J-Pop Corner: Momoiro Clover Z (ももいろクローバーZ)

Momoka Ariyasu, Ayaka Sasaki, Kanako Momota, Shiori Tamai & Reni Takagi.

Momoiro Clover Z (ももいろクローバーZ) is a female idol group and consists of 5 members. Each member has their own personal color which is used in the costumes and accessories. Kanako Momota (百田 夏菜子) is red, Shiori Tamai (玉井 詩織) is yellow, Ayaka Sasaki (佐々木 彩夏) is pink, Momoka Ariyasu (有安 杏果) is green and Reni Takagi (高城 れに) is purple. It's very convenient that each member has her own color because Momoiro Clover Z parodies Japanese sentai shows and themes in their songs and music videos. Similar artists are TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE (東京女子流) and Sakura Gakuin (さくら学院).

The idol group originally started under the name “Momoiro Clover” with 6 members (former member was Akari Hayami, color blue). They got the nickname “Weekend Heroines” because they only performed on weekends. During the week the members attended school. Momoiro Clover was formed on May 17, 2008 during a “Stardust Agency” audition event for 3-B Jr. After a couple of line-up changes, the group made their debut on August 5, 2009.

Early in 2010, Momoiro Clover was signed to major label “Universal Records”, but they left soon after. They decided to sign a contract with “King Records” in the second half of the year. In 2011, sub-leader Akari Hayami had decided that she wanted to graduate from the group. Her graduation took place on April 10, 2011. The rest of the group changed the name to “Momoiro Clover Z” after her departure. Akari's absence is mentioned in “Z Legend: Endless Revolution”. The announcer shouts “Blue!' but gets no response. On Christmas day of that same year they performed at the “Saitama Super Arena” for a sold-out crowd of 10,000 people.

On June 25, 2012, Momoiro Clover Z took part in “Yubi Matsuri”, which is an idol festival produced by a former member of AKB48. Four months later, on October 2, it was announced that “Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimi-tachi Yo” would be used as the theme song for the drama “Akumu-chan”. The girls also competed with eachother to be the voice for the dream animal called “Yume no Ke”. Shiori Tamai won the contest and her voice was used throughout “Akumu-chan” as “Yume no Ke”. “Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimi-tachi Yo” was released on November 21 and claimed the #6 spot on the Oricon charts.

April 10, 2013 is the release date of Momoiro Clover Z's second full album. The album is currently untitled, but the recordings are progressing fast. There was also an announcement that Momoiro Clover Z will sing the theme song for the new “Sailor Moon” anime series, which comes out this summer.

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