PassCode
OriginOsaka Prefecture, Japan
Genres
Years active2013-present
Labelswe-B studios
Universal Music Japan
JPU Records
MembersNao Minami
Kaede Takashima
Hinako Ōgami
Emily Arima
Past membersReika Kanzaki
Saki Sakurai
Kyōko Kazuki
Yūri Kurohara
Yuna Imada
Websitepasscode-official.com

Passcode (Japanese: パスコード, Hepburn: Pasukōdo, stylized as PassCode), is a Japanese metal idol group that was founded in 2013.[2]

History

Passcode was formed in Osaka in 2013 and consists of the four vocalists Nao Minami, Kaede Takashima, Emily Arima and Hinako Ōgami. Passcode is supported by a backup band.[3]

After releasing several singles and albums on smaller labels, the group signed to Universal Music Japan and released their second full-length album Zenith in 2017.[4] In 2018 the band signed with British record label JPU Records and released a best-of record called Ex Libris Passcode in Europe.[5]

Their song "Ichika Bachika" became the opening song for the second season of the live-action film adaption of Kakegurui.[6] In June 2020, their ninth single "Starry Sky" debuted at number 1 on the Japanese Oricon weekly singles chart and the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart, selling over 7,000 units in its first week after release.[7][8]

Musical style

The musical style of Passcode can be described as kawaii metal.[1] Some vocalists use harsh vocals next to cleans. Yuna Imada contributed the harsh vocals before her retirement in 2021, with the job now handled by former Ladybaby member Emily Arima.[citation needed] Kaede Takashima uses the harsh vocals in some tracks like "Taking You Out" and "Club Kids Never Die". The band uses Auto-Tune while singing.[3]

The band mixes metalcore with EDM and J-pop.[4] The songs are written in Japanese language and contain English-language parts as well.[3]

Members

PassCodeメンバーの加入期間
Past members

Discography

Passcode discography
Studio albums5
Live albums1
Compilation albums3
Video albums13
Music videos28
EPs1
Singles10

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[9] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[10] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[11]
All Is Vanity
  • Released: October 1, 2014
  • Label: we-B studios
  • Formats: CD
 — — —
Virtual
  • Released: May 25, 2016
  • Label: we-B studios
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 43 60 28
Zenith
  • Released: August 2, 2017
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, digital download
 20 27 19
Clarity
  • Released: April 3, 2019
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 10 7 8
Strive
  • Released: December 23, 2020
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 18 13 14
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or that the chart did not exist.

EPs

Title EP details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[9] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[10] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[11]
Reverberate EP.
  • Released: December 21, 2022
  • Label: Univerlsal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 18 19 17
Groundswell EP.
  • Released: June 21, 2023
  • Label: Univerlsal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 18 — —

Compilations

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[9] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[10] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[11]
Locus
  • Released: February 28, 2018
  • Label: Univerlsal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 15 10 14
Ex Libris Passcode
  • Released: October 5, 2018[12]
  • Label: JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — —
Passcode the Best -Link-
  • Released: September 29, 2021
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Formats: 2xCD, 2xCD+DVD, 2xCD+Blu-ray, digital download
 18 18 15
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[9] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[11]
Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited
  • Released: December 19, 2018
  • Label: Univerlsal Music Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 93 79

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Oricon
[13] 		JPN
Hot
100
[14] 		JPN
Hot
Singles
[15]
"Nextage" 2014 165 — — Virtual
"Now I Know" 2015 111 — —
"Never Sleep Again" 159 — —
"Miss Unlimited" 2016 43 — 29 Zenith
"Bite the Bullet" 2017 16 86 16
"Ray" 2018 16 64 15 Clarity
"Tonight / Taking You Out" 12 65[a] 13
"Atlas" 2019 18 — 20 Strive
"Starry Sky" 2020 1 — 1
"Freely / Flavor of Blue" 2021 12 — 15 non-album single
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

