Niji no Conquistador

Niji no Conquistador (虹のコンキスタドール) is a Japanese idol girl group formed in 2014. The group is themed around illustrating, cosplay, and voice acting. The group was originally managed by the illustration website Pixiv as a part of the Tsukudol! Project before passing to Dear Stage and under the King Records label. 

The group is often referred to by fans as Nijicon/Nijikon (虹コン) or 2zicon. Despite being made up of sun-dodging otaku, the group have many songs that capture the energy and vibes of the summer sun. The name of the idol unit means “Conquistador del Arcoíris” in Spanish. Basically it means Rainbow Conqueror /Conquistador. Their fan club is called Nijikon Daisuki Club.

What is Niji no Conquistador? 

According to their management the group is:

An indoor / orthodox idol group that pursues the "cute!" And "like!" That they think. Known as "Nijikon". Although he boasts a lot of summer songs in the self-proclaimed idol world, he is actually an indoor group who is not good at direct sunlight. Conquer everyone's hearts with a hot live concert like Nijikon!

What is Niji no Conquistador Preparatory Student?

The preparatory students (Karin Matoba, Mei Ishihama, Harada Suzuka and Yuka Obayashi) of the indoor and orthodox idol group, commonly known as "Nijikon," who pursue the "cute!" And "like!" That they think are back in June 2022! I am struggling every day to become an orthodox idol!

Rainbow Conquistador Members:

Member Auditions were held in May 2014. The list of the selected members was unveiled at Tokyo Idol Festival 2014 in early August. Their ASSOCIATED ACTS include Beboga! And Niji no Fantasista.

Original Line-up in 2014

The members usually range from 10-12 at any given time. The girls are split into Cosplayer Team (コスプレイヤーチーム), Seiyuu Team (声優チーム) and Illustrator Team (イラストレーターチーム) or simply assigned a colour to represent certain activities. The theme of the idol group is: “Every day is a Culture Festival” and even "Food" at times.

Current Members:

Akagumi (Red Team) (赤組)

• Nakamura Akari (中村朱里; Red) (Founding Member)
• Tsurumi Moe (鶴見萌; Purple) (Joined September 7, 2014; Promoted October 30, 2014)
• Yamato Ao (大和明桜; Blue) (Joined January 11, 2015; Promoted August 29, 2015)
• Otsuka Miyu (大塚望結; Yellow) (Joined January 11, 2015; Promoted August 29, 2015; Graduated May 5, 2017; Rejoined April 11, 2021)

Sagittarius Ryuuseigun/Aogumi (Blue Team) (サジタリアス流星群/青組)

• Kumamoto Marina (隈本茉莉奈; Indigo) (Joined May 18, 2016; Promoted August 20, 2017)
• Shimizu Riko (清水理子; Red) (Joined May 18, 2016; Promoted January 9, 2017)
• Hiruta Airi (蛭田愛梨; Purple) (Joined May 18, 2016; Promoted January 9, 2017)
• Yamasaki Nana (山崎夏菜; Blue) (Joined May 18, 2016; Promoted January 9, 2017)
• Okada Ayame (岡田彩夢; Green) (Joined July 16, 2016; Promoted January 9, 2017)
• Kirino Miyu (桐乃みゆ; Indigo) (Joined April 11, 2021)

Team Unknown

• Ishihara Arisa (石原愛梨沙; Orange) (Joined July 3, 2021; Promoted August 1, 2021)
• Kanda Juna (神田ジュナ; Orange) (Joined August 1, 2021)

