C-ute

°C-ute promoting "Dance de Bakoon!" (2010) Back: Okai Chisato, Nakajima Saki, Hagiwara Mai; Front: Yajima Maimi, Suzuki Airi

°C-ute is a Japanese pop girl group managed by Up-Front Agency and part of Hello! Project.

Members

Current Members

• Yajima Maimi (矢島舞美, leader)
• Nakajima Saki (中島早貴)
• Suzuki Airi (鈴木愛理)
• Okai Chisato (岡井千聖)
• Hagiwara Mai (萩原舞)

Former Members

• Murakami Megumi (村上愛, left October 31, 2006)
• Arihara Kanna (有原栞菜, left July 9, 2009)
• Umeda Erika (梅田えりか, graduated October 25, 2009)

History

°C-ute's formation was officially announced by Tsunku on June 11, 2005 and would consist of the seven members of the Hello! Project Kids who were not part of Berryz Koubou. In January 2006, Arihara Kanna, a Hello! Pro Egg, was added to the group and made her debut during Hello! Project's 2006 Winter concert tour. For the rest of 2006, °C-ute appeared in several concerts performing original songs which were sold as indie singles. On October 31, 2006, Murakami Megumi suddenly resigned from °C-ute and from Hello! Project; the official reason stating that she wanted to continue her education and lead a private life. The group made their major debut in February 2007 with the single, "Sakura Chirari".

°C-ute had a weekly thirty minute radio show called Cutie Party. It began on October 7, 2006 and aired on FM FUJI every Saturday from 23:00 to 23:30 as the opening portion of Hello! Project Night. In 2008, it was replaced with Cutie☆Paradise. Like Morning Musume before them, at their debut concert each of the group's members were given a color used for merchandise, costumes, and the like. Those colors: Umeda Erika - yellow; Yajima Maimi - pink; Nakajima Saki - orange; Suzuki Airi - green; Okai Chisato - blue; Hagiwara Mai - purple; and Arihara Kanna - red.

In the fall of 2007, °C-ute entered into the spotlight in the Japanese media because of their rising popularity, increasing sales and award nominations. °C-ute was a nominee for the "Newcomer Award" as part of the annual YTV show "Best Hits Kayousai". Although they didn't win, they got a prize for being the runner-up and performed on the show. On November 26th, it was announced that they were nomined for the 40th Japan Request Awards, a radio-related award (presented to artists who gets the most number of their songs requested). They didn't win, but they got medals for being the runner-up, and performed on the show. On November 29th, it was announced that °C-ute had won the New Artist Award from the 49th Japan Record Awards (Nihon Record Taishou), along with JYONGRI, Stephanie and Takasugi Satomi. On December 30, 2007, °C-ute was chosen as "Best New Artist" by Japan Record Awards, 14 out of the 21 panel judges voted for them. In December 2007, °C-ute (along with Morning Musume and Berryz Koubou) performed at the 58th Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

°C-ute performed in the 41st Japanese Lyricist Awards (Nihon Sakushi Taisho) in November 30, 2008, along with other Up-Front artists like Horiuchi Takao and Fujimoto Miki. They appeared in the show because the lyricist of Edo no Temari Uta II (Yoshioka Osamu) was nominated (and won). °C-ute performed a short version of ZARD's Makenaide and Edo no Temari Uta II. On December 1, 2008, it was announced °C-ute had won the Excellent Work/Gold award from the 50th Japan Record Awards (Nihon Record Taishou), along with EXILE, Tohoshinki, Koda Kumi and other eight artists. The show was broadcasted on December 30, and EXILE won the Japan Record Award.

On February 26, 2009, Arihara Kanna was scheduled to take a short break for medical reasons (she had developed a bunion). On July 11, 2009 it was revealed that she was leaving °C-ute and Hello! Project to return to the life of a normal girl.

On August 1, 2009, Hello! Project announced that Umeda Erika would be graduating from °C-ute at the end of their current tour on October 25, 2009, in hope of becoming a fashion model. As of April 2010, Erika is officially a model signed to ILLUME.

As of November 2009, the new member colours are: Yajima Maimi - red, Nakajima Saki - blue, Suzuki Airi - pink, Okai Chisato - green and Hagiwara Mai - yellow.

