Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku
Native name 私立恵比寿中学
Also known as Ebichu
King of Gakugeeeekai
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active 2009–present
Labels Stardust Ongaku Shuppan (2010–2011)
Defstar Records (2012–2015)
SME Records (2015–present)
Associated acts
Website shiritsuebichu.jp
Members Rika Mayama
Ayaka Yasumoto
Aika Hirota
Mirei Hoshina
Hinata Kashiwagi
Kaho Kobayashi
Riko Nakayama
Past members Kanon Nanaki
Narumi Uno
Hinaki Yano
Rio Koike
Reina Miyazaki
Mizuki
Natsu Anno
Hirono Suzuki
Rina Matsuno (Deceased)

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (私立恵比寿中学, Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku, literally "Ebisu Private Junior High School") is a Japanese girl idol group. The band's name is officially shortened to Ebichu (エビ中),[1] which can mean "in a shrimp". The group was created by 3B Junior, the third section of the talent agency Stardust Promotion. Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku is a "little sister" group to another Stardust Promotion girl group, Momoiro Clover Z.[2][3]

History

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku is named after a fictitious school in Ebisu, a neighbourhood in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was planned as a group of elementary and middle school students. The band was officially nicknamed "King of School Play", and its concept was advertised as being a group with very rough singing and dancing skills. Or, more accurately, the band's slogan was "Unarticulated dance and shaky vocals."[4] Ebichu was formed as a quintet on August 4, 2009.[5][6] Since then the lineup changed several times, with some members having "changed school" (the group's official term for leaving it) and some having "transferred in" (joined).

In June 2011, it was announced that Ebichu was to hold its first solo concert, on October 8 at Shibuya O-East.[7] Parts of it were released on the band's first solo live DVD, which appeared on February 15 of the next year.[8] In total, in October Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku gave three sold-out performances.

As of March 2012, there were nine members and the only two original members who still remained in the group were Rika Mayama and Mizuki. Although in April 2012 they both entered high school, it was decided that they would remain in the group. They started joking that they were middle school students forever.[9]

After six self-published "indie" singles on the talent agency's recording label, the latest few of which charted on Oricon, the group signed a temporary contract with the major label Defstar Records to release a single titled, incidentally, "Karikeiyaku no Cinderella" ("Temporary Contract Cinderella"). The release date had already been determined as May 5, 2012, the Children's Day. The contract signing was made into a ceremony, which was held on March 4 in the presence of a large audience of fans.[10][11] The single "Karikeiyaku no Cinderella" debuted at number 7 in the Oricon daily ranking for May 1.[12] Having peaked in the daily chart at second position, it also debuted at number 7 in the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[13]

On June 25, 2012, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku 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!!!, Super Girls, Tokyo Girls' Style, Nogizaka46, Passpo, Buono!, Momoiro Clover Z, and Watarirouka Hashiritai 7.[14][15]

On July 1, 2012, Ebichu held a three and a half hour solo concert at Nippon Seinenkan, their first solo concert at the venue. The show was called "Jā Best Ten" and featured an imaginary ranking of the band's songs, counted down in the style of 1980s TV shows. It also included the first public performance of the song "Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee", a closing theme of the anime Naruto SD, to be released as the group's second single in August.[16]

The girls declared that they were aiming for third place in the Oricon chart with their third single, titled "Ume".[17][18] The goal was achieved — the single actually placed 3rd in the weekly chart.

In December 2013 it was announced that 3 members, Mizuki, Natsu Annno and Hirono Suzuki, would leave the group at a concert that would be held on April 15, 2014, at the Nippon Budokan. After leaving, they will study to enter universities and get trained to be actresses. It was also said that one of the three, Anno, would study abroad and would not return to Japan for a long time.[19]

In the middle of December 2015 it was announced that Hinata Kashiwagi had been diagnosed with sudden deafness and that the release of the group's third album, scheduled for release on 10 February 2016, had been postponed for an indefinite period of time.[20] The album, titled Anarchy, was finally released on April 20.

