Morning Musume, Bump of Chicken in June
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Popular Japanese all-girl group Morning Musume and rock band Bump of Chicken are holding concerts in Seoul next month.
Considered the best-selling girl group in Japan, Morning Musume will hold its first concert in Seoul, June 1 at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park. The group will have two concerts, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in one day, as part of their ``10th Anniversary Tour.''
Morning Musume was formed in 1997, when Japanese producer Tsunku held a talent search for a female rock vocalist for the band Sharan Q on a TV show ``Asayan.''
Tsunku decided to create a girl group, Morning Musume, composed of five runners-up from the audition. In 1998, the girls released their first single ``Morning Coffee.''
The group's line-up has undergone changes throughout the years. Every year, new members are introduced, while some of the old members graduate from the group.
Members are known for their cute looks and perky personalities. Past ``graduates'' include Maki Goto, who was only 13 when she joined the group and is now a solo singer.
Morning Musume's current line-up includes Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Koharu Kusumi, Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Aika Mitsui, Li Chun and Qian Lin.
Last year, Takahashi, Niigaki and Kusumi visited Seoul. The three girls were surprised at the warm reception they received from their Korean fans.
For their first concert in Seoul, Morning Musume is expected to perform old hits like ``Love Machine,'' as well as their latest single ``Resonant Blue.'' Tickets for the concert are 88,000 won and 66,000 won.
Bump of Chicken will perform on June 21 at the MelOn-AX (Gwangnaru Station Line 5).
Originally from Sakura, Chiba, Bump of Chicken is composed of Motoo Fujiwara, Hiroaki Masukawa, Yoshifumi Naoi and Hideo Masu. The members met as classmates in primary school, and eventually formed a band in 1994.
Fujiwara is the lead vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and composer, while Masukawa is the guitarist. Naoi is the bassist and Masu is the drummer.
In 1999, they released their first album ``Flame Vein.'' But it was only in 2001 when Bump of Chicken's single ``Tentai Kansoku'' first appeared on the Oricon weekly charts. In 2002, their album ``Jupiter'' topped the Oricon weekly charts, it was their first number one hit.
Bump of Chicken's music has been widely used in video games, television shows, commercials and movies. ``Sailing Day'' was used in the anime film ``One Piece: Dead End Adventure,'' as well as in Guitar Freaks and DrumMania arcade video games
Last year, Bump of Chicken released two singles ``Hana no Na'' and ``Mayday'' on the same day, and both singles reached number one and two on the Oricon charts. Their latest album ``orbital period'' was released in December.
Tickets are 66,000 won and 70,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or cal (02) 545-9174.