Discography

Albums

• [2006.10.25] Cutie Queen VOL.1 (キューティークイーン VOL.1)
• [2007.04.18] 2 mini ~Ikiru to Iu Chikara~ (②mini ~生きるという力~; 2 Mini ~The Power Called "Life"~) (mini-album)
• [2008.03.12] 3rd ~LOVE Escalation!~ (3rd ~LOVE エスカレーション!~)
• [2009.01.28] 4 Akogare My STAR (④憧れ My STAR; For My Admirable Star)
• [2009.11.18] °C-ute nan desu! Zen Single Atsumechaimashita! 1 (℃-uteなんです! 全シングル集めちゃいましたっ!①) (best album)
• [2010.02.24] Shocking 5 (ショッキング5)

Singles

• [2006.05.06] Massara Blue Jeans (まっさらブルージーンズ; Brand New Blue Jeans) (Indies)
• [2006.06.03] Soku Dakishimete (即 抱きしめて; That is, Hold Me) (Indies)
• [2006.07.09] Ooki na Ai de Motenashite (大きな愛でもてなして; Entertain Me With a Big Love) (Indies)
• [2006.07.29] Wakkyanai (Z) (わっきゃない(Z); It's Easy) (Indies)
• [2007.02.21] Sakura Chirari (桜チラリ; Cherry Blossoms Scattering)
• [2007.07.11] Meguru Koi no Kisetsu (めぐる恋の季節; The Revolving Seasons of Love)
• [2007.10.17] Tokaikko Junjou (都会っ子 純情; City Girl's Pure Heart)
• [2008.02.27] LALALA Shiawase no Uta (LALALA 幸せの歌; Lalala Song of Happiness)
• [2008.03.20] Koero! Rakuten Eagles (越えろ! 楽天イーグルス; Exceed! Rakuten Eagles) (Indies)
• [2008.04.23] Namida no Iro (涙の色; Color of Tears)
• [2008.07.30] Edo no Temari Uta II (江戸の手毬唄II; The Edo Handball Song II)
• [2008.11.26] FOREVER LOVE
• [2009.04.15] Bye Bye Bye!
• [2009.07.01] Shochuu Omimai Moushiagemasu (暑中お見舞い申し上げます; Express a Summer Greeting Card)
• [2009.09.16] EVERYDAY Zekkouchou!! (EVERYDAY 絶好調!!; Everyday in Perfect Form!!)
• [2010.01.06] SHOCK!
• [2010.04.28] Campus Life ~Umarete Kite Yokatta~ (キャンパスライフ ~生まれて来てよかった~; Campus Life ~I'm Glad I Was Born~)
• [2010.08.25] Dance de Bakoon! (Danceでバコーン!)

Compilations / Other

• [2006.12.20] Hello! Project - Petit Best 7 (#11 Ooki na Ai de Motenashite)
• [2007.12.12] Hello! Project - Petit Best 8 (#9 Sakura Chirari)
• [2008.12.10] Hello! Project - Petit Best 9 (#3 Edo no Temari Uta II, #14 Koero! Rakuten Eagles)
• [2009.07.15] Hello! Project - Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~ (#2 Ai wa Katsu - °C-ute, Mano Erina)
• [2009.12.02] Hello! Project - Petit Best 10 (#3 EVERYDAY Zekkouchou!!)
• [2009.12.23] Various - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 5th Anniversary "Songs of Rakuten Eagles" (#5 Koero! Rakuten Eagles)

DVDs

• [2006.09.06] Music V Tokushuu 1 ~Cutie Visual~
• [2006.12.06] Cutie Circuit 2006 Final in YOMIURI LAND EAST LIVE ~September 10 is °C-ute's Day~
• [2007.04.18] °C-ute Debut Tandoku Concert 2007 Haru ~Hajimatta yo! Cutie Show~
• [2007.07.18] °C-ute Concert Tour 2007 Haru ~Golden Hatsu Date~
• [2007.09.05] Gekidan Gekiharo Dai 2 Kai Kouen "Neru Ko wa °C-ute"
• [2007.11.21] °C-ute Cutie Circuit 2007 ~MAGICAL CUTIE TOUR & September 10 is °C-ute's Day~
• [2007.12.19] °C-ute Live Tour 2007 Aki ~Houkago no Essence~
• [2008.07.02] ºC-ute Cutie Circuit 2008 ~LOVE Escalation!~
• [2008.07.09] Berryz Kobo & ºC-ute Nakayoshi Battle Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Berryz Kamen vs Cutie Ranger~ with ºC-ute tracks
• [2008.11.12] °C-ute Concert Tour 2008 Natsu ~Wasuretakunai Natsu~
• [2008.12.17] °C-ute Cutie Circuit 2008 ~September 10 is °C-ute's Day~
• [2009.01.21] Gekidan Gekiharo Dai 4 Kai Kouen "Keitai Shousetsuka"
• [2009.06.24] Music V Tokushuu 2 ~Cutie Visual~
• [2009.07.22] °C-ute Concert Tour 2009 Haru ~A B °C~
• [2009.09.09] Gekidan Gekiharo Dai 6 Kai Kouen "Ataru mo Hakke!?"
• [2009.10.28] Alo Hello! °C-ute DVD
• [2009.11.25] °C-ute Cutie Circuit 2009 ~September 10 is °C-ute's Day~
• [2010.01.27] °C-ute Concert Tour 2009 Natsu Aki ~Cutie JUMP!~
• [2010.02.17] °C-ute Cutie Circuit 2009 ~Five~
• [2010.07.07] °C-ute Concert Tour 2010 Haru ~Shocking LIVE~

