Generasia would not be possible without tokyograph and all the wonderful people who've contributed over the past 15 years. Thank you!

Difference between revisions of "ZONE"

m (Albums)
m
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:ZONE.jpg|thumb|270px|ZONE]]
 
[[Image:ZONE.jpg|thumb|270px|ZONE]]
 
<div align="justify">
 
<div align="justify">
'''ZONE''' (ゾーン) was a four person [[J-Pop|Japanese pop]]/[[J-Rock|rock]] band. The group was formed by [[Studio Runtime|Studio Runtime]] after a series of auditions to form a new type of group called ''bandol'', a combination of ''band'' and ''idol''. After a short indie career the band signed to [[Sony]]. The band became winners of the the [[Japan Gold Disk]] New Artist of the year of 2002 for their famous single, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". However in late 2003, [[Okoshi Takayo|Takayo]] announced her graduation from ZONE to pursue her studies and was replaced by [[Nishimura Tomoka|Tomoka]], one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four. The band disbanded in mid 2005.
+
'''ZONE''' (ゾーン) was a four person [[J-Pop|Japanese pop]]/[[J-Rock|rock]] band. The group was formed by [[Studio Runtime|Studio Runtime]] after a series of auditions to form a new type of group called ''bandol'', a combination of ''band'' and ''idol''. After a short indie career the band signed to [[Sony]]. The band became winners of the the [[Japan Gold Disk]] New Artist of the year of 2002 for their famous single, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". However in late 2003, [[Okoshi Takayo|TAKAYO]] announced her graduation from ZONE to pursue her studies and was replaced by [[Nishimura Tomoka|TOMOKA]], one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four. The band disbanded in mid 2005.
  
 
==Members==
 
==Members==
Line 18: Line 18:
 
It all started out in 1999 when [[Studio Runtime]] ran auditions to form a new type a group, a ''bandol''. The word ''bandol'' being a combination of the words ''band'' and ''idol''. The all the group would have to sing, dance, and play an instrument. The bands name refers to their initial goal, starting out at the bottom ('''Z''', the last letter of the alphabet) and going all the way to number one ('''ONE''').
 
It all started out in 1999 when [[Studio Runtime]] ran auditions to form a new type a group, a ''bandol''. The word ''bandol'' being a combination of the words ''band'' and ''idol''. The all the group would have to sing, dance, and play an instrument. The bands name refers to their initial goal, starting out at the bottom ('''Z''', the last letter of the alphabet) and going all the way to number one ('''ONE''').
  
Initially ZONE started off with eight members in 1997, then was reduced down to six members and finally four. In 1999 the group released their first single, "[[Believe In Love|believe in love]]" on the indie label [[Knockers Records|Knockers Records]]. The single featured a normal pop idol sound, and only featured the girls singing and dancing. Though the single failed to chart on the [[Oricon]] charts, it did well on the indie charts.
+
Initially ZONE started off with eight members in 1997, then was reduced down to six members and finally four. In 1999 the group released their first single, "[[Believe In Love|believe in love]]" on the indie label [[Knockers Records]]. The single featured a normal pop idol sound, and only featured the girls singing and dancing. Though the single failed to chart on the [[Oricon]] charts, it did well on the indie charts.
  
Over the next year the girls were all given an instrument and trained on them. The bands re-emerged in 2001 with their second single, "[[Good Days|GOOD DAYS]]". The single marked their major label debut under [[Sony]].
+
Over the next year the girls were all given an instrument and trained on them. The bands re-emerged in 2001 with their second single, "[[Good Days|GOOD DAYS]]". The single marked their major label debut under [[Sony Music Entertainment]].
  
 
===Success - Takayo's Graduation===
 
===Success - Takayo's Graduation===
The bands breakthrough hit came as their fourth single, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". The song was about sad goodbye to a good friend. The song was an instant hit reaching #2 on the [[Oricon]] and selling 744,000 copies. After another single the group released their debut album, "[[Z]]" just a year after their major label debut. On the same day ZONE also released thier sixth single, "[[Yume no Kakera...]]".
+
The bands breakthrough hit came as their fourth single, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". The song was about sad goodbye to a good friend. The song was an instant hit reaching #2 on the [[Oricon]] and selling 744,000 copies. After another single the group released their debut album, ''[[Z]]''" just a year after their major label debut. On the same day ZONE also released their sixth single, "[[Yume no Kakera...]]".
  