In November 2016, the group simultaneously released two best-of albums, "Chūsotsu": Ebichū no Ike Ike Best and "Chūkara": Ebichū no Waku Waku Best. The latter featured one new song, titled "Sudden Death".[21]

On February 8, 2017, member Rina Matsuno died, aged 18. Matsuno was unable to perform at the group's concert the day before due to a health issue and was taking medical treatment at home in Tokyo. In the early morning on February 8 her condition suddenly worsened. At around 5 AM her parents called 119. She was taken in the ambulance, but pronounced dead at the hospital.[22][23] It is presumed that she died from an illness.[24] In her last post on Instagram on February 6 she said that she had returned from a family trip to Hakone.[25]

The group's website continued listing Rina Matsuno as a member until April 1. Then it was reported that the group will continue with the remaining 7 members and will release a new album, titled Ebicracy, on May 31.[26]

Musical style

The group has recorded songs in many different genres, including heavy metal, melocore and electro. The Japan-based music website CDJournal in its review of their 2017 best-of album "Chūsotsu": Ebichū no Ike Ike Best noted the band's individuality, the musicality of the songs and also how their lyrics made use of individuality of each member.[27]

Members

The members are assigned so-called attendance numbers, just like in Japanese schools. Initially the numbers were given in the order of joining the group, but once, when several members left, the remaining members held an election to reassign their numbers.

Current members

  1. Rika Mayama (真山りか), born December 16, 1996     
  2. Ayaka Yasumoto (安本彩花), born June 27, 1998     
  3. Aika Hirota (廣田あいか), born January 31, 1999     
  4. Mirei Hoshina (星名美怜), born November 2, 1997     
  5. Hinata Kashiwagi (柏木ひなた), born March 29, 1999     
  6. Kaho Kobayashi (小林歌穂), born June 12, 2000     
  7. Riko Nakayama (中山莉子), born October 28, 2000     

Former members

  1. Kanon Nanaki (七木奏音), born February 7, 1997
  2. Narumi Uno (宇野愛海), born March 19, 1998
  3. Hinaki Yano (矢野妃菜喜), born March 5, 1997
  4. Rio Koike (小池梨緒), born January 18, 1998
  5. Reina Miyazaki (宮﨑れいな), born August 24, 1997
  6. Mizuki (瑞季), born February 27, 1997     
  7. Natsu Anno (杏野なつ), born July 12, 1997     
  8. Hirono Suzuki (鈴木裕乃), born March 24, 1998     
  9. Rina Matsuno (松野莉奈), born July 16, 1998; died February 8, 2017(2017-02-08) (aged 18)     

Discography

Singles

No. Title Release date Charts
JP
Oricon
[28]
Indie (Stardust Digital)
—* "Asa no Chime ga Narimashita!"
(朝のチャイムがなりました!, "The Morning Bell Has Rung!")		 February 14, 2010 —
1 "Ebizori Diamond!!"
(えびぞりダイアモンド!!, Ebizori Daiamondo!!,
"Shrimp Jump Diamond"[11][29] or "Ace at Saying 'I Am Sorry' ['Ebizori']")		 August 7, 2010 —
2 "Chime!"
(チャイム!, Chaimu!, "School Bell!")		 January 10, 2011 —
3 "The Tissue (Tomaranai Seishun)"
(ザ・ティッシュ～とまらない青春～, "The Tissue (Unstoppable Youth)")		 April 27, 2011 73
4 "Oh My Ghost? (Watashi ga Akuryō ni Natte mo)"
(オーマイゴースト? ～わたしが悪霊になっても～,
"Oh My Ghost? (Even If I Turn into an Evil Spirit)")		 July 27, 2011 59
5 "Motto Hashire!!"
(もっと走れっ!!, "Run Faster!!")		 October 5, 2011 46
Major (Defstar Records)
1 "Karikeiyaku no Cinderella"
(仮契約のシンデレラ, "Temporary Contract Cinderella"[11][29])		 May 5, 2012 7
2 "Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee / Otona wa Wakatte Kurenai"**
(Go! Go! Here We Go! ロック・リー / 大人はわかってくれない,
"Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee / Adults Won't [Can't] Understand")		 August 29, 2012 7
3 "Ume" (梅, "Plum") January 16, 2013 3
4 "Te o Tsunagō / Kindan no Karma"
(手をつなごう / 禁断のカルマ, "Let's Hold Hands / Forbidden Karma")		 June 5, 2013 5
5 "Mikakunin Chūgakusei X"
(未確認中学生X, "Unidentified Junior High School Student X")		 November 20, 2013 4
6 "Butterfly Effect"
(バタフライエフェクト, "Butterfly Effect")		 June 4, 2014 3
7 "Haitateki!" (ハイタテキ!) November 5, 2014 3
8 "Natsudaze Johnny"
  (夏だぜジョニー, Natsu Da ze Jōnī, "It's Summer, Johnny!")		 June 17, 2015 2
Major (SME Records)
9 "Super Hero" (スーパーヒーロー, Sūpāhīrō) October 21, 2015 3
10 "Massugu" (まっすぐ, "Straightly") September 21, 2016 7
"—" indicates that the single didn't chart
* Cover single
** The song "Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee" is an ending theme for the new Naruto anime series "Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals" (Ep. 14 – present).

