Sakura Gakuin

Sakura Gakuin
Native name	さくら学院
Origin	Japan
Genres	J-Pop, Japanese Idol
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Toy's Factory (2010–2011) Universal Music Japan (2011–2015)[1][2] Subgroups: LD&K Toy's Factory Universal Music Japan
Associated acts	Babymetal
Website	sakuragakuin.jp
Members	Aiko Yamaide Sara Kurashima Megumi Okada Mirena Kurosawa Momoko Okazaki Maaya Asou Marin Hidaka Kano Fujihira Soyoka Yoshida Yuzumi Shintani Tsugumi Aritomo Momoe Mori
Past members	Ayami Mutō Ayaka Miyoshi Airi Matsui Suzuka Nakamoto Mariri Sugimoto Marina Horiuchi Raura Iida Nene Sugisaki Hinata Satō Moa Kikuchi Yui Mizuno Hana Taguchi Yunano Notsu Rinon Isono Saki Ooga Saki Shirai

Sakura Gakuin (さくら学院^?, lit. Cherry Blossom Academy) ^[3] is a Japanese idol girl group formed in 2010 by the Amuse talent agency. The group typically contains between 10 and 12 members at a time who fall between the ages of 10 and 15.

Sakura Gakuin employs a line-up changing system in which older members leave the group and new members join each year. Since the group's theme is that of an elementary and junior high school, when a member graduates from junior high, she leaves Sakura Gakuin as well, during a ceremony the group holds around the end of the Japanese school year in which these members "graduate".^[4] The group releases a video of this ceremony annually, as well as a yearly album.

History

2010

The group Sakura Gakuin was created in April 2010 by the talent agency Amuse. In August, the group participated in the Tokyo Idol Festival (TIF) 2010. This was the year when the event was held for the first time. In October 2010, a unit called Twinklestars, consisting of seven girls, was formed. In November, Twinklestars released their first single "Dear Mr.Socrates", which was sold only at live venues.^[5] Sakura Gakuin held its first solo event on November 28, 2010.^[6] On December 12, 2010, the group released its major debut single "Yume ni Mukatte / Hello! Ivy".

2011

Sakura Gakuin's first album, Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message, was scheduled to appear on March 23, 2011,^[5] but it was postponed until April 27 due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. On May 30, came the announcement that Twinklestars were to have a new single, titled "Please! Please! Please!", out on the 6th of July.^[7] In August, Sakura Gakuin took part in the Tokyo Idol Festival for the second time. On October 23, 2011, at an event held in Tokyo, it was announced that the group's second single would be called "Verishuvi" and it would be released on December 21 through Universal Music.^[8] The new song was performed for the first time exactly one month later, on November 23.^[9]

2012

Sakura Gakuin's third single, "Tabidachi no Hi Ni", was released on February 15, 2012,^[10] debuting at number 6 in the Oricon Daily Singles Chart for February 14.^[11] Three of the members, Ayami, Ayaka, and Airi, graduated from Sakura Gakuin in April 2012, and three new members—Yunano, Saki and Mariri—were transferred into the group in May 2012. In August 2012, TIF uploaded the schedule for their festival (August 4, 2012 / August 5, 2012), and it was revealed that a new Sakura Gakuin unit would be performing at the Sky Stage on the 4th;^[12] on the following day, Sakura Gakuin released news of the new unit—a tennis club consisting of 4 members with Nene Sugisaki being the leader of the unit. On September 1, 2012, the science club was officially revealed as another new unit. On October 1, 2012, it was announced that the science club (Kagaku Kyumei Kiko Logica?) would release their first single, "Science Girl ▽ Silence Boy" (サイエンスガール▽サイレンスボーイ), on November 21, 2012. On October 6, 2012, it was announced that Babymetal would be releasing their first major single, "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" on January 9, 2013. It was released in four different versions: three limited versions, "I" ,"D", and "Z", and a regular version.

