Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (私立恵比寿中学) is a Japanese idol group formed in August 2009.
They are also known as Ebichu (エビ中) and King of Gakugeeeekai (King of 学芸会).
It currently consists of 8 members. Each one has been assigned a color.
Biography / History
The idol unit is managed by Stardust Promotion and is part of its Section 3. Before joining Ebichu, the girls were members of 3B Junior.
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku is named after a fictitious school located in Ebisu in Tokyo.
It is a sister group of Momoiro Clover Z (ももいろクローバーZ), Team Syachihoko (チームしゃちほこ) and Takoyaki Rainbow (たこやきレインボー).
In August 2009, the 5 original members were Kanon, Mizuki, Uno Narumi, Miyazaki Reina, and Mayama Rika.
In October 2009, Anno Natsu and Yasumoto Ayaka joined the unit.
Ebichu released their first indies single Asa no Chime ga Narimashita (朝のチャイムがなりました) in February 2010.
In the same month, Kanon graduated and was replaced by Yano Hinaki.
In April and May 2010, Hirota Aika, Hoshina Mirei, Koike Rio, Suzuki Hirono, and Matsuno Rina became new members of Ebichu.
In November 2010, Uno Narumi withdrew after Ebi Fes (エビ☆フェス) and was replaced by Kashiwagi Hinata.
Yano Hinaki left the idol group in April 2011. Her graduation was postponed one month due to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which had suspended all activities.
Koike Rio withdrew in June 2011 in order to focus on her studies.
Still in June 2011, Miyazaki Reina became the leader of the idol unit. She stopped her show business activities 6 monts later in December 2011.
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku held their first solo live performance in October 2011 at Shibuya O-East.
Ebichu made their major debut in May 2012 under the label DefSTAR Records with the single Karikeiyaku no Cinderella (仮契約のシンデレラ).
Hirota Aika was a voice actress (seiyuu) in Tamako-chan to Kokkubo (たまこちゃんとコックボー) anime. She dubbed the voice of Mog P (モグP).
On December 26, 2013, Mizuki, Anno Natsu, and Suzuki Hirono announced that they were going to graduate from Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku in April 2014.
A few days later, Kobayashi Kaho and Nakayama Riko joined Ebichu.
The variety show Ebichu Global Ka Keikaku (エビ中★グローバル化計画) was broadcast on Tokyo MX from April to September 2014.
In April 2014, Mayama Rika debuted as a voice actress (seiyū) in the anime Nanana’s Buried Treasure (龍ヶ嬢七々々の埋蔵金). The opening theme song for this anime is titled Butterfly Effect (バタフライエフェクト) and is performed by Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku.
Hirota Aika’s 1st digital photobook Tetsudou Kikou ~JR Iida-sen Kokoro no Tabi Hen~ (廣田あいかの鉄道紀行～JR飯田線・こころの旅編～) was released in June 2014. The theme is railway and train. She appears in uniform.
Former member Suzuki Hirono appeared in the stage play Flying Pirates ~Neverland Hyouryuuki~ (フライングパイレーツ～ネバーランド漂流記) in July 2014.
The girls are starring in the drama Koukaku Fudou Senki Robosan (甲殻不動戦記 ロボサン) airing on TV Tokyo and TV Osaka in October 2014. Ebichu also sing Haitateki! (ハイタテキ！) which is the theme song for this series.
In October 2014, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku collaborated with Sukiyaki website to sale various products such as pajamas, covers and bowls with printed handwritten messages by the members of the idol unit.
Mayama Rika made her solo debut with the single Liar Mask in December 2014.
Ebichu participated in Kawaii Pop Fes by @Jam × J-Girl Pop Wave in Taiwan in January 2015. They held live performances along with GALETTe, Dorothy Little Happy and Tokyo Girls’ Style.
The variety show Ebichu Island (エビ中島) was broadcast on TBS from January to December 2015.
In March 2015, Hirota Aika released the DVD and the photobook Aiai Railway Trip, and the solo digital single Aiai to Iku Nihon Zenkoku Tetsudou no Tabi (ぁぃぁぃといく日本全国鉄道の旅).
The girls were starring in Extra Shot Non Whip Caramel Pudding Maki Art (エクストラショットノンホイップキャラメルプディングマキアート) stage play in March 2015.
Hirota Aika played in Tamako-chan to Kokkubo (たまこちゃんとコックボー) movie in March 2015. The story is based upon the anime of the same name.
