Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari)

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) (2024)

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) (アップアップガールズ(仮)), or simply Up Up Girls, is a female Japanese idol group originally consisting of seven graduated Hello! Pro Egg members. They were originally known as Up Front Girls (Kakko Kari) (アップフロントガールズ(仮)), but they changed to their current name in June 2011. As the name implies, the group is still in its tentative stage. The last part of their name, (仮), read 'kakko kari', is used as their logo to represent the group. All members of Up Up Girls are also member of UFZS, a Korean pop dance cover group. As of January 2024, no original members remain in the group.

Members

Current Members

• Furuya Yurika (古谷袖里化) (Blue) (Joined December 17, 2020)
• Suzuki Meina (鈴木芽生菜) (Green) (Joined December 17, 2020)
• Aoyagi Yume (青柳佐井) (Purple) (Joined December 17, 2020)
• Sumita Haruka (住田悠華) (Pink) (Joined December 17, 2020)
• Koyama Seina (小山星流) (Orange) (Joined December 17, 2020)

Former Members

• Sengoku Minami (仙石みなみ) (Red) (Graduated September 16, 2017; Leader 2011–2017)
• Satou Ayano (佐藤綾乃) (Purple) (Graduated September 16, 2017)
• Furukawa Konatsu (古川小夏) (Pink) (Graduated December 17, 2020; UFZS Leader 2011–2020)
• Mori Saki (森咲樹) (Green) (Graduated December 17, 2020)
• Saho Akari (佐保明梨) (Yellow) (Joined May 3, 2011; Graduated December 17, 2020)
• Arai Manami (新井愛瞳) (Blue) (Graduated December 17, 2020)
• Suzuki Ayu (鈴木あゆ) (Yellow) (Joined December 17, 2020; Graduated March 13, 2023)
• Kudo Sumire (工藤菫) (Mocha) (Joined December 17, 2020; Graduated March 13, 2023)
• Sekine Azusa (関根梓) (Red) (Graduated December 31, 2023; Leader 2021–2023)

History

2010

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting "UPPER ROCK / Ichiban Girls!" (2012)

After their last Shinjin Kouen concert in November, Hello! Pro Egg underwent a major change, in which it dramatically slimmed down its membership by graduating more than half of its members. Sengoku Minami was among the first to announce her training completion from Hello! Pro Egg, through Hello! Project fan club website in December.

2011

Following Sengoku's announcement, Mori Saki, and then Furukawa Konatsu, also announced their training completion in January.

In March, it was revealed that a new TV show featuring 'Up Front Girls (Kakko Kari)' with Sengoku, Furukawa, Mori, Satou Ayano,Sekine Azusa, and Arai Manami would be aired on Sky Perfect TV channel, entitled Up Front Girls. This was the first mention of the group name. Not long after, Satou, Sekine and Arai announced their training completion. Various Internet social media also opened for Up Front Girls, such as Ameba blogs, a Ustream channel, and a staff Twitter account. In early May, Up Front Girls held a series of shows for a fan club event. In the last show of the event, Saho Akari, who had already completed her training at Hello! Pro Egg in April, made a surprise appearance, and announced herself as a new member of Up Front Girls. The show was broadcast live through Nico Nico Douga.

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting "SAMURAI GIRLS / Widol Seven" (2013)

In early June, each member was finally assigned an image color. This procedure was shown live on their weekly Ustream show, where each member actually picked their own image color. The order of this process was determined by two games played before. The result was Sengoku – red, Furukawa – pink, Mori – green, Satou – purple, Saho – yellow, Sekine – orange, and Arai – blue.

In late June, 2011, at their weekly Ustream show, to the members' surprise, the management decided to change the group name to 'Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari)'.

