Country Girls

:For more details about Country Girls' predecessor, please see Country Musume.
Country Girls (カントリー・ガールズ) was an all-female J-pop group within Hello! Project. The group was a 2014 revival of the former Hello! Project group Country Musume, which was known for its concept of being a group of country girls from Hokkaido. Unlike its predecessor, the rebooted Country Girls was based in Tokyo alongside the rest of Hello! Project. Satoda Mai, the last remaining member of Country Musume, acted as Country Girls's supervisor, while Berryz Koubou member Tsugunaga Momoko acted as the group's playing manager."『カントリー娘。』改め『カントリー・ガールズ』について" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2014-11-05. (archived) 
Country Girls's highest selling single is "Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou" with 51,579 copies sold, while their lowest selling single is "Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request" with 26,984 copies sold.
On December 26, 2019, the group suspended all activities. There is a possibility that the group will be revived with new members, but nothing has been decided as of yet.
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==Members==
==History==
===2014: Revival as Country Girls===
On January 2, Tsunku revealed that he was considering restarting Country Musume. 
On February 11, through a VTR message, Satoda Mai announced the Country Musume Shin Member Audition during the Hello! Project 2014 WINTER tour. However, Satoda would not participate in the group's activities for the possible new line-up, as she then resided outside of Japan.
On August 7, it was announced that the auditions had ended and no new members were chosen.
On November 5, it was announced that Country Musume was revived as a brand new group called Country Girls with five new members: Inaba Manaka and Yamaki Risa from Hello Pro Kenshuusei and Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta and Ozeki Mai from the Morning Musume '14 (Golden) Audition!."カントリー娘。「カントリー・ガールズ」に改名で再始動！ “ももち”も加入" (in Japanese). AliveM.net. 2014-11-05. Satoda Mai would be the group's general manager/supervisor. Tsugunaga Momoko would also become a member of the group as the playing manager after her group Berryz Koubou would go on indefinite hiatus in early 2015.Satoda Mai (Translator: Skoban). "A report！ (Satoda Mai)." Blog!Project. 2014-11-05. The new unit would debut in the upcoming Hello! Project 2015 WINTER concert tour.
Country Girls rejoined Hello! Project as a brand new group under . With Satoda Mai moving from Country Musume into a position as a supervisor for Country Girls, Country Musume effectively disbanded.
===2015: 2nd Major Debut===
On March 15, the group's radio show Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Kenshuuchuu!! began airing without Tsugunaga Momoko. The show ended two weeks later, and would be replaced with a new show including Tsugunaga Momoko.
On March 25, Country Girls released their major debut single since re-joining Hello! Project, "Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou". It debuted in 4th place on Oricon's daily chart rankings and 3rd in the weekly chart rankings.
On April 2, Country Girls and ℃-ute performed at forTUNE fes vol.0."forTUNE music PRESENTS スペシャルアイドルライブイベント『forTUNE fes vol.0』" (in Japanese). forTUNE music. [Archived]
On April 5, the group's radio show Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Housouchuu!! began airing.
The group along with Kobushi Factory were the opening acts for the Juice=Juice First Live Tour 2015 ~Special Juice~.
On June 12, it was announced, due to contract disagreements between management and her family, Shimamura Uta had left the group."カントリー・ガールズ 島村嬉唄に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2015-06-12.
On June 24, Country Girls performed at the TV Tokyo Music Festival(2) along many other artists, including Morning Musume '15 and Morning Musume OG."The Former Members of Morning Musume Gather for a Live Performance After One Year!". Tokyo Girls' Update. 2015-06-20.
On August 5, Country Girls released their 2nd single "Wakatteiru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summer Time".
On November 5, during Country Girls' first anniversary event in Shinjuku, it was announced that Funaki Musubu and Yanagawa Nanami would join the group as new members."【イベントレポート】カントリー・ガールズに新メンバー船木結、梁川奈々美ら2名加入" (in Japanese). BARKS. 2015-11-05."カントリー・ガールズ　新メンバー加入決定！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2015-11-05.
On December 2, Country Girls performed at the UPDATE girls LIVE, alongside idol groups Lyrical School and Tokyo Performance Doll."UNBELIEVABLE LINEUP! Country Girls, Tokyo Performance Doll, lyrical School Gather in Shibuya!". Tokyo Girls' Update. 2015-11-30.
===2016===
On February 9, during the 67th Sapporo Snow Festival, Country Girls performed a special live titled Country Girls Boogie Woogie LIVE. It took place in Odori Park in front of the HTB Snow Square."第67回さっぽろ雪まつり「カントリー・ガールズ ブギウギLIVE」開催！ (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2016-02-06.
