Morning Musume Sakuragumi
| Morning Musume Sakuragumi | |
|---|---|
Morning Musume Sakuragumi, 2004.
Top row (L to R): Asami Konno, Eri Kamei, Risa Niigaki, Hitomi Yoshizawa Bottom row (L to R): Mari Yaguchi, Ai Takahashi, Ai Kago |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2003–2004 |
| Labels | Zetima |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | Hello! Project.com |
| Past members | |
Morning Musume Sakuragumi (モーニング娘｡ さくら組?, also romanized as Morning Musume Sakura Gumi), meaning "Sakura Group", was one of the subgroups derived from the Japanese pop group Morning Musume in 2003. Its less successful equivalent was Morning Musume Otomegumi. Like its counterpart, the sole purpose of Sakuragumi was to accommodate towns with smaller concert venues. The group was meant to embody the traditional Japanese woman. Sakuragumi (as well as Otomegumi) became inactive in March 2004, after releasing two singles.
By 2003, Morning Musume's ranks had swelled to a total of fifteen members. In January, producer Tsunku made the decision to split the girls into two groups, "Sakura" and "Otome". Each group had its own theme - the Sakuragumi girls were much more traditional in song and clothing than Otomegumi, performing ballads, with a calmer and more subdued image. The group's name derives both from the Japanese cherry blossom, associated with spring, and Tsunku's wish for the girls to "bloom like beautiful flowers." The two groups would perform almost identical set-lists, and perform in the same towns simultaneously, at different venues. Natsumi Abe, a first-generation Morning Musume member, was assigned to be the leader. The group released their first single, "Hare Ame Nochi Suki", on September 18, 2003. The single sold well, reaching a peak of #2 on the weekly Oricon charts. Their first tour, "Morning Musume Sakuragumi Hatsukōen: Sakura Saku", began on November 24.
It was later announced that Abe would be graduating from both Morning Musume and Sakuragumi in 2004. Sakuragumi performed "Hare Ame Nochi Suki" with Abe for the final time at her graduation concert in January. After Abe's graduation Mari Yaguchi was elected as the next leader, and the group continued to tour. Their second and final single, "Sakura Mankai", was released on February 25, 2004 and featured the new line-up of seven girls. This single, like the first, sold well and charted at #2, outselling Otomegumi's single. In June their first concert DVD was released.
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