Snow Man
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Snow Man is a Japanese idol boy band formed by Starto Entertainment (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) in 2012.[1] The group was previously a sub-unit of Smile-Up pre-debut trainee group, Junior. The group's activities focused on acrobats and stage play.[2] Along with SixTONES, Snow Man made their official debut on January 22, 2020. The group's simultaneous debut marks the first time for two groups to debut on the same day in the company's history.[3]
Snow Man | |
|---|---|
Snow Man | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | Avex Trax (2020–2022) Ment Recording (2022–present) |
| Members |
|
| Website | mentrecording |
Snow Man makes the best selling debut group since KAT-TUN in 2006. D.D./Imitation Rain is the best-selling debut release in Asian history with more than 1.8 million physical copies sold, it is also the first male idol single in 17 years to stayed in the top 100 of the Oricon chart for more than 100 weeks. Since their debut in 2020 the group sold 11 million physical copies in Japan. In 2021, their debut studio album, Snow Mania S1, sold in the first week more than 841k physical copies, and became in the best selling first week for a boygroup studio album in Japan history, and in the second best week for a debut album in the country history. Their single Grandeur was the best-selling release of 2021 in Japan with more than 1 million physical copies sold, with this Snow Man became the first male artist since L'Arc~en~Ciel in 1999 to have two consecutive years a release that sells more than a million copies. Their total physical sales in Japan are 17.3 million copies.
In January 2022, Snow Man moved from label Avex Trax to Ment Recording. Ment Recording is a newly established joint label between Avex Entertainment and Smile-Up. The other group from the same company and under Avex Trax, Kis-My-Ft2, moved to Ment Recording as well.[4][5]
History edit
The group was predeceased by Mis Snow Man, a unit formed in 2009 that consists of 9 people.[6] The group has been active in stage play series Takizawa Kabuki since 2010.[2] Among them, a unit consists of Tatsuya Fukazawa, Daisuke Sakuma, Shota Watanabe, Ryota Miyadate, Hikaru Iwamoto, and Ryohei Abe was later formed on May 3, 2012.[7] The group's new name, Snow Man, was first announced when the six men stood in the stage of Takizawa Kabuki 2012, when letters suddenly appeared on the big screen behind them. The group's name was officially announced both to them and audience as a surprise.
While active as back dancers for Tackey & Tsubasa, Kis-My-Ft2, A.B.C-Z, and other senior groups, they also regularly appeared in stage plays Dream Boys and Takizawa Kabuki, and from 2015, Shonen-tachi and its movie version. Since all of them are good at acrobatics, they are sometimes referred as "the craftsman group" and are often nominated by seniors in the company as "Junior members they want to have as back dancers."[6] While has been always described as "the best dancer among Junior" since their formation in 2012 and despite their appearances in theater, the group couldn't get the chance to get a debut, leading to its member to "having a thought of leaving several times."[8] In January 2019, Raul from Shonen Ninja, Ren Meguro from Uchuu Six, and a member from Kansai Junior Koji Mukai, was added as new members. While the original 6 members accepted the decision as "they wanted to protect the group," they also felt that the "even if whole group (as original Snow Man) has gone, we just want to realize our dream as Snow Man," and "the only way to get rid of this problem (off my head) is this."
In March 2019, the group, along with 11 other Johnny's Jr. groups (SixTones, Travis Japan, HiHi Jets, Bi Shonen, 7 Men Samurai, Shonen Ninja, Jr.SP, Uchuu Six, Naniwa Danshi, Lil Kansai, and Ae! group) become a part of Island TV, a website that provides video streaming exclusive for Johnny's Jr. members.
The group's debut was first announced by Takizawa, who is told by Johnny Kitagawa in his hospital bed in June 2019.[9] Debuting at the same time as SixTONES, the announcement was officially made in Johnny's Jr. 8.8 Matsuri 〜Tokyo Dome kara Hajimaru〜 concert on August 8, 2019.[10] They also "graduated" from Johhny's Jr. official YouTube channel and officially opened their own YouTube channel on December 25, 2019.
Post debut edit
On February 1, 2020, the group marked their first overseas appearance in Japan Expo Thailand 2020.[11] Their Asia tour titled Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D in Kanagawa Prefecture, Osaka, and Tokyo, as well as overseas live in Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, and Taipei had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.
In March 2020, the group received their own television show titled Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai (それSnowManにやらせて下さい, lit. Leave It to Snow Man). The show's was revealed as a surprise to Snow Man through their YouTube channel in February 2020.[12] The show first ran from March 25, 2020, on TBS.[13] However, later in the same month, Hikaru Iwamoto was reported to be taking a break from the group's activities after the Japanese magazine Friday published a report of him drinking at love motel in 2017. Through Johnny's apology post, it was written that Iwamoto confirmed that an underage girl was among those present.[14] The other 8 members also made their apology in their appearance at the live music program CDTV Live! Live! on the same day as the reported news. On July 1, Johnny's net and Johnny's web announced that Iwamoto will be back to resume his activities.[15]
In April 2020, the group performed the 11th opening theme song for the anime Black Clover, titled "Stories."[16][17]
In May 2020, Snow Man was announced to be a part of Twenty★Twenty, a temporary unit consisting of 75 talents that have debuted in Johnny's, to perform a charity song.[a] The unit was formed to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The song, titled "Smile," is written by Kazutoshi Sakurai and is produced by Hideaki Takizawa.[18]
A movie version of stage play Takizawa Kabuki called Takizawa Kabuki Zero The Movie (滝沢歌舞伎 ZERO The Movie) was released on December 5, 2020, starring the members of Snow Man in the main roles. This marks Snow Man's post-debut first main role in a movie.
