°C-ute

°C-ute (alternate writing: ℃-ute) is a Hello! Project group consisting of six Hello! Project Kids, and Arihara Kanna, a former Hello! Pro Egg.

History

°C-ute, a group that consists of the Hello! Project Kids who were not members of Berryz Koubou, was officially announced by Tsunku on June 11, 2005. In January 2006, Arihara Kanna, a former Hello! Pro Egg, was added to the group and made her debut during the Hello! Project 2006 Winter tour. °C-ute appeared in several concerts performing original songs which were sold as indie singles. On October 31, 2006, Murakami Megumi left the group suddenly without a graduation ceremony. The group's first major single, Sakura Chirari, was released on February 21, 2007.

°C-ute has a weekly 30 minute radio show called Cutie Party. It began on October 07, 2006 and airs on FM FUJI every Saturday from 23:00 to 23:30 as the opening portion of Hello! Project Night. Like Morning Musume before them, at their debut concert each of the group's members were given a colour, used for merchandise, t-shirts and the like. Those colours: Umeda Erika, yellow; Yajima Maimi, pink; Nakajima Saki, orange; Suzuki Airi, green; Okai Chisato, blue; Hagiwara Mai, purple; 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 29th, it was announced that °C-ute had won the New Artist Award from the 49th Japan Record Awards (Nihon Record Taishou), along with three other artists. They will compete for the Best New Artist Award on a show that TBS will broadcast on December 30th, 2007.

Members

Current Members

• Umeda Erika (梅田えりか)
• 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)
• Arihara Kanna (有原栞菜, joined January 2006)

Graduated Members

• Murakami Megumi (村上愛, left in October 2006)

Discography

Singles (Indies)

These singles were not released on a major record label. They were only sold at concerts, fan club events and at the Hello! Project store.

• まっさらブルージーンズ (Massara Blue Jeans) 2006.05.06
• 即 抱きしめて (Soku Dakishimete) 2006.06.03
• 大きな愛でもてなして (Ooki na Ai de Motenashite) 2006.07.09
• わっきゃない(Z) (Wakkyanai (Z)) 2006.07.29

Singles (Major)

• 桜チラリ (Sakura Chirari) 2007.02.21 23,827 26,595
• めぐる恋の季節 (Meguru Koi no Kisetsu) 2007.07.11 23,810 26,785
• 都会っ子 純情 (Tokaikko Junjou) 2007.10.17 27,943 38,085*
• Untitled 2008.01.30

Albums

• ｢キューティークイーン VOL.1｣ (Cutie Queen VOL.1) 2006.10.25 13,402 15,752
• （２）ｍｉｎｉ　～生きるという力～((2) mini ~Ikiru to Iu Chikara~) 2007.04.18 7,991 9,388

Special releases

• Untitled ~Abe Natsumi & Yajima Maimi (ºC-ute)~ 2008-01-16 -- --

DVDs

• [2006.09.06] ミュージックV 特集①～キューティー ビジュアル～ Music V Tokushuu 1 ~Cutie Visual~
• [2006.12.06] Cutie Circuit 2006 Final in Yomiuri Land East Live
• [2007.04.18] ℃-uteデビュー単独コンサート２００７春　～始まったよ！キューティーショー～ °C-ute Debut Tandoku Concert 2007 Haru ~Hajimatta yo! Cutie Show~
• [2007.07.18] ℃-uteコンサートツアー2007春 ～ゴールデン初デート～ °C-ute Concert Tour 2007 Haru ~Golden Hatsu Date~
• [2007.09.05] 寝る子は℃-ute Neru Ko wa °C-ute
• [2007.11.21] °C-ute Cutie Circuit 2007 ～MAGICAL CUTIE TOUR～
• [2007.12.19] ℃-ute　ライブツアー　2007秋 ～放課後のエッセンス～ °C-ute Live Tour 2007 Aki ~Houkago no Essence~

Awards

• [2007] 49th Japan Record Awards (New Artist Award)
• [2007] Best Hits Kayousai Newcomer Award (nominated)

Photobooks

• [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
• [2007.02.21] So Cute! 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

Media

Radio

• Cutie Party

TV

• 「°C-ute has come.」

Internet

• Hello Pro Hour episode 1 : Murakami Megumi
• Hello Pro Hour episode 2 : Yajima Maimi
• Hello Pro Hour episode 3 : Umeda Erika
• Hello Pro Hour episode 4 : Suzuki Airi
• Hello Pro Hour episode 5 : Nakajima Saki
• Hello Pro Hour episode 6 : Okai Chisato
• Hello Pro Hour episode 7 : Arihara Kanna
• Hello Pro Hour episode 8 : Hagiwara Mai
• Hello Pro Hour episode 20 : Murakami Megumi, Suzuki Airi

External Links

• Official Website (Hello! Project)