Tanpopo (group)

Tanpopo's current line-up, known as Tanpopo#. B to F: Okai Chisato, Kumai Yurina, Mitsui Aika, Kamei Eri

3rd generation Tanpopo (August 2002 – 2009). L to R: Niigaki Risa, Ishikawa Rika, Shibata Ayumi, Konno Asami

2nd generation Tanpopo (June 2000 – August 2002). L to R: Ishikawa Rika, Yaguchi Mari, Kago Ai, Iida Kaori

1st generation Tanpopo (November 1998 – June 2000). L to R: Ishiguro Aya, Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari

Tanpopo (タンポポ, Dandelion) is a Hello! Project group and was the first Morning Musume subgroup.

History

Tanpopo was formed in November of 1998 as the first Morning Musume subgroup. The group's formation was announced on an October 1998 episode of ASAYAN, and a mini-audition was held among the second-generation Morning Musume members for a third member to join Iida Kaori and Ishiguro Aya. Yaguchi Mari was selected and first generation Tanpopo was born. Initially, Tanpopo's songs had a mature feel.

The group released four singles and an album before Ishiguro left Hello! Project in the fall of 1999. Iida and Yaguchi continued to perform songs as a duo, until Ishikawa Rika and Kago Ai were added to the group in the summer of 2000, making Tanpopo a group of four. This line-up released three singles and a best album that featured the members of the first and second generations.

In 2002, the Morning Musume subgroups were shuffled when the fifth generation members joined. Iida, Yaguchi, and Kago were taken out of the group, and remaining member Ishikawa was joined by Konno Asami, Niigaki Risa, and Melon Kinenbi's Shibata Ayumi. This final line-up only released one single, and then became inactive.

A revival Tanpopo unit, Tanpopo#, was formed in July 2009 from Morning Musume members Kamei Eri and Mitsui Aika, Berryz Koubou member Kumai Yurina, and °C-ute member Okai Chisato. This incarnation released tracks on the Hello! Project cover album Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~ and Petit Best 10.

Members

First Generation

November 1998 – June 2000

• Iida Kaori (飯田圭織)
• Ishiguro Aya (石黒彩, left in late 1999)
• Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里)

Second Generation

June 2000 – August 2002

• Iida Kaori (飯田圭織)
• Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里)
• Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華)
• Kago Ai (加護亜依)

Third Generation

August 2002 – 2009

• Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華)
• Konno Asami (紺野あさ美)
• Niigaki Risa (新垣里沙)
• Shibata Ayumi (柴田あゆみ) (Melon Kinenbi)

Fourth Generation / Tanpopo#

July 2009 –

• Kamei Eri (亀井絵里 - Graduated December 15 2010)
• Mitsui Aika (光井愛佳)
• Kumai Yurina (熊井友理奈)
• Okai Chisato (岡井千聖)

Discography

Albums

• [1999.03.31] TANPOPO 1
• [2002.09.04] All of Tanpopo (All of タンポポ)
• [2008.12.10] Tanpopo / Petitmoni Mega Best (タンポポ / プッチモニ メガベスト) (Tanpopo / Petitmoni)

Singles

• [1998.11.18] Last Kiss (ラストキッス)
• [1999.03.10] Motto
• [1999.06.16] Tanpopo (Single Version) (たんぽぽ (Single Version))
• [1999.10.20] Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru (聖なる鐘がひびく夜)
• [2000.07.05] Otome Pasta ni Kandou (乙女 パスタに感動)
• [2001.02.21] Koi wo Shichaimashita! (恋をしちゃいました!)
• [2001.11.21] Ouji-sama to Yuki no Yoru (王子様と雪の夜)
• [2002.09.26] BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee (BE HAPPY 恋のやじろべえ)

Vinyls

• [2019.04.01] TANPOPO 1

Compilations

• [2000.04.26] Hello! Project - Petit Best ~Ki Ao Aka~ (#6 Tanpopo (Single Version), #7 Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru)
• [2001.04.18] Various - Together! -Tanpopo, Petit, Mini, Yuko- (#2 Koi wo Shichaimashita!, #5 Otome Pasta ni Kandou, #11 Tanpopo (2001 Version))
• [2001.12.19] Hello! Project - Petit Best 2 ~3, 7, 10~ (#5 Oujisama to Yuki no Yoru)
• [2002.10.30] Hello! Project - CLUB Hello! TRANCE REMIX (#3 Last Kiss (TRANCE REMIX), #9 Koi wo Shichaimashita! (TRANCE REMIX))
• [2002.12.10] Hello! Project - 2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 2 (#6 BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee)
• [2002.12.18] Hello! Project - Petit Best 3 (#11 BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee)
• [2009.07.15] Hello! Project - Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~ (#11 Akai Sweet Pea) (Tanpopo#)
• [2009.12.02] Hello! Project - Petit Best 10 (#5 Umbrella) (Tanpopo#)
• [2013.12.31] Hello! Project - Hello! Project no Zenkyoku Kara Atsumechaimashita! Vol. 1 (#3 Sentimental Minamimuki)
• [2013.12.31] Hello! Project - Hello! Project no Zenkyoku Kara Atsumechaimashita! Vol. 2 (#5 I & YOU & I & YOU & I)
• [2014.08.13] Hello! Project - Hello! Project no Zenkyoku Kara Atsumechaimashita! Vol. 6 (#7 BE HAPPY Koi no Yajirobee)

DVDs

• [2004.06.16] Tanpopo Single V Clips 1 (タンポポ シングルVクリップス①)

Photobooks

• [2001.06.??] タンポポ写真集 (Tanpopo Photobook) Amazon JP

External links

• Hello! Project Official Website: Tanpopo's artist page
• Up-Front Works: Discography page
• projecthello.com lyrics: Tanpopo songs