2013

Sakura Gakuin released their fifth single, "My Graduation Toss", on February 27, 2013, and the 2012 album on March 13, 2013. The group held the 2012 Graduation Concert The Road to Graduation Final: Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo Sotsugyō (The Road to Graduation Final ～ さくら学院 2012年度 卒業～^?, "The Road to Graduation Final: Sakura Gakuin 2012 School Year Graduation") for fellow member Suzuka Nakamoto at Tokyo International Forum on March 31, 2013.^[13] After sending fellow members Suzuka and Mariri, the group started their new school semester on May 5, 2013 at Shibuya Cultural Center Owada with two new members and their new uniform.^[14] The group later released their first single of 2013, "Ganbare!!", which ranked 6th on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

2014

Sakura Gakuin later released their seventh single, "Jump Up: Chiisana Yūki", and fourth DVD, "Sakura Gakuin Festival 2013: Live Edition" on February 12, 2014. "The Road to Graduation 2013 Final ～ さくら学院 2012年度 卒業～" was held at Shibuya Public Hall, where Marina, Raura, Nene and Hinata, the last of the original eight members, gave their farewells to the fans and remaining eight members. The group later welcomed two new members, Sara Kurashima and Megumi Okada, in May 2014, bringing the total to ten members.

2015

In March 2015, the group held a graduation concert at which Moa Kikuchi, Yui Mizuno, Hana Taguchi, and Yunano Notsu bid goodbye to the fans and remaining six members. On May 6, six new members joined the group, bringing the total to twelve members. At the same time, Rinon Isono was appointed as the fifth Student Council President. The remaining two Year 3 members, Saki Ooga became the Education Chairman, while Saki Shirai was appointed as the third Talk Chairman.^[15]

2016

March of 2016 marked the departure of Saki Ooga, Saki Shirai and Rinon Isono, although in May of the same year Momoe Mori, Tsugumi Aritomo and Yuzumi Shintani transfered in. 2016 also marked the departure of the "beige" uniforms, instating a dark gray one in its place, and the promotion of Sara Kurashima to Class President, Aiko Yamaide to Vice-President and Mirena Kurosawa to MC Chairman

Members

As of May 7, 2016, the group consists of the following twelve members.^[16]

Name	Date of birth	Prefecture of origin	Notes
Sara Kurashima (倉島 颯良)	February 24, 2002	Ibaraki	Twinklestars Logica?
Mirena Kurosawa (黒澤 美澪奈)	May 22, 2001	Tokyo	Sleepiece
Aiko Yamaide (山出 愛子)	December 1, 2002	Kagoshima	Twinklestars Mini-pati
Megumi Okada (岡田 愛)	April 4, 2002	Aichi	Logica?
Momoko Okazaki (岡崎 百々子)	March 3, 2003	Kanagawa	Mini-pati
Maaya Asou (麻生 真彩)	November 4, 2003	Kanagawa	Sleepiece
Marin Hidaka (日髙 麻鈴)	December 1, 2003	Kanagawa	Mini-pati
Yuzumi Shintani (新谷 ゆづみ)	July 20, 2003	Wakayama
Kano Fujihira (藤平 華乃)	August 28, 2004	Chiba
Soyoka Yoshida (吉田 爽葉香)	June 14, 2004	Osaka	Koubaibu
Tsugumi Aritomo (有友 緒心)	September 7, 2004	Chiba
Momoe Mori (森 萌々穂)	December 8, 2004	Tokyo

