's concept. For example, the members of group are called "the crew" while the leader is called "captain" and the sub-leader is called "chief purser" with each member having their own color. Meanwhile, their live events are called "flights" while those who are attendance are usually called "the passengers". Also, their songs incorporate the travel theme and the group releases three versions of their singles, each name Business Class, First Class, and Economy Class, with different material inserted in each version.

PASSPO☆ released their first single on March 2010, entitled "Let It Go!!", under the indies label Jolly Roger. A month later, PASSPO☆ went on their first tour named "PasTour". The group also starred in their own variety show, Attention Please☆. on TV Kanagawa. By the end of the year, the group released their first album, entitled TAKE☆OFF.

At an event on January 2011, PASSPO☆ announced that they signed to the label Universal Japan. The group made their major debut four months later with the single "Shoujo Hikou". Their first single reached #1 at Oricon chart, bringing a record to them (the first idol group in Japan who debuted at #1). They also released their first major album, entitled CHECK-IN, in December. However, Sakuma Kaho was the first member to graduate as she graduated from the group on December 30 at the group's last live show at Zepp Tokyo. - See more at: http://www.generasia.com/wiki/PASSPO#sthash.d7OcCj8h.dpuf

On June 25, 2012, Passpo took part in Yubi Matsuri, an idol festival produced by Rino Sashihara from AKB48. The concert was held at Nippon Budokan before a crowd of 8,000 people and featured such girl groups as Idoling!!!, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, Super Girls, Tokyo Girls' Style, Nogizaka46, Buono!, Momoiro Clover Z, and Watarirouka Hashiritai 7.[2][3]

Since April 6 to September 28, Passpo aired a variety show with Jinbo Satoshi at TV Tokyo called "Passpo no Shaku-Uma TV", when the 9 girls are dressed as baseball players, and the famous actor was the teacher. Along the 25 episodes, they try to win some challenges. Passpo sold their highest number of singles (5), with the highest amount of selling in the history of the group (around 88,500 copies). On October 16, Growing Up was released. Actually, the song should be released three years ago, with "Pretty Lie". But, the staff decided to release the song in the future. Growing Up was the "mature" song of the group, with a friendship theme. With the videoclip, the nine girls won their individual videos about the most important moments for them (Passpo is also known in Japan for its strong sense of friendship). Along the year, the girls started some own variety shows (unfortunately discontinued).

2014 started with some clouds on the group, when at a public contest in Japan, Passpo was chosen the #1 group with the biggest chance to disband. Fortunately, it didn't happen. But, at the beginning of the year, the ace member Okunaka Makoto announced the graduation of the group to the girls. After that, their "official house" at Shibuya, the SHIBUYA-AX, was closed. But some clear sky was viewed, "Perfect Sky" was announced to be released at March 26. The new single (12th, 18th in a row) bring a new experience to the girls: Band! Since the beginning, the major dream of the entire group was play like a band. On July 2, Passpo group started a new own show called "Muriyari Passpo" (Forced Passpo), when the girls will show the natural, pure (and why not, crazy?) side of the group. The episodes can be watched here:

They're published all Wednesday, at 8 am (JST).

After Perfect Sky, at August 20, they released "Himawari", with a lyric full of poetric lovely phrases and energic clip, and a new digital single, called "Shiny Road". And will release a new album, "Tracks", with a new song (with the same name) and some mixed songs, also a new version of Shoujo Hikou. At last, at New Year, Passpo will go to Tokyo Dome City Hall to end their National Tour (in celebration of the 5th year of the group). They will perform all their 68 songs.

Passpo start 2015 with a non-stop 6 hour show in Tokyo Dome City Hall, played all their discography (68 songs), crowded with more than 3,200 people. They sang 20 songs in a medley, and 48 songs are played in full, without intermission. However, ace-member Okunaka Makoto left the group in this show.

→ Passpo 5th Year National Tour passed through more cities than any Japanese group/artist at 2014.
→ For the second year (like 2012), they will break the record of shows in Japan again (over 100).