Albums

No. Title Release date Charts
JP
Oricon
[30]
—* Ebichū no Zeppan Best: Owaranai Seishun
  (エビ中の絶盤ベスト～おわらない青春～,
 "Ebichu's Best of Out of Print: Neverending Youth")		 November 21, 2012 19
1 Chūnin (中人, "Middle-schooler") July 24, 2013 7
2 Kinpachi (金八) January 28, 2015 2
3 Anarchy (穴空, Anākī) April 20, 2016 2
—* "Chūsotsu": Ebichū no Ike Ike Best
  (「中卒」〜エビ中のイケイケベスト〜)		 November 16, 2016 11
"Chūkara": Ebichū no Waku Waku Best
  (「中辛」〜エビ中のワクワクベスト〜)		 12
4 Ebi Cracy (エビクラシー, Ebikurashī) May 31, 2017 1
* Greatest hits albums

DVDs

Concerts

No. Title Release date Charts
Oricon
Weekly
DVD
Chart
[31]
Indie
1 Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku 1st One-man Live
(私立恵比寿中学1stワンマンLIVE)		 February 15, 2012 37
Major
1 Defstar Wars Ebisode 1: Gakugeikai no Gyakushū
(デフスターウォーズ EBISODE1 ~学芸会の逆襲~)		 June 27, 2012 88
2 Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku First Concert "Jā Best Ten"
(私立恵比寿中学 ファーストコンサート「じゃあ・ベストテン」)		 November 21, 2012 70

TV variety shows

No. Title Release date Charts Notes
Oricon
Weekly
DVD
Chart
[31]		 Oricon
Weekly
BD
Chart
1 Ebichū no Eien ni Chūgakusei (Kari)
(エビ中の永遠に中学生 (仮),
Ebichu's "Middle School Students Forever (Preliminary Title)")		 December 12, 2012 Limited-press box set
(6DVD or 6BD)