Former members

Name	Prefecture of origin	Date of graduation	Notes
Ayami Mutō (武藤 彩未)[17]	Ibaraki	March 25, 2012[18]	1st Student Council President Former member of Karen Girl's Twinklestars
Ayaka Miyoshi (三吉 彩花)[17]	Saitama		Scoopers
Airi Matsui (松井 愛莉)[17]	Fukushima		Scoopers
Suzuka Nakamoto (中元 すず香)[17]	Hiroshima	March 31, 2013[19]	2nd Student Council President Former member of Karen Girl's Babymetal
Mariri Sugimoto (杉本 愛莉鈴)[17]	Hiroshima
Marina Horiuchi (堀内 まり菜)[17]	Tokyo	March 30, 2014[20]	3rd Student Council President Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece Pastel Wind Logica? (leader)
Raura Iida (飯田 來麗)[17]	Tokyo		Performance Chairman Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece
Nene Sugisaki (杉﨑 寧々)[21]	Ibaraki		Talk Chairman Twinklestars Mini-pati Sleepiece Pastel Wind (leader)
Hinata Satō (佐藤 日向)[17]	Kanagawa		Mood Chairman Twinklestars Logica?
Moa Kikuchi (菊地 最愛)[17]	Aichi	March 29, 2015[22]	4th Student Council President Twinklestars Babymetal Mini-pati
Yui Mizuno (水野 由結)[17]	Kanagawa		Production Chairman Twinklestars Babymetal Mini-pati
Hana Taguchi (田口 華)[17]	Nagano		Spirit Chairman Mini-pati Pastel Wind Pro-Wrestling Circle
Yunano Notsu (野津 友那乃)[17]	Tokyo		Talk Chairman Pastel Wind Koubaibu Twinklestars
Rinon Isono (磯野 莉音)	Kanagawa	March 27, 2016	5th Student Council President Logica? (leader) Pro-Wrestling Circle
Saki Ooga (大賀 咲希)	Tokyo		Education Chairman Pastel Wind Sleepiece
Saki Shirai (白井 沙樹)	Niigata		3rd Talk Chairman Koubaibu

Member timeline

Subgroups

Italics denote that the group in question is presently defunct.

Club	Band name	Members
Baton Club (バトン部 Baton-bu)	Twinklestars	2010-2011 Nendo lineup Ayami, Raura, Marina, Nene, Hinata, Yui, Moa 2014 Nendo lineup Yui, Moa, Yunano, Sara, Aiko
Heavy Music Club (重音部 Jūon-bu)	Babymetal	2010-2012 Nendo lineup Su-metal (Suzuka), Yuimetal (Yui), Moametal (Moa)
Cooking Club (クッキング部 Kukkingu-bu)	Mini-pati (ミニパティ)	2010 Nendo lineup Raura (pink), Marina (yellow), Nene (green) 2011-2014 Nendo lineup Hana (pink), Yui (yellow), Moa (green) 2015 Nendo lineup Aiko (pink), Momoko (yellow), Marin (green)
Go Home Club (帰宅部 Kitaku-bu)	Sleepiece	2010-2013 Nendo lineup Raura (pink), Marina (yellow), Nene (green) 2015 Nendo lineup Maaya (pink), Saki Ooga (yellow), Mirena (blue)
Newspaper Club (新聞部 Shinbun-bu)	Scoopers	2010-2011 Nendo lineup Ayaka, Airi
Tennis Club (テニス部 Tenisu-bu)	Pastel Wind	2012 Nendo lineup Nene (leader), Hana, Yunano, Marina 2013 Nendo lineup Nene (leader), Hana, Yunano, Saki Ooga
Science Club (科学部 Kagaku-bu)	Kagaku Kyūmei Kikō Logica? (科学究明機構ロヂカ？^?, Scientific Investigation Organization Logica?)	2012-2013 Nendo lineup MaRi7 (Marina, leader), Hi7TA (Hinata), RiNon (Rinon) 2015 Nendo lineup ("Ver. 1.2") RiNon (Rinon, leader), SaRA (Sara), Mg3 (Megumi)
Pro-wrestling Fan Club (プロレス同好会 Puroresu dōkō-kai)	Pro-Wrestling Circle	2014 Nendo lineup Hana, Rinon
Purchasing Club (購買部 Kōbai-bu)	Koubaibu	2014 Nendo lineup Yunano, Saki Shirai 2015 Nendo lineup Saki Shirai, Soyoka

Discography

Sakura Gakuin

Albums

Title	Release date	Charts		Label
		Oricon Weekly Albums Chart [23]
		Top position	Weeks on chart
Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo: Message   (さくら学院 2010年度 ～message～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2010: Message")	April 27, 2011	54	1	Toy's Factory
Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo: Friends   (さくら学院 2011年度 ～FRIENDS～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2011: Friends")	March 21, 2012	56	2	Universal Music Japan
Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation   (さくら学院 2012年度 ～My Generation～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2012: My Generation")	March 13, 2013	39	2
Sakura Gakuin 2013 Nendo: Kizuna   (さくら学院 2013年度 〜絆〜, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2013: Bond")	March 12, 2014	29	2
Sakura Gakuin 2014 Nendo: Kimi ni Todoke   (さくら学院2014年度 ～君に届け～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2014: Reaching You")	March 25, 2015	18	2
Sakura Gakuin 2015 Nendo: Kirameki no Kakera (さくら学院2015年度 ～キラメキの雫～, "Sakura Gakuin School Year 2015: Pieces of Sparkles")	March 3, 2016			Amuse