On February 18, Country Girls performed a joint live with Idol Renaissance for DOUBLE COLOR session11 at Shinjuku BLAZE."カントリー・ガールズ出演「DOUBLE COLOR session11」開催！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2015-12-16.
On February 28, Country Girls performed at the SKY PerfecTV! Ongakusai 2016."スカパー！音楽祭2016" (in Japanese) SKY PerfecTV! Official Site. 2016-01-19.
On March 9, Country Girls released their 3rd single "Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~". It is Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu's debut single.
On April 28, it was announced that Inaba Manaka would be taking a break from Country Girls' activities due to asthma after consulting with her doctors. It was initially stated that she would be returning to Country Girls when she recovered from her illness, but on August 4 she graduated from the group."カントリー・ガールズ 稲場愛香に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2016-04-28.
On September 28, Country Girls released their 4th single "Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request".
During the Country Girls Live Tour 2016 Fuyu day concert at Shinjuku ReNY on November 5 and Country Girls' second anniversary, Tsugunaga Momoko announced that she would be graduating from Country Girls and Hello! Project as well as retiring from the entertainment industry on June 30, 2017 to work in education."嗣永桃子に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2016-11-05.
===2017: Concurrency===
On February 8, Country Girls released their 5th single and Tsugunaga Momoko's last, "Good Boy Bad Girl / Peanut Butter Jelly Love".
On March 12, Country Girls performed in the SKY PerfecTV! Ongakusai 2017."「スカパー！ 音楽祭2017」にモーニング娘。'17、カントリー・ガールズの出演決定！!" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2017-03-12.
On June 9, it was announced that Country Girls would be switching over to a new system after Tsugunaga's graduation. Morito Chisaki, Yanagawa Nanami, and Funaki Musubu would simultaneously join another Hello! Project group for their main activities, while Yamaki Risa and Ozeki Mai focused on their studies. Country Girls would mainly perform on school breaks and holidays due to the change. In addition to this, most of their singles from this point would be released in a digital format. Country Girls would continue to perform as a six-member line-up at the Tsugunaga Momoko Last Live ♥Arigatou Otomomochi♥, and as a five-member line-up throughout the Hello! Project 2017 SUMMER tour."カントリー・ガールズの今後の活動について" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2017-06-10."[EN Concerning the future activities of Country Girls]." UP-FRONT LINK. 2017-06-10.
On June 26, through a special episode of Hello! Project Station, it was announced that Morito had joined Morning Musume '17, Yanagawa had joined Juice=Juice, and Funaki had joined ANGERME; all as concurrent members."ハロ！ステ号外 ～ハロー！プロジェクト2017新体制決定スペシャル～" (in Japanese). Hello! Project Station (via YouTube). 2017-06-26."[EN Concerning the new organization in Hello! Project]." UP-FRONT LINK. 2017-06-26.
Tsugunaga Momoko graduated from both the group and Hello! Project during the Tsugunaga Momoko Last Live ♥Arigatou Otomomochi♥ concert at an outdoor venue in Odaiba on June 30."ももち、“らしさ”満点でアイドル引退 ももち結びも一夜限り復活" (in Japanese). ORICON NEWS. 2017-06-30.
On August 11, they released the digital song "Konamaiki Girl".
On December 24, they released the digital single "Kaite wa Keshite no "I Love You"".
===2018===
On August 24, Country Girls released two digital songs together, titled "Matenai After Five / Kasa wo Sasu Senpai"."アプカミ ミュージックデリバリー カントリー・ガールズ 配信曲紹介" (in Japanese). Upcoming (via YouTube). 2018-08-23.
On November 2, Yanagawa Nanami announced that she would be graduating from the group in March 2019."梁川奈々美 卒業に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2018-11-02.
===2019: Hiatus===
Country Girls pre-released their first mini album Seasons on January 2 at the Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project 2019 WINTER concert tour,Yanagawa Nanami. "ラジオ&嬉しいお知らせ！ 梁川奈々美" (in Japanese). Country Girls Offical Blog. 2018-12-13.Ozeki Mai. "12月13日 ミニアルバム！ 小関舞" (in Japanese). Country Girls Offical Blog. 2018-12-13. and it was released for general sale on March 6.
On March 11, Yanagawa Nanami graduated from Hello! Project in the Juice=Juice & Country Girls LIVE ~Yanagawa Nanami Sotsugyou Special~ at Zepp Tokyo."Juice=Juice＆カントリー・ガールズ、東西で梁川奈々美ラストライブ" (in Japanese). natalie. 2018-12-11."梁川奈々美、Juice=Juice＆カントリー・ガールズから卒業！「これからも、私は大丈夫です！」" (in Japanese). Pop'n'roll. 2019-03-11.
