Snow Man

This article is about the Japanese boy band. For the type of sculpture made of snow, see Snowman. For the Australian band, see Snowman (band). For other uses, see Snowman (disambiguation).
Snow Man
Snow Man
Snow Man
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2012–present
LabelsAvex Trax (2020–2022)
Ment Recording (2022–present)
Members
Websitementrecording.jp/snowman/ www.johnnys-net.jp

Snow Man is a Japanese idol boy band formed by Starto Entertainment (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) in 2012.[1] The group was previously a sub-unit of Smile-Up pre-debut trainee group, Junior. The group's activities focused on acrobats and stage play.[2] Along with SixTONES, Snow Man made their official debut on January 22, 2020. The group's simultaneous debut marks the first time for two groups to debut on the same day in the company's history.[3]

Snow Man makes the best selling debut group since KAT-TUN in 2006. D.D./Imitation Rain is the best-selling debut release in Asian history with more than 1.8 million physical copies sold, it is also the first male idol single in 17 years to stayed in the top 100 of the Oricon chart for more than 100 weeks. Since their debut in 2020 the group sold 11 million physical copies in Japan. In 2021, their debut studio album, Snow Mania S1, sold in the first week more than 841k physical copies, and became in the best selling first week for a boygroup studio album in Japan history, and in the second best week for a debut album in the country history. Their single Grandeur was the best-selling release of 2021 in Japan with more than 1 million physical copies sold, with this Snow Man became the first male artist since L'Arc~en~Ciel in 1999 to have two consecutive years a release that sells more than a million copies. Their total physical sales in Japan are 20 million copies.

In January 2022, Snow Man moved from label Avex Trax to Ment Recording. Ment Recording is a newly established joint label between Avex Entertainment and Smile-Up. The other group from the same company and under Avex Trax, Kis-My-Ft2, moved to Ment Recording as well.[4][5]

History

[edit]

The group was preceded by Mis Snow Man, a unit formed in 2009 that consists of 9 people.[6] The group has been active in stage play series Takizawa Kabuki since 2010.[2] Among them, a unit consists of Tatsuya Fukazawa, Daisuke Sakuma, Shota Watanabe, Ryota Miyadate, Hikaru Iwamoto, and Ryohei Abe was later formed on May 3, 2012.[7] The group's new name, Snow Man, was first announced when the six men stood in the stage of Takizawa Kabuki 2012, when letters suddenly appeared on the big screen behind them. The group's name was officially announced both to them and audience as a surprise.

While active as back dancers for Tackey & Tsubasa, Kis-My-Ft2, A.B.C-Z, and other senior groups, they also regularly appeared in stage plays Dream Boys and Takizawa Kabuki, and from 2015, Shonen-tachi and its movie version. Since all of them are good at acrobatics, they are sometimes referred as "the craftsman group" and are often nominated by seniors in the company as "Junior members they want to have as back dancers."[6] While has been always described as "the best dancer among Junior" since their formation in 2012 and despite their appearances in theater, the group couldn't get the chance to get a debut, leading to its member to "having a thought of leaving several times."[8] In January 2019, Raul from Shonen Ninja, Ren Meguro from Uchuu Six, and a member from Kansai Junior Koji Mukai, was added as new members. While the original 6 members accepted the decision as "they wanted to protect the group," they also felt that the "even if whole group (as original Snow Man) has gone, we just want to realize our dream as Snow Man," and "the only way to get rid of this problem (off my head) is this."

In March 2019, the group, along with 11 other Johnny's Jr. groups (SixTones, Travis Japan, HiHi Jets, Bi Shonen, 7 Men Samurai, Shonen Ninja, Jr.SP, Uchuu Six, Naniwa Danshi, Lil Kansai, and Ae! group) become a part of Island TV, a website that provides video streaming exclusive for Johnny's Jr. members.

