Sexy Zone
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2011 (2011)–present
Labels
SpinoffsB.I.Shadow
Members
Past membersMarius Yo
Websiteovtp.jp

Sexy Zone is a four-member Japanese boy band managed by Johnny & Associates. Originally consisting of Shori Sato, Kento Nakajima, Marius Yo, Fuma Kikuchi and Sou Matsushima, they debuted their group age average was 14.6. In 2013 they appeared in Kouhaku for the first time performing their hit song. Sexy Zone is the 5th group from Johnny & Associates to debut as special supporters for the "FIVB World Cup Volleyball" in 2011 after V6 (1995), Arashi (1999), NEWS (2003) and Hey! Say! JUMP (2007) from the same agency. They sold 3 million copies in Japan. Yo left the group and retired from the entertainment industry in 2022.

Career

Sexy Zone was announced as a group in a press conference on September 29, 2011.[1][2][3] Johnny & Associates's CEO Johnny Kitagawa said, "The group name came from Michael Jackson's sexiness".[3] The members were revealed to be Kento Nakajima, Fuma Kikuchi, Shori Sato, So Matsushima, and Marius Yo. Kitagawa chose the members considering the "sexiness of men".[1]

After the press conference, the members appeared in Teigeki Johnnys Imperial Theatre Special "Kis-My-Ft2 with Johnny's Jr.", and premiered their debut song "Sexy Zone", which was subsequently released on November 16, 2011, from Pony Canyon.[2] This song was also the image song of the 2011 FIVB Women's World Cup and the 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup. The group were special supporters of 2011 FIVB World Cup.[4] this song was ranked in the Oricon charts.

Sexy Zone was named Musical Ambassadors of the FIVB Volleyball World Cup on March 2, 2015. On the FIVB world cup they performed their 10th single, Cha-Cha-Cha-Champion and announced the players as they entered the court.[5] In 2016, their official Japanese Volleyball team cheering song "Shouri no hi made" was released to cheer on the volleyball team.

By May 2014, Sexy Zone was working as 3 groups: Matsushima was paired with Kaito Matsukura and Genta Matsuda, now members of Travis Japan, then of Johnny's Jr., as "Sexy Matsu"; Marius was paired with former Hey! Say! JUMP member Genki Iwahashi and former King & Prince member Yuta Jinguji, both then of Johnny's Jr., as "Sexy Boyz"; and the main group (which would keep the name of Sexy Zone), that would focus on Nakajima, Kikuchi and Sato. The three groups, together with the fans (called "Sexy Girls"), would become known as "Sexy Family". It would be the first time that a group would not have a fixed number of members. Three would remain as core, and the other members would be picked from the "younger sibling groups" (Sexy Matsu and Sexy Boyz).[6][7] It was reported by Nikkan Sports in 2014 that the group's then-upcoming single, their seventh, "Otoko Never Give Up", was recorded by only three of its five members. [8], as later did their eighth "Kimi ni Hitomebore" and ninth single "Cha-Cha-Cha Champion", featuring only members Kento Nakajima, Fuma Kikuchi and Shori Sato. This resulted in rumors amongst fans about the future of Marius and Matsushima, the two youngest members of the group. But they were guaranteed that the 2 youngest would not be leaving, they would just be expanding the range of the group by working in their own projects.[9] For their 10th single, "Colorful Eyes", released in December 2015, Marius and Matsushima returned to Sexy Zone, resuming activities as a 5-member group.[10]

The group performed in their last concert stage as Sexy Zone on December 26, 2023, following their decision to change the group's name as a consequence of the agency's sexual abuse scandal. This decision was revealed in their official fan club, and by member Kento Nakajima in an Instagram post in October.[11][12] It was revealed on January 8, 2024, that the name change would take place on March 31, and that Nakajima would leave the group the same day, but would remain in the agency as a talent and actor.[13]

Members

Former member

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

  • One Sexy Zone (2012)
  • Sexy Second (2014)
  • Sexy Power3 (2015)
  • Welcome to Sexy Zone (2016)
  • XYZ=Repainting (2018)
  • Pages (2019)
  • Pop × Step!? (2020)
  • The Highlight (2022)
  • Chapter II (2023)[14]

Filmography

Television

References

  1. 1 2 セクシーさ売りにジャニーズに新ユニット. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2011-09-30. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  2. 1 2 ジャニーズ歴代最年少14・2歳！新グループ誕生. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 2011-09-30. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  3. 1 2 "ジャニーズ新ユニット「Sexy Zone」最年少デビュー". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Hochi Shimbun. 2011-09-30. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  4. ↑ "新しい時代を創る…国際派ジャニーズ新ユニットが誕生!! スペシャルサポーターにSexy Zoneが就任!!". とれたてフジテレビ (in Japanese). Fuji Television. 2011-10-05. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  5. ↑ "MUSICAL AMBASSADORS NAMED FOR WORLD CUP IN JAPAN". FIVB. 2015-10-05. Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  6. ↑ "Ｓｅｘｙ　Ｚｏｎｅメンバー再編　佐藤、菊池、中島で軸固定". Sponichi (in Japanese). 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ｓｅｘｙ　Ｚｏｎｅ新ユニット発表、１万７０００人ファン歓喜". Sanspo (in Japanese). 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Ｓｅｘｙ　Ｚｏｎｅ、メンバー流動的に". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ｓｅｘｙ　Ｚｏｎｅ大改造にファン困惑？". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Sexy Zoneがデビュー5周年 少年から大人への成長、個々のキャラ確立…5人が歩んだ軌跡を辿る". Model Press (in Japanese). 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "改名目前のSexy Zone、聖夜の東京ドームでセクラバにプレゼント「永遠を信じられる僕たちでいたい」". My Navi (in Japanese). 26 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Sexy Zone、グループ名変更へ 中島健人「未来のことを考えこの話し合いをしている」". Model Press (in Japanese). 5 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sexy Zone中島健人が3・31に卒業へ グループは改名後3人体制に". Oricon (in Japanese). 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Chapter II | Sexy Zone" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Sexy Zone Official Site". Sexyzone.ponycanyon.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  16. ↑ "ジャニーズJr.ランドのなかまたち | ジャニーズJr.ランド". Bs-sptv.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  17. ↑ "テレビ朝日｜ミュージックステーション". Tv-asahi.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  18. ↑ "テレビ朝日｜ミュージックステーション". Tv-asahi.co.jp. 2011-11-18. Archived from the original on 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  19. ↑ "テレビ朝日｜ミュージックステーション". Tv-asahi.co.jp. 2012-04-27. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
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