A few days later, it was revealed that the group has been chosen as one of the regular performers at a new stage at Akihabara: MAP Theater, a joint collaboration between PigooHD and Sofmap Akihabara. In September 2011 the officials at the MAP Theater ordered all performances to be stopped after a government inspection found the theater to be unsafe. While the theater was being fixed performances were temporarily moved to a new venue, Hatsudai The DOORS. Eventually the MAP Theater was officially closed, and performances were then continued at various venues.

In late 2011 the group collaborated with the South Korean duo TENSI LOVE, by acting as backup dancers for their performances. The group also performed covers of two of the groups songs at events, "Shine" and "Cake House". Soon after this at another event, the instrumental of a new song was revealed to the members; it was to be their first original song.

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting "Beautiful Dreamer / Zenryoku! Pump UP!! -ULTRA Mix- / Itadaki wo Mezase!" (2014)

2012

In January 2012 the group performed a tentative version of their still-untitled original song over Ustream. The next month they performed the song yet again and it's title was announced to be "Going my ↑". Since then, the group has been steadily releasing singles at events as (Kakko Kari) versions or unfinished versions and then release the finished projects digitally before their eventual physical releases.

In a "Road to Korea" video released in August 2012 the producer of the group announced that Furukawa Konatsu would now be the leader of the K-pop dance cover group, UFZS.

In November they joined the indie record label T-Palette, a label led by TOWER RECORDS.

2016

The group performed and held fan events for the first time in South Korea in September 2016, where they participated in the collaborative event Nikkan Idol Summit in Seoul with Japanese group Ciao Bella Cinquetti and Korean groups Rainbow and APRIL on September 10, 2016.

They later accomplished another large goal on November 8, 2016, by holding a solo concert at the Nippon Budokan venue.

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting "!!!!!!!! / Kimi to Iu Kasetsu" (2016)

An audition for a second generation of Up Up Girls was announced at the concert, though it was not specified if the winners would be members of the group or part of a new sister group. An age limit of 12 to 23 years old was also reported, but starting and ending dates for the audition were not given.

2017

On February 25th, the winners of the audition were announced consisting of Takahagi Chinatsu, Hashimura Riko, Kajishima Aya, and Yoshikawa Mayu. The group had decided to call them Up Up Girls (2) for the time being and would debut on their next single.

In a surprise announcement on March 18th, another member was announced, Nakaoki Rin to join Up Up Girls (2).

On April 28th, it was announced that Sato Ayano & Sengoku Minami will graduate from the group in the summer. They graduated on September 15th.

Discography

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting 5th Album (Kakko Kari) (2018)

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting "It's Up To You / HAPPY NAKED!! / BIG BANG" (2019)

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) (2020)

Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) promoting Apuga Yabai (2021)

Albums

• [2013.01.30] First Album (Kakko Kari) (ファーストアルバム (仮))
• [2014.02.19] Second Album (Kakko Kari) (セカンドアルバム (仮))
• [2015.03.17] Third Album (Kakko Kari) (サードアルバム (仮))
• [2017.08.29] 4th Album (Kakko Kari) (4th アルバム(仮))
• [2018.06.19] 5th Album (Kakko Kari) (5th アルバム(仮))
• [2020.11.10] 6th Album (Kakko Kari) (6th アルバム(仮))

Mini-Albums

• [2022.01.25] Apuga Yabai (アプガヤバイ)

Live Albums

• [2013.08.04] Natsu Festival Sansen Kinen! 8/3「ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2013」Setlist Album (夏ﾌｪｽ参戦記念!8／3｢ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2013｣ｾｯﾄﾘｽﾄｱﾙﾊﾞﾑ)
• [2013.08.11] Natsu Festival Sansen Kinen! 8/10「IDOL NATION 2013」Setlist Album (夏ﾌｪｽ参戦記念!8／10「IDOL NATION 2013」ｾｯﾄﾘｽﾄｱﾙﾊﾞﾑ)
• [2013.09.23] Natsu Festival Sansen Kinen! 9/22「Inazuma Rock Festival 2013」Setlist Album (夏ﾌｪｽ参戦記念！9／22「ｲﾅｽﾞﾏﾛｯｸﾌｪｽ 2013」ｾｯﾄﾘｽﾄｱﾙﾊﾞﾑ)