Singles

Title	Release date	Charts		Sales (Oricon)	Label / Notes
		Oricon Weekly Singles Chart [24]
		Top position	Weeks on chart	First week
"Yume ni Mukatte / Hello! Ivy"   (夢に向かって／Hello！IVY, "Toward the dream / Hello! Ivy")	December 8, 2010	35	2	2,933[25]	Toy's Factory
"Friends"  (FRIENDS)	November 23, 2011	—	—	—	Sold only at live venues
"Verishuvi"  (ベリシュビッッ)	December 21, 2011	29	2	3,419[26]	Universal Music Japan
"Tabidachi no Hi Ni"   (旅立ちの日に, "On the day of departure")	February 15, 2012	14	2	4,797[27]
"Wonderful Journey"  (WONDERFUL JOURNEY)	September 5, 2012	23	1	5,649[28]
"My Graduation Toss"	February 27, 2013	13	1	6,963
"Ganbare!!"  (顔笑れ!!, "Hang in there!!")	October 9, 2013	6	2	10,233
"Jump Up: Chiisana Yūki"   (Jump Up ～ちいさな勇気 ～, "Jump Up: A small courage")	February 12, 2014	25	2	4,021
"Mathematica!"  (マセマティカ！)	September 27, 2015	—	—	—	Sold only at live venues

DVD singles

• "Heart no Hoshi" (ハートの地球, "Heart Earth") (October 22, 2014, Universal Music Japan)
• "Aogeba Tōtoshi: from Sakura Gakuin 2014" (仰げば尊し 〜from さくら学院 2014〜) (March 4, 2015, Universal Music Japan)
• "School Days -2015-" (School days -2015-) (December 8, 2015) (sold only at live venues and online)

Twinklestars

Singles

• "Dear Mr. Socrates" (Dear Mr.Socrates) (November 28, 2010) (sold only at live venues and online)
• "Please! Please! Please!" (プリーズ!プリーズ!プリーズ!) (July 6, 2011, Goflag/Avex Marketing)

DVD singles

• "Dear Mr. Socrates" (Dear Mr.Socrates) (January 26, 2011) (sold only at live venues and online)

Babymetal

Singles

Title	Release date	Charts		Sales (Oricon)	Label
		Oricon Weekly Singles Chart [29]
		Top position	Weeks on chart	First week
"Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba"   (BABYMETAL×キバオブアキバ)[30] indie single	March 7, 2012	46	2	2,028[31]	Juonbu Records (Toy's Factory)
"Headbanger" (ヘドバンギャー!!)	July 4, 2012	30	3	4,144
"Ijime, Dame, Zettai"   (イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ, "No more bullying")	January 9, 2013	6	6	18,789

DVD singles

• "Doki Doki ☆ Morning" (ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング) (October 22, 2011, Juonbu Records (Toy's Factory))

Kagaku Kyumei Kiko Logica?

Singles

• "Science Girl ▽ Silence Boy" (サイエンスガール▽サイレンスボーイ) (November 21, 2012, Universal Music Japan)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Member	Role / Notes
2007	Shindō	Raura
	Tengoku wa Mattekureru	Raura
2008	Shinizokonai no Ao	Ayaka
	Utatama	Ayaka	Young Kasumi
2009	Onnanoko Monogatari	Ayaka	Ki-chan
	Solo Contest	Ayaka	Fūka Usui
2010	Kokuhaku	Ayaka	Ayaka Tsuchida
2012	Gumo Ebian!	Ayaka	Hatuski
	Himitsu no Akko-chan	Marina	Moco
2013	Jugo no Haru ~Tabidachi no Uta~	Ayaka	Yuna Nakazato

