Tanpopo

Tanpopo (タンポポ; Dandelion) was a Hello! Project unit and the first official sub-unit of Japanese pop girl group Morning Musume, formed in October 1998. They specialized in singing slow and mature songs, which morphed to an old-fashioned and upbeat style—a genre somewhat similar to the band it originated from.
Tanpopo's highest selling single is "Koi wo Shichaimashita!" with 386,830 copies sold, while their lowest selling single is "BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee" with 60,450 copies sold.
==Members==
===Founding Members (1998)===
*Ishiguro Aya (1998-1999)
*Iida Kaori (1998-2002)
*Yaguchi Mari (1998-2002)
===First Addition (2000)===
*Ishikawa Rika (2000-2002)
*Kago Ai (2000-2002)
===Second Addition (2002)===
*Konno Asami (2002)
*Niigaki Risa (2002)
*Shibata Ayumi (2002)
==History==
===1998===
On October 18th, 1998, ASAYAN aired an episode where Tsunku announced live on the TV show ASAYAN,that he wanted to create a new unit with Iida Kaori and Ishiguro Aya. This caught the whole group by surprise, and Iida, probably baffled by the announcement, asked if this meant that Morning Musume was no more. Tsunku explained further that Morning Musume would still be around, and that the two girls would be a sub-unit, releasing music as members of both groups. We also got to hear a short demo snippet of their debut song, Last Kiss, with vocals by Tsunku.
Tsunku wanted a third member, and held an audition between Yasuda Kei, Ichii Sayaka and Yaguchi Mari. They had to go through test recordings, before Yaguchi was chosen as the third member.
Several names was suggested for the group, like Lilac, 3/8, 3HIPS, Superman 3, Clay, Cray, Suuman, Super Mansion Tanki, Hostess, Charm Baby, Triple Ju, Nineteen-ninety-nine, Daichuushou (Large - Meduim - Small), LMS, 6cups, Super Three Hips, and Akubi (Yawn). The name eventually chosen was Tanpopo. Tsunku said in an interview that he chose this name, as "Tanpopo (dandelions) can be blooming anywhere you see, and from a small child to a senior citizen, anyone is familiar with them."
On October 25 and November 1, ASAYAN aired the recording of their first single, "Last Kiss", the cover-shooting for the CD jacket, and a making-of of the PV.
On November 8, they performed the song for the first time on stage. They were also talking about their experiences so far and giving a dance lesson.
On November 15, the PV aired for the first time.
On November 18, they released their debut single, Last Kiss.
===1999===
On February 28, ASAYAN aired footage of Tanpopo who had went to the United States to shoot the PV for their upcoming second single. The title was revealed to be "Motto", set for release on March 10.
On March 10, their second single, "Motto", was released.
On March 14, the PV aired on ASAYAN for the first time.
On March 31, the group released their first album "TANPOPO1″. It featured their first single, two mixes, three solo songs and four new songs.
On May 30, the title and release date of their third single is announced. It is titled "Tanpopo" and is set for release on June 16.
On June 16, Tanpopo released the re-cut single "Tanpopo". It was featured on the album, but Tsunku re-recorded the vocals and mixed the song over again, hence the change in the title to Tanpopo -Single Version-, making the song appearing on the single different from the album version. He said in an interview, that one of his staff had listened to the album for nearly hundreds of times, and suggested to select and release “Tanpopo” as a single. In the music industry, they believe that a single that was selected from a previous album won’t do well in the market, compared to a newly produced single. Tsunku’s staff too was well aware of this reality and yet still suggested it, which made Tsunku feel their warm affection towards the artist and the song.
On October 3, the title of their fourth single was announced as "Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru".
On October 10, ASAYAN aired the recording sessions for the single. They also revealed the single cover and behind the scene shots of the PV.
On October 17, the PV aired on ASAYAN.
On October 20, "Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru was released. The single has three solo versions of the a-side instead of a b-side and instrumentals, which is uncommon for Japanese singles.
They also held a live event in October, called Tanpopo Event Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru.
In December,Tanpopo did the opening theme song for the music show THE GARAGE. All of the theme songs are covers, and Tanpopo did a version of "Ama-iro no Kami no Otome", originally by Village Singers.
===2000===
After the release of the group's fourth single, Ishiguro graduated from Morning Musume and left the group. Iida and Yaguchi continued on as a duo, called Tanpopo 1.5 by fans.
In June 2000, Morning Musume fourth generation members, Ishikawa Rika and Kago Ai, joined Tanpopo. The style of their songs changed when the four released "Otome Pasta ni Kandou". The style of this song became analogous to the songs Morning Musume had released. They also used this style on their next singles, which became popular and reached the number one spot on Oricon, and on their second album.
