EBiDAN

EBiDAN (abbreviated from Ebisu Gakuen Boys Club (恵比寿学園男子部; Ebisu Gakuen Danshi-bu)) is a music collective consisting of male artists belonging to the well-known talent agency in Japan, Stardust Promotion.

## Overview

EBiDAN was a project started by Stardust Promotion in 2010 which was originally active as a theater group. "Ebisu" in EBiDAN name was taken from the name of the location where Stardust Promotion's office is located. They regularly held live performances mainly at the live houses and streets. After several member changes, they started specializing in becoming artist groups in 2011. A number of units were formed one after another.

Currently there are nine main units, Choutokkyu (Bullet Train), M!LK, Sakura Shimeji, SUPER★DRAGON, ONE N' ONLY, Genin wa Jibun ni Aru, BUDDiiS, ICEx, and Lienel. There are also research students groups under EBiDAN NEXT. Many of EBiDAN members are active as actors such as Sano Hayato, Furukawa Tsuyoshi, Kusakawa Takuya, and more.

## History

### 2010

* On May 1, the auditions for EBiDAN officially started
* On July 20, total of 56 kids were selected.
* In August, PrizmaX who had been active since 2002 was announced to joined EBiDAN and they were seen as the older brothers who will guide and help the members
* On August 12, EBiDAN blog is launched and members profiles started to be posted.
* On August 17, member's video introductions started distributed.
* August 27 - 29, the 1st stage performance "EBiDAN no Bunka Matsuri wa Maa - Bunka no Kawori no Kawori ga Shitano no Maki" (EBiDANの文化祭はまぁ〜文化のカヲリがしないのだの巻) was held
* On November 22, they held their first EBiDAN THE LIVE called "EBiDAN THE LIVE After School Vol.1" (EBiDAN THE LIVE アフタースクールvol.1 ～今日は22日だから2と2を足して出席番号4のやつ答えてみろ!～**). They performed their original songs "Sparkling Adventure" and "Koi no Ding Dong" for the first time. "Koi no Ding Dong" was performed with PrizmaX as the center. The original main vocal for "Sparkling Adventure" at that time was KOICHI (former Choutokkyuu), MASAKI (DISH//), and Hayakawa Yuusuke (later ended his EBiDAN activities in the same year).**
* On December 25, they released their first single "Sparkling Adventure/Koi no Ding Dong" with four different versions.

### 2011

* On March 24, the second EBiDAN live, "EBiDAN THE LIVE Vol.2 Reito Mikan ga Amattakara Janken Shiyouze" (EBiDAN THE LIVE アフタースクールvol.2 冷凍みかんが余ったからジャンケンしようぜ) was supposed to be held but it has to be canceled because of the big earthquake that occurred on March 11. It was later rescheduled to be held on April 2nd.
* On June 4, they held a small event "EBiDAN THE LIVE After School Vol.2 Nukiuchi tesuto wa kiitenaidesu yo!~" (EBiDAN THE LIVE アフタースクールvol.2～抜き打ちテストは聞いてないですよ!～) at Shibuya Tower Records with only 11 EBiDAN members. A new unit "TR2Y2" (consisted of Kitamura Takumi, Kobayashi Ryuji, Yabe Masaki, Funatsu Ryoga, and Murata Yuki) made their first appearance at this event. PrizmaX also announced to officially continue with 4 members at this time.
* On July 17, "EBiDAN THE LIVE Vol.3" (**EBiDAN THE LIVE** アフタースクールvol.3～急襲！！代々ギグ！！ちなみにギグっつーのはライヴって意味！ジュンスカ世代の父ちゃんに聞いてミソ～) was held
* Since August 6, EBiDAN members started holding a regular event "EBiDAN THE STREET". A street live performance, a gateway to success, which PrizmaX and Momoiro Clover Z (female idol group from Stardust Promotion) have experienced in the past. Since it was during the summer vacation, 15 performances were held in total, including encore performances. Goods and ticket sales for the summer show, autograph session, and photo session were also held.
* On August 24 - 28, the 2nd theater stage performance "Arashi no Rinkai Gakkou! ! Nami to Kenka to Ebidan wa Gekiatsu Kirin gara! ! No Maki" (嵐の臨海学校!!波とケンカとエビダンは激アツキリン柄!!の巻) was held.
* On October 11, they announced Christmas show that will be hold on December 25th. At the same time, the formation of several new units was announced.
* On November 1, EBiDAN held a new member audition.
* On November 11 - 12, the members of the new unit were officially announced on the blog, it was said that the groups' name were not decided yet, later they announced the group names on November 12th. Group announced at that time: Choutokkyuu☆-BULLET TRAIN- (later changed their name to Choutokkyuu), DISH//, E-CHARY, Kuri-Mi-San, and Hakenshitsu. Including PrizmaX and TR2Y2, there were a total of seven active groups.Choutokkyuu☆-BULLET TRAIN-, 2011DISH//, 2011E-CharyKu-Ri-Mi-SanHakenshitsuPrizmaX, 2011
* On December 25, they held Christmas one-man show and sang "Koigokoro" for the first time. This day became the anniversary of Choutokkyuu and DISH// formation.

### 2012

* In March Yuuki Byrnes announced that he will leave PrizmaX and the group continued as 3 members, Takemura Sho decided to leave Choutokkyu and TAKUYA was added as his replacement.
* On March 20, "EBiDAN THE LIVE Haru no Jin" (EBiDAN the LIVE 春の陣 〜お披露目！新ユニット旋風の乱〜) was held. It was announced the formation of a new group (Customize) without any group name at that time. They were recruited through the radio program "Ebisu Gakuen Danshi-bu Customize". The group name Customize (カスタマイズ) was decided in May.
* On May 12, "EBiDAN The Live Fuurinkazan - O-WEST no Ran" (EBiDAN the LIVE 風林火山 〜応-WESTの乱〜) was held.
* On June 10, both DISH// and Choutokkyuu made their indie debut under the label Stardust Records with single "It's alright" and "TRAIN"
* On August 4, "EBiDAN THE LIVE 2012 Natsu" was held at Shibuya O-WEST. DISH//,Choutokkyuu and Customize became the main acts of show. Kuri-Mi-San, Hakenshitsu and E-Chary also participated in the live.
* On September 1, EBiDAN started an acting group "Geki☆Dan" (劇☆男), they became the male only acting group exist at that time.
* On October 24, Customize made their indie debut with single "Hare Hare Yukai"