Former Members

• Miyako Asuka (宮古あすか)
• Kaneko Mizuki (金子みずき)
• Iwakura Azusa (岩倉あずさ) (Joined May 3, 2015; Left August 18, 2015)
• Yoshimura Nana (吉村菜々) (Founding Member; Left August 21, 2015)
• Nishi Nanami (西七海) (Founding Member; Graduated October 21, 2015)
• Kinoshita Hiyori (木下ひより) (Founding Member; Graduated October 24, 2015)
• Ito Yuka (伊藤有香) (Joined May 3, 2015; Left April 6, 2016)
• Nagata Minari (長田美成) (Founding Member; Fired May 22, 2016)
• Kai Marino (甲斐莉乃) (Joined January 11, 2015; Graduated June 10, 2016)
• Shigematsu Yuka (重松佑佳) (Founding Member; Graduated September 10, 2016)
• Ishihara Mia (石原深愛) (Joined February 10, 2016; Left January 31, 2017)
• Arai Sayaka (荒井紗也香) (Joined February 1, 2017; Left July 22, 2017)
• Suyama Emiri (陶山恵実里) (Founding Member; Graduated January 7, 2018)
• Okumura Nonoka (奥村野乃花) (Founding Member; Graduated January 7, 2018)
• Kataoka Miyu (片岡未優; Indigo) (Joined November 2, 2016; Promoted August 20, 2017; Graduated December 27, 2020)
• Yamamoto Rio (山本莉唯; Yellow) (Joined May 18, 2018; Graduated March 23, 2021)
• Nemoto Nagi (根本凪; Green) (Founding Member; Graduated April 17, 2022).

Musical Style: 

Most of their music is Composed by either Kenichi Maeyamada, Motonari Murakawa or Takashi Asano or other prominent guest musicians. NOBE has penned a lot of songs. The music draws itself from other J-Pop groups like Perfume, AKB48, Dempagumi.inc to name a few. So it's just Synth based Stock J-Pop Idol music that is on offer. A little bit of Rock and Rap is added for good measure. Nevertheless, some songs are bloody good.

They released their first album, 'Rainbow Spectrum', in 2015 followed by 'Rainbow Eclipse' (2016), 'Rainbow Phenomenon' (2018) and 'The Best of Rainbow' (2018) Compilation Album, apart from a truckload of Singles. These 4 Albums covers most of their if not all of their best hits.

Best Songs:

1. pixiv Ondo is the debut single by Niji no Conquistador. The song is chosen as an official song for illustrating festival “pixiv Matsuri”, and you can see the members dancing and walking around the festival’s venue, viewing platform of Roppongi Hills in the MV. At the end the members climb pixiv's Great Big Animated Sketch Stage in the Sky so to speak. Members are seen holding traditional Japanese Musical Instruments, Toys etc. The music is a typical Idol Classic with a good mix of Japanese Classical music and modern hooks. The bass is booming and the drumming is excellent. Not bad for a debut, and it's just nuts that such a good song was distributed for free during an event by pixiv, a full 10.000 copies. Sigh!

Credits:

MV Director: Ryo Morita
Music Composer: Kenichi Maeyamada
Choreography: Natsumi Takenama
Costume Designer: Mel Kishida,
Creative Direction: Maiko Fukushima
Special Advisor: Seiji Mizushima.

2a. Paradoxical Complex (パラドキシカル・コンプレックス) is a very interesting MV and is the best song by the group. The MV features an interesting theme showcasing the relationship between various sections of society where you get to idolize, admire, love, your Celebrity, Idol, Crush, or your true love. In Japanese terms, where each member looks up to you Senpai (lol). The music is core J-Pop idol music. 

Members dorn the image ranging from a Music Rock Star (Suyama Emiri) & her fan (presumably Shigematsu Yuka) at live house Rockmaykan which frequently holds idol live events, to the cute popish TV idol (Nemoto Nagi) and her adoring fan (Nonoka Okumura), Classmates (Karin Matoba & Yamoto Ao), Cafe steward (Akari Nakamura) & her secret admirer (Otsuka Miyu) and a Tennis star (Tsurumi Moe) & the ball girl (Riko Shimizu). It took me a while to figure out who is who but I found out anyway.

It does lead to some interesting fan service at times in hindsight, but for the most part it’s a cute touch. In the end all members congregate in a children's park and dance it out. Paradoxical Complex itself features a nice upbeat theme that is fairly catchy with some solid vocals. The song is featured in 2nd album titled Rainbow Eclipse and The Best of Rainbow compilation album. I am nuts about this MV.

Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Motonari Murakawa
Choreography: Ti ☆ Inn!