The bands next two singles share similar success. "[[Hitoshizuku]]" (which was used as the theme to the Japanese release of [[wikipedia:Ice Age (film)|Ice Age]]) and "[[Akashi]]" reached #3 and sold over 100,000 copies. The band then assembled their second album, "[[O (ZONE)|O]]". The album was release less then nine months after their [[Z|debut album]].
+
The bands next two singles share similar success. "[[Hitoshizuku]]" (which was used as the theme to the Japanese release of ''[[wikipedia:Ice Age (film)|Ice Age]]'') and "[[Akashi]]" reached #3 and sold over 100,000 copies. The band then assembled their second album, ''[[O (ZONE)|O]]''. The album was release less then nine months after their [[Z|debut album]].
  
Much like with with their first album the band released a single ("[[Shiroi Hana]]") on the same day of their second albums release. The bands next two singles ("[[True Blue / Renren...|true blue / Renren...]]" and "[[HANABI - Kimi ga Ita Natsu|H・A・N・A・B・I ~Kimi ga Ita Natsu~]]") both reached #3 on the [[Oricon]]. The track "[[True Blue / Renren...|true blue]]" was used as the ending theme to the [[Astro Boy|Astro Boy]] [[anime]]. The single sold well, and became the groups best selling since "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secert base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". Because of this ZONE even collabrated with the [[Run Time All Stars|Run Time All Stars]] to create an [[Astro Boy]] themed album.
+
Much like with with their first album the band released a single ("[[Shiroi Hana]]") on the same day of their second albums release. The bands next two singles ("[[True Blue / Renren...|true blue / Renren...]]" and "[[HANABI - Kimi ga Ita Natsu|H・A・N・A・B・I ~Kimi ga Ita Natsu~]]") both reached #3 on the [[Oricon]]. "[[True Blue / Renren...|true blue]]" was used as the ending theme to the ''[[Astro Boy]]'' [[Anime|anime]]. The single sold well, and became the groups best selling since "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secert base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]". Because of this ZONE even collaborated with the [[Run Time All Stars]] to create an ''[[Astro Boy]]'' themed album.
  
[[Okoshi Takayo|Takayo]] then announced that she would be leaving the group to further pursue her studies. Her last single with the group was "[[Boku no Tegami]]". The single reached #2, and [[Okoshi Takayo|Takayo]] then gracefully graduated from the group.
+
[[Okoshi Takayo|TAKAYO]] then announced that she would be leaving the group to further pursue her studies. Her last single with the group was "[[Boku no Tegami]]". The single reached #2, and [[Okoshi Takayo|TAKAYO]] then gracefully graduated from the group.
  
 
===Tomoka Joins - Disbandment===
 
===Tomoka Joins - Disbandment===
After a four month absence the band returned in early 2004 with their new guitarist, [[Nishimura Tomoka]]. [[Nishimura Tomoka|Tomoka]] was one of the original six girls in the group before the cut-down. The first single featuring [[Nishimura Tomoka|Tomoka]] was "[[Sotsugyou (ZONE)|Sotsugyou]]". The band released three more singles, each of which started selling less and ranking lower than one another.
+
After a four month absence the band returned in early 2004 with their new guitarist, [[Nishimura Tomoka]]. [[Nishimura Tomoka|TOMOKA]] was one of the original six girls in the group before the cut-down. The first single featuring [[Nishimura Tomoka|TOMOKA]] was "[[Sotsugyou (ZONE)|Sotsugyou]]". The band released three more singles, each of which started selling less and ranking lower than one another.
  
In February of 2005 it was announced that ZONE would be disbanding at the end of their Spring Tour. It was initially [[Saito Mizuho]]'s idea to leave, however, they did not want to replace her and didn't want to continue the band on as a three piece band.
+
In February of 2005 it was announced that ZONE would be disbanding at the end of their Spring Tour. It was initially [[Saito Mizuho|MIZUHO]]'s idea to leave, however, they did not want to replace her and didn't want to continue the band on as a three piece band.
  
On April 1st ZONE played their final live concert at Nihon Budokan. It was then on April 1st, 2005 that they disbanded. The last song they played at the concert was their initial hit, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]".
+
On April 1st ZONE played their final live concert at Nippon Budokan. It was then on April 1, 2005 that they disbanded. The last song they played at the concert was their initial hit, "[[Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~|secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~]]".
  