===2002===
On July 31, 2002, it was announced that Tanpopo was going to be completely reformed. Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari and Kago Ai graduated from the group and were replaced by new Morning Musume fifth generation members, Konno Asami and Niigaki Risa, and Melon Kinenbi's Shibata Ayumi.
A week before the release of what would be their last single, they released a best-of album called "All of Tanpopo". It featured all their single’s a-sides, a few b-sides, and one new song. What is interesting about this release is the remix of their fourth single, called "Tanpopo (Grand Symphonic Version)". Despite it being over two years since Ishiguro Ayagraduated from Hello! Project, she was invited back to re-record her vocals for the making of the song. The album sold over 100.000 copies and is their best selling album.
Shortly after these releases, it was announced that the group would be put on hiatus.
===2004===
In 2004, Tanpopo released a DVD called Tanpopo Single V Clips 1. It had the PVs and commercials for all their eight singles, as well as close-up versions for their 3 latest singles.
===2008===
In December of 2008, Zetima released several Mega Best album series by several groups long disbanded; like Tanpopo, Petitmoni and Taiyou to Ciscomoon. Tanpopo released their Mega Best album as a joint album with Petitmoni. They were released as a CD+DVD combo, but sold poorly. Total sales registered were just above 1.000 copies.
Six months later, Tanpopo was revived shortly (as Tanpopo#), with all new members peforming new songs at concerts. The idea was probably to revive the sub-units, since a release of an album or singles were announced, then scrapped.
===2016===
On December 31, 2016, Ishikawa Rika made a guest appearance at the Hello! Project COUNTDOWN PARTY 2016 ~GOOD BYE & HELLO!~. She performed "Koi wo Shichaimashita!" with Okai Chisato and Kumai Yurina, two former Tanpopo# members.
===2018===
On March 31, 2018, Iida Kaori, Ishiguro Aya, and Yaguchi Mari got together to perform "Last Kiss" and "Tanpopo" at Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project Hina Fes 2018.
==Discography==
==Works==
===Events===
*[1998.11.xx] Tanpopo "Last Kiss" Hatsubai Kinen Event
*[1999.10.23] Tanpopo Event Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru 1999.10.23
*[1999.06.16] Tanpopo "Tanpopo" Hatsubai Kinen Live at Tokyo Shibuya ON AIR EAST
===Photobooks===
*[2001.07.05] Tanpopo Photobook (タンポポPhoto Book)
===Radio===
*[1999-2000] Tanpopo Hatake de Tsukamaete (タンポポ畑でつかまえて)
*[2000-2001] Tanpopo no Konya mo Mankai (タンポポの今夜も満開)
*[2000-2003] Tanpopo Henshuubu Oh-So-Ro! (タンポポ編集部 Oh-So-Ro!)
===Other===
*[1999/2000] GIRLPOP Hello! Project Special
==Trivia==
*When the single "Tanpopo" was released, there was a rumor of the group’s break-up. Iida said in an interview, she had actually went up to Tsunku and asked him directly. He just laughed at her and said, “I don’t know anything about that.”
==Tanpopo#==
Tanpopo# (タンポポ#; Dandelion Sharp) was a Hello! Project unit, a revival group of Tanpopo. The unit was revived in 2009 alongside the other Chanpuru units. The members chosen for this unit all have the Japanese symbol 井 in their name.
===Members===
*Kamei Eri (亀井絵里) (2009-2010)
*Mitsui Aika (光井愛佳) (2009-2011)
*Kumai Yurina (熊井友理奈) (2009-2011)
*Okai Chisato (岡井千聖) (2009-2011)
===History===
====2009====
In 2009, Tanpopo was revived as Tanpopo# (タンポポ＃; pronounced Tanpopo Sharp), with a new line-up consisting of Kamei Eri and Mitsui Aika from Morning Musume, Kumai Yurina from Berryz Koubou, and Okai Chisato from ℃-ute. The sharp symbol was chosen to represent the kanji "井" (read as "i") which is the second character in each of the new members' surnames.
Their first song was a cover of Matsuda Seiko's "Akai Sweet Pea," which was released on the Chanpuru ① ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~ album. Their next song, "Umbrella," was released on the Petit Best 10 album.
====2010====
On December 15, 2010, Kamei Eri graduated from Morning Musume and Hello! Project, effectively leaving the group.
====2011====
The three remaining members performed W's "Dekoboko Seventeen" during the Hello! Project 2011 WINTER ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~ A gana Live, after which the unit became inactive.
===Discography===
;Albums
*[2009.07.15] Chanpuru ① ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~
*[2009.12.02] Petit Best 10
==External Links==
*Wikipedia: Japanese
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Category:Tanpopo
Category:1st Generation Morning Musume
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