Remix Albums

• [2014.02.16] Second Album (Kakko Kari) Special Remix Pack (セカンドアルバム(仮)スペシャルRemixパック)

Singles

• [2012.04.25] Going my ↑
• [2012.06.27] Barebare I LOVE YOU (バレバレI LOVE YOU)
• [2012.07.25] Uppercut! / Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow (アッパーカット！ / 夕立ち！スルー・ザ・レインボー)
• [2012.08.29] Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ (メチャキュン♡サマー( ´ ▽ ` )ノ)
• [2012.09.26] Namen na! Ashi Girls / Marvel Hero (なめんな！アシガールズ / マーブルヒーロー)
• [2012.10.03] End Of The Season
• [2012.11.07] UPPER ROCK / Ichiban Girls! (イチバンガールズ!)
• [2012.12.05] Chopper☆Chopper / Survival Girls (チョッパー☆チョッパー / サバイバルガールズ)
• [2013.02.20] Respectokyo / Sutorera! ~Straight Up!~ (リスペクトーキョー / ストレラ！～Straight Up～)
• [2013.03.13] SAKURA DRIVE / Dateline
• [2013.04.10] Next Stage / Ano Saka no Ue Made, (あの坂の上まで,)
• [2013.06.05] Ginga Joujou Monogatari / Burn the fire!! / Natural Born Idol (銀河上々物語 / Burn the fire!! / ナチュラルボーン・アイドル)
• [2013.07.24] Summer Beam! / Up Up Typhoon (サマービーム! / アップアップタイフーン)
• [2013.09.04] SAMURAI GIRLS / Widol Seven (ワイドルセブン)
• [2013.10.30] Starry Night / Seishun Build Up (青春ビルドアップ)
• [2013.12.25] Nijiiro Mosaic / ENJOY!! ENJO(Y)!! (虹色モザイク)
• [2014.04.09] (Kakko Kari) wa Kaesuze☆be your soul / Party! Party! / Jumper! ((仮)は返すぜ☆be your soul / Party! Party! / ジャンパー！)
• [2014.07.01] Zenryoku! Pump Up!! / Kono Melody wo Kimi to (全力！Pump Up！！ / このメロディを君と)
• [2014.11.04] Beautiful Dreamer / Zenryoku! Pump UP!! -ULTRA Mix- / Itadaki wo Mezase! (Beautiful Dreamer / 全力!Pump Up!! -ULTRA Mix- / イタダキを目指せ！)
• [2016.04.05] Party People Alien / Seven☆Piece (パーリーピーポーエイリアン / セブン☆ピース)
• [2016.10.11] !!!!!!!! / Kimi to Iu Kasetsu (!!!!!!!! / 君という仮説)
• [2017.05.09] Upper Disco / FOREVER YOUNG (アッパーディスコ)
• [2017.11.28] Joujou do Konjou / Be a Girl (上々ド根性)
• [2018.11.06] Ai Ai Fire!! / Watashitachi (with friend) (愛愛ファイヤー!! / 私達 (with friend))
• [2019.02.19] Agenomics!! / Kimi Loss / Upper Ranbu (アゲノミクス!! / キミロス / 阿破乱舞)
• [2019.06.25] Da Dan Dance! / Heat Beat Island / 5 to the 5th Power (ヒート ビート アイランド)
• [2019.12.10] It's Up To You / HAPPY NAKED!! / BIG BANG
• [2021.07.27] Ippome no YES! / Sensen Brand New World! (一歩目のYES！/ 宣戦 Brand New World!)
• [2022.12.27] Tachijou ga Loop / Pariga / Poolside Monster ~Jounetsu-hen~ (立ち上がループ / パリガッ / プールサイドモンスター ～情熱編～)

