Camellia Factory Explained

Camellia Factory
Origin:Tokyo, Japan
Genre:J-pop, pop
Years Active:–present
Label:Up-Front Works
Zetima
Associated Acts:Hello Pro Kenshusei
Magnolia Factory
Current Members:
  • Ami Tanimoto
  • Mizuho Ono
  • Saori Onoda
  • Mao Akiyama
  • Yuumi Kasai
  • Shiori Yagi
  • Marine Fukuda
  • Runo Yofu
  • Mihane Ishii
  • Yuu Murata
  • Fuka Doi
Past Members:
  • Risa Ogata
  • Kiki Asakura
  • Riko Yamagishi
  • Yumeno Kishimoto
  • Kisora Niinuma

is a Japanese idol group, formed in late April 2015 under the umbrella of Hello! Project. It is currently composed of twelve members. Their sister group was Magnolia Factory.

History

2015: Formation

On April 29, the group was announced by Japanese media as a new Hello Pro Kenshusei unit, and confirmed through Hello! Project Station. [1] Initially the group consisted of six members: Risa Ogata, Riko Yamagishi, Kisora Niinuma, Ami Tanimoto, Yumeno Kishimoto and Kiki Asakura.

The group first performed at the Hello Pro Kenshūsei Happyōkai 2015 ~ Haru no kōkai jitsuryoku shindan tesuto ~ on May 4.[2]

On August 8, during the Hello! Project 2015 Summer concert, Riko Yamagishi was announced as the leader of Tsubaki Factory, while Risa Ogata was announced as the group's sub-leader.[3]

2015–16: Indies and New Members

On September 6, 2015, Tsubaki Factory released their first indie single "Seishun Manmannaka!".[3]

On December 31, Tsubaki Factory released their second indie single "Kedakaku Sakihokore!".[4]

On May 18, 2016, Tsubaki Factory released their first extended play, Tsubaki Factory Sound + Vision Vol.1.[5]

On August 13, it was announced at a Tsubaki Factory fan club event that Hello Pro Kenshuusei members Mizuho Ono, Saori Onoda, and Mao Akiyama had joined the group as new members.[6] The new nine-member line-up debuted on September 4 at Hello! Project Kenshūsei Happyōkai 2016 9gatsu ~Singing!~, where it was announced by Hello! Project advisor Shimizu Saki that Tsubaki Factory would finally make their major debut in January 2017.[7]

2017: Major debut

Tsubaki Factory released their major debut single, "Hatsukoi Sunrise / Just Try! / Uruwashi no Camellia" on February 22, 2017.[8]

Tsubaki Factory released their second major single, "Shuukatsu Sensation / Waratte / Hana Moyou" on July 26.[9]

On November 9, it was announced that Tsubaki Factory had won a Newcomer Award from the 50th Japan Cable Awards; they were presented their award at the ceremony on December 4.[10]

It was announced on November 16 that Tsubaki Factory had won a Newcomer Award at the 59th Japan Record Awards.[11] At the ceremony on December 30, they were presented with their award and were later announced as the winners of the Best Newcomer Award out of three other artists.[12]

2018–present: Continued success, Ogata's departure and new members

Tsubaki Factory released their third major single "Teion Yakedo / Shunrenka / I Need You ~Yozora no Kanransha~" on February 21, 2018. [13]

On July 18, Tsubaki Factory released their fourth single, "Date no Hi wa Nido Kurai Shower Shite Dekaketai / Junjou cm / Kon'ya Dake Ukaretakatta".[14]

On September 21, it was announced that Tsubaki Factory would sing Japanese covers of the opening and ending themes for the DreamWorks animated TV series Trolls: Sing, Dance, Hug! which began airing on TV Tokyo on October 3.[15]

The group released their first studio album, First Bloom, on November 14.[16]

On February 27, 2019, the group released their fifth single, "Sankaime no Date Shinwa / Fuwari, Koi Dokei".[17]

On January 15, 2020, Tsubaki Factory released their sixth single, "Ishiki Takai Otome no Dilemma / Dakishimerarete Mitai".[18]

The group released their seventh single, "Dansha-ISM / Ima Nanji?", on September 30.[19]

On October 8, Risa Ogata went on voluntary suspension from the group following several leaked posts from her private social media account. On December 28, it was announced that Ogata would leave the group.[20]

On January 20, 2021, it was announced Tsubaki Factory and labelmates Juice=Juice would be holding a joint new member audition.

