Hikaru Genji 光GENJI | |
---|---|
Origin | Japan |
Genres | Pop |
Years active | 1987 | –1995
Labels | Pony Canyon |
Past members | Hikaru Kohji Uchiumi Mikio Osawa (1987–1994) Genji Kazumi Morohoshi Hiroyuki Sato (1987–1994) Junichi Yamamoto Akira Akasaka Atsuhiro Sato Hidetaka Tashiro |
Hikaru Genji (光GENJI) was a Japanese pop music idol group named after the character Hikaru Genji of The Tale of Genji. They were managed by Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates from 1987 to 1995.
Until the appearance of another pop group represented by Johnny & Associates (Hey! Say! 7) in 2007, Hikaru Genji held the record for the youngest male group to top the Oricon singles charts.[1] In 1988, Hikaru Genji became the second artist in history to monopolize the top three spots on the Oricon singles chart[2] and the third artist in history to dominate the top two spots on the charts.[3][4] They also won the Japan Record Award in the 30th Japan Record Awards for their song "Paradise Ginga" that same year,[5] making them the second Johnny's artist to win the award after Masahiko Kondo and the last before Johnny & Associates established a policy that would decline all future nominations of awards from organizations such as the Japan Record Awards and the Japan Academy Awards.[6]
In 1994, Mikio Osawa and Hiroyuki Sato left the group and the remaining members formed Hikaru Genji Super 5, which disbanded a year later. Of these five, Kazumi Morohoshi and Junichi Yamamoto have since left the company. Only Atsuhiro Sato and Kohji Uchiumi currently remain with Johnny & Associates as Akira Akasaka was arrested for possession of methamphetamine on October 28, 2007, and was subsequently fired.[7][8]
Hikaru
Genji
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | "Paradise Ginga" | Japan Record Award | Won[5] |
Hikaru Genji won fifteen awards from Recording Industry Association of Japan's annual music awards ceremony, the Japan Gold Disc Awards.[9]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Hikaru Genji | New Artist Award | Won |
Best 5 New Artist Award | Won | ||
"Glass no Jūdai" | Singles Award | Won | |
"Starlight" | Won | ||
Hikaru Genji | Album Award | Won | |
1989 | Hikaru Genji | Best 5 Artists | Won |
"Paradise Ginga" | Grand Prix Singles Award | Won | |
Best 5 Singles Award | Won | ||
"Diamond Hurricane" | Won | ||
"Tsurugi no Mai" | Won | ||
Hi! | Album Award | Won | |
1990 | "Taiyō ga Ippai" | Best 5 Singles Award | Won |
1991 | Furikaette Tomorrow | Album Award | Won |
1992 | 333 Thank You | Won | |
1993 | Best Friends | Won |