Tsubaki Factory

Tsubaki Factory (つばきファクトリー; Camellia Factory) is a Japanese pop group under Hello! Project, originally formed with six members from Hello Pro Kenshuusei in late April 2015. As of August 2016, they are currently nine members.

Members

 * Yamagishi Riko (山岸理子; Light Green ) Leader
 * Ogata Risa (小片リサ; Light Orange ) Sub-leader
 * Niinuma Kisora (新沼希空; Light Blue )
 * Tanimoto Ami (谷本安美; Light Purple )
 * Kishimoto Yumeno (岸本ゆめの; Yellow )
 * Asakura Kiki (浅倉樹々; Light Pink )
 * Ono Mizuho (小野瑞歩; Emerald Green )
 * Onoda Saori (小野田紗栞; Peach )
 * Akiyama Mao (秋山眞緒; Light Red )

2015: Formation
On April 29, the group was announced through Japanese media, and confirmed through Hello! Project Station. The group made their first performance at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2015 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~ on May 4.

On May 26, the group participated as an opening act at ANGERME STARTING LIVE TOUR SPECIAL @ Nippon Budokan "Taiki Bansei".

On August 8, during the Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER concert, Yamagishi Riko was announced leader of Tsubaki Factory, while Ogata Risa was announced sub-leader of the group.

On September 6, Tsubaki Factory released their first indies single "Seishun Manmannaka!" at the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2015 ~9gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~ concert venue.

From October 8 to October 18, Tsubaki Factory starred in the Engeki Joshibu musical remake of Thank You Very Berry, which also featured and was directed by Sudo Maasa, who starred in the original stageplay.

On December 31, Tsubaki Factory released their second indies single "Kedakaku Sakihokore!" at the Hello! Project COUNTDOWN PARTY 2015 ~GOOD BYE & HELLO!~ concert venue.

2016
On March 19, Tsubaki Factory released their first mini album titled Tsubaki Factory SOUND + VISION Vol.1 at the Asobu. Kurasu. Sodateru. SATOYAMA & SATOUMI e Ikou 2016 venue as a limited pre-sale. The mini album was released for general sale on May 18.

On August 6, Tsubaki Factory released their third indies single "Hitorijime / Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" at the Hello! Project 2016 SUMMER venue.

On August 13, it was announced at Tsubaki Factory's fanclub event that Hello Pro Kenshuusei members Ono Mizuho, Onoda Saori, and Akiyama Mao had joined the group as new members.

The new line-up debuted on September 4 at Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 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.

On October 22, they announced during the Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.2~ event that their major debut single would be released on February 22, 2017.

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

On February 28, the members were removed from the Hello Pro Kenshuusei profile page on the official Hello! Project site, indicating they had officially left Hello Pro Kenshuusei.

On May 24, Tsubaki Factory performed at GIRLS ROCKS.

On June 17, Tsubaki Factory performed at the GIRLS IDOL FESTA 2017.

On July 15, Ogata Risa, Niinuma Kisora, Tanimoto Ami, Kishimoto Yumeno, and Ono Mizuho appeared on TBS's Ongaku no Hi 2017 in a pre-recorded performance. They were part of a special Hello! Project unit with Morning Musume '17 and a selection of members from ANGERME and Kobushi Factory.

On July 26, Tsubaki Factory released their second major single, "Shuukatsu Sensation / Waratte / Hana Moyou".

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

On November 16, Tsubaki Factory were also announced as winners of a Newcomer Award from the 59th Japan Record Awards. They will be presented their award and the best in their category will be announced at the ceremony on December 30.

2018
On February 21, Tsubaki Factory will release their third single.

Group Name Origin
The name Tsubaki Factory (つばきファクトリー) literally means "Camellia Factory". Hello! Project advisor Shimizu Saki (formerly of Berryz Koubou) assisted in picking the group name.

The camellia (tsubaki) was "decided with praising the noble and cold beauty and wanting the group to be fresh and strong like the evergreen." The word "factory", also used in the name of their sister group Kobushi Factory, is named to reference Berryz Koubou ("koubou" meaning "workshop"), so that the group may carry on Berryz Koubou's spirit.

Discography
Singles=
 * Indies Singles
 * 1) [2015.09.06] Seishun Manmannaka!
 * 2) [2015.12.31] Kedakaku Sakihokore!
 * 3) [2016.08.06] Hitorijime / Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo (DVD single)


 * Major Singles
 * 1) [2017.02.22] Hatsukoi Sunrise / Just Try! / Uruwashi no Camellia
 * 2) [2017.07.26] Shuukatsu Sensation / Waratte / Hana Moyou
 * 3) [2018.02.21] TBA


 * Soundtrack Singles
 * 1) [2016.12.06] Engeki Joshibu Musical "Nega Poji Poji" Original Soundtrack


 * -|Albums=
 * Mini Albums
 * 1) [2016.03.19] Tsubaki Factory SOUND + VISION Vol.1


 * Soundtracks
 * 1) [2015.10.08] Engeki Joshibu Musical "Thank You Very Berry" Original Soundtrack


 * -|DVDs=
 * [2016.02.03] Thank You Very Berry
 * [2016.03.28] Tsubaki Factory FC Event 2015 ~Mini Mini ☆ Christmas-kai~
 * [2016.12.24] Tsubaki Factory FC Event 2016
 * [2017.01.26] Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.1~
 * [2017.02.11] Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.2~
 * [2017.03.25] Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.3~
 * [2017.04.26] Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.4 Mini Mini☆Christmas-kai 2~
 * [2017.06.xx] Tsubaki Factory Ouen Kikaku ~Camellia Fights! vol.5~

Calendars

 * [2015.09.19] Tsubaki Factory 2016 Calendar
 * [2016.09.24] Tsubaki Factory 2017 Calendar
 * [2016.xx.xx] Tsubaki Factory 2018 Calendar

Books

 * [2015.07.11] Hello! Project Maruwakari BOOK 2015 SUMMER
 * [2016.01.02] Hello! Project Maruwakari BOOK 2016 WINTER

Theater

 * [2015] Thank You Very Berry
 * [2016] Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!
 * [2016] Nega Poji Poji

Trivia

 * Shimizu Saki assisted in picking the group name and members.
 * Ogata Risa and Tanimoto Ami were in Hello Pro Kenshuusei for only 5 months before joining the unit.
 * Asakura Kiki was in Hello Pro Kenshuusei for only 6 months and 5 days before joining the unit.
 * Yamagishi Riko has been in Hello Pro Kenshuusei the longest out of all the members, having joined the program in June 2012.
 * Ono Mizuho, Onoda Saori, and Akiyama Mao were only members for 3 weeks and 1 day before the unit's major debut was announced.
 * February 22, the date of their major debut, was dubbed by Ogata Risa as TsuTsuTsu Day (つつつDay) or Tsubaki Factory Day.

Awards

 * [2017.12.04] 50th Japan Cable Awards - Newcomer Award
 * [2017.12.30] 59th Japan Record Awards - Newcomer Award