References

1. さくら学院 [Sakura Gakuin]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Universal Music. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
2. Each of these sources (except the first) has "Amuse" in the area for the label:
   仰げば尊し 〜from さくら学院 2014〜 [Aogeba Tōtoshi ~from Sakura Gakuin 2014~] (case cover) (in Japanese). Sakura Gakuin. Amuse. 2015 – via Universal J. Marketed & Distributed by UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC
   DVD「The Road to Graduation 2014 ～君に届け～」 [DVD "The Road to Graduation 2014 ~Kimi ni Todoke~]. Asmart (in Japanese). Amuse. 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-09. 発売・販売元：アミューズ [Distributed by:Amuse]
   School days -2015- (case cover) (in Japanese). Sakura Gakuin. Amuse. 2015. Manufactured, Marketed & Distributed by AMUSE INC
3. Distefano, Alex (2014-05-14). "What the hell is Babymetal". Westword (Denver, Colorado, USA). Retrieved 2016-03-09.
4. "[Sakura Gakuin] "Tabidachi no Hi Ni" (On the departure day), the last single by the current members is to be released on February 15! We’ve heard best memories of 3 graduating members at Sakura Gakuin and new resolutions of every member. (2012-02-13)". Kawaii girl Japan. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
5. ""新・なっちゃん"三吉彩花所属のアイドルユニット・さくら学院が熱いバレンタイン・ライブ". De View. Oricon. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
6. "ガールズユニット「さくら学院」が初の単独イベントを開催". De View. Oricon. 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
7. "さくら学院、グループ内ユニットが新曲発表". Oricon. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
8. "さくら学院、"学院祭"盛況　12月にユニバーサルから新曲発売決定". Oricon. 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
9. "さくら学院、アイドル史上初の「学校説明会」開催　1年ぶり新曲も披露". Oricon. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
10. ドリーム モーニング娘。明日「笑っていいとも！」に初登場 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
11. "Oricon CD Single Weekly Ranking - ORICON STYLE Ranking (2012-02-14)" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
12. "Tokyo Idol Festival TIME TABLE (2012.08.04)" (in Japanese). 2012 TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL. 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
13. さくら学院、2012年度卒業式は東京国際フォーラムで実施 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
14. さくら学院新生徒会長に堀内まり菜が就任、転入生2名加入 (in Japanese). Natalie (Natasha, Inc.). 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
15. さくら学院が転入生6名迎え12名体制に、生徒会長は磯野莉音 [Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President]. Natalie (in Japanese). Japan: Natasha,Inc. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
16. "Sakura Gakuin Seito Shōkai" さくら学院 - 生徒紹介 [Sakura Gakuin - School Roll]. Sakura Gakuin (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse Inc. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
17. さくら学院 [Sakura Gakuin]. Amuse Official Website (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
18. 「夢に向かって旅立ちます！」さくら学院、涙の卒業式 ['Embark Toward Your Dream!' Sakura Gakuin Tearful Graduation Ceremony]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
19. さくら学院・中元すず香が涙と笑顔の卒業 [Sakura Gakuin: Suzuka Nakamoto's tearful and smiley graduation] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
20. さくら学院、12人の"絆"が見えた卒業式 [Sakura Gakuin: I watched the 12-member "Kizuna" [bond] graduation ceremony]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
21. 杉崎寧々 [Nene Sugisaki]. Sakura Gakuin (in Japanese). Japan: Amuse, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
22. さくら学院、菊地最愛&水野由結ら涙の卒業式 [Sakura Gakuin: Moa Kikuchi, Yui Mizuno and others have tearful graduation ceremony] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
23. "さくら学院のCDアルバムランキング、さくら学院のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
24. さくら学院のシングル売上ランキング [Sakura Gakuin Single Sales Rankings] (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
25. CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
26. CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
27. CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
28. CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング
29. "ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのCDシングルランキング、ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
30. "ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬ×キバオブアキバ ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬ×キバオブアキバのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
31. "Oricon Weekly Singles Chart (2012-03-19)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-03-15.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)