Minimoni
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Minimoni, Mini Moni, or mini-moni (ミニモニ。) was a Morning Musume subgroup.
Contents |
History
Minimoni was an idea created by Yaguchi Mari. The concept was that even small people can do big things. The group initially consisted of Yaguchi, Tsuji Nozomi, and Kago Ai under the name Young Morning (as seen on early episodes of Hello! Morning). Mika of Coconuts Musume was added to the group before their debut and their official name became Minimoni. Minimoni's first regular TV appearances were in late 2000 on a Hello! Morning segment titled Mini Moni Chiccha!.
The group proved to be very popular in their early years, with their debut single reaching #1 on the Oricon charts and selling over 700,000 copies. Minimoni was meant to have a childish theme in their early songs, and the members even adapted cartoon images of themselves in several promotional videos.
In 2003, Minimoni released their movie, Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken!, which somehow revealed that Yaguchi was leaving Minimoni, and Takahashi Ai would join the group with Mika becoming the new leader. Yaguchi was actually leaving Minimoni in order to focus on her next project, becoming the leader of ZYX.
Unlike their past singles which were childish, Minimoni's second generation took on a more mature theme, as shown in their 10th single, "CRAZY ABOUT YOU" and on their 2nd album, Minimoni Songs 2. In May 2004, Mika announced her graduation from Coconuts Musume and Hello! Project. The group made their last appearance at Morning Musume's 2004 Spring concert tour, and from there, the group was put on an indefinite hiatus.
Timeline
Members
First Generation
2000 – 2003
- Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里, leader)
- Tsuji Nozomi (辻希美)
- Kago Ai (加護亜依)
- Mika (ミカ) (Coconuts Musume)
Second Generation
2003 – 2004
- Mika (ミカ, leader)
- Tsuji Nozomi (辻希美)
- Kago Ai (加護亜依)
- Takahashi Ai (高橋愛)
Discography
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ミニモニ。ジャンケンぴょん！ / 春夏秋冬だいすっき！ (Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!) | 2001.01.17 | 265,270 | 763,380 |
| 2 | ミニモニ。テレフォン！リンリンリン (Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin) | 2001.09.12 | 171,190 | 341,560 |
| 3* | ミニハムずの愛の唄 (Minihamuzu no Ai no Uta) | 2001.12.05 | 70,450 | 325,440 |
| 4 | ミニモニ。ひなまつり！ / ミニ。ストロベリ～パイ(Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! / Mini. Strawberry Pie) | 2002.01.30 | 144,810 | 265,590 |
| 5 | アイ〜ン体操 / アイ～ン！ダンスの唄 (Ai~n Taisou / Ai~n! Dance no Uta) | 2002.04.24 | 93,440 | 212,230 |
| 6 | げんき印の大盛りソング / お菓子つくっておっかすぃ～！(Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song / Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui~!) | 2002.11.27 | 30,609 | 53,681 |
| 7* | ミニハムズの結婚ソング (Minihamuzu no Kekkon Song) | 2002.12.04 | 21,612 | 60,001 |
| 8 | ロックンロール県庁所在地～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ！～ (Rock n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi ~Oboechaina Series!~) | 2003.04.09 | 25,296 | 58,084 |
| 9 | ミニモニ。数え歌～お風呂ば～じょん～／ミニモニ。数え歌～デートば～じょん～ (Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Ofuro Version~ / Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Date Version~) | 2003.05.14 | 18,581 | 29,088 |
| 10 | CRAZY ABOUT YOU | 2003.10.16 | 20,578 | 36,473 |
| 11* | ミラクルルングランプリン！ / ピ~ヒャラ小唄 (Mirakururun Grand Purin! / Pi~hyara Kouta) | 2003.11.19 | 8,070 | 16,410 |
| 12 | ラッキーチャチャチャ！ (Lucky Cha Cha Cha!) | 2004.04.21 | 20,543 | 34,398 |
*Minimoni's 3rd, 7th, and 11th singles were released under the name Minihamuzu.
Albums
| # | Title | Release date | First Week Sales | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ミニモニ。ソング大百科１巻 (Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan) | 2002.06.26 | 116,040 | 187,470 |
| 2 | ミニモニ。ソングズ２ (Minimoni Songs 2) | 2004.02.11 | 18,863 | 25,835 |
Other Albums
- [2003.02.19] ミニモニ。じゃムービーお菓子な大冒険！オリジナルサウンドトラック (Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! Original Soundtrack)
- [2003.03.26] 劇場版とっとこハム太郎 ハムハムージャ！幻のプリンセス オリジナルサウンドトラック (Gekijou ban Tottoko Hamutaro Hamuhamumuja Maboroshi no Princess Original Soundtrack)
Concert DVDs
- [2003.10.29] 2003・春 ミニモニ。スペシャルライブだぴょ～ん！ (2003 Haru Minimoni Special Live Dapyon!)
PV Compilation DVDs
- [2004.02.11] ミニモニ。シングルVクリップ① (Minimoni Single V Clips①)
Other DVDs
- [2003.01.21] ミニモニ。じゃ ムービー お菓子な大冒険！ (Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken!)
- [2004.04.28] ミニモニ。でブレーメンの音楽隊Vol.1 (Minimoni. de Bremen no Ongakutai Vol. 1)
- [2004.04.28] ミニモニ。でブレーメンの音楽隊Vol.2 (Minimoni. de Bremen no Ongakutai Vol. 2)
- [2004.04.28] ミニモニ。でブレーメンの音楽隊Vol.3 (Minimoni. de Bremen no Ongakutai Vol. 3)
- [2004.06.30] ハロー！モーニング ミニモニ。四休さん (Hello! Morning Minimoni. Yonkyuusan)
- [2004.06.30] ハロー！モーニング ミニモニ。河童の花道 (Hello! Morning Minimoni. Kappa no Kadou)
Photobooks
- [2001.05.28] ミニモニ。Photo Book (Minimoni. Photo Book) amazon.co.jp
Trivia
- An original rule of Minimoni was that the members had to be 150 cm or shorter. Mika Todd, who was exactly 150 cm had to wear different style clothes than the other members who were shorter. However, this rule was later waived when Takahashi joined.
- Deka Moni, a "group" also produced by Tsunku, was a parody of Minimoni.
External links
- Official artist page
- Official discography page
- Japanese Wikipedia: ミニモニ。
- projecthello.com: Minimoni Lyrics
| Hello! Project: Minimoni (edit) |
| Members: Yaguchi Mari | Mika Todd | Tsuji Nozomi | Kago Ai | Takahashi Ai |
| Singles: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Albums: Song Daihyakka 1 kan | Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! OST | Minimoni Songs 2 |
| TV shows: Mini Moni Are Tiny | Mini Moni The Documents | Minimoni de Bremen no Ongakutai | Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! |