The group's debut was first announced by Takizawa, who is told by Johnny Kitagawa in his hospital bed in June 2019.[9] Debuting at the same time as SixTONES, the announcement was officially made in Johnny's Jr. 8.8 Matsuri 〜Tokyo Dome kara Hajimaru〜 concert on August 8, 2019.[10] They also "graduated" from Johhny's Jr. official YouTube channel and officially opened their own YouTube channel on December 25, 2019.

Post debut

[edit]

On February 1, 2020, the group marked their first overseas appearance in Japan Expo Thailand 2020.[11] Their Asia tour titled Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D in Kanagawa Prefecture, Osaka, and Tokyo, as well as overseas live in Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, and Taipei had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, the group received their own television show titled Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai (それSnowManにやらせて下さい, lit. Leave It to Snow Man). The show's was revealed as a surprise to Snow Man through their YouTube channel in February 2020.[12] The show first ran from March 25, 2020, on TBS.[13] However, later in the same month, Hikaru Iwamoto was reported to be taking a break from the group's activities after the Japanese magazine Friday published a report of him drinking at love motel in 2017. Through Johnny's apology post, it was written that Iwamoto confirmed that an underage girl was among those present.[14] The other 8 members also made their apology in their appearance at the live music program CDTV Live! Live! on the same day as the reported news. On July 1, Johnny's net and Johnny's web announced that Iwamoto would return to resume his activities.[15]

In April 2020, the group performed the 11th opening theme song for the anime Black Clover, titled "Stories".[16][17]

In May 2020, Snow Man was announced to be a part of Twenty★Twenty, a temporary unit consisting of 75 talents that have debuted in Johnny's, to perform a charity song.[a] The unit was formed to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The song, titled "Smile," is written by Kazutoshi Sakurai and is produced by Hideaki Takizawa.[18]

A movie version of stage play Takizawa Kabuki called Takizawa Kabuki Zero The Movie (滝沢歌舞伎 ZERO The Movie) was released on December 5, 2020, starring the members of Snow Man in the main roles. This marks Snow Man's post-debut first main role in a movie.

In December 2020, it was announced that Ryota Miyadate had tested positive for COVID-19.[19] Their New Years performance was canceled as a result.[20]

On January 5, 2021, Snow Man's song "Grandeur" debuted as the 13th Opening for Black Clover.[21]

In April 2021, it was reported that Daisuke Sakuma would voice the male lead of Chinese animated movie White Snake, Ah Xuan, in its Japanese dub version. This is Sakuma's second voice acting role after he debuted in Black Clover.[22] The Japanese version of the movie also features a theme song by Snow Man, "Yuan" (縁 -YUÁN-).[23]

In August 2021, Snow Man was announced to star in the live action movie adaptation of anime series Mr. Osomatsu. Six of them played as the Matsuno sextuplets while the rest, Ryōta Miyadate, Shōta Watanabe, and Ryōhei Abe, as the movie's original character, each named Period, End, and Close respectively. The film premiered on March 25, 2022.[24] The group also provided the film's theme song "Brother Beat."

In the same month, the group announced their first album release titled Snow Mania S1. The album released on September 29, 2021. The first edition A of the album contains the highly requested group's pre-debut original songs, including "Make It Hot!" and "Owaranai Memories."[25][26]

Member Ryota Miyadate was chosen as the Swarovski jewelry brand's first ambassador in Japan, as revealed on October 1, 2024.[27] In the same month, the group performed the ending theme song for the second season of the anime Blue Lock, titled "One".[28]

Members

[edit]
Name Born Blood type Height Member color Join as a Johnny's Jr. Note
Romanization Kanji
Fukazawa Tatsuya 深澤　辰哉 (1992-05-05) May 5, 1992 (age 32)

Tokyo, Japan

B 175.7 cm   Purple August 12, 2004
Sakuma Daisuke 佐久間　大介 (1992-07-05) July 5, 1992 (age 32)

Tokyo, Japan

O 168.4 cm   Pink September 25, 2005
Watanabe Shōta 渡辺　翔太 (1992-11-05) November 5, 1992 (age 32)

