Country Girls

Country Girls (カントリー・ガールズ), formerly known as Country Musume (カントリー娘. ; Country Girls), is an all-female J-pop group within Hello! Project. The group, which debuted in 1999, is known for its concept of being a group of "country girls from Hokkaido." The group's activities became inactive when Satoda became the sole member in 2007. On November 5, 2014, the group was revived with 6 new members.

Country Musume's highest selling single is "Hajimete no Happy Birthday!" with 142,340 copies sold, while their lowest selling single is "Shining Itoshiki Anata" with 16,450 copies sold.

Country Girls's highest selling single is "Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou" with 51,579 copies sold, while their lowest selling single is "Wakatteiru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summer Time" with 35,913 copies sold.

Current Members

 * Tsugunaga Momoko (嗣永桃子; Pink ) Playing Manager
 * Yamaki Risa (山木梨沙; Lime )
 * Morito Chisaki (森戸知沙希; Orange )
 * Ozeki Mai (小関舞; Medium Blue )
 * Yanagawa Nanami (梁川奈々美; )
 * Funaki Musubu (船木結;  Yellow )


 * Members Outside of Hello! Project
 * Satoda Mai (里田まい) (Supervisor)

Former Members

 * Yanagihara Hiromi (柳原尋美) (Deceased: July 16, 1999)
 * Kobayashi Azusa (小林梓) (Left: July 31, 1999; Leader 1999)
 * Rinne (りんね) (Graduated in late 2002; Leader 2000-2002)
 * Asami (あさみ) (Graduated: January 28, 2007; Leader 2002-2007)
 * Miuna (みうな) (Graduated: January 28, 2007)
 * Shimamura Uta (島村嬉唄) (Left: June 12, 2015)
 * Inaba Manaka (稲場愛香) (Graduated: August 4, 2016)

Borrowed Members

 * From Morning Musume
 * Ishikawa Rika
 * Konno Asami
 * Fujimoto Miki

1999
On April 27, Country Musume was formed by Tsunku and Japanese talent and fellow UP-FRONT AGENCY artist, Tanaka Yoshitake (the group’s original producer) and was billed as "Country Girls from Hokkaido." The initial group consisted of members and Hokkaido natives Rinne, Kobayashi Azusa, and Yanagihara Hiromi.

The 4-week audition cycle was unusual since not only did it consist of the traditional voice and dance lessons, but it added a physical challenge: Working at the Hanabatake farm in southern Hokkaido.

The purpose of the physical challenge was to show how responsible the girls were and how well they worked as a team to fit the “country girls from Hokkaido” image, since Hokkaido is seen as the countryside of Japan–and the audition was open to all of Japan, not just Hokkaido. Thus, producer Tanaka called for the physical challenge to see who can live up to a “Hokkaido” image.

Following the trend of their sister group, Morning Musume, Kobayashi, as the oldest member, was made the leader of the group. After working on their debut single, with plenty of support from other singers such as Moritaka Chisato and Nakazawa Yuko, they were able to successfully record and complete their first promotional video.

On July 16, Yanagihara was killed in a car accident, just days before their first single was released, at the age of 19. Yanagihara’s family was given the decision on whether or not Country Musume should continue their work and release their single as scheduled, to which they approved.

On August 23, Kobayashi decided to leave the group for personal reasons. After a two-month hiatus, Rinne started performing as a solo act, but under the Country Musume name, releasing two singles.

2000
In May, Asami was added to the group, Rinne became the leader and the duo released one more single.

However, by the end of the year, producer Tanaka decided to give Tsunku the producer’s position of the group, due to his difficulty in finding more members to join Rinne and Asami. The first change that Tsunku made was to “lend” members of Morning Musume into the group.

2001
Their popularity rose when Morning Musume's Ishikawa Rika, who is from Kanagawa, was lent into the group in April. Country Musume had their first charting single in Japan with the release of "Hajimete no Happy Birthday!". The trio, under the name Country Musume ni Rika Ishikawa (Morning Musume), released two singles and an album.

2002
On January 2, Satoda Mai was recruited into the group, although she initially auditioned to be a Morning Musume member. The quartet released one single before Rinne, the only remaining original member, bid farewell on October 13th to pursue a career within UP-FRONT AGENCY as a stage actress, leaving Asami to become the new leader of the group. Afterwards, Asami, Ishikawa and Satoda released one more single.

