I. Introduction
Country Girls (カントリー・ガールズ) was a Japanese pop girl group, managed by Up-Front Promotion and part of Hello! Project.
II. History
Country Girls was formed on November 4, 2014 where it was disclosed that their first appearance would take place at the Hello! Project 2015 Winter concerts. The members were revealed to be Yamaki Risa and Inaba Manaka from Hello! Pro Kenshuusei, and newcomers Morito Chisaki, Shimamura Uta, and Ozeki Mai. It was also announced that former Berryz Kobo member Tsugunaga Momoko would act as a temporary Play Manager member that would mentor and watch over the girls for a period of two to three years after Berryz Kobo goes into indefinite hiatus, and that Country Musume member Satoda Mai would act as a Supervisor for the group.
Both the group and it's name, Country Girls, are derived from the former Hello! Project group Country Musume, for which a failed audition to revive the original unit was announced by sole member Satoda Mai, and held between February 12th and March 31st in early 2014. The group is meant to continue the legacy and history of Country Musume. Their first indie single was simultaneously announced and performed at the "Hello! Project Countdown Party 2014 ~Goodbye & Hello~" event on December 31, 2014, with the release date set for the end of January 2015. The original release plan was later scrapped and changed into a major debut release, set for March 2015, that would immediately include Tsugunaga Momoko. On June 12, 2015, it was announced that Shimamura Uta had left the group due to contractual issues unable to be settled with her family. Two new members from the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei, Funaki Musubu and Yanagawa Nanami, were revealed on November 5, 2015 in a surprise announcement during the Country Girls 1st Year Anniversary Live event.
Starting April 2016 member Inaba Manaka went on indefinite hiatus due to complications regarding her asthma, with the intent to return to her position after working with doctors to get the condition under control. It was later announced on August 4, 2016 that she would graduate from the group because of her health problems, but along with the company would continue considering different possibilities regarding her resuming idol activities.
Playing Manager Tsugunaga Momoko announced her graduation from Country Girls and Hello! Project on November 5, 2016. Her graduation was planned to take place the following year on June 30, 2017, after a little over 3 years of fulfilling her role as temporary member and mentor of Country Girls. She stated that she planned to leave the entertainment industry and pursue early childhood education as a Kindergarten teacher, making use of the teaching credentials she previously earned through University.
On June 9, 2017, it was suddenly announced that following their activities as Country Girls through the "Momoko Tsugunaga Last Live" and "Hello! Project 2017 Summer" concerts members Chisaki, Nanami, and Musubu would simultaneously become members of other Hello! Project groups, while members Risa and Mai would instead take time to focus on school. It was further stated that because of this Country Girls would be relegated to only being active during school holidays when all members were available, and any future music by the group would most likely be limited to a digital only release format.
On Novermber 2, 2018 it was announced that Yanagawa Nanami would graduate from Country Girls, Juice=Juice, and Hello! Project the following year on March 11, 2019. In her statement she said she wanted to move from "idol" and to grow as "Yanagawa Nanami", and mentioned furthering her education while moving toward a new goal.
On October 18, 2019, it was announced that Country Girls would be suspending activities on December 26, 2019, with their final performance taking place at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA. The remaining members would graduate from the group, with three also graduating from Hello! Project. In their personal statements the members stated the decisions were made after long discussions between the members about the future and their personal goals. Yamaki Risa graduated on December 26, 2019 and retired from show-business, Ozeki Mai graduated on December 26, 2019 with aim of entering University while continuing to challenge individual entertainment activities. Funaki Musubu remained in Hello! Project and in her concurrent position in ANGERME until her graduation from both in March 2020, afterwards entering hiatus with the future goal of pursuing dance. Morito Chisaki remained in Hello! Project and continued in her position as a member of Morning Musume. The announcement further noted the possibility of the group returning with a new lineup sometime in the future.