In December 2020, it was announced that Ryota Miyadate had tested positive for COVID-19.[19] Their New Years performance was canceled as a result.[20]
On January 5, 2021, Snow Man's song "Grandeur" debuted as the 13th Opening for Black Clover.[21]
In April 2021, it was reported that Daisuke Sakuma will voice the male lead of Chinese animated movie White Snake, Ah Xuan, in its Japanese dub version. This is Sakuma's second voice acting role after he debuted in Black Clover.[22] The Japanese version of the movie also features a theme song by Snow Man, "Yuan" (縁 -YUÁN-).[23]
In August 2021, Snow Man was announced to star in the live action movie adaptation of anime series Mr. Osomatsu. Six of them will play as the Matsuno sextuplets while the rest, Ryōta Miyadate, Shōta Watanabe, and Ryōhei Abe, as the movie's original character, each named Period, End, and Close respectively. The film premiered on March 25, 2022.[24] The group also provided the film's theme song "Brother Beat."
In the same month, the group announced their first album release titled Snow Mania S1. The album released on September 29, 2021. The first edition A of the album contains the highly requested group's pre-debut original songs, including "Make It Hot!" and "Owaranai Memories."[25][26]
Members edit
| Name | Born | Blood Type | Height | Member Color | Join as a Johnny's Jr. | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romanization | ||||||
| 深澤 辰哉 | ふかざわ たつや | Fukazawa Tatsuya | May 5, 1992 | B | 175.7 cm | Purple | August 12, 2004 | |
| 佐久間 大介 | さくま だいすけ | Sakuma Daisuke | July 5, 1992 | O | 168.4 cm | Pink | September 25, 2005 | |
| 渡辺 翔太 | わたなべ しょうた | Watanabe Shōta | November 5, 1992 | B | 172.8 cm | Blue | June 26, 2005 | |
| 宮舘 涼太 | みやだて りょうた | Miyadate Ryōta | March 25, 1993 | A | 174.3 cm | Red | October 1, 2005 | |
| 岩本 照 | いわもと ひかる | Iwamoto Hikaru | May 17, 1993 | A | 182.5 cm | Yellow | October 1, 2006 | leader |
| 阿部 亮平 | あべ りょうへい | Abe Ryōhei | November 27, 1993 | AB | 178.5 cm | Green | August 12, 2004 | |
| 向井 康二 | むかい こうじ | Mukai Kōji | June 21, 1994 | A | 176.3 cm | Orange | October 8, 2006 | |
| 目黒 蓮 | めぐろ れん | Meguro Ren | February 16, 1997 | B | 186.0 cm | Black | October 30, 2010 | |
| 村上 真都 （ラウール） | むらかみ まいと （らうーる） | Murakami Maito (Raul) | June 27, 2003 | A | 191.0 cm | White | May 2, 2015 | center |
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Title | Information | Chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [27] | JPN Comb [28] | ||||
| Snow Mania S1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| |
| Snow Labo. S2 |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| I Do Me |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
Video albums edit
| Title | Video details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN DVD [32] | JPN BD [33] | ||||
| Snow Man Asia Tour 2D.2D. |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
| Takizawa Kabuki Zero the Movie |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
| Snow Man Live Tour 2021 Mania |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
| Snow Man Live Tour 2022 Labo. |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
Singles edit
| Title | Information | Chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [34] | JPN Comb [35] | ||||
| "D.D./Imitation Rain" | 1 | 1 |
|
| |
| "Kissin' My Lips/Stories" |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Grandeur" |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Hello Hello" |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Secret Touch" |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Brother Beat" (ブラザービート, Burazā Bīto) |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Orange Kiss" (オレンジkiss, Orenji kiss) |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Tapestry" / "W" (タペストリー / W, Tapesutori / W) |
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
| "Dangerholic" |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
| "Love Trigger" / "We'll Go Together" |
| 1 | 1 |
| |
Unreleased songs edit
|
|
|
Awards edit
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | WEIBO Account Festival 2019 | New Artist Award | Snow Man | |
| GQ MEN OF THE YEAR 2020 | Pop Icon Of The Year | Snow Man | ||
| ANAN Award 2020 | Grand Prize | Snow Man | ||
| 2021 | WEIBO Account Festival in Tokyo 2020 | Popular Male Idol Group Award | Snow Man | |
| ORICON Chart 2021 | Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist | Snow Man | JPY 4.92 Billion | |
| Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work | Grandeur | |||
| Annual Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work | Grandeur | |||
| 35th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS | Best 5 New Artist | Snow Man | ||
| Single Of The Year | D.D with Imitation Rain | |||
| World Music Awards | Best Selling Japanese Single | Grandeur | The only million-selling single in 2021. 1st Male Japanese Act since LArcenCiel in 1999 to have 2 consecutive years with Million-selling singles | |
| IFPI Global Album Sales Chart – No 9 | Snow Mania S1 | |||
| 2022 | The 110th The Television Drama Academy Awards (Fall 2021) | Best Theme Song – No 2 | Secret Touch | Ost. Kieta Hatsukoi / My Love Mix-Up! |
| 36th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS | Artist Of The Year – Japan | Snow Man | ||
| Album Of The Year – Japan | Snow Mania S1 | |||
| Best 5 Albums | Snow Mania S1 | |||
| Single Of The Year | Grandeur | |||
| Best 5 Singles | Grandeur Hello Hello | |||
| Best 3 Music Videos | Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D. | |||
| ORICON Chart 2022 | Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist | Snow Man | JPY 6.01 Billion | |
| Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work | Brother Beat |
Notes edit
- ^ Except for Iwamoto who was taking a break from activities at the time
References edit
- ^ ジャニーズJr. SPECIALカード」『Myojo』. Shueisha. August 25, 2018. pp. 81–88.
- ^ a b . スポーツ報知. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "A Johnny's first! SixTONES and Snow Man will have a simultaneous CD single debut release in 2020". Neo-Tokyo 2099. August 8, 2019.
- ^ "ジャニーズとエイベックスが「Ment Recording」設立、Kis-My-Ft2とSnow Manが所属". 音楽ナタリー. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "Johnny & Associates and Avex team up for new label Ment Recording, announce Kis-My-Ft2 and Snow Man as first artists". Bandwagon Asia. January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b 5周年から、もう一度. 日経エンタテインメント!. March 2017. pp. 68–71.
- ^ "迫力のアクロバットとダンスで魅せる実力派「Snow Man」ギャップにも注目". マイナビニュース. September 30, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man、デビューまでの道のりに密着「やめようとは何回も頭によぎりましたね」". ザテレビジョン. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man、デビューまでの厳しい道のり「ジャニーズじゃない自分を何度も想像」". ザテレビジョン. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "SixTONES & Snow Man、2020年"ジャニーズ史上初"2グループ同時CDデビュー決定". Oricon News. January 22, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man、Japan Expo Thailand 2020". Snow Man official site. January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man【初の???】サプライズ重大発表!". Snow Man on YouTube. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man、地上波初の冠番組決定 命がけで「ミッション」に挑む". クランクイン!. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "SnowMan岩本照が活動自粛 未成年と飲酒報道". 日刊スポーツ. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ . July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man, Kaf Perform Black Clover Anime's New Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "新曲「Stories」がテレビアニメ「ブラッククローバー」新OPテーマに決定!". Snow Manオフィシャルサイト. January 22, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "15 Johnny's groups form unit Twenty★Twenty for a limited time". tokyohive. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man Band Member Ryota Miyadate Tests Positive for COVID-19". October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Snow Man Band Will Not Perform on New Year's Kohaku Show After COVID-19 Diagnosis". October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Black Clover Anime Unveils New Theme Song Artists, New Cast Member". Anime News Network. October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Snow Man Group Member Daisuke Sakuma Voices Original Character in Black Clover Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "SnowMan 佐久間大介主演アニメ映画主題歌担当 予告映像も解禁「お力になれたら」". ORICON NEWS. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ Castro, Nicole S. (February 3, 2022). "'Osomatsu-san' live action film starring Snow Man premieres March 2022". Aniradioplus. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "1stALBUM「Snow Mania S1」 – DISC | Snow Manオフィシャルサイト". avex.jp (in Japanese). January 22, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "1stALBUM「Snow Mania S1」 – DISC | Snow Manオフィシャルサイト". avex.jp (in Japanese). January 22, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Combined Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ [Weekly Album Ranking]. Oricon. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ [Weekly Album Ranking September 19, 2022 – September 25, 2022]. Oricon. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ [Weekly Album Ranking May 15, 2023 – May 21, 2023]. Oricon. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Sources for chart positions are as follows:
- (in Japanese). Oricon. December 24, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- (in Japanese). Oricon. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Sources for chart positions are as follows:
- (in Japanese). Oricon. December 24, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- (in Japanese). Oricon. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Combined Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ a b "Recording Industry Association of Japan".
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking November 29, 2021 – December 5, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 28, 2022 – April 3, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking July 11, 2022 – July 17, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 13, 2023 – March 19, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking September 4, 2023 – September 10, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking February 12, 2024 – February 18, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "桶ダンスも復活！「少年たち」本日開幕、看守の声はあおい輝彦が演じる". ステージナタリー. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "滝沢秀明&三宅健、女方挑戦も「メイクダウン」心配 – CMオファーも期待". マイナビニュース. April 6, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "『少年たち』日生劇場で開幕 SixTONESとSnow Manが"戦争"に体当たりで挑む". SPICE – エンタメ特化型情報メディア スパイス. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ . スポーツ報知. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2020.