- Mihimaru GT
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Mihimaru GT Also known as MGT, Mihi, MihiGT, Maru Origin Japan Genres Urban, pop Years active 2003–Present Labels Universal Music Japan Website Universal Music.co.jp Members Mitsuyuki Miyake
Akutsu HirokoMihimaru GT is an urban and pop group signed to Universal Music Japan and managed by Tearbridge Productions, a subsidiary of Stardust Promotion and Avex.
Contents
History
Mihimaru GT is a Japanese duet made up of composer, lyricist and vocalist, Miyake as well as vocalist and lyricist Hiroko. The group was formed due to the joint management of the two members during their solo careers. Before forming Mihimaru GT, each member had a relatively quiet career, with little to no major hits. To remind each other that the success of the group comes from the hard work and contributions of both members, the name Mihimaru GT was created for the band, taking the first two letters in each members' first name and adding "maru", or "perfection", to the end of it, as well as the initials for Miyake's favorite video game—Gran Turismo.
Unlike many other groups, Mihimaru GT will often record songs featuring only one of their members, though because of each members' background, they are both involved with every song in some way. Hiroko is usually responsible for the main melody of the song, whereas Miyake is featured in the rap that may appear in a song. The band is known for its urban and pop-oriented songs, as well as slow ballad oriented songs. They are currently signed to one of the largest independent music labels in the world.
Prior to 2006, they have had an average career, with their singles ranking no higher than #16 on the Oricon charts. In 2006, however, their single, "Kibun Jojo" became the commercial song for Dariya's "Palty" and music.jp's commercial theme, as well as the ending theme for the variety program "Sukibara". The triple tie-up gave them considerable media exposure, and more people began to take notice of them. On May 5, 2006, they performed on the popular music show Music Station and was featured on the "Young Guns" corner. The appearance on the show boosted their popularity and made "Kibun Jojo" onto the #7 spot on the Oricon charts.
From then on, their sales peaked and eventually bottomed out, though "Itsumademo Hibiku Kono Melody/Magical Speaker" managed to reach as high as #3 on the Oricon charts.
The song "H.P.S.J." was featured as the third ending song for the anime Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo; "Kibun Jojo" itself has been covered in rhythm action games such as Taiko: Drum Master , Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 and you can dance to the song in Happy Dance collection for Nintendo Wii.
On November 7, Mihimaru GT released a hip-hop re-arrangement/cover of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky" as a double A-side single (the other A-side being Ai Kotoba.) Since Oct 16, "I Should Be So Lucky" became the ending theme for the Japanese drama "Abarenbou Mama" (Wild Mama) which stars Aya Ueto.
ギリギリHero is featured in the movie Shaoulin Shojou.
Switch was used for the 2009 World Table Tennis Championship in Japan.
The duo's most recent single, "Masterpiece" is currently being used as main theme for the TV Animation Yu Gi Oh! ZEXAL
In April 2011, the duo perform with Korean singer Park Jung Min at an UN Charity Concert in Yokohama, Japan to aid vitims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[1]
Discography
Singles
# Information Copies sold 1st / Debut Single Yakusoku (約束 Promise ) - Released: July 30, 2003
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #156
1,972 2nd Kaerōka (帰ろう歌 ) - Released: April 28, 2004
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #32
38,597 3rd Negai (願 ~Negai~ ) - Released: July 28, 2004
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #50
9,486 4th H.P.S.J.: Mihimaru Ball Mix/So Merry Christmas - Released: November 17, 2004
- Format: CD5"
- First double A-side
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #50
4,707 5th Yurume no Lady (ユルメのレイデ ) - Released: April 6, 2005
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #37
6,686 6th Love is… - Released: September 7, 2005
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #26
8,504 7th Koisuru Kimochi/Yes (恋する気持ち/Yes ) - Released: November 11, 2005
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #16
34,420 8th Sayonara no Uta (さよならのうた Song of Goodbye ) - Released: March 15, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #29
6,187 9th Kibun Jōjō (気分上々↑↑) - Released: May 6, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two formats: CD-only and CD+DVD
- Considered their "big break" single due to highest peak on Oricon charts
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #7
