Kominato Miwa

Kominato Miwa (小湊美和) is a Japanese folk singer and a former member of Taiyou to Ciscomoon.

She started her career as a child, performing in folk music festivals. She became a member of the group Taiyo to Ciscomoon in 1999, from which she graduated in 2000. Kominato is still active in the industry as a back-up singer, live performer, she participates in special projects from time to time, and is taking care of her family.

Early Years
Kominato Miwa was born into a family who have been singing minyo and folk music for two generations. Kominato, being the third generation, has been performing in Folk Music festivals since she was three years old.

In 1984, she won the Japanese Native Folk Song Conference at age seven. She participated in the same event in 1988 and won again (and again in 1998).

At this time she started her education learning folk songs; training to be a professional singer. After junior high, she didn’t enter a school of a higher grade, but started traveling on the road singing folk songs.

In 1995, she won the Nationwide Japanese Native Folk Song Conference, and she had now made a name for herself in this industry. All though singing folk, it was rock and roll that she mostly listened to. This year, she also got married (at the age of 17).

1996-2000
In 1996 she participated in the audition ASAYAN Sharan Q Rock Vocalist Auditionundefined, the same one where Heike Michiyo and the original 5 members of Morning Musume were a part of, but had to bow out to give birth to her second child.

In 1998, she applied for ASAYAN’s audition for the new idol unit that was going to be produced by Tsunku. The finalists were sent to San Francisco, USA for an intensive training which lasted for 48 days. Then, along with Inaba Atsuko, Shinoda Miho and RuRu, she made her debut as a member of Taiyo To Ciscomoon in April 1999. Originally, the unit was formed under a contract of releasing only one song. But to their great surprise, the debut song, Tsuki To Taiyou landed 6th place at the Oricon charts during its first release week, later moving up to 4th place. After it’s success, singles were released on a monthly basis and they kept holding live performances across the nation.

During ASAYAN, members were given various challenges to overcome, and they were expected to perform as television entertainers. The biggest obstacle for Kominato was probably being let go from the unit without any solid reason. During ASAYAN, she was criticized for not being a great dancer. The rumor has it that it was the record label’s pre-planned action to let Kominato go. But she came back to the unit soon and the unit’s name was changed to “T&C Bomber”. They tried to recreate the similar popularity as they used to have, but in reality it was never quite the same.

When T&C Bomber split up, in 2000, she was asked to debut as a solo enka/minyo singer, but shedeclined.

2001-2006
Kominato's first solo live performance took place in July 2001 in Mikasa, Hokkaido. It was an outdoor concert, and in April 2001, she appeared on NHK’s minyo TV program called “Dontokoi Minyo” on a monthly basis as a host/reporter.

The song “Itoshii Hito e” was not planned to be released originally; it was created as a theme song for the movie, “Lady Plastic”. But a petition was created by fans and enough signatures were collected. As a result, the song was featured as a B -side for her first single, Ai no Chikara which was released in April 2002.

In 2003, after releasing only one single, she left her agency and became an independent artist. Kominato and her brother started a minyo/pop/folk inspired band as a duo, calling themselves Priest. Their latest release was an album in 2006.

2007-
In 2008, Taiyo to Ciscomoon was resurrected for their 10 year anniversary, releasing a best-of album and holding a reunion concert.

Profile

 * Name: Kominato Miwa (小湊美和)
 * Birthdate:
 * Birthplace: Fukushima, Japan
 * Blood type: B
 * Height: 154cm
 * Hobbies: Traveling overseas, comics, games, camping
 * Favorite artists: Bobby Caldwell, Phil Perry, Fourplay
 * Hello! Project Groups:
 * Taiyou to Ciscomoon (1999-2000)
 * Aorio 7 (2000)
 * Other Groups:
 * Priest (2003-)

Singles Participated In

 * Taiyou to Ciscomoon
 * Tsuki to Taiyou
 * Gatamekira
 * Uchuu de La Ta Ta
 * Everyday Everywhere
 * Magic of Love
 * DON'T STOP Ren'aichuu
 * HEY! Mahiru no Shinkirou


 * Aoiro 7
 * Aoi Sports Car no Otoko
 * Priest
 * Sotoyama-bushi

Singles

 * [2002.04.24] Ai no Chikara (愛のチカラ)

Other Singles

 * [2008.06.26] Tsuisou no Despair (追想のディスペア) (with Kanako Itou)

Other Albums



 * [2008.03.25] Zengoku Dekotora Matsuri ~Yosakoi Bokusou Onban~ (全国デコトラ祭り~よさこい爆走音盤~)
 * [2010.01.27] ChaosAttractor (with Kanako Itou)


 * [2012.09.19] Luxendarc Dai Kikou (ルクセンダルク大紀行) (with Linked Horizon)
 * [2013.09.04] WHITE CANVAS (with Tatuya Ishii)
 * [2015.09.02] STONE (with Tatuya Ishii)
 * [2016.01.27] Mars Red (with Super Sound Theatre)
 * [2018.03.28] Tabi Soshite Furusato (旅 そして ふるさと) (with Lisa Ono)
 * [2018.04.18] Ryuu (龍) (with Tatuya Ishii)

DVD

 * [2013.03.20]Luxendarc Kikou (ルクセンダルク大紀行) (with Linked Horizon)
 * [2015.11.25] Momoiro Clover Z Momo Jinsai 2015 momo shinsai 2015 Ecopa Stadium Taikai (ももいろクローバーZ 桃神祭2015 エコパスタジアム大会) (with Momoiro Clover Z)

Trivia

 * She is the third generation of a nationally-renowned minyo folk singing school. She has appeared in NHK's yearly Dontokoi Minyo special both before and after her involvement with Hello! Project.
 * Auditioned for SharanQ in 1996, alongside Morning Musume's first generation, but dropped out because she was pregnant.


 * She is a married mother of two children. She was often referred to as the "true housewife" of Hello! Project. She was the first active member of Hello! Project to be married, and the first to be a mother. This situation would not be repeated again until 2007 with former Morning Musume member Iida Kaori, and in 2009 with former Morning Musume member Tsuji Nozomi.


 * Kominato was the youngest member of Taiyo To Ciscomoon, and she disliked being called by her full first name. She liked being called by her last name, such as “Kominato” or “Komi”.