-->

Music videos

Title Director
"The Tissue (Tomaranai Seishun)" Ieizumi "Yeti" Hideaki[32]
"Oh My Ghost? (Watashi ga Akuryō ni Natte mo)" Ieizumi "Yeti" Hideaki[33]
"Motto Hashire!" Ieizumi "Yeti" Hideaki[34]
"Karikeiyaku no Cinderella" Ieizumi Hideaki[35]
"Hōkago Getabako Rock 'n' Roll MX" Masakazu Fukatsu[36]
"Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee" Hideaki Fukui[37]
"Otona wa Wakatte Kurenai" Kanji Sutō[38]
"Ume" Toshitaka Shinoda[39]
"Ganbatteru Tochū" unknown[40]
"Te o Tsunagō" Satoshi Tani[41]
"Kindan no Karma" Tsuchiya Takatoshi[42]
"Mikakunin Chūgakusei X" Tsutomu Sekine[43]
"Yūwaku Shitai ya" (Famien ver.) Kineo Kondō[44]
"Mikakunin Chūgakusei X" (Saitama Super Arena ver.) Kineo Kondō[45]
"U.B.U" Ebichū no Eien ni Chūgakusei (Kari) 2
production team[46]
"Butterfly Effect" Ikioi[47]
"Haitateki" Ikioi[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku's official site". Stardust Promotion, Inc. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. ↑ ももクロ妹分・私立恵比寿中学が新曲を発表 (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  3. ↑ De View (2011-06-20). 平均年齢12.7歳のガールズユニット「私立恵比寿中学」が新曲発表　ニューシングルは「おばけテクノ」と「高速盆踊り (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学 (1/7)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  5. ↑ 校長からの話. Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku's official blog (in Japanese). 2010-08-05. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  6. ↑ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学 (2/7)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  7. ↑ 私立恵比寿中学、初のワンマンライブ開催決定 (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  8. ↑ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学 (4/7)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  9. ↑ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  10. ↑ 「ケン・ヒライの妹分に」エビ中デビュー"仮"契約調印式 (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-04.
  11. 1 2 3 "(Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku) We send you report from the signing ceremony of Shiritsu Ebisu Chugakku’s major label debut "temporary contract" filled with the mysteries!". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-03-12. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  12. ↑ "CDシングル デイリーランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング（2012年05月01日付）" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  13. ↑ "Oricon Weekly CD Singles Ranking 2012/05/14" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku has held their first live at Nippon Seinenkan named "Jyaa Best Ten" on July 1. « Kawaii girl Japan". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  17. ↑ "私立恵比寿中学 真夏の撮影で"校長"に怒られたこととは？3rdシングル「梅」へ抱負" (in Japanese). News Lounge. November 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  18. ↑ エビ中が新曲『梅』でオリコン3位を目指す!. De View (in Japanese). Oricon. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  19. ↑ http://natalie.mu/music/news/106631
  20. ↑ "エビ中ひなた突発性難聴により握手会中止、アルバム発売も延期に". Nstalie. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
  21. ↑ "エビ中、岡崎体育プロデュースの新曲「サドンデス」メイキング映像公開". Musicman-Net. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
    "エビ中に"後輩"岡崎体育が楽曲提供 「画期的な」ライブソングと自信満々". Oricon News. 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
    "エビ中ベストに"後輩"岡崎体育が楽曲提供「いつでもパシってください」". Natalie. 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
    "岡崎体育プロデュースのエビ中新曲「サドンデス」、レコーディング風景を特別公開！". Entameclip. 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
    "エビ中、ベスト盤2枚同時発売＆岡崎体育プロデュースの新曲「サドンデス」MV公開". Musicman-Net. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
    "エビ中のMVを岡崎体育がプロデュース「メンバーの表情に注目して」". Entame Plex. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  22. ↑ "エビ中・松野莉奈さん、１８歳で急死　７日のコンサートを体調不良で休む". Sankei Sports. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  23. ↑ "18-year-old member of pop idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku dies". The Japan Times. 2017-02-08.
    "Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku's Rina Matsuno passes away". SBS PopAsia. 2017-02-09.
    "エビ中公式サイトで松野莉奈さん... エンタメニュース：テレビ東京". TV Tokyo. 2017-02-08.
    "Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku Idol Rina Matsuno Passes Away at 18". Anime News Network. 2017-02-08.
    "エビ中の松野莉奈さん18歳で死去 エンタメニュース：テレビ東京". TV Tokyo. 2017-02-08.
  24. ↑ アイドルグループ「私立恵比寿中学」松野莉奈さん死去 18歳, FNN (2017年2月8日)2017年2月8日閲覧。
  25. ↑ 〈速報〉エビ中松野莉奈さん、直前までSNSで元気な姿 - 朝日新聞 2017年2月8日
  26. ↑ "エビ中、7人で新学期スタート 5・31新アルバム『エビクラシー』". ORICON NEWS. 2017-04-02. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  27. ↑ "私立恵比寿中学 ／ 「中卒」～エビ中のイケイケベスト～ [CD] [アルバム] - CDJournal.com" (in Japanese). CDJournal.com. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  28. ↑ "The Tissue (Tomaranai Seishun)":
    "ザ・ティッシュ～とまらない青春～ 私立恵比寿中学のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
    "Oh My Ghost? (Watashi ga Akuryō ni Natte mo)":
    "オーマイゴースト？～わたしが悪霊になっても～ 私立恵比寿中学のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
    "Motto Hashire!!":
    "Oricon Weekly CD Singles Ranking 2011/11/14" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
    List:
    "私立恵比寿中学のCDシングルランキング、私立恵比寿中学のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  29. 1 2 "(Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku) They’ve performed a few songs in new costumes! Reporting from their first live at AKASAKA BLITZ!". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  30. ↑ "私立恵比寿中学のCDアルバムランキング、私立恵比寿中学のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  31. 1 2 "私立恵比寿中学のDVDランキング、私立恵比寿中学のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  32. ↑ "The Tissue (Tomaranai Seishun)" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  33. ↑ "Oh My Ghost? (Watashi ga Akuryō ni Natte mo)" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  34. ↑ "Motto Hashire!" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  35. ↑ "Karikeiyaku no Cinderella" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  36. ↑ "Hōkago Getabako Rock 'n' Roll MX" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  37. ↑ "Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  38. ↑ "Otona wa Wakatte Kurenai" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  39. ↑ "Ume" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  40. ↑ "Ume" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  41. ↑ "Te o Tsunagō" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  42. ↑ "Kindan no Karma" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  43. ↑ "Mikakunin Chūgakusei X" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  44. ↑ "Mikakunin Chūgakusei X" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  45. ↑ "Mikakunin Chūgakusei X" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  46. ↑ "U.B.U" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  47. ↑ "Butterfly Effect" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  48. ↑ "Haitateki" (in Japanese). Space Shower TV. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
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