Digital Singles

• [2012.03.26] Going my ↑
• [2012.05.22] Barebare I LOVE YOU (バレバレI LOVE YOU)
• [2012.06.22] Uppercut! / Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow (アッパーカット！ / 夕立ち！スルー・ザ・レインボー)
• [2012.08.01] Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ (メチャキュン♡サマー( ´ ▽ ` )ノ)
• [2012.08.30] Namen na! Ashi Girls / Marvel Hero (なめんな！アシガールズ / マーブルヒーロー)
• [2012.09.21] End Of The Season
• [2012.10.24] UPPER ROCK / Ichiban Girls! (イチバンガールズ!)
• [2013.02.25] SAKURA DRIVE / Dateline
• [2013.12.19] Santa Claus (サンタクロース)
• [2014.01.01] Up Ome!! ~Up Aga no Oshougatsu da yo Zenin Shuugou!~ (アプオメっ!! ~アプガのお正月だょ 全員集合!~)
• [2021.08.09] FOREVER YOUNG (2021 ver.)
• [2021.08.16] Sora Hallelujah!! (2021 ver.) (ソラハレルヤッ!!)
• [2021.08.23] Barebare I LOVE YOU (2021 ver.) (バレバレI LOVE YOU)
• [2021.12.27] Alstromeria (アルストロメリア)
• [2022.01.15] Up↑Up↑Up
• [2022.07.31] Up Up Typhoon (2022 ver.) (アップアップタイフーン)
• [2022.08.03] Poolside Monster Tokunatsu-hen (プールサイドモンスター 常夏編)
• [2022.09.17] Appare -2022 ver.- (アッパーレー)
• [2022.11.30] Kirakira Mirai -2022 ver.- (キラキラミライ)
• [2023.02.06] Respectokyo 2023 ver. (リスペクトーキョー)
• [2023.03.11] UPPER ROCK 2023 ver.
• [2023.05.04] HERETIC
• [2023.05.26] Magic♡
• [2023.07.08] Persist to Live

Event Singles (represented by (仮))

• [2012.03.10] Going my ↑
• [2012.05.03] Barebare I LOVE YOU (バレバレI LOVE YOU)
• [2012.05.03] Rainbow
• [2012.06.10] Uppercut! (アッパーカット！)
• [2012.06.10] Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow (夕立ち！スルー・ザ・レインボー)
• [2012.07.15] Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ (メチャキュン♡サマー( ´ ▽ ` )ノ)
• [2012.08.12] Namen na! Ashi Girls (なめんな！アシガールズ)
• [2012.08.12] Marvel Hero (マーブルヒーロー)
• [2012.10.07] Ichiban Girls! (イチバンガールズ!)
• [2012.10.28] Kakko Tsukete Ii Desho! (カッコつけていいでしょ!)
• [2013.12.22] Santa Claus (サンタクロース)
• [2016.02.14] Shooting Star
• [2016.02.14] You're the best

Compilations / Other

• [2013.07.17] T-Palette Records 2nd Anniversary Mix ~Diggin'on you~ (#3 Respectokyo, #20 Sutorera ~Straight Up~)
• [2013.08.21] Bad Blood / Hereafter (T-Palette mini All-Stars)
• [2014.01.22] Disney Rocks!!! Girl's Power! (#15 We're All In This Together)