On August 24, Country Girls released two digital songs together, titled "One Summer Night ~Manatsu no Kesshin~ / Natsuiro no Palette".https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ORPsTgr7k/
On October 18, it was announced that all of the current members will graduate from Country Girls, and the group will subsequently suspend all activities on December 26, 2019 after their Country Girls Live 2019 ~Itooshikutte Gomen ne~ at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA. The members had conversations with the office throughout the year about the future of the group, and this decision to suspend activities naturally came after the members decided on what they wanted to do next. Yamaki Risa will retire from the entertainment industry in favor of getting a job. Ozeki Mai plans on applying to university and continuing activities in show-business. Funaki Musubu will graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project in March 2020 to study dancing. Morito Chisaki plans on continuing activities in Morning Musume."カントリー・ガールズ 活動休止のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-10-18.
On December 4, before they suspend activities, Country Girls released one last compilation album, Country Girls Daizenshuu ①."カントリー・ガールズ　ベストアルバム「カントリー・ガールズ大全集①」12月4日発売決定！" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2019-10-18.
On December 22, the group's radio show Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Housouchuu!! finished airing.
On December 26, the members graduated from the group at the end of the Country Girls Live 2019 ~Itooshikutte Gomen ne~, and the group activities were suspended."カントリー・ガールズが卒業公演　全員涙で抱き合う" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2019-12-26."カントリー・ガールズ全員卒業 涙のラストライブ 里田まい&ももち先輩も見届ける" (in Japanese). ORICON MUSIC. 2019-12-26.
==Group Name Origin==
Both the group and it's name, Country Girls, are derived from the former Hello! Project group Country Musume. The group is meant to continue the legacy and history of Country Musume.
==Discography==
==Publications==
==Works==
==Trivia==
*Out of the members of Country Girls, only Inaba Manaka was from the Hokkaido prefecture.
*Upon their return to Hello! Project on November 5, 2014, Country Girls (excluding supervisor Satoda Mai) were contracted to , but were not produced by Tsunku.
*Tsugunaga Momoko was the only member of Country Girls to not have failed a Morning Musume audition.
*Satoda Mai hoped that Country Girls would expand into the United States."里田まいの“采配”は吉と出るか凶と出るか？" (in Japanese). Tokyo Sports Web. 2014-11-06.
*Yamaki Risa and Inaba Manaka were the first Country Girls members to come from Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
*Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, and Ozeki Mai were the first members to be born after the Country Musume's formation.
*Country Girls had a sweets ban, where eating sweets three times would result in having to eat celery as punishment. The rule was repealed on a radio broadcast of Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Housouchuu!! the day before Yanagawa Nanami's graduation, with the thought that it was pointless to keep a rule that was not followed. After the broadcast, former playing manager Tsugunaga Momoko gifted a celery bouquet to the group after Yanagawa’s graduation concert, and the members carried out the celery punishment that same night with the exception of Yamaki Risa, who had already eaten celery on a trip with Ishida Ayumi to Sendai.Yamaki Risa. "優しさのマヨネーズ/山木梨沙" (in Japanese). Country Girls Offical Blog. 2019-03-18.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_Uwz9gh_3/
*From June 31, 2017 to December 26, 2019, they were the only group in Hello! Project to not have an official leader (excluding supervisor Satoda Mai). For interviews or press conferences with all the current group leaders, Yamaki Risa acted as Country Girls' representative as the oldest member."カントリー・ガールズの山木梨沙がメンバー愛を語る！【ハロプロ誕生20周年記念連載】" (in Japanese). NewsWalker. 2017-12-14."2018ハロプロリーダー座談会(1)　マジメなお話がお弁当トークに!? 【ハロプロ誕生20周年記念連載】" (in Japanese). NewsWalker. 2018-01-01.
*Ozeki Mai is the only member in Country Girls's history to have not been a member in another idol group.
*Morito Chisaki and Inaba Manaka were the last original Country Girls members active in Hello! Project after the group suspended activities. They both graduated from Hello! Project just 21 days apart from each other in 2022.
==Total Sales Count==
Year 	Yearly Group Sales	Yearly Collab Sales	Total Sales
2015 	87,891 	0 	87,891
2016 	69,933 	0 	157,824
2017-2019	5,528 	0 	163,352
==References==
==External Links==
*Country Girls Official Profile (archived)
*Country Girls Official YouTube Channel
*Country Girls Official Blog
*Social Media Pages: Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram
*Wikipedia: , , German, French, Korean, Malay, Romanian, Chinese
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Category:Country Girls
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