2003
On April 27, Country Musume had a major shift in its roster. Miuna, who is from Shizuoka, was recruited into the group. The group featured Morning Musume members and Hokkaido natives Konno Asami and Fujimoto Miki, replacing Ishikawa Rika. Under this new formation, named Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto (Morning Musume), the quintet released three singles.

2004
In 2004, Country Musume participated on the fifth edition of Hello! Project's Folk Songs series, which various H!P artists sang covers of Japanese and Western folk songs.

2005
In 2005, Country Musume performed in the Hello! Project 2005 Winter ~A HAPPY NEW POWER!~ concert tour as a part of Hello! Project Akagumi. Country Musume also toured with v-u-den and Inaba Atsuko.

2006-2007
On November 25th, 2006, it was announced that Asami and Miuna would be graduating from Country Musume and Hello! Project together on January 28, 2007, at the final performance of Hello! Project 2007 Winter ~Shuuketsu! 10th Anniversary~. Since Konno and Fujimoto had also graduated from Morning Musume, they were no longer “loaned” to Country Musume. Thus, Satoda Mai became the only member, and continued to work under the Country Musume name. This was the second time that Country Musume consisted of only one member.

2009
In 2009, Satoda Mai graduated from Hello! Project. After graduating, Satoda continued to be the only member of Country Musume under UP-FRONT PROMOTION.

2013
On October 1, the group was transferred from UP-FRONT PROMOTION to.

2014
On January 2, Tsunku revealed that he was considering to restart Country Musume.

On February 11, through a VTR message, Satoda Mai announced the Country Musume Shin Member Audition during the Hello! Project 2014 WINTER tour. Satoda Mai would not participate in the groups activities for the possible new line-up, as she then resided outside of Japan. On August 7, it was announced that the auditions had ended and no new members were chosen.

On November 5, it was announced that Country Musume was renamed Country Girls and 5 new girls were added: Inaba Manaka and Yamaki Risa from Hello Pro Kenshuusei and Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta and Ozeki Mai from the Morning Musume '14 (Golden) Audition!. Satoda Mai would be the group's General Manager/Supervisor. Tsugunaga Momoko would also be a member of the group, becoming the playing manager when her group Berryz Koubou went on indefinite hiatus in 2015. The new unit would debut in the upcoming Hello! Project 2015 WINTER concert tour.

2015
On March 25, Country Girls released their major debut single since re-joining Hello! Project, "Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou." It debuted in 4th place on Oricon's daily chart rankings and 3rd in the weekly chart rankings.

On April 2, Country Girls and ℃-ute performed at forTUNE fes vol.0 along with other artists.

The group, along with Kobushi Factory, were the opening acts for Juice=Juice's Juice=Juice First Live Tour 2015 ~Special Juice~.

On June 12, it was announced, due to contract disagreements between management and her family, Shimamura Uta had left the group.

On June 24, Country Girls performed at the TV Tokyo Music Festival(2) along many other artists, including Morning Musume '15 and Morning Musume OG.

On August 5, Country Girls released their 2nd single "Wakatteiru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summer Time."

On November 5, during Country Girls' first anniversary event in Shinjuku, it was announced that Funaki Musubu and Yanagawa Nanami would be joining the group.

On December 2, Country Girls performed at the UPDATE girls LIVE, alongside idol groups lyrical School and Tokyo Performance Doll.

2016
On February 9, during the 67th Sapporo Snow Festival, Country Girls performed a special live titled Country Girls Boogie Woogie LIVE. It took place in Odori Park in front of the HTB Snow Square.

On February 18, Country Girls performed a joint live with Idol Renaissance for the DOUBLE COLOR session11 at Shinjuku BLAZE.

On February 28, Country Girls performed at the ''SKY PerfecTV! Ongakusai 2016''.

On March 9, Country Girls released their 3rd single "Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~". It is Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu's debut single.

On April 28, it was announced that Inaba Manaka would be taking a break from Country Girls' activities due to asthma. This was after consulting with her doctors. It was initially stated that she would be returning to Country Girls when she recovered from her illness, but on August 4th, she graduated from the group.

On September 28, Country Girls released their 4th single "Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request."

