Passcode (Japanese: