hasbrialeblog: Dempagumi.inc

Dempagumi.inc (でんぱ組.inc) is a super popular Japanese all girls idol group based at DEARSTAGE in Akihabara, Japan formed way back in 2008 by Furukawa Mirin. They appear under labels Lantis, MEME TOKYO (TOY'S FACTORY) and their agency is DEARSTAGE. Associated Acts include Nemopero, Chape no Izumi, Meme Tokyo, Niji no Conquistador and Beboga. They are associated with Otaku Culture and all the members pursue their own "Otaku" interests.

Note: This blog is quite long and will take some time to read it completely!

THE ICON - Maiko Fukushima

The group was started by Maiko Fukushima (now 38), also known as "Mofuku-chan", is a highly sought-after music producer and organiser. Starting out her career at the Akihabara live house "Dear Stage" and "MOGRA" as an organizer, she eventually became the producer of the now famous Akihabara idol group "Dempagumi.inc" besides being an active founding member of the group since its inception. Get to know more about her and the group in this interview from 2014 at Asianbeat.

What is this "Dempagumi.inc"?

There is quite a big story and may variants as to how the name of the group came about. Simply put it is - "Dempa" was taken from the Dempa Building where they performed, "gumi" from retrotic name like "Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi" as suggested by Fukushima, and the naming participants Akari Owata, associates Kenzō Saeki and Masaya Koike. Finally ".inc" was included - as an extension (just like MOSAIC.WAV, LOVE.EXE, etc.), as it was thought to be good for Akibahara. So, it was proposed that ".inc" would be added, renaming it from just "Dempagumi" to "Dempagumi.inc". Enough said!!!

Musical Style:

Its a total mixed bag!!! Mainly staple JPop, Bubblegum Pop, Pop, Dempa is the music genre. Their vocals mix cute, straight-forward, attitude, professional singing among their members.I have noticed some songs with 8-bit tracks, songs similar to what FES☆TIVE produce, AKB48 Style (Heavy Rotation like), the narrative breaks in between singing like BEYOOOOONDS and annoying chatter, back-fills by members to name a few... They lack constructive chorus in some songs. Some good songs fall victim to infamous Dual Compositions shifts, Switchbacks and Tempo drifts/changes at the end of the songs. Usual Idol Shit. Singing wise there is a lot of promising talent. Quality studio singing for sure. Largely, the songs are ok'ish and not many make you headbang or jump outta your seat. Some will ring your ear. But, you may like them, as there is a truck load of music on offer.

Having said that the 5 absolute Best Songs of Dempagumi.inc are:

Akihabara Life ♪
Shotaiken
Nanto! Sekai kōnin hiki komori!
Sakura Appareshon
Tsuyoi kimochi tsuyoi ai

Releases:

The group has released 20 Major Singles with Single #15 "Ashita Chikyu ga Konagona ni Nattemo" (あした地球がこなごなになっても) released on September 16, 2015 and Single #18 "Precious Summer!" (プレシャスサマー！) released on September 26, 2018 taking #2 spot on the Oricon Weekly Single Chart. In addition that, since Single #6 (January 16, 2013) the have regularly charted in the Top 10 for subsequent single releases narrowly missing the #1 Weekly Chart position. They have also released 1 Indie Debut Single, 2 Special Singles, 11 Digital Singles, ( Collaboration Singles, 6 Albums, 1 Best Album Compilation, and 1 Live Album. They have 8 Video Releases as well.

Highlights/Recognition/Fanbase/Performances:

Released in 2008 their first single "Mirror Magic?" through an Indie label.
On February 24, 2010, their major debut single "Kiss + Kiss de Owaranai" with ULTRA-PRISM, which featured the music of the PC game "Tropical KISS", was released from Lantis.
They became champions of the 1st Idol Yokocho Cup in February 2012. Not to mention, they have hosted, organized and participated in numerous and ridiculously insane number of IDOL based shows throughout Japan and Asia.
The band's official fan club, Dempadō (でんぱとう, Denpadō), started on May 28, 2013.
For quite sometime Mirin Furukawa, Risa Aizawa, Nemu Yumemi, Eimi Naruse, Ayane Fujisaki, and Moga Mogami were geeks/otaku of anime, manga, games, or costumes and also spent their time in Fashion, Voice Acting, Cosplay, Gaming, TV and other activities apart from their Dempagumi.inc commitments.
Dempagumi.inc performed at Japan Expo Paris, France in July 2013 and Japan Expo USA in late 2013.
They performed many concerts in Japan and around the world, and appeared in several television shows and a 2013 film.
Nikkei Entertainment described Dempagumi.inc and Babymetal as the two breakout idol groups of 2014.
Their first Nippon Budokan performance was held on May 6, 2014 and drew a crowd of 10,000 people. A huge success and a dream come true according to Furukawa.
On October 25, 2014 they performed at "Anime Idol Asia" in Bangkok, Thailand.
Dempagumi.inc performed at Hyper Japan 2015 held on July 9, 2015 at O2 in London, England.
The "Best Japanese Act" voting at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards was held on Twitter on September 15, they were to be the Japanese representative as per results of voting announced in October.
Did a exhibition performance at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow, Russia on September 28, 2017.

International Performance Pics:

Japan Expo 2013 (USA)

Japan Expo 2013 (Paris, France)

Hyper Japan 2015 (London, UK)

MEMBERS:

Current Members

Furukawa Mirin (古川未鈴) (Currently on Maternity Hiatus) - She's 38 years old!!

Aizawa Risa (相沢梨紗) (Joined June 2009) - senior member

Fujisaki Ayane (藤咲彩音) (Joined December 25, 2011) - senior member

Kaname Rin (鹿目凛) (Joined December 30, 2017)

Nemoto Nagi (根本凪) (Joined December 30, 2017; Graduating April 30, 2022) (Hiatus)

Aikawa Kozue (愛川こずえ) (Joined February 16, 2021) newbie

Amasawa Rito (天沢璃人) (Joined February 16, 2021) newbie

Kobato Ria (小鳩りあ) (Joined February 16, 2021) newbie

Sorano Aozora (空野青空) (Joined February 16, 2021) newbie

Takasaki Hina (高咲陽菜) (Joined February 16, 2021) newbie

Former Members

Owata Akari (小和田あかり) (Graduated July 8, 2010)

Atobe Miu (跡部みぅ) (Joined June 3, 2010; Graduated December 25, 2011)

Mogami Moga (最上もが) (Joined December 25, 2011; Left August 6, 2017)

Yumemi Nemu (夢眠ねむ) (Joined June 2009; Graduated January 7, 2019)

Naruse Eimi (成瀬瑛美) (Joined June 3, 2010; Graduated February 16, 2021)

Member Timeline:

BEST MUSIC VIDEOS

(I scanned through their 44 MV's and found these are the best)

『ドキ+ワク=パレード！』 (Doki + Waku = Parade!) ♡♡♡

Single: Doki + Waku = Parade! - March 16, 2022

『初体験』(Shotaiken) ♡♡♡♡♡

Digital Single: Shotaiken - January 28, 2022

Lyrics: Junji Ishiwatari

Composer: Yuichiro Nagano

Arrangement: Shunsuke Tsuri

『好感Daybook♡』 (KoukanDaybook♡) ♡♡♡♡

Digital Single: KoukanDaybook♡ - December 17, 2021

『なんと！世界公認引きこもり！(Nanto! Sekai kōnin hiki komori!) ♡♡♡♡♡

Lyrics: Kenichi Maeyamada

Composer: Takashi Asano

Arrangement: Shunsuke Tsuri

『アキハバライフ♪』(Akihabara Life ♪) ♡♡♡♡♡

Single: Ashita chikyū ga konagona ni natte mo - September 16, 2015

『ちゅるりちゅるりら』 (Chi ~yururi chururira) ♡♡♡♡

Single: Chi ~yururi chururira - July 30, 2014

Lyrics & Composition: Kenichi Maeyamada

Arrangement: Shunsuke Tsuri

Director: Takumi Shiga

『サクラあっぱれーしょん』(Sakura Appareshon) ♡♡♡♡♡

Single: Sakura Appareshon - March 12, 2014
Director: Takumi Shiga

『強い気持ち・強い愛』(Tsuyoi kimochi tsuyoi ai) ♡♡♡♡♡

Single: `Den pare ̄ do japan/Tsuyoi kimochi tsuyoi ai' - May 23, 2012
Director: BOZO & YGQ

Other Best Songs (not the MV):

「にゃんにゃん♡ちゅちゅちゅ♡」 “NyanNyan♡ChuChuChu♡” ♡♡♡
「プレシャスサマー！」 “Pureshasusamā!” (Precious Summer) ♡♡♡
「ギラメタスでんぱスターズ」 “Girametasu Denpa Stars” ♡♡♡
「あした地球がこなごなになっても」 “Ashita chikyū ga konagona ni natte mo” ♡♡♡♡
「バリ3共和国」 “Bari 3 kyōwakoku” (Bari 3 Republic) ♡♡♡
「檸檬色」 “Níngméng sè” (Lemon Iro) ♡♡♡♡
「でんでんぱっしょん」(Den Den Passion) ♡♡♡
「W.W.D」W.W.D ♡♡♡
「キラキラチューン」 “Kirakirachūn” (Glitter Tune) ♡♡♡
「くちづけキボンヌ」“Kuchizukekibonne” ♡♡♡♡
「Future Diver」Future Diver ♡♡♡♡

Album Hits:

Brand-new World
Irodori Sekai
Fanfare Wa Bokura No Tameni
Planet Anthem
Star Tto Shichauze Harudashine
Kitto Kittone
Munasawagino Himitsu?!

Full YouTube Music Video Playlist

Listen on: Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music

Discography:

Singles

[2008.12.28] Mirror Magic? (Indies) (as Dempagumi)

[2011.07.06] Piko Piku Pikatte Koishite yo

(ピコッピクッピカッて恋してよ)

[2011.11.16] Future Diver

[2012.05.23] Demparade Japan / Tsuyoi Kimochi Tsuyoi Ai

(でんぱれーどJAPAN/強い気持ち・強い愛)

[2012.07.18] Kirakira Tune / Sabotage (キラキラチューン/Sabotage)

[2013.01.16] W.W.D / Fuyu e to Hashiridasuo!

(W.W.D/冬へと走りだすお!)

[2013.05.29] Denden Passion

(でんでんぱっしょん)

[2013.10.02] W.W.D II

[2014.03.12] Sakura Apparition

(サクラあっぱれーしょん)

[2014.05.14] Dear☆Stage e Yokoso♡〜Budokan LIVE Kinen Genteban〜

(Dear☆Stageへようこそ♡〜武道館LIVE記念限定盤〜)

[2014.07.30] Chururi Chururira

(ちゅるりちゅるりら)

[2014.11.26] Dempari Night

(でんぱーりーナイト)

[2015.06.17] Otsukare Summer!

(おつかれサマー!)

[2015.09.16] Ashita Chikyuu ga Konagona ni Nattemo

(あした地球がこなごなになっても)

[2016.11.02] SaiΨSai Kouchou!

(最Ψ最好調!)

[2018.04.04] Oyasumi Polaris Sayonara Parallel World / Girametas Dempa Stars

(おやすみポラリスさよならパラレルワールド / ギラメタスでんぱスターズ)

[2018.05.16] Moonlight Densetsu

(ムーンライト伝説)

[2018.09.26] Precious Summer!

(プレシャスサマー！)

[2019.06.26] Inochi no Yorokobi

(いのちのよろこび)

[2021.05.19] Princess Dempa Power! Shine On! / Senshuu Banzai! Dempa Ichiza!