DVDs

• [2011.08.10] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) ga Up Front Girls (Kakko Kari) Datta Koro no Event DVD ni Narimashita!! (Up Up Girls(仮)がUp Front Girls(仮)だった頃のイベントがDVDになりました!!)
• [2011.12.28] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) no Natsu no Event no DVD wo Fuyu ni Hatsubai Shicha Imasu!! Nenmatsu-ppoi Omake Tsuki! (Kakko Kari) THE DVD Part.2 (アップアップガールズ(仮)の夏のイベントのDVDを冬に発売しちゃいます!!年末っぽいおまけ付き!(仮)THE DVD Part.2)
• [2012.04.27] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) ga Going my ↑ wo Hatsu Hirou Shita Live no DVD! (Kakko Kari) THE DVD Part.3 (アップアップガールズ(仮)がGoing my ↑を初披露したライブのDVD！(仮)THE DVD Part.3)
• [2012.12.12] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) 1st LIVE Daikanyama Kessen (Kakko Kari) (アップアップガールズ(仮) 1st LIVE 代官山決戦(仮))
• [2013.04.03] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) 2nd LIVE Roppongi Kessen (Kakko Kari) (アップアップガールズ(仮) 2nd LIVE 六本木決戦(仮))
• [2013.07.22] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) Taiban Angya (Kakko Kari) ~Official Bootleg Box~ (DVD 5 Maigumi Box) (アップアップガールズ （仮）対バン行脚（仮）〜Official Bootleg BOX〜【DVD5枚組BOX】)
• [2013.07.31] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) 3rd Live Yokohama BLITZ Daisakusen (Kakko Kari) (アップアップガールズ(仮) 3rdライブ 横浜BLITZ大決戦(仮))
• [2013.08.28] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) THE DVD ~Mini MV Shuu Omake Tsuki~ (アップアップガールズ（仮）THE DVD 〜ミニMV集 おまけつき〜)
• [2013.12.18] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) 1st Live House Tour Apuga Dainishou (Kakko Kari) Kaisen (アップアップガールズ(仮) 1stライブハウスツアー アプガ第二章(仮)開戦)

Publications

Photobooks

• [2013.05.31] Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) 1st Document Photo Book RUN! Apuga RUN! (Kakko Kari) (アップアップガールズ(仮)1stドキュメント・フォトブック RUN! アプガ RUN!(仮))

Media

Television

Aired at Sky Perfect Channel as a monthly show, re-aired weekly and available to watch at pay per view service PigooHD, Up Up Girls' TV show titled the same as their name, Up Up Girls, featuring all members of the group. The show follows the pattern of a typical idol TV show, with lots of games and challenges done by the members. Occasionally, the show also includes various footage of the group's activities, such as events and live performances.

Internet

Two blogs opened for the group at Ameba, one for the members' daily blogging, and one solely for news purposes. They also have two internet video and broadcast portals. The first is Ustream, where they do a weekly show every Monday night. The second is Nico Nico Douga, where they upload various videos, ranging from event footage to dance covers. The staff also have an active account on Twitter. In 2012 the group started another regular internet broadcast titled "JouJou Shoujo's" (上々少女’s), through TV Asahi Douga.

Live Stage

Up Up Girls performed live every Thursday at MAP Theater, Akihabara, as one of the regular weekday acts until the theater was closed down. For a short time they moved their act to Hatsudai The DOORS. They still regularly perform at different venues.

UFZS promo image, June 2011. Preparation for SuperstarK 3 audition.

UFZS

All Up Up Girls members are also member of UFZS. UFZS is a dance unit focusing mainly on covering Korean pop songs. It is produced by Josei Jishin. The group was revealed in late February, 2011, long before Up Up Girls was even revealed to the public. Initially formed to compete in a K-dance competition, "DREAM ON! vol.2", the group has since made a few appearance in a number of events and competitions, including the Japanese round of the Korean TV talent show, Superstar K 3.

UFZS was originally a five members unit: Furukawa, Mori, Satou, Sekine, and Arai. Sengoku and Saho joined later, in May, 2011, making all Up Up Girls members also member of the dance unit.

External Links

• Official Site
• Official Blog
• Official News Blog
• Official YouTube Channel
• Ustream channel
• Nico Nico Douga channel
• Up Up Girls staff Twitter account
• Sky Perfect Channel page
• PigooHD page
• MAP Theater page
• Josei Jishin UFZS video series