Kamen Joshi
| Kamen Joshi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | J-pop, electro-pop, metal, rock |
| Website |
www |
Kamen Joshi (仮面女子), meaning "Masked Girls" in Japanese language, is a Japanese girl group consisted of three smaller teams with several members for each.[1][2] They are called "Masked Girls" because each member of the group basically wears a mask which covers up their face not to reveal the identity to the public. In reality, they do take off their masks when they need to show off their face on TV and other medias. Unlike normal idols, it is easier for fans to go out and see the girls while Kamen Joshi performs daily at the P.A.R.M.S theater in Akihabara.
Kamen Joshi became the first independent female artist to achieve a number-one single on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart in January 2015, achieving sales figures of over 130,000 copies of their single "Genkidane☆".
Members
The group includes the members of Alice Juban (ja), Steam Girls (ja) and Armor Girls (ja),[3] three separate groups with their own distinct images and sounds. All three groups regularly perform at their exclusive Alice Project theater in Pasela, Akihabara.
Alice Juban
The first of the Kamen Joshi groups to be formed, Alice Juban's music often includes metal breakdowns and rap sections. All members wear Jason-style hockey masks and wield a selection of prop weapons ranging from chainsaws to giant scissors.
Steam Girls
Steam Girls was formed as Alice Juban's official sister and rival group. Though their first song "destiny" was a pop-rock number, since the release of "HIGH and LOW" in 2013 their music has come to incorporate more sounds from electronic and dance music. The members wear gas masks and leg warmers in a style combining elements from steampunk and cybergoth fashion. On stage, they carry distinctive prop guns that fire laser beams and clouds of dry ice together, creating a vivid on-stage effect.
- Sara Kurose
- Erina Kamiya (ja)
- Mai Mizusawa
- Mana Sakamoto
- Yuuka Kojima
- Ume Koume
Armor Girls
Armor Girls was formed after Alice Juban and Steam Girls had already released two singles as Kamen Joshi, making them the most recent addition to the group. Their masks are medieval armour helmets with visors, and they carry prop swords. Musically, Armor Girls' songs incorporate elements from Irish and Celtic folk music, leading to a unique sound they call "mori rock", or "forest rock".
- Hinako Kuroki
- Misa Kubota
- Moa Tsukino
- Mayu Kusunoki
- Hitomi Momose
- Maki Kitamura
Discography
Singles
| Release date | Title | Oricon[note 1] | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2013 | "Kamen Joshi" | 13 | [4] |
| December 11, 2013 | "Mousou Nikki" | 4 | [5] |
| January 1, 2015 | "Genkidane" | 1 | [6] |
References
- ↑ Peak ranking on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart.
- ↑ ボブ・サップが仮面女子のライブに乱入 立花あんなに催眠術を実施. www.billboard-japan.com (in Japanese). November 25, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Oricon Weekly Charts for 12/29 ~ 1/4". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ メンバー. www.alice-project.biz (in Japanese). Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ 仮面女子. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ "妄想日記(Type-A)". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ "元気種☆(Type-A)". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kamen Joshi. |
- Official website (Japanese)