Ongaku Gatas (音楽ガッタス; Music Cats) is a Japanese pop girl group managed by UP-FRONT PROMOTION and formerly part of Hello! Project.
Members
Current Members
- Yoshizawa Hitomi (吉澤ひとみ; Captain)
- Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華)
- Korenaga Miki (是永美記)
- Sengoku Minami (仙石みなみ)
Graduated Members
- Mano Erina (真野恵里菜) (graduated March 2008)
- Muto Mika (武藤水華) (graduated April 2008)
- Sawada Yuri (澤田由梨) (graduated August 2009)
- Konno Asami (紺野あさ美) (left April 4, 2011)
- Noto Arisa (能登有沙) (left July 13, 2011)
- Satoda Mai (里田まい) (graduated March 2012)
History
The group was formed in 2007. The group's name combines the Japanese word ongaku (music) with the Portuguese word gatas, taken from the name of the Hello! Project futsal team, Gatas Brilhantes (that means Bright Female Cats). Together, the two words literally mean "musical cats" (gatas being the feminine form of the word gatos (cats)), although gatas is also slang for "pretty girls".
In early 2008, Erina Mano and Mika Mutō (both Hello! Pro Eggs) graduated from the group. Mano left the group but continued as solo singer within Hello! Project, whereas Mutō left both the group and Hello! Project in its entirety to return to life as a normal student and focus on her studies.
In August 2009, it was announced that Arisa Noto and Yuri Sawada, two more Eggs, would both be graduating from Hello! Project. Sawada graduated from both Hello! Project and Ongaku Gatas, to focus on university. Noto, however, remained in the group, even though she had graduated from Hello! Project.
Although, soon after their winter tour finished in early 2009, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Rika Ishikawa, Asami Konno and Mai Satoda, all officially graduated from Hello! Project in March 2009 the group remained together, though they switched management to Up-Front Agency (the "parent management" of Hello! Project itself). The group went on a hiatus after their graduation. However, they began to tour again in March 2010, playing a total of three venues (Osaka, Aichi prefecture and Tokyo) to promote their new single "Ready! Kick Off!!" released on March 3.
Discography
Albums
- [2008.02.06] 1st GOODSAL
Singles
- [2007.09.12] Narihajimeta Koi no BELL (鳴り始めた恋のBELL)
- [2007.12.05] Yattarouze! (やったろうぜ!)
- [2008.09.10] Come Together
- [2010.03.06] READY! KICK OFF!!
Compilations / Other
- [2007.12.12] Hello! Project - Petit Best 8 (#12 Narihajimeta Koi no BELL)
- [2008.12.10] Hello! Project - Petit Best 9 (#11 Come Together)
- [2014.01.01] Hello! Project - Hello! Project no Zenkyoku kara Atsumechaimashita! Vol. 1 (ハロー!プロジェクトの全曲から集めちゃいました! Vol.1 アイドル三十六房編(南波一海×嶺脇育夫)) (#5 Aisaretai Aisaretai) (Limited Release)
DVDs
- [2008.05.28] Ongaku Gatas First Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Mi Zaru Shuku Zaru GOODSAL!~
- [2009.03.11] Ongaku Gatas Live Tour 2008 Fuyu ~Come Together!~
- [2010.06.23] Ongaku Gatas Live Tour 2010 Haru ~Gatas Ryuu~ (Fanclub release)
Media
Radio
- [2007–2009] Ongaku Gatas no Guts10☆Gatas (音楽ガッタスのGuts10☆ガッタス)
Total Sales Count
Year | Year Sales | Total Sales |
---|---|---|
2007 | 34,538 | 34,538 |
2008 | 29,907 | 64,445 |
2009 | 3,130 | 67,575 |