On July 7, it was announced through Hello! Project Station that Hello! Project "Juice=Juice" "Tsubaki Factory" Goudou Shin Member Audition winners Yuumi Kasai, Shiori Yagi, Marine Fukuda and Hello Pro Kenshuusei member Runo Yofu have joined the group as new members.

On November 11, it was announced that the group would be holding a special online event titled "Tsubaki Factory Major Debut 5 Shuunen Kinen! SPOOX MUSIC ~Tsubaki Factory Xmas LIVE~" at Billboard Live TOKYO as part of their 5th anniversary of their major debut commemoration. Tickets to watch the event were available for purchase at the distribution service SPOOX from November 28 to December 31, and was available for viewing from December 24 to December 31. In addition, a special version of the event, including unaired performances and behind-the-scenes footage, was broadcast at the channel SPACE SHOWER TV on January 23, 2023. A recording of the event was later included in the Limited Edition SP of the group's 10th single.

On February 22, the group released their tenth single, "Machigai ja nai Naitari Shinai / Skip・Skip・Skip / Kimi to Boku no Kizuna feat. KIKI".

On April 2, Kiki Asakura officially graduated from the group and Hello! Project at the Hello! Project Hina Fes 2023 "Tsubaki Factory Premium ~Asakura Kiki Sotsugyou Special~".[21] Riko Yamagishi and Yumeno Kishimoto also graduated in November that same year.[22]

Kisora Niinuma became the group's new leader. On January 26, it was announced that Kisora Niinuma will be graduating from the group at the end of their 2024 spring concert tour.

On February 7, it was announced through Hello! Project Station that Hello! Project 25 Shuunen Kinen Shin Member Audition winners Mihane Ishii, Yuu Murata and Fuka Doi have joined the group as new members.

On May 25, it was announced at the Tsubaki Factory Concert Tour 2024 Haru "C'mon Everybody!" that Tanimoto Ami would be succeeding Niinuma Kisora as the third leader of the group and Ono Mizuho would succeed Tanimoto as a new sub-leader starting on June 11 following Niinuma's graduation.

On June 10, Kisora Niinuma officially graduated from the group and Hello! Project at the Tsubaki Factory Concert Tour 2024 Haru "C'mon Everybody! ~Niinuma Kisora Sotsugyou Special~".

On August 28, the group released their 12th single, "Baby Spider / Seishun Exabyte / Kodou OK?". It is the first to include the new members Mihane Ishii, Yuu Murata and Fuka Doi, and the last to include Kisora Niinuma.

Members

Current

Former

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
sales
JPN
Oricon[23] Hot[24]
First Bloom
  • Released: November 14, 2018
  • Label: Zetima
  • Formats: CD, digital download
6 7
2nd Step
  • Released: May 26, 2021
  • Label: Zetima
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

TitleYearPeak
chart
positions
Album
JPN
OriconHot[27]
Indie singles
2015rowspan="3"
Major singles
20173 6First Bloom
5 6
20182 3
2 3
20192 62nd Step
20203 7
4 19
20213 6
20221 3
20233 3
6
2024