130,631 10th Tsuyoku Tsuyoku (ツヨクツヨク ) - Released: July 12, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #19
16,760 11th Itsumademo Hibiku kono Melody/Magical Speaker (いつまでも響くこのMelody/マジカルスピーカー ) - Released: August 16, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- Released in three formats: CD+DVD (Itsumademo Hibiku kono Melody version), CD+DVD (Magical Speaker Version), and CD only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #3
58,018 12th Kakegae no Nai Uta (かけがえのない詩 ) - Released: February 28, 2007
- Format: CD5"
- Released in three versions: CD+DVD Mihimaru version, CD-only Doraemon version, and regular CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #6
57,934 13th Punkish☆ (パンキッシュ☆ ) - Released: April 4, 2007
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #7
26,428 14th Gazen Yeah! (俄然Yeah! ) - Released: August 15, 2007
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #5
38,963 15th I Should Be So Lucky/Ai Kotoba (I Should Be So Lucky/愛コトバ ) - Released: November 28, 2007
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #8
44,000+ 16th diverge - Released: January 30, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #6
20,450 17th Girigiri Hero (ギリギリ Hero ) - Released: April 30, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #4
32,269 18th, collaboration with Soffett Nakinatsu (泣き夏 ) - Released: July 2, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #7
15,574 19th Shiawase ni Narou (幸せになろう ) - Released: October 22, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #4
22,524 20th Switch - Released: June 17, 2009
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #7
19,374 21st Torokechau Dandy (とろけちゃうダンディ〜 ) - Released: July 8, 2009
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #12
11,771 22nd Un Lock (アン♡ロック ) - Released: September 23, 2009
- Format: CD5"
- Released in three versions: CD-only, CD+DVD, Limited Edition
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #8
11,024 23rd Love Letter - Released: February 10, 2010
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #14
8,146 24th Omedeto (オメデトウ ) - Released: April 21, 2010
- Format: CD5"
- Released in two versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #18
6,620 25th Masterpiece (マスターピース ) - Released: June 8, 2011
- Format: CD5"
- Released in three versions: CD-only, Limited Edition A(CD+DVD), Limited Edition B
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #20
5,428 26th Evo★Revolution (エボ ★ レボリューション ) - Released: August 3, 2011
- Format: CD5"
- Released in three versions: CD+DVD and CD-only
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #36
2,998 Albums
# Information Copies sold 1st Mihimarhythm - Released: September 8, 2004
- Format: CD5"
- CD+DVD version released on 2007-02-28 for a limited time.
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #16
46,054 2nd Mihimalife - Released: December 21, 2005
- Format: CD5"
- CD+DVD version released on 2007-02-28 for a limited time.
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #18
58,430 3rd Mihimagic - Released: September 13, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- CD+DVD version released on 2007-02-28 for a limited time.
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #2
279,892 Compilation Mihimania: Collection Album (Mihimania ~コレクション アルバム~) - Released: November 15, 2006
- Format: CD5"
- Limited to 100,000 copies
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #10
49,249 Best The Best of Mihimaru GT - Released: May 2, 2007
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
383,220 4th Mihimarise - Released: May 28, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
133,344 2nd Compilation MihimaniaII: Collection Album (MihimaniaII ~コレクション アルバム~) - Released: November 19, 2008
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #16
13,291 2nd Best The Best of Asia - Released: September 23, 2009
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #9
15,782 5th Mihimalogy - Released: February 24, 2010
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #6
28,090 3rd Best Mihimaballads - Released: June 16, 2010
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #4
26,931 6th Mihimalight - Released: September 7, 2011
- Format: CD5"
- Released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats
- Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #12
12,480 References
- ^ Chosun Ilbo SS501's Park Jung-min to Perform in UN Charity Concert in Japan 25 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-26
External links
- (Japanese) Official Mihimaru GT website
- (Japanese) Official Universal Music Japan profile
- (English) mihimacafe forum
- (Japanese) Official mihamaru GT blog
Categories:- Japanese pop music groups
- Musical duos
- Universal Music Japan artists
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