[[Nagase Miyu|Miyu]] and [[Okoshi Takayo|Takayo]] are now pursuing a solo careers. While [[Sakae Maiko|Maiko]] now fronts the all-girl band [[MARIA (band)|MARIA]].
+
[[Nagase Miyu|MIYU]] and [[Okoshi Takayo|TAKAYO]] are now pursuing a solo careers. While [[Sakae Maiko|MAIKO]] now fronts the all-girl band [[MARIA (band)|MARIA]].
  
The band has been given an homage in the [[Anime|anime]] [[Wikipedia:Haruhi Suzumiya#Anime|The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi]] by featuring a band named '''ENOZ''' (ZONE reversed).
+
The band has been given an homage in the [[Anime|anime]] ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu]]'' by featuring a band named '''ENOZ''' (ZONE reversed).
  
 
==Discography==
 
==Discography==

Revision as of 17:25, 29 April 2010

ZONE

ZONE (ゾーン) was a four person Japanese pop/rock band. The group was formed by Studio Runtime after a series of auditions to form a new type of group called bandol, a combination of band and idol. After a short indie career the band signed to Sony. The band became winners of the the Japan Gold Disk New Artist of the year of 2002 for their famous single, "secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~". However in late 2003, TAKAYO announced her graduation from ZONE to pursue her studies and was replaced by TOMOKA, one of the two original members cut from the band when they scaled from six members to four. The band disbanded in mid 2005.

Members

Members at time of disbanding:

Graduated

Information

Early Days

It all started out in 1999 when Studio Runtime ran auditions to form a new type a group, a bandol. The word bandol being a combination of the words band and idol. The all the group would have to sing, dance, and play an instrument. The bands name refers to their initial goal, starting out at the bottom (Z, the last letter of the alphabet) and going all the way to number one (ONE).

Initially ZONE started off with eight members in 1997, then was reduced down to six members and finally four. In 1999 the group released their first single, "believe in love" on the indie label Knockers Records. The single featured a normal pop idol sound, and only featured the girls singing and dancing. Though the single failed to chart on the Oricon charts, it did well on the indie charts.

Over the next year the girls were all given an instrument and trained on them. The bands re-emerged in 2001 with their second single, "GOOD DAYS". The single marked their major label debut under Sony Music Entertainment.

Success - Takayo's Graduation

The bands breakthrough hit came as their fourth single, "secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~". The song was about sad goodbye to a good friend. The song was an instant hit reaching #2 on the Oricon and selling 744,000 copies. After another single the group released their debut album, Z" just a year after their major label debut. On the same day ZONE also released their sixth single, "Yume no Kakera...".

The bands next two singles share similar success. "Hitoshizuku" (which was used as the theme to the Japanese release of Ice Age) and "Akashi" reached #3 and sold over 100,000 copies. The band then assembled their second album, O. The album was release less then nine months after their debut album.

Much like with with their first album the band released a single ("Shiroi Hana") on the same day of their second albums release. The bands next two singles ("true blue / Renren..." and "H・A・N・A・B・I ~Kimi ga Ita Natsu~") both reached #3 on the Oricon. "true blue" was used as the ending theme to the Astro Boy anime. The single sold well, and became the groups best selling since "secert base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~". Because of this ZONE even collaborated with the Run Time All Stars to create an Astro Boy themed album.

TAKAYO then announced that she would be leaving the group to further pursue her studies. Her last single with the group was "Boku no Tegami". The single reached #2, and TAKAYO then gracefully graduated from the group.

Tomoka Joins - Disbandment

After a four month absence the band returned in early 2004 with their new guitarist, Nishimura Tomoka. TOMOKA was one of the original six girls in the group before the cut-down. The first single featuring TOMOKA was "Sotsugyou". The band released three more singles, each of which started selling less and ranking lower than one another.

In February of 2005 it was announced that ZONE would be disbanding at the end of their Spring Tour. It was initially MIZUHO's idea to leave, however, they did not want to replace her and didn't want to continue the band on as a three piece band.

On April 1st ZONE played their final live concert at Nippon Budokan. It was then on April 1, 2005 that they disbanded. The last song they played at the concert was their initial hit, "secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~".

MIYU and TAKAYO are now pursuing a solo careers. While MAIKO now fronts the all-girl band MARIA.

The band has been given an homage in the anime Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu by featuring a band named ENOZ (ZONE reversed).

Discography

Albums

Singles

DVD

External Links