generasia:Featured article for 2009 week 47

U-ka saegusa IN db

U-ka saegusa IN db (三枝夕夏 IN db) is a Japanese pop band under the GIZA studio label and managed by Ading agency. The band was formed started in 2002 as solo effort by Saegusa Yuuka. At first, it was planned to be a three-member unit, with Saegusa being the lead and 2 male members as the support, named "db" (decibel), but the idea ended up discarded. The first three singles were all featured in the anime Tenshi na Konamaiki, but that failed to bring much publicity. In February 5, 2003, her debut mini-album was released, entitled Secret & Lies.

In October of 2003, her sixth single "Kimi to Yakusoku Shita Yasashii Ano Basho Made" was used as an opening theme for the anime Meitantei Conan and became her biggest hit, ranking at #8 on Oricon and selling 33,955 copies. With this release, Iwai Yuichirou, Kurumatani Keisuke and Oyabu Taku officially joined the group, becoming a four-person band. A month later, the first full-length album was released, titled after their hit single, "U-ka saegusa IN db 1st ~Kimi to Yakusoku Shita Yasashii Ano Basho Made~".

In 2009, it was announced that the U-ka saegusa IN db will be disbanding, with Saegusa Yuuka leaving the music scene completely, after a final tour in January 2010. Their last studio album, "U-ka saegusa IN db 4 ~Crystal na Kisetsu ni Miserarete~" will be released on November 25, 2009.