III. Discography
IIII. Best Albums
[2019.12.04] Country Girls Daizenshuu ① (カントリー・ガールズ大全集①)
IIIII. Soundtracks
[2016.06.01] Engeki Joshi-bu Musical "Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!" Original Soundtrack (演劇女子部「気絶するほど愛してる！」オリジナルサウンドトラック)
IIIIII. Mini-Albums
[2019.03.06] Seasons
IIIIV. Singles
[2015.03.25] Itooshikutte Gomen ne / Koi Dorobou (愛おしくってごめんね / 恋泥棒; Sorry for Being Adorable / Love Thief)
[2015.08.05] Wakatte Iru no ni Gomen ne / Tamerai Summertime (わかっているのにごめんね / ためらいサマータイム; I Know and Yet I'm Sorry / Hesitating Summertime)
[2016.03.09] Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~ (ブギウギLOVE / 恋はマグネット / ランラルン~あなたに夢中~; Love is a Magnet / Ranrarun ~Engrossed in You~)
[2016.09.28] Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request (どーだっていいの / 涙のリクエスト; It Doesn't Matter / Request for Tears)
[2017.02.08] Good Boy Bad Girl / Peanut Butter Jelly Love (グッドボーイ・バッドガール / ピーナッツバタージェリーラブ)
IIIV. Digital Releases
[2017.06.02] Idol Sotsugyou Chuuijikou (2017.5.4 Live @ Nakano Sun Plaza) (アイドル卒業注意事項 (2017.5.4Live@中野サンプラザ))
[2017.08.11] Konamaiki Girl (小生意気ガール)
[2017.12.24] Kaite wa Keshite no "I Love You" (書いては消しての "I Love You")
[2018.08.24] Matenai After Five / Kasa wo Sasu Senpai (待てないアフターファイブ / 傘をさす先輩)
[2019.08.24] One Summer Night ~Manatsu no Kesshin~ / Natsuiro no Palette (One Summer Night〜真夏の決心〜 / 夏色のパレット)
IV. Video Releases
IVI. Concerts / Live
[2016.05.11] Country Girls Live Tour 2015 Aki Fuyu (カントリー・ガールズ ライブツアー2015秋冬)
[2016.10.19] Country Girls Live Tour 2016 Haru Natsu (カントリー・ガールズ ライブツアー2016春夏)
[2017.08.16] Country Girls Concert Tour 2017 Haru ~Momochi-ism~ (カントリー・ガールズ コンサートツアー2017春 〜ももちイズム〜)
[2018.03.14] Country Girls 3 Shunen Kinen Event ~Minna Genki Shiteta?~ (カントリー・ガールズ3周年記念イベント～みんな元気してた？～)
[2019.03.06] Country Girls 4 Shuunen Kinen Event ～forte～ (カントリー・ガールズ4周年記念イベント ～forte～)
[2019.07.10] Juice=Juice & Country Girls LIVE ～Yanagawa Nanami Sotsugyou Special～ (Juice=Juice＆カントリー・ガールズ LIVE ～梁川奈々美 卒業スペシャル～)
[2020.03.11] Country Girls Kessei 5 Shuunen Kinen Event: ～Go for the future!!!!～ (カントリー・ガールズ結成5周年記念イベント ～Go for the future!!!!～)
[2020.04.08] Country Girls Live 2019 ~Itooshikutte Gomen ne~ (カントリー・ガールズ ライブ2019 ～愛おしくってごめんね～)
IVII. Music Video Collections
[2017.05.24] Country Girls Music Video Clips Vol.1 (カントリー・ガールズ ミュージックビデオ・クリップス Vol.1)
IVIII. Stage Plays
[2016.09.14] Engeki Joshibu Musical "Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!" (演劇女子部「気絶するほど愛してる！」)
IVIV. Single V / Event V
[2015.05.09] Itooshikutte Gomen ne (愛おしくってごめんね)
[2015.05.09] Koi Dorobou (恋泥棒)
[2015.10.03] Wakatte Iru no ni Gomen ne (わかっているのにごめんね)
[2016.04.16] Boogie Woogie LOVE (ブギウギLOVE)
[2015.10.03] Tamerai Summertime (ためらいサマータイム)
[2016.04.16] Koi wa Magnet (恋はマグネット)
[2016.04.16] Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~ (ランラルン〜あなたに夢中〜)
[2016.10.15] Dou Datte Ii no / Namida no Request (どーだっていいの /涙のリクエスト)
[2017.03.12] Good Boy Bad Girl / Peanut Butter Jelly Love (グッドボーイ・バッドガール / ピーナッツバタージェリーラブ)
IVV. DVD Magazine
[2015.10.13] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.1
[2016.03.25] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.2
[2016.05.14] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.3
[2016.09.24] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.4
[2017.04.09] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.5
[2017.04.09] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.6
[2017.04.29] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.7
[2017.06.30] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.8
[2017.10.07] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.9
[2017.11.06] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.10
[2018.02.14] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.11
[2018.06.12] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.12
[2018.11.05] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.13
[2018.11.05] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.14
[2018.12.26] Country Girls DVD Magazine Vol.15
IVVI. Compilations / Other
[2015.12.16] Hello! Project - Petit Best 16 (#11 Koi Dorobo, #12 Wakatte Iru no ni Gomen ne)
[2016.12.14] Hello! Project - Petit Best 17 (#5 Boogie Woogie LOVE, #13 Kizetsu Suru Hodo Aishiteru!, #16 Kiss Yori Saki ni Dekiru Koto ('15 5-nin Ver.))
[2017.06.21] Tsugunaga Momoko - Tsugunaga Momoko Idol 15 Shuunen Kinen Album ♡Arigatou Otomomochi♡ (Disc 2 #1 Idol Sotsugyou Chuuijikou! (2017.5.4 Live @ Nakano Sun Plaza), #2 Ashita Kara wo Omokage, #3 Kiss Yori Saki ni Dekiru Koto, #4 Mousou Rehearsal, #5 Rhythm ga Yondeiru Zou!, #6 VIVA!! Barairo no Jinsei, #7 Gizagiza Heart no Komoriuta, #8 Kimama na Kataomoi; Disc 2 #12 Peanut Butter Jelly Love)
[2017.12.13] Hello! Project - Petit Best 18 (#6 Peanut Butter Jelly Love)
[2018.12.12] Hello! Project - Petit Best 19 (#9 Kaite wa Keshite no "I Love You", #10 Matenai After Five)
V. Photobooks
[2016.09.24] Country Girls 1st OFFICIAL BOOK (カントリー・ガールズ 1st OFFICIAL BOOK)