Ebichu formed the mysterious Japanese female rock band 5572320 (五五七二三二〇). The concept is that the band consists of 8 Japanese junior high school girls playing massive heavy music with high level skills. The identity of the members was originally kept secret. 5572320 ‘s debut single Half a Century Honor Student (半世紀優等生 ; Hanseiki Yuutousei) was released in March 2015 in 40 countries over the world. This project has been created to celebrate Coconut Sable’s 50 birthday.
Yasumoto Ayaka acted in Kono Nagare Buster (この流れバスター) stage play in April 2015.
The girls participate in the TV variety show Ebichu++ Tasu Tasu (エビ中＋＋（たすたす）) airing on BS Fuji since April 2015. It is hosted by the comedy duo Nagareboshi (流れ星), consisting of Chuei and Takiue Shinichiro, and by Ogata Kaiki from the rock band Here.
Nakayama Riko appeared in Joshi no Jiken wa Taitei, Toire de Okorunoda (女子の事件は大抵、トイレで起こるのだ。) drama alongside Misako (Band Ja Naimon!) in May 2015.
Tagaki Reni (Momoiro Clover Z), Mayama Rika (Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku) and Ohguro Yuzuki (Team Syachihoko) formed Team Murasaki Shikibu (Team紫しきぶ) in June 2015. Each one has been selected because her image color is purple in her own unit.
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku turned into flowers for their 8th single Natsu Daze Johnny (夏だぜジョニー) in June 2015.
Kashiwagi Hinata played in the movie Nou Shou Sakuretsu Girl (脳漿炸裂ガール) alongside Shida Yuumi (Yumemiru Adolescence). The film was released in July 2015.
Tamurapan (Tamura Ayumi) wrote the Famien 2015 theme song Nachumero Rendez-vous (ナチュメロらんでぶー). The event took place in the summer of 2015.
In August 2015, Mayama Rika performed Yie Ar Sadistic (イー・アル・サディスティック) which is the theme song for Rejet’s drama CD Midnight Jian Shi (ミッドナイトキョンシー).
Kashiwagi Hinata’s 1st photobook Hinata Hiyori (ひなた日和) was published in August 2015.
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku members attended a wrestling event as ringside supporters in August 2015.
In October 2015, Hoshina Mirei was appointed MC of the show Tsuginaru TV (次ナルTV) airing on Fuji.
The 2nd single of 5572320 (五五七二三二〇), Ponpara Pecorna Papiyotta (ポンパラ ペコルナ パピヨッタ), went on sale in October 2015.
The MV for Super Hero (スーパーヒーロー), released in October 2015, show the girls, who became superheroes, in their daily life. They were wearing colored mantles.
Ebichu no Unit Album Saitama Super Arena 2015 (エビ中のユニットアルバム さいたまスーパーアリーナ2015盤) was released in December 2015. It was a limited edition only on sale at the concert venue.
In December 2015, Kashiwagi Hinata suffered sudden deafness. As a result, she had to stop activities temporarily, and the release of the album Anaki (穴空) has been postponed.
In December 2015, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku and comedian Mou Chugakusei collaborated to form the special unit Mou Evicks Chugaku (もうエビックス中学) as part of the Switch×Vicks project. A video promoting Vicks medicated pills and featuring the members of the idol group has been posted on YouTube.
The girls host the TV program Ebichu (エビ宙) on TBS since January 2016.
They were starring in the stage play Girls Business Satellite (ガールズビジネスサテライト) in March 2016.
Shirtsu Ebisu Chugaku’s 3rd album Anarchy (穴空) was released in April 2016. The idol group worked in collaboration with several songwriters and artists such as Tamura Ayumi (Tamurapan), Maeyamada Kenichi (Hyadain), Sugiyama Katsuhiko, Ogata Kaiki (Here), Abe Yoshiharu (Abedon), Shuto Yoshikatsu (Keytalk), Casio Toruko Onsen, Fuji Fabric, Chokkaku, CMJK… The CD includes the songs Haru Yasumi Moratorium Chugakusei (春休みモラトリアム中学生) which was written and composed by Ogata Kaiki (Here), Zettee Anarchy (ゼッテーアナーキー) and Nikibi (面皰).
Ebichu participated in a commercial for Clearasil (クレアラシル) skin care and acne medication in April 2016.
Mayama Rika performed a cover of Hachi no Musashi wa Shindanosa (ハチのムサシは死んだのさ) in April 2016. The song was used in the anime Concrete Revolutio (コンクリート・レボルティオ～超人幻想～).
Hirota Aika makes regular appearances as an office lady in the drama Hiro no Saint Shu (昼のセント酒) which will start airing on TV Tokyo in April 2016.
