is a Japanese pop vocal group. They are popular in Japan, and have performed in shows such as the annual K?haku Uta Gassen, a Japanese programme that invites only the top-selling artistes of the year. Their first hit was
Forever Memories.
History
Beginning in November 2000, w-inds gave street performances at Yoyogi Park and Shibuya every Sunday. They officially debuted in March 2001. 8,000 people came to Shibuya Heaven to watch them live. Their 1st album, ?w-inds.~1st message~? was released the same year. It topped the Oricon Chart on the first day of its release.
Members
Name: Ryohei Chiba
Role: Rap, background singer, dancer
Birth date: 18 November 1984
Birth place: Hokkaido
Name: Keita Tachibana
Role: Vocalist and dancer
Birth date: 16 December 1985
Birth Place: Fukuoka
Height: 183cm
Name: Ryuichi Ogata
Role: Rap, background singer, dancer
Birth date: 17 December 1985
Birth place: Hokkaido
Information
w-inds. has a wide and strong fan base around Asia including South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. They are especially popular in Taiwan, and were the only Japanese group invited to perform on MTV Mandarin Awards in Taiwan in September 2006. They have held two concerts in Taiwan (2004 and 2005). Both received great response from fans. In 2004, their concert tickets sold out within 23 minutes, which set a record in Taiwan for the "artiste with the fastest selling tickets." Several popular Taiwanese celebrities have attended their concerts as well. In 2007, they returned to Taiwan to once again host a concert for the "w-inds. live tour 2007 Journey".
They first performed in China in 2002 in Shanghai. They also took part in a China-Japan music festival in 2006. In March 2007, they flew to Beijing to participate in another China-Japan music festival along with two other Japanese artistes. They have held video conferences in Hong Kong. On July 2, 2007 they joined the Pop Rock Gala in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. On this visit they picked up 10awards, accumulated from the years since their debut.
They have held summer live tours around Japan every year since 2002.
They were also the only Japanese artists to perform in MKMF, a music awards show in Korea in 2006.
The main vocalist, Keita Tachibana, debuted with a solo single, Michishirube, on October 18, 2006. Contrary to the rumours, Keita has confirmed that w-inds. is not disbanding despite his solo career.
w-inds. are featured in various magazines in Japan and throughout Asia. They are also often invited to perform in Popjam, CDTV and Music Fighter. They are also frequent winners in polls conducted by for their good looks and talent.
To date, all their singles and studio albums have made it into the top 10 positions in the Oricon Charts, with the exception of their first single, Forever Memories.
Achievements
?2001???43????????????????(43rd Japan Record, Best Newcomer Award)
?2002???39?????????????????(39th Golden Award, Newcomer Award)
?2002???16????????????????????????????(16th Japan Gold Disk, New Artiste Award)
?2002???44?????????????(44th Japan Record, Gold Award)
?2002? Performed on ????? (K?haku Uta Gassen)
?2003???45?????????????(45th Japan Record, Gold Award)
?2003? Performed on ????? (K?haku Uta Gassen)
?2004? Performed on ????? (K?haku Uta Gassen)
?2005???47?????????????(47th Japan Record, Gold Award)
?2005? Golden Artist at Best Hits Song (Kayousai) Festival
?2005? Performed on ????? (K?haku Uta Gassen)
?2006??MTV?Mandarin?Awards?2006?(??) ?The?Most?Popular?Group?Of?Japan???(in Taiwan)
?2006??MTV?Student?Voice?Awards ?2006??????????????????(Best Dance Artiste Award)
?2006??Mnet?KM?Music?Festival?2006 (??) ?Best?Asia?Pop?Artist???(in Korea)
?2006????! ?39???????? ?????????(TBS-39th Japanese Cable Grand Prize)
?2006???48? ??!??????????????(48th Japan Record, Gold Award)
?2006? Golden Artist at Best Hits Song (Kayousai) Festival
?2006? Performed on ????? (K?haku Uta Gassen)
?2007? Performed on the 8.25?????????) (All Nippon Night 40th Anniversary)
?2007? MTV?Student?Voice?Awards ?2007?????STUDENT VOICE?????????(Best Group Award)
Discography
Singles
Albums
DVDs
- "Private of w-inds." (6 February 2002) - ??? copies sold
- "Works vol.1" (20 March 2002) - ??? copies sold
- w-inds.1st Live Tour"1st message" (17 October 2002) - ??? copies sold
- "Works vol.2" (23 April 2003) - 21,247 copies sold
- w-inds."THE SYSTEM OF ALIVE"Tourl 2003 (6 November 2003) - 22,611 copies sold
- "Works vol.3" (21 April 2004) - 31,076 copies sold
- w-inds."PRIME OF LIFE"Tour 2004 (15 December 2004) - 29,202 copies sold
- "w-inds.tv" (16 February 2005) - ??? copies sold
- "Works vol.4" (20 July 2005) - 24,999 copies sold
- w-inds.LIVE TOUR 2005?ageha? (14 December 2005) - 30,486 copies sold
- "Works vol.5" (20 September 2006) - 22,363 copies sold
- w-inds. LIVE TOUR 2006 "THANKS" (20 December 2006 - Debut: 22,375 Total: 28,020
- "Works vol. 6" (9 September 2007)
- w-inds. LIVE TOUR 2007 "Journey" (19 December 2007)
Movies
- Star Light (2002?5?15? VHS/DVD)
- ??????? ?????? (2002?12?18? VHS/DVD)
Photobooks
- w-inds. (2001?9?30?)
- w-inds. "move!"(2002?1?18?)
- w-inds. THE STAGE!(2002?9?20?)
- w-inds. Keita-1st personal photobook(2002?11?1?)
- w-inds. Ryohei-1st personal photobook(2002?11?22?)
- w-inds. Ryuichi?1st personal photobook(2002?12?6?)
- w-inds. Meets JUNON(2003?9?13?)
- w-inds. Tour(2004?10?8?)
- w-inds. Live Tour ?ageha? The Document(2005?10?28?)
- w-inds. vacanza(2006?8?4?)
Trivia
- ?WaT and King Kong are known to be very good friends of w-inds.
- Ryohei thinks that brown hair suits Keita the most.
- Fans voted the Trial's hairstyle as their favourite.
- w-inds' song "Kazauta" was based on the American boy band O-Town's "All or Nothing". The tune is the same, but the lyrics are changed and the ending is longer.
References
See also
External links
Boy bandsJapanese pop music groups
W-inds.W-inds.W-inds.W-inds.W-inds.W-inds.