Producer: Junichi Hirayama

Production Manager: Kohei Miyazato

Director: Naoto Yamagishi

Cinematography: Hajime Yamazaki

Official MV

Live Mix

Making of MV

Images from MV/On Location:

2b. Triangle Dreamer 

3. Natsu no yoru wa mijikasugirukedo…  (夏の夜は短すぎるけど・・・) written by unit Tomohiro Akiura and is a very groovy song. Great music composition and is easy listening to get the tropical summer vibes going. Did someone mention by the pool side at night? Awesome song from the single This Summer Girl is an Innocent Mistress.

Lyrics: Yamamoto Sho
Composer: Tomohiro Akiura (onetrap)
Arrangement: Yamamoto Sho

4. This Summer Girl is an Innocent Mistress is a high-energy J-pop opening track of single  (『キミは無邪気な夏の女王～This Summer Girl is an Innocent Mistress～』) with music from Motonari Murakawa. The MV was shot in Guam. Beachy Song!! AKB-ish in many ways and is a bit too loud with group chorus. The song is also featured in Rainbow Phenomenon and The Best of Rainbow.

Lyrics: NOBE
Composer: Motonari Murakawa
Arrangement: Motonari Murakawa, Tomoya Minami

5. Shinzou ni Melody is a war cry by Niji no Conquistador as they run to the battlefield and hope to conquer J-Pop in all its glory. Another very AKB-ish song where members dorn Troy like battle gear, covered in dirt, while the run and dance in a desolate battlefield/school ground to some fast paced vocals that has a heavy rock feel to it.

Lyrics: NOBE
Composer: Motonari Murakawa
Arrangement: Motonari Murakawa, Tomoya Minami

6. Ai wo Kokoro ni Summer to Kazoeyo (愛をこころにサマーと数えよ) is another fast paced Summer song. Very Dempagumi-ish tune.

Lyrics: NOBE
Composer: Motonari Murakawa
Arrangement: Takashi Asano
Choreography: Yumiko-sensei

7. Futari no Spur - Nijicon literally HAVE A WINTER SLEEPOVER in this MV. Very Christmasy.

Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Takashi Asano

8. Umai mono Fanclub - Its all about food. Delicious!

Lyrics / Composition: Kenichi Maeyamada
Arrangement: Takashi Asano
Choreography: Yumiko-sensei

9. The UTYOUTEN Summer - Total Summer fun for the girls.

10. St. Valentine on the battlefield - The fight is on Valentine's day.

Lyrics: NOBE
Composition: KOMODA
Arrangement: Keisuke Yamazaki (onetrap)
Choreography: Ti ☆ Inn!

11. Su tto samāte koishiteru - very popular song of Nijicon. Their best one.

Lyrics: NOBE
Composition / Arrangement: Motonari Murakawa

12. One Room Magic (ワンルームマジック) - just a beautiful song. Great guitar work.

Lyrics & Composition: Yamamoto Sho

==============================================

                                        Other Best Songs

==============================================

Bokura no Turn

Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Takashi Asano

Director: ZUMI
Choreography: Yumiko-sensei
Costume design: Nagi Nemoto
Costume production: Shogo Kimura (IZO)

Kiseki 100%

Composer: Three-haired cat homeless
Lyrics: Tahi Saihate
Arrangement: Yusuke Naruse (onetrap)
Choreography: Ti ☆ Inn!

Love makes me run · 虹のコンキスタドール

Lyricist: Haruka.
Composer: Masayoshi Minoshima

Hikibe Fanfare

Composer: Masayoshi Minoshima

Yaru kkya nai! 2015

Yaru kkya nai! 2018

Lyrics: Takashi Asano
Composition / Arrangement: Takashi Asano

Kagirinaku Bouken ni chikai Summer

Lyrics: NOBE
Composer: Motonari Murakawa

Retoruto ~ kareinaru-ai ~

Lyrics: Kenji Ohtsuki
Composer: Kenichi Maeyamada
Arrangement: Takashi Asano (SUPA LOVE)
Film Director: YGQ

Yume no Rinkaku

Lyrics: MEW
Composer: Takashi Asano

Overture - Nijicon 

Full MV Collection

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNC9qLtMxKkt7QbOrAELvTL69bdKcqCFe

Nijicon Overseas:

Thailand: They were the special guests of Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2015 (AFATH) in Bangkok in May, 2015.