Discography

 * Main article: Country Girls Discography

Albums=
 * Studio Albums
 * 1) [2001.12.12] Country Musume Daizenshuu ①
 * 2) [2006.08.23] Country Musume Daizenshuu ②


 * Best Albums
 * 1) [2008.10.12] Country Musume Mega Best


 * Soundtracks
 * 1) [2016.06.01] Engeki Joshibu Musical "Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!" Original Soundtrack


 * -|Singles=
 * As Country Musume
 * 1) [1999.07.23] Futari no Hokkaido (Indies)
 * 2) [1999.11.30] Yukigeshiki (Indies)
 * 3) [2000.04.27] Hokkaido Shalala (Indies)
 * 4) [2000.07.31] Koi ga Suteki na Kisetsu (Indies)

[2001.04.18] Hajimete no Happy Birthday! (Major Debut)  [2001.10.17] Koibito wa Kokoro no Ouendan [2002.04.17] Iroppoi Onna ~SEXY BABY~ [2002.11.13] BYE BYE Saigo no Yoru 
 * As Country Musume ni Ishikawa Rika (Morning Musume)

[2003.07.24] Uwaki na Honey Pie [2003.11.12] Senpai ~LOVE AGAIN~ [2004.08.04] Shining Itoshiki Anata 
 * As Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto (Morning Musume)


 * As Country Girls
 * 1) [2015.03.25] Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou (2nd Major Debut)
 * 2) [2015.08.05] Wakatteiru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summer Time
 * 3) [2016.03.09] Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~
 * 4) [2016.09.28] Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request


 * -|DVDs=
 * Video Collections
 * [2003.11.17] Country Musume Single V Clips ① (カントリー娘. シングルVクリップス 1)


 * Fanclub DVDs
 * [2007.02.10] Country Musume LIVE2006 ~Shibuya des Date~ (カントリー娘. LIVE2006　～Shibuya des Date～)
 * [2015.10.xx] SATOYAMA Taiken Tour Dai 3 dan! Country Girls to Sugosu 1-paku 2-nichi Bus Tour in Ashikaga (SATOYAMA体験ツアー第3弾！ カントリー・ガールズと過ごす1泊2日バスツアーin足利)


 * -|Original Songs=
 * [2015] Kiss Yori Saki ni Dekiru Koto (キスより先にできること)
 * [2015] Mousou Rehearsal (妄想リハーサル)
 * [2016] VIVA!! Barairo no Jinsei (VIVA!!薔薇色の人生)
 * [2016] Rhythm ga Yonderuzo (リズムが呼んでるぞ)

TV Programs

 * [2015–] The Girls Live

Theater

 * [2002] Morning Town
 * [2003] Morning Musume Shuen Musical Edokko Chuushingura (without Saito Miuna)
 * [2016] Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!

Internet

 * [2015–] Hello! Project Station

Radio

 * [2015–] Country Girls no Tadaima Radio Housouchuu!! (カントリー・ガールズの只今ラジオ放送中!!)

Calendars

 * [2015.09.xx] Country Girls 2016 Calendar
 * [2016.09.24] Country Girls 2017 Calendar

Concert Photobooks

 * [2004.03.20] Minimoni & Country Musume ni Konno & Fujimoto (Morning Musume) in Hello Project 2004 Winter (ミニモニ. &カントリー娘. に紺野と藤本（モーニング娘. ） in Hello! Project 2004 Winter) (with Minimoni)
 * [2005.10.11] AYA MATSUURA & COUNTRY MUSUME. - Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayou Show '05 Selection! Collection! (AYA MATSUURA & COUNTRY MUSUME. ―Hello!Project2005夏の歌謡ショー 05’セレクション!コレクション!) (with Matsuura Aya)

Other Books

 * [2016.09.24] Country Girls 1st OFFICIAL BOOK

Trivia

 * Out of the active and former members of Country Musume, Rinne, Asami, Satoda Mai and Inaba Manaka were from Hokkaido prefecture.
 * From March 31, 2009 to November 4, 2014, the group was not an active part of Hello! Project. As of November 5, 2014, Country Girls (excluding Satoda Mai) were contracted to Hello! Project, but were not produced by Tsunku.
 * Yamaki Risa and Inaba Manaka are the first Country Girls members to come from Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
 * Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, and Ozeki Mai are the first members to be born after the group's formation.
 * Satoda Mai hopes that Country Girls will expand into the United States.