Awards and nominations

Japan Record Awards

See also: 59th Japan Record Awards. The Japan Record Awards is a major music awards show held annually in Japan by the Japan Composer's Association.|-|rowspan=2| 2017|rowspan=2| Camellia Factory| New Artist Award[28] | |-| Best New Artist Award| |}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ハロプロに新たなユニット「つばきファクトリー」誕生. Barks. April 9, 2015.
  2. Web site: 【ライブレポート】「これで我が軍も安泰」「未来は明るい」ハロプロ研修生が春の公開実力診断テスト. Barks. May 4, 2015.
  3. Web site: つばきファクトリー、リーダーに山岸理子. Barks. August 8, 2015.
  4. Web site: 相次ぐ卒業と加入による「新陳代謝」の1年 2015年下半期ハロプロ重大ニュースを振り返る. Real Sound. December 28, 2015.
  5. Web site: 相次ぐ卒業・活動一時休止メンバー 2016年上半期ハロプロ重大ニュースを振り返る. Real Sound. July 2, 2016.
  6. Web site: つばきファクトリーに小野瑞歩、小野田紗栞、秋山眞緒ら新加入. Barks. August 13, 2016.
  7. Web site: つばきファクトリー、2017年にメジャーデビュー決定. Barks. September 4, 2016.
  8. Web site: つばきファクトリー、メジャーデビュー好発進! つんくも認めるスキルの高さ. Real Sound. March 3, 2017.
  9. Web site: 【イベントレポート】つばきファクトリー、リクルートスーツ姿で「メジャーデビュー作は越えたいです」. Barks. July 26, 2017.
  10. Web site: 『第50回日本有線大賞』各賞決定、番組放送は今回で終了. Barks. November 9, 2017.
  11. Web site: 『第59回輝く!日本レコード大賞』、各賞受賞者発表. Barks. November 16, 2017.
  12. Web site: 『レコ大』つばきファクトリーが最優秀新人賞 安住アナも思わず"もらい泣き". Oricon News. December 30, 2017.
  13. Web site: つばきファクトリーはハロプロの中で最も"王道的なアイドル"に? 新シングル収録曲を分析. Real Sound. February 25, 2018.
  14. Web site: こぶしファクトリーとつばきファクトリーが築いてきた"ライバル関係" 対照的な最新作を機に考察. Real Sound. August 12, 2018.
  15. Web site: つばきファクトリーがTVアニメ「トロールズ: シング・ダンス・ハグ!」OP曲MVを公開. CD Journal. October 11, 2018.
  16. Web site: 待望の1stアルバムをリリースしたハロプロ期待の新星つばきファクトリーが高級スイーツをかけて秋の四番勝負!メンバーソロインタビューも交えた特別番組をスペシャプラスで11/24(土)18時~放送!. PR Times. November 16, 2018.
  17. Web site: つばきファクトリー、デビュー2周年「あっという間だった」. Music Voice. February 22, 2019.
  18. Web site: つばきファクトリー[イベントレポート]念願ホールツアー決定!噴水広場でのサプライズにメンバー絶叫. Pop 'n' Roll. January 16, 2020.
  19. Web site: つばきファクトリー、メンバーがお人形さんになる?「断捨ISM」MV公開へ. Barks. August 18, 2020.
  20. Web site: SNS流出で活動休止中の小片リサ ハロプロ&つばきファクトリーの活動終了「けじめ」の申し出. Sponichi Annex. December 28, 2020.
  21. News: つばきファクトリー浅倉樹々が卒業. Camellia Factory's Kika Asakura graduates. April 2, 2023. June 1, 2024. Oricon News.
  22. News: つばきファクトリー・山岸理子&岸本ゆめの、涙あふれる卒業公演. Camellia Factory's Rika Yamagishi and Yume Kishimoto in a tearful graduation performance. November 6, 2023. June 1, 2024. Oricon News.
  23. Web site: Camellia Factory Oricon Style. Oricon. January 9, 2021.
  24. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums. Billboard Japan. January 9, 2021.
  25. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales 2018/11/26.
  26. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales 2021/06/07.
  27. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100. Billboard Japan. June 24, 2020.
  28. Web site: 第59回 日本レコード大賞. Japan Record Awards. ja. 2017-12-26. 2022-06-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629034205/https://jacompa.or.jp/reco59.html. dead.