The smartphone game Shutsugeki! Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku Busoufuki Iinkai (出撃！ 私立恵比寿中学 武装風紀委員会) was released on Android and iPhone in May 2016.
The girls threw the ceremonial first pitch and sang in the opening act of the baseball game Saitama Seibu Lions vs Yokohama DeNA BayStars at the Seibu Dome in late May 2016.
Hirota Aika appeared on the cover of the July issue of JTB Jikokuhyou (JTB時刻表) in July 2016. In addition, she has also participated in a talk show related to this.
From July 2016 to March 2017, each member of Ebichu will hold a solo live performance for her birthday.
The TV show Ebichu Global Ka Keikaku (エビ中★グローバル化計画) is back on Home Drama Channel since July 2016.
The girls collaborated with singer songwriter Yoshizawa Kayoko for her song Nee Chuugakusei (ねえ中学生) in July 2016.
In August 2016, Mayama Rika performed Shen-Shen Passion Night which is the theme song for Rejet’s drama CD Midnight Jian Shi (ミッドナイトキョンシー).
In August, Shiritsu Ebichu Chugaku performed at No Fear Festival 2016 in Taiwan.
Their 10th single Massugu (まっすぐ) will be released in September 2016.
A best-of album will go on sale in November 2016.
Profile
- Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (私立恵比寿中学) / Ebichu (エビ中)
- Years active : 2009 – present
- Label : DefStar Records
- Agency : Stardust Promotion
Members
- Mayama Rika (真山りか) – Purple
- Yasumoto Ayaka (安本彩花) – Green
- Hirota Aika (廣田あいか) – Yellow-Green
- Hoshina Mirei (星名美怜) – Pink
- Matsuno Rina (松野莉奈) – Blue
- Kashiwagi Hinata (柏木ひなた) – Orange
- Kobayashi Kaho (小林歌穂) – Yellow
- Nakayama Riko (中山莉子) – Light Blue
Former Members
- Kanon (奏音)
- Miyazaki Reina (宮崎れいな)
- Uno Narumi (宇野愛海)
- Koike Rio (小池梨緒)
- Yano Hinaki (矢野妃菜喜)
- Mizuki (瑞季)
- Anno Natsu (杏野なつ)
- Suzuki Hirono (鈴木裕乃)
Discography
Singles
- 14/02/2010 : Asa no Chime ga Narimashita (朝のチャイムがなりました)
- 07/08/2010 : Ebizori Diamond!! (えびぞりダイアモンド!!)
- 01/10/2011 : Chime! (チャイム)
- 27/04/2011 : The Tissue ~Tomaranai Seishun~ (ザ・ティッシュ ～とまらない青春～)
- 27/07/2011 : Oh My Ghost? ~Watashi ga Akuryou ni Natte mo~ (オーマイゴースト？ ～わたしが悪霊になっても～)
- 05/10/2011 : Motto Hashire!! (もっと走れっ!!)
- 05/05/2012 : Karikeiyaku no Cinderella (仮契約のシンデレラ)
- 29/08/2012 : Go! Go! Here We Go! Rock Lee / Otona wa Wakatte Kurenai (Go! Go! Here We Go! ロック・リー / 大人はわかってくれない)
- 16/01/2013 : Ume (梅)
- 05/06/2013 : Te wo Tsunagou / Kindan no Karma (手をつなごう / 禁断のカルマ)
- 20/11/2013 : Mikakunin Chuugakusei X (未確認中学生X)
- 04/06/2014 : Butterfly Effect (バタフライエフェクト)
- 05/11/2014 : Haitateki! (ハイタテキ！)
- 17/06/2015 : Natsu Daze Johnny (夏だぜジョニー)
- 21/10/2015 : Super Hero (スーパーヒーロー)
- 21/09/2016 : Massugu (まっすぐ)
Other Singles (5572320 / 五五七二三二〇)
- 25/03/2015 : Half a Century Honor Student (半世紀優等生 ; Hanseiki Yuutousei)
- 05/10/2015 : Ponpara Pecorna Papiyotta (ポンパラ ペコルナ パピヨッタ)
Albums
- 24/07/2013 : Chunin (中人)
- 28/01/2015 : Kinpachi (金八)
- 20/04/2016 : Anarchy (穴空)
Best-of Albums
- 24/08/2011 : MemorieS ~Bitter Sweet Pineapple~
- 21/11/2012 : Ebichu no Zetsuban Best ~Owaranai Seishun~ (エビ中の絶盤ベスト～おわらない青春～)
- 16/11/2016 : ??
Links
News
