W (Double You)

W
W, 2005 Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji
Background information
Also known as	Double You, Double U
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Pop
Years active	2004 (2004)–2007
Labels	Zetima
Associated acts	Morning Musume Tanpopo Minimoni
Past members	Ai Kago Nozomi Tsuji

W (ダブルユー, Daburuyū^?), also written as Double You or Double U, was a Japanese pop duo associated with Hello! Project. Formed in 2004, its members solely consisted of Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago, former fourth generation members of Morning Musume, were in the group. The duo ultimately disbanded in 2007 following Kago's dismissal from their agency.

W's formation was announced not long after the "graduation" of Kago and Tsuji from Morning Musume was announced in early 2004. At the time, the duo—longtime best friends since they met at the auditions that landed them in Morning Musume in 2000—were simultaneously in both Morning Musume and one of its most popular subgroups (or side projects), Mini Moni. The latter group was about to be disbanded with the departure of Mika Todd; with Kago and Tsuji almost at a complete loose end, the decision to pair the two best friends and lifelong bandmates together in a new group was made almost immediately.

As they were winding down their Mini Moni and Morning Musume duties, W released their debut three-song EP, Koi no Vacance, the title track being a rocked-up cover version of a 1960s hit by Showa period female duo The Peanuts. The EP was followed a few weeks later by their debut album as W, Duo U&U, which contained covers of other Showa period female duo songs exclusively. One of the other groups covered by W on the first album was Pink Lady. Since Kago and Tsuji had done two Pink Lady songs ("Southpaw" and "Nagisa no Sinbad") on Duo U&U, Pink Lady were invited to perform with W on Japanese television as a one-time four-piece ensemble.

Kago and Tsuji performed their graduation concert (final performance as members of Morning Musume) in August 2004; a week later, their second single "Aa Ii na!" was released. Not only was it the duo's first release since they departed Morning Musume, it was also the first W single to feature an original composition by Hello! Project founder and producer Tsunku. A third single of original material, "Robo Kiss", followed three months later.