Tokyo, Japan

B 172.8 cm   Blue June 26, 2005
Miyadate Ryōta 宮舘　涼太 (1993-03-25) March 25, 1993 (age 31)

Tokyo, Japan

A 174.3 cm   Red October 1, 2005
Iwamoto Hikaru 岩本　照 (1993-05-17) May 17, 1993 (age 31)

Saitama, Japan

A 182.5 cm   Yellow October 1, 2006 leader
Abe Ryōhei 阿部　亮平 (1993-11-27) November 27, 1993 (age 30)

Chiba, Japan

AB 178.5 cm   Green August 12, 2004
Mukai Kōji 向井　康二 (1994-06-21) June 21, 1994 (age 30)

Nara, Japan

A 176.3 cm   Orange October 8, 2006
Meguro Ren 目黒　蓮 (1997-02-16) February 16, 1997 (age 27)

Tokyo, Japan

B 186.0 cm   Black October 30, 2010
Murakami Maito (Raul) 村上　真都 (2003-06-27) June 27, 2003 (age 21)

Tokyo, Japan

A 191.0 cm   White May 2, 2015 center

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]

Snow Man discography
Studio albums4
Singles11
Video albums4
Title Information Chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[29] 		JPN
Comb
[30]
Snow Mania S1
  • Released: September 29, 2021 (JPN)
  • Label: Avex
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/BD
 1 1
  • RIAJ: Million
Snow Labo. S2
  • Released: September 21, 2022 (JPN)
  • Label: Ment Recording
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/BD
 1 1
  • RIAJ: Million
I Do Me
  • Released: May 17, 2023 (JPN)
  • Label: Ment Recording
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/BD
 1 1
  • RIAJ: Million
Rays
  • Released: October 30, 2024 (JPN)
  • Label: Ment Recording
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/BD
 1 1

Video albums

[edit]
List of video albums, with selected chart positions, certifications and sales
Title Video details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales
JPN
DVD
[35] 		JPN
BD
[36]
Snow Man Asia Tour 2D.2D.
  • Released: March 3, 2021
  • Label: Avex
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 1 1
  • JPN: 580,867
Takizawa Kabuki Zero the Movie
  • Released: April 7, 2021
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 1 1
  • JPN: 620,900
Snow Man Live Tour 2021 Mania
  • Released: April 4, 2022
  • Label: Ment Recording
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 1 1
  • JPN: 780,100
Snow Man Live Tour 2022 Labo.
  • Released: July 5, 2023
  • Label: Ment Recording
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 1 1
  • JPN: 796,000

Singles

[edit]
Title Information Chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[37] 		JPN
Comb
[38]
"D.D./Imitation Rain"
  • Released: January 22, 2020
  • Also includes SixTONES' "Imitation Rain"
  • Label: Avex / SME Japan
 1 1
  • JPN: 1,859,372
"Kissin' My Lips/Stories"
  • Released: October 7, 2020
  • "Kissin' My Lips" was used as song for Dior's commercial movie starring Raul
  • "Stories" was used as an opening song for anime Black Clover
  • Label: Avex
 1 1
  • JPN: 1,178,326
  • RIAJ: Million
"Grandeur"
  • Released: January 20, 2021
  • "Grandeur" was used as an opening song for anime Black Clover
  • "Namida no Umi o Koeteyuke" was used as theme song for group's program "Sore, Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai"
  • Label: Avex
 1 1
  • JPN: 1,040,226
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum
"Hello Hello"
  • Released: July 14, 2021
  • "Hello Hello" is used as main theme for movie Honey Lemon Soda
  • "Yuan" is used as the main theme for the Japanese dub version of the film White Snake
  • Label: Avex
 1 1
  • JPN: 962,787
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum
"Secret Touch"
  • Released: December 1, 2021
  • Used as main theme for TV drama series My Love Mix-Up!
  • Label: Avex
 1 1
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum
"Brother Beat"
(ブラザービート, Burazā Bīto)
  • Released: March 30, 2022
  • Used as main theme for live action movie Osomatsu-san
  • Label: Ment Recording
 1 1
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum
"Orange Kiss"
(オレンジkiss, Orenji kiss) 		1 1
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum
"Tapestry" / "W"
(タペストリー / W, Tapesutori / W)
  • Released: March 15, 2023
  • "Tapestry" is used as main theme for movie My Happy Marriage
  • "W" is Used as main theme for TV drama series Dai byōin senkyo
  • Label: Ment Recording
 1 1
"Dangerholic"
  • Released: September 6, 2023
  • Used as main theme for live action show Trillion Game
  • Label: Ment Recording
 1 1
"Love Trigger" / "We'll Go Together"
  • Released: February 14, 2024
  • "Love Trigger" is the theme song for the TV Asahi drama Koisuru Keigo 24 Ji
  • "We'll Go Together" is the theme song for the NTV drama Sensei Sayonara
  • Label: Ment Recording
 1 1
"Breakout" / "Kimi wa Boku no Mono"
(Breakout / 君は僕のもの)
  • Released: July 31, 2024
  • Label: Ment Recording
 1 1

