Passpo
| PASSPO☆ | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Idol, Rock, Pop, Punk |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels |
Platinum Passport (management) Jolly Roger (2010–2011) Universal J (2011–2015) Crown Records (2016–) |
| Associated acts | Pre-dia palet Band-Maid 3mini Silent Siren Puchi Passpo |
| Website | www |
| Members | Negishi Ai (Leader) Fujimoto Yukimi (Sub-Leader) Iwamura Natsumi Masui Mio Mori Shiori Anzai Naomi Tamai Anna Makita Sako (On hiatus) |
| Past members | Sakuma Kaho Makoto Okunaka |
PASSPO☆ (ぱすぽ☆ Pasupo, word play for passport) is a Japanese idol rock girl group under the Platinum Passport (プラチナム・パスポート) brand of Avex Group's subsidiary Platinum Productions Inc. Their first major single, "Shoujo Hikou", reached number 1 at the Oricon charts on May 16, 2011. They also are producing a group called Puchi Passpo (ぷちぱすぽ☆), a 5-girl group heading to be the representative group of Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
The group formed in 2009 after ten girls were selected from the Minna de Tsukuru Idol Unit contest in Akihabara. The group was named "PASSPO☆" soon after and they use the theme of travel in the group's concept. For example, the members of group are called "the crew" while the leader is called "captain" and the sub-leader is called "chief purser" with each member having their own color. Meanwhile, their live events are called "flights" while those who are attendance are usually called "the passengers". Also, their songs incorporate the travel theme and the group releases three versions of their singles, each name Business Class, First Class, and Economy Class, with different material inserted in each version.
PASSPO☆ released their first single on March 2010, entitled "Let It Go!!", under the indie label Jolly Roger. A month later, PASSPO☆ went on their first tour named "PasTour". The group also starred in their own variety show, Attention Please☆ on TV Kanagawa. By the end of the year, the group released their first album, entitled TAKE☆OFF.
At an event on January 2011, PASSPO☆ announced that they signed to the label Universal Japan. The group made their major debut four months later with the single "Shoujo Hikou". Their first single reached #1 in the Oricon chart (making them the first idol group in Japan to debut at #1). They also released their first major album, entitled CHECK-IN, in December. However, Sakuma Kaho was the first member to graduate as she graduated from the group on December 30 at the group's last live show at Zepp Tokyo.
On June 25, 2012, Passpo 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!!!, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, Super Girls, Tokyo Girls' Style, Nogizaka46, Buono!, Momoiro Clover Z, and Watarirouka Hashiritai 7.
...
Wikipedia