Ninja (忍者, Ninja) was a Japanese idol group managed by Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates from 1990 to 1997. They were well known for their acrobatic stage performances and remaking Hibari Misora's songs during their debut years.[1]
Ninja (忍者) | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Shounen Ninja, Yonjuushi |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | J-Pop, Enka |
| Years active | 1990–1996 |
| Labels | Nippon Columbia |
| Past members | Susumu Yanagisawa Yasunobu Shiga Naoto Endo Koyo MaedaShinya Masaki Nobuhide Takagi Eiji Furukawa |
History
editBefore their debut in 1985, they were active under stage name Shounen Ninja (少年忍者), who were active as back-dancers to the Shonentai in their television stage performances and in their musical series Playzone.[1][2] In early 1988, two years before major debut, they made their first stage performances along with Otokogumi and Shonentai together as "Gosanke (少年御三家)" on Nippon Budokan.
In August 1990, they made music major debut with the single "Omatsuri Ninja" released under Nippon Columbia label.[3][4] It is partial remake of the Hibari Misora's single Matsuri Manbo released back in 1952.[3] Although the single debut at number three during its first week of release, by the end of year it has received an awards from the category "Best New Artist" on the 32nd Japan Record Awards,[5] on the 21st Japan Music Awards and on the 19th FNS Music Festival. On the same year, they made their first television appearance on the national end-year program Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[6] In 1991, with the release of the fourth single "Himiko", they started to release original songs as a group. In 1993, Shiga and Furukawa left group and released together as 6-member their final single "Harapeko". In 1994, they've releases single Do Your Best under alias stage name Yonjuushi (四銃士). In 1995, they've released cover single Money Magic, originally performed by Godiego, initialing became their first cover single for the first time in since 1991. In 1996, they've released final single "Tatoe Kimi ga Usotsuitemo", which did not chart on the Oricon Weekly Charts. With the released of the final studio album Hi La Ri, they've completely disappeared from the music scene, without public statement about hiatus or band disband.
In 2023, Shiga has confessed to the public for the first time for being the victim of the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal.[7][8] He is active as a member of the Johnny's Association for Sexual Assault Issues.[9]
Former members
editNinja
edit- Susumu Yanagisawa (柳沢 超, Yanagisawa Susumu, born March 7, 1967): leader
- Yasunobu Shiga (志賀 泰伸, Shiga Yasunobu, born August 3, 1968)
- left the group in 1994
- Naoto Endo (遠藤 直人, Endou Naoto, born April 20, 1969)
- Shinya Masaki (正木 慎也, Masaki Shinya, born May 29, 1969)
- Nobuhide Takagi (高木 延秀, Takagi Nobuhide, born March 11, 1970)
- Eiji Furukawa (古川 栄司, Furukawa Eiji, born July 11, 1971)
- left the group in 1994
Shounen Ninja
edit- Nobutoshi Nakamura (中村 亘利, Nakamura Nobutoshi, born February 9, 1970)
- was part of the Shounen Ninja, however due to his actives with the group Cha-Cha, he left the Ninja before group change name and major debut.
Discography
editSingles
edit| Year | Album | Chart positions (JP)[10] |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Omatsuri Ninja" (お祭り忍者) | 3 | Nippon Columbia |
| 1991 | "Ringo Hakusho" (リンゴ白書) | 9 | |
| "O-i! Kurumayasan" (おーぃ！車屋さん) | 11 | ||
| "Himiko" (秘・美・子) | 17 | ||
| 1992 | "Kimi ni Want You" (君に御中) | 21 | |
| "Harassho" (ハラショ!) | 20 | ||
| "Naminda Naminda no Karaoke Box" (涙 涙のカラオケボックス) | 49 | ||
| 1993 | "Nihon" (日本) | 48 | |
| "Nihon Bugi" (日本ブギ) | 37 | ||
| "Harapeko" | 57 | ||
| 1994 | "Do Your Best" | 59 | |
| 1995 | "Monkey Magic" (モンキー・マジック) | 69 | |
| "Tatoe Kimi ga Uso wo Tsuitemi" (たとえ君が嘘をついても) | - |
Video singles
edit| Year | Album | Chart positions (JP)[10] |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Omatsuri Ninja/Burai" (お祭り忍者/無頼) | 3 | Nippon Columbia |
| 1991 | "Ringo Hakusho/Kiri no Persona" (リンゴ白書/霧の仮面（ペルソナ）) | 9 | |
| "O-i! Kurumayasan/Heysay Boogie" (おーぃ！車屋さん/ヘイセイ・ブギー) | 11 | ||
| "Himiko/Replay" (秘・美・子/リプレイ) | 17 |
Albums
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [10] | ||
| Ninja (忍者) |
|
- |
| Ninja Hakusho (NINJA白書) |
|
11 |
| Summer Fiesta |
|
- |
| Ninja San Jou (忍者参上) |
|
- |
| Maitta (まいった) |
|
- |
| Summer Ski |
|
- |
| Nihon Ichi (日本一) |
|
- |
| Hi La Ri |
|
- |
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [10] | ||
| Do Our Best |
|
- |
Videography
edit| Release | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991.10.1[11] | Summer Fiesta Ninja Live |
| 2 | 1991.10.1[12] | Summer Fiesta Ninja Documentary |
| 3 | 1992.10.1[13] | On & Off |
| 4 | 1993.3.1[14] | Fuyu no Jin '93 |
| 5 | 1993.12.1[15] |
Ninja Kenmonroku |
References
edit- ^ a b Kiyori Matsumoto, ed. (1994). JOHNNY's VISUAL SENSATION. Oricon. ISBN 9784871310352.
- ^ "「忍者」柳沢、光GENJIとSMAPに挟まれた不遇ジャニーズ時代の秘話を激白". plus.tver.jp. 19 October 2021.
- ^ a b "元「忍者」正木慎也さん語るジャニーズ退社後の紆余曲折". Nikkan Gendai. 29 May 2023.
- ^ "忍者、「お祭り忍者」でデビュー". cdjournal. 29 May 2023.
- ^ "活動〜日本レコード大賞〜". jacompa.or.jp. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "NHK紅白歌合戦ヒストリー". NHK. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "元忍者の志賀泰伸さん「YOU、合宿所に来ない？」から始まった悪夢 ジャニーズ性加害問題 告白を決意した経緯は". Tokyo Shinbun. 19 October 2021.
- ^ "ジャニーズ性加害、元「忍者」メンバー「テレ朝敷地内で被害」証言". Asahi. 19 October 2021.
- ^ "元忍者・志賀泰伸氏 ジャニーズ性加害告発の〝代償〟「殺されるんじゃないかと…」". Tokyo Sports. 19 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d "忍者の作品". Oricon (in Japanese). December 30, 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "忍者/Summer Fiesta 忍者 狂熱のライヴ [VIDEO他]". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
- ^ "忍者/Summer Fiesta 忍者 [VIDEO他]". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
- ^ "忍者/NINJA ON&OFF～ハート・ウェルダン・コンサート'92 [VIDEO他]". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
- ^ "忍者/冬の陣'93～ライヴ・イン・ヨコハマ1993.1.11 [VIDEO他]". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
- ^ "忍者/忍者見聞録 [VIDEO他]". CDJournal WEB. Retrieved 2022-04-20.