Unreleased songs

[edit]

Awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient Note
2020 WEIBO Account Festival 2019 New Artist Award Snow Man
GQ MEN OF THE YEAR 2020 Pop Icon Of The Year Snow Man
ANAN Award 2020 Grand Prize Snow Man
2021 WEIBO Account Festival in Tokyo 2020 Popular Male Idol Group Award Snow Man
ORICON Chart 2021 Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist Snow Man JPY 4.92 Billion
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work Grandeur
Annual Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work Grandeur
35th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS Best 5 New Artist Snow Man
Single Of The Year D.D with Imitation Rain
World Music Awards Best Selling Japanese Single Grandeur The only million-selling single in 2021.
1st Male Japanese Act since LArcenCiel in 1999 to have 2 consecutive years with Million-selling singles
IFPI Global Album Sales Chart – No 9 Snow Mania S1
2022 The 110th The Television Drama Academy Awards (Fall 2021) Best Theme Song – No 2 Secret Touch Ost. Kieta Hatsukoi / My Love Mix-Up!
36th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS Artist Of The Year – Japan Snow Man
Album Of The Year – Japan Snow Mania S1
Best 5 Albums Snow Mania S1
Single Of The Year Grandeur
Best 5 Singles Grandeur
Hello Hello
Best 3 Music Videos Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D.
ORICON Chart 2022 Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist Snow Man JPY 6.01 Billion
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work Brother Beat

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Except for Iwamoto who was taking a break from activities at the time