(プリンセスでんぱパワー！シャインオン！／千秋万歳！電波一座！)

[2021.09.22] Shoudouteki S/K/S/D

(衝動的S/K/S/D)

[2022.03.16] Doki+Waku=Parade!

(ドキ+ワク=パレード！)

Special Singles

[2019.05.25] Ne♡Ushi♡Tora♡U♡Tatsu♡Mi♡

(子♡丑♡寅♡卯♡辰♡巳♡)

[2019.08.09] Bon de Festa

(ボン・デ・フェスタ)

Digital Singles

[2015.10.09] Eikyuu Zombina

(永久ゾンビーナ)

[2015.12.18] Dem Dem X'mas

[2016.01.08] Va! to the Future

(破! to the Future)

[2016.02.05] Fanfare wa Bokura no Tame ni

(ファンファーレは僕らのために)

[2016.03.04] STAR☆tto Shichauze Haru dashi ne

(STAR☆ットしちゃうぜ春だしね)

[2016.04.01] Truth of the ZERO

[2018.01.30] Ψ Hakkenden!

(Ψ発見伝！)

[2020.11.17] Positive☆Story

(ポジティブ☆ストーリー)

[2021.11.16] Future Diver (10th anniversary ver.)

[2021.12.17] Koukan Daybook♡

(好感Daybook♡)

[2022.01.28] Hatsutaiken

(初体験)

Collaboration Singles

[2010.02.24] Kiss+Kiss de Owaranai / Star☆tin'

(Kiss+Kissでおわらない/Star☆tin') (w/ ULTRA-PRISM)

[2013.10.12] Denden Passion / IDOL (w/ BiS)

[2014.11.12] Ai ga Arukara!!

(愛があるから! !) (w/ gdgd Fairies)

[2015.03.25] Chouzetsu Ultra☆Happy Days / Gidagida da Zubazuba da!!

(超絶ウルトラ☆Happy Days / ギダギダdaズバズバda!!) (w/ Ultra Battle Retsuden)

[2015.04.29] PUNCH LINE! (w/ Nakagawa Shoko)

[2015.06.17] Zoko PUNCH LINE! (続・PUNCH LINE!) (w/ Nakagawa Shoko)

[2015.06.17] Munasawagi no Himitsu?!

(ムなさわぎのヒみつ?!) (w/ PokeMuhi Motta and Hello Kitty)

[2015.06.24] 23-sai no Natsuyasumi feat. Dempagumi.inc

(23才の夏休み feat.でんぱ組.inc) (w/ Shinsei Kamattechan)

[2020.09.03] Zombieland DEMPA!!

(ゾンビランドDEMPA!!) (w/ Franchouchou)

Albums

[2011.12.14] Ne Kite? Uchuu wo Suku no wa, Kitto Osushi... de wa Naku, Dempagumi.inc!

(ねぇきいて?宇宙を救うのは、きっとお寿司…ではなく、でんぱ組.inc!)

[2013.12.11] WORLD WIDE DEMPA

[2015.02.18] WWDD

[2016.04.27] GOGO DEMPA

[2019.01.01] Wareware wa Dempagumi.inc da

(ワレワレハデンパグミインクダ)

[2020.04.15] Ai ga Chikyu Sukuunsa! Datte DEMPA GUMI.inc wa Family Desho

(愛が地球救うんさ！だってでんぱ組.incはファミリーでしょ)

Best Albums

[2016.12.21] WWDBEST ~Dempa Ryoukou!~

(WWDBEST ~電波良好!~)

Live Albums

[2012.01.22] Dempagumi.inc 1st One-man Live CD "Dempa Life wa Owaranyo!~"

(でんぱ組.inc 1stワンマン LIVE CD 〜でんぱLIFEはおわらんよっ!〜)

Current Member Links

Group Links:

Top Groups

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Dempagumi.inc

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