DVD / Blu-ray

Title Video details Peak chart positions
JPN
DVDs
[16] 		JPN
Blu-rays
[17]
All Is Vanity
  • Released: March 18, 2015
  • Label: We-B Studios
 198 —
"Trial of Passcode" Tour Final Tokyo at Akasaka Blitz
  • Released: July 22, 2016
  • Label: We-B Studios
 — —
Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited Premium Box
  • Released: December 19, 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 — 58
Passcode Miss Unlimited Tour 2016 at Studio Coast
  • Released: December 19, 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 — —
Passcode Zenith Tour 2017 Final Series at Tsutaya O-East
  • Released: December 19, 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 — —
Passcode Presents Versus Passcode 2018 at Bigcat
  • Released: December 19, 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 — —
Passcode Taking You Out Tonight! Tour 2018 Final at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo
  • Released: March 13, 2019
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 19 16
PassCode Zepp Tour 2019 at Zepp Osaka Bayside
  • Released: August 12, 2019
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 24 23
Passcode Clarity Plus Tour 19-20 Final at Studio Coast
  • Released: March 15, 2020
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 36 30
Passcode Starry Tour 2020 Final at KT Zepp Yokohama
  • Released: November 18, 2020
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 23 12
Passcode "Strive for Budokon Tour 2021 at Toyosu Pit
  • Released: June 9, 2021
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 10 7
Passcode Zepp Tour 2021 at Haneda
  • Released: December 22, 2021
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 57 48
Passcode Nippon Budokan 2022
  • Released: June 29, 2022
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
 17 18
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Music videos

Song Year Link
"Asterisk" (アスタリスク) 2014 [1]
"XYZ" [2]
"Over There" [3]
"Seize the Day" [4]
"Kiss no Hanataba" (Kissの花束) [5]
"Gekidō Progressive" (激動プログレッシブ) [6]
"Nextage" [7]
"Now I Know" 2015 [8]
"Orange" (オレンジ) [9]
"Never Sleep Again" [10]
"From Here" 2016 [11]
"Axis" [12]
"Ninja Bomber" [13]
"Miss Unlimited" [14]
"Bite the Bullet" 2017 [15]
"One Step Beyond" [16]
"Same to You" [17]
"Ray" 2018 [18]
"Taking You Out" [19]
"Projection" 2019 [20]
"Atlas" [21]
"Starry Sky" 2020 [22]
"Mantra" [23]
"Anything New" [24]
"Spark Ignition" [25]
"Freely" 2021 [26]
"Flavor of Blue" 2022 [27]
"Siren" [28]
"Clouds Across the Moon" 2023 [29]

Notes

  1. ^ Only "Tonight" charted.

References

  1. ^ a b "The rise of kawaii metal this decade". JRock News. December 25, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "株式会社 we-B studios PassCode". we-B studios. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Saskia (May 30, 2018). "PassCode – Eine Perle aus Fernost" (in German). Silence Musik Magazin. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Idol Chatter: PassCode Interview". Straight-from-japan.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  5. ^ edoh (August 23, 2018). "PassCode joins JPU Records and announces compiled overseas album plus single". Jrocknews.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (January 22, 2019). "Live-Action Kakegurui Series' 2nd Season Reveals Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "PassCode、『STARRY SKY』で初のシングルチャート首位 三者三様な楽曲でライブ感ある1枚に". Real Sound (in Japanese). 30 May 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "【ビルボード】PassCode『STARRY SKY』、自身初のシングル・セールス首位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d "PassCodeのアルバム作品" [Passcode albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart:
  11. ^ a b c d Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums chart:
  12. ^ "PassCode、本日10/5リリースの海外デビュー盤『Ex Libris PassCode』を日本でもデジタル配信開始！新録曲が聴けるダイジェスト映像公開も！" (in Japanese). Gekirock.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "PassCodeのシングル作品" [Passcode singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  14. ^ Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
  15. ^ Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart:
  16. ^ "PassCodeのDVD作品" [Passcode DVDs] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "PassCodeのBlu-ray作品" [Passcode Blu-rays] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.

External links

Authority control databases: Artists
Categories