Member Name Nickname Date of birth Place of birth Height blood
type		 Color More info
Negishi Ai (根岸愛) Aipon (あいぽん) September 27, 1992 Saitama 163 cm
B
White Captain (Leader)
Main keyboard (band version)
Platinum Passport Leader
Ace of the group
Fujimoto Yukimi (藤本有紀美) Yukkii (ゆっきぃ) April 11, 1992 Tokyo 170 cm
A
Blue Chief Purser (Sub-Leader)
Highest member and DJ
Iwamura Natsumi (岩村捺未) Nachu (なちゅ) July 19, 1991 Kanagawa 164 cm
AB
Orange Oldest member
Masui Mio (増井みお) Miomio (みおみお) 06 octobre 1994 Tokyo 151 cm
O
Light Blue Shortest member
Group stylist
Bassist (band version)
Mori Shiori (森詩織) Morishi (もりし) November 8, 1992 Tokyo 159 cm
A
Yellow Main vocal (group and band version)
Makita Sako (槙田紗子) Sakotee (さこてぃ) November 10, 1993 Kanagawa 163 cm
B
Yellowish Green Main Guitarist (band version)
Site Manager
Anzai Naomi (安斉奈緒美) Naomin (なおみん)
Naomi-san (なおみさん)
Kenya (ケニア)		 April 16, 1992 Saitama 164 cm
B
Red Second Guitarist (band version)
Tamai Anna (玉井杏奈) Annya (あんにゃ)
An-chan (あんちゃん)		 January 31, 1995 Tokyo 164 cm
inconnu
Purple Newest member
Drummer (band version)

Former members

Discography

Singles

# Title Release date Oricon
Weekly
Singles
Chart		 Sales
(Oricon)		 Album
First
week		 Total[4]
Independent (Jolly Roger)
1 "Let It Go!!" March 31, 2010 129 - - Take☆Off
2 "Hallelujah" (ハレルヤ) July 14, 2010 98 - -
3 "GPP (Girls Pajama Party)" October 20, 2010 96 - -
4 "Go On a Highway" 99 - -
5 "Pretty Lie" 94 - -
6 "Departure" (Mini-album) December 15, 2010 - - -
Major (Universal J)
1 "Shoujo Hikou" (少女飛行) May 4, 2011 1 42,706 43,534+ Check-In
2 "Vivi Natsu" (ViVi夏) August 24, 2011 3 40,283 43,537+
3 "Kimi wa Boku wo Suki ni naru" (君は僕を好きになる) March 7, 2012 17 11,205 12,346+ One World
4 "Next Flight" June 13, 2012 11 7,735 9,838+
5 "Natsuzora HANABI" (夏空HANABI) August 15, 2012 17 7,445 8,976+
6 "WING" October 3, 2012 4 9,446 10,761+
7 "Sakura Komachi" February 13, 2013 6 15,531 19,909+ JEJEJEJET!!
8 "STEP&GO / Candy Room" May 22, 2013 14 13,169 17,883+
9 "Truly" June 26, 2013 7 12,042 16,769+
10 "Mousou no Hawaii" July 31, 2013 12 12,311 15,408+
11 "Growing Up" October 16, 2013 9 17,250 18,587+
12 "Perfect Sky" March 26, 2014 7 21,967 22,328+ TRACKS
13 "Himawari" August 20, 2014 7 24,796 25,450+

Albums

# Title Release date Oricon
Weekly
Albums
Chart		 Sales
(Oricon)
First
week		 Total
Independent (Jolly Roger)
1 Take☆Off December 8, 2010 168 1,000 1,000
Major (Universal J)
1 Check-In December 7, 2011 14 9,597 9,597
2 One World November 14, 2012 26 3,890 TBA
3 JEJEJEJET!! December 11, 2013 14 6,346 TBA
4 TRACKS December 10, 2014 TBA TBA TBA

DVDs

# Title Release date
1 Passpo☆Stage "Sakura Iro" (ぱすぽ☆Stage『サクラ色』) May 3, 2010
2 Attention Please☆ DVD-Complete Box (アテンションプリーズ☆ DVD-COMPLETE BOX) August 25, 2011
3 Attention Please☆ Director's Cut Edition (アテンションプリーズ☆ディレクターズ・カット版) August 26, 2011
4 "Kiss=Suki" (キス=スキ; Kiss=Love) December 7, 2011

Books

Photobooks

Others

References

  1. ↑ "A風アイドル・ぱすぽ☆、女性グループ初の初登場首位デビュー" (in Japanese). Oricon. May 10, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  2. ↑ 指原莉乃「ゆび祭り」で豪華コラボ版「ヘビロテ」実現 (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  3. ↑ "指原莉乃プロデュース「第一回ゆび祭り」、DVD&Blu-rayでの発売が決定!" (in Japanese). My Navi. 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  4. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-03-16. (subscription only)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to PASSPO☆.