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ジャニーズJr. SPECIALカード」『Myojo』. Shueisha. August 25, 2018. pp. 81–88.
  2. ^ a b "滝沢秀明氏が後継指名の「Snow Man」ってどんなユニット? 会見に見た"実力"". スポーツ報知. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "A Johnny's first! SixTONES and Snow Man will have a simultaneous CD single debut release in 2020". Neo-Tokyo 2099. August 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "ジャニーズとエイベックスが「Ment Recording」設立、Kis-My-Ft2とSnow Manが所属". 音楽ナタリー. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Johnny & Associates and Avex team up for new label Ment Recording, announce Kis-My-Ft2 and Snow Man as first artists". Bandwagon Asia. January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  6. ^ a b 5周年から、もう一度. 日経エンタテインメント!. March 2017. pp. 68–71.
  7. ^ "迫力のアクロバットとダンスで魅せる実力派「Snow Man」ギャップにも注目". マイナビニュース. September 30, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Snow Man、デビューまでの道のりに密着「やめようとは何回も頭によぎりましたね」". ザテレビジョン. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Snow Man、デビューまでの厳しい道のり「ジャニーズじゃない自分を何度も想像」". ザテレビジョン. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "SixTONES & Snow Man、2020年"ジャニーズ史上初"2グループ同時CDデビュー決定". Oricon News. January 22, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "Snow Man、Japan Expo Thailand 2020". Snow Man official site. January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Snow Man【初の???】サプライズ重大発表!". Snow Man on YouTube. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "Snow Man、地上波初の冠番組決定 命がけで「ミッション」に挑む". クランクイン!. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "SnowMan岩本照が活動自粛 未成年と飲酒報道". 日刊スポーツ. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "Johnny's net". July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "Snow Man, Kaf Perform Black Clover Anime's New Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "新曲「Stories」がテレビアニメ「ブラッククローバー」新OPテーマに決定!". Snow Manオフィシャルサイト. January 22, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "15 Johnny's groups form unit Twenty★Twenty for a limited time". tokyohive. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "Snow Man Band Member Ryota Miyadate Tests Positive for COVID-19". October 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Snow Man Band Will Not Perform on New Year's Kohaku Show After COVID-19 Diagnosis". October 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Black Clover Anime Unveils New Theme Song Artists, New Cast Member". Anime News Network. October 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Snow Man Group Member Daisuke Sakuma Voices Original Character in Black Clover Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "SnowMan 佐久間大介主演アニメ映画主題歌担当 予告映像も解禁「お力になれたら」". ORICON NEWS. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  24. ^ Castro, Nicole S. (February 3, 2022). "'Osomatsu-san' live action film starring Snow Man premieres March 2022". Aniradioplus. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "1stALBUM「Snow Mania S1」 – DISC | Snow Manオフィシャルサイト". avex.jp (in Japanese). January 22, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  26. ^ "1stALBUM「Snow Mania S1」 – DISC | Snow Manオフィシャルサイト". avex.jp (in Japanese). January 22, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  27. ^ "Snow Man渡辺翔太、『Swarovski』初のジャパンアンバサダーに就任「本当にうれしく光栄」". Oricon (in Japanese). October 1, 2024. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  28. ^ 「エピ凪」地上波初放送決定　「ブルーロック」第2期の新PV到着、EDはSnow Man. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  29. ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Combined Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  31. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング [Weekly Album Ranking]. Oricon. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  32. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2022年09月19日～2022年09月25日 [Weekly Album Ranking September 19, 2022 – September 25, 2022]. Oricon. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  33. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年05月15日～2022年05月21日 [Weekly Album Ranking May 15, 2023 – May 21, 2023]. Oricon. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  34. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2024年10月28日～2024年11月03日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking October 28, 2024 – November 3, 2024]. Oricon. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Sources for chart positions are as follows:
  36. ^ Sources for chart positions are as follows:
  37. ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  38. ^ "Snow Man on Oricon Combined Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  39. ^ a b "Recording Industry Association of Japan".
  40. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2021年11月29日～2021年12月05日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking November 29, 2021 – December 5, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  41. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年03月28日～2022年04月03日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 28, 2022 – April 3, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  42. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年07月11日～2022年07月17日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking July 11, 2022 – July 17, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  43. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年03月13日～2023年03月19日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 13, 2023 – March 19, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  44. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年09月04日～2023年09月10日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking September 4, 2023 – September 10, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  45. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2024年02月12日～2024年02月18日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking February 12, 2024 – February 18, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  46. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2024年07月29日～2024年08月04日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking July 29, 2024 – August 4, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  47. ^ "桶ダンスも復活！「少年たち」本日開幕、看守の声はあおい輝彦が演じる". ステージナタリー. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  48. ^ "滝沢秀明&三宅健、女方挑戦も「メイクダウン」心配 – CMオファーも期待". マイナビニュース. April 6, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  49. ^ "『少年たち』日生劇場で開幕 SixTONESとSnow Manが"戦争"に体当たりで挑む". SPICE – エンタメ特化型情報メディア スパイス. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  50. ^ "SixTONES＆Snow Man「少年たち」でジャニー社長の戦争への思い伝える!". スポーツ報知. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
[edit]
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