France: Tsurumi Moe performed at Japan Expo 2015 & 2017 in Paris Nord Villepinte, France, in July, 2015 & 2017 respectively. 

India: Tsurumi Moe was chosen to be the Cosplayer for Comic Con India at Hyderabad in September 2015. 

Singapore: The idol group was the special guest of Anime Festival Asia 2015 (AFA) in Singapore in November. Okumura Nonoka, Tsurumi Moe and Nakamura Akari attended Anime Festival Asia AFA Singapore 2016 in November.

Canada: NijiCon performed at Japan Festival Mississauga 2016 in Mississauga, Canada. The members who participated in the event were Shigematsu Yuka, Nakamura Akari, Tsurumi Moe, Shimizu Riko and Yamazaki Nana.

Taiwan: The group performed at in Tale in Wonderland Taiwan in April 2017.

Full Discography:

Albums

• [2015.11.03] Rainbow Spectrum (レインボウスペクトラム)
• [2016.12.13] Rainbow Eclipse (レインボウエクリプス)
• [2018.01.10] Rainbow Phenomenon (レインボウフェノメノン)
• [2020.06.17] Rainbow Gravity (レインボウグラビティ)

Best Albums

• [2018.12.12] THE BEST OF RAINBOW

Singles

• [2014.10.25] Pixiv Ondo (ぴくしぶおんど)
• [2014.12.17] Nijiiro Philosophy (にじいろフィロソフィー)
• [2015.04.08] Yarukkyanai! 2015 / Brand New Happy Days (やるっきゃない！2015/ブランニューハッピーデイズ)
• [2015.08.25] THE☆Uchouten Summer!! (THE☆有頂天サマー!!)
• [2016.02.11] Senjou no Saint Valentine (戦場の聖バレンタイン)
• [2016.05.17] ↓Alien Girl in New York↑ (↓エイリアンガール・イン・ニューヨーク↑)
• [2016.09.20] Kagirinaku Bouken ni Chikai Summer (限りなく冒険に近いサマー)
• [2016.12.19] LOVEmen Koi Aji Yawame (LOVE麺 恋味 やわめ)
• [2017.01.09] Retort ~Kareinaru Ai~ (レトルト 〜華麗なる愛〜)
• [2017.04.26] †No Life Baby of the End† (†ノーライフベイビー・オブ・ジ・エンド†)
• [2017.09.05] Kimi wa Mujaki na Natsu no Joou ~This Summer Girl Is an Innocent Mistress~ (キミは無邪気な夏の女王～This Summer Girl Is an Innocent Mistress～)
• [2018.04.18] Triangle Dreamer / Shinzou ni Melody (トライアングル・ドリーマー/心臓にメロディー)
• [2018.09.12] Zutto Summer de Koishiteru (ずっとサマーで恋してる)
• [2019.01.14] Honmei Chocolatier (本命ショコラティエ)
• [2019.07.10] Ai wo Kokoro ni Summer to Kazoeyo (愛をこころにサマーと数えよ)
• [2020.01.22] Hibike! Fanfare (響け!ファンファーレ; Sound! Fanfare)
• [2020.01.22] Snowing Love
• [2020.01.22] Bokura no Turn (ぼくらのターン)
• [2020.09.16] Summer to wa Kimi to Watashi Nari!! (サマーとはキミと私なりっ!!)
• [2021.02.03] Koi・White Out (恋・ホワイトアウト)

EPs

• [2021.07.14] RAINBOW SUMMER SHOWER

Digital Singles

• [2021.05.09] Sekai no Chuushin de Niji wo Sakenda Summer (世界の中心で虹を叫んだサマー)
• [2021.11.05] Namida, Awa Yuki (ナミダ、あわ雪)

Listen on:

YouTube  | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music

JPU Records: 

https://jpurecords.com/collections/niji-no-conquistador

Official Links:

• Official Website
• Agency Profile
• Label Profile
• Official Fan Club
• Official Twitter
• Official Instagram
• Official YouTube Channel