Photobooks

• [2007.02.21] So Cute! amazon.co.jp
• [2009.10.28] アロハロ！℃-ute写真集 (Alo Hello! °C-ute Photoboook) amazon.co.jp

Concert

• [2006.09.21] Berryz工房&°C-ute in Hello!Project 2006 Summer Wonderful Hearts Land (Berryz Koubou & °C-ute in Hello!Project 2006 Summer Wonderful Hearts Land) (With Berryz Koubou) amazon.co.jp
• [2007.04.11] °C-uteデビュー単独コンサート ライブ写真集 始まったよ!キューティーショー (°C-ute Debut Tandoku Concert Live Shashinshuu Hajimatta Yo! Cutie Show) amazon.co.jp
• [2007.10.04] 2007夏C-uteの旅日記 (2007 Summer °C-ute's Traveling Diary) amazon.co.jp
• [2008.07.04] Berryz仮面　VS　キューティーレンジャー　ライブ写真集　ステージver. (Berryz Kamen VS Cutie Ranger Live Photobook Stage ver.) (With Berryz Koubou) amazon.co.jp
• [2008.07.04] Berryz仮面　VS　キューティーレンジャー　ライブ写真集　ドキュメントver. (Berryz Kamen VS Cutie Ranger Live Photobook Document ver.) (With Berryz Koubou) amazon.co.jp

Works

TV

• [2006–2007] °C-ute has come.
• [2008] Berikyuu! (ベリキュー!)
• [2008–2009] Yorosen! (よろセン!)

Radio

• [2006–2008] CUTIE PARTY (Umeda Erika, Murakami Megumi / Yajima Maimi, Suzuki Airi, Okai Chisato)
• [2008–2009] °C-ute Cutie☆Paradise (°C-ute キューティ－☆パラダイス) (Umeda Erika, Suzuki Airi)
• [2008–] °C-ute Yajima Maimi no I My Me Maimi~ (℃-ute矢島舞美のI My Me まいみ〜) (Yajima Maimi) (Fridays)
• [2009–] FIVE STARS (Nakajima Saki) (Tuesdays)

Internet

• [2006] Hello Pro Hour (ハロプロアワー)
  • Vol.1 (Murakami Megumi, Yajima Maimi)
  • Vol.2 (Umeda Erika, Suzuki Airi)
  • Vol.3 (Nakajima Saki, Okai Chisato)
  • Vol.4 (Arihara Kanna, Hagiwara Mai)
  • Vol.9 (Murakami Megumi, Suzuki Airi)

Awards and nominations

• [2007.11.26] YTV Best Hit Kayousai 2007: New Artist Award category (nominated)
• [2007.12.12] TBS Nihon Yuusen Awards: Wired music category (most requested song on radios - Meguru Koi no Kisetsu) (nominated)
• [2007.12.30] TBS Record Awards: Japan Best New Artist 2007 (Tokaikko Junjou) (won)
• [2008.12.30] TBS Record Awards: Excellent Work/Gold award (Edo no Temari Uta II) (runner-up)

External Links

• Hello! Project Official Website: Profile page, Discography page
• Official blog
• Serend twitters for C-ute's 2010 Summer-Autumn concert tour
• Up-Front Works: °C-ute Discography
• Japanese Wikipedia: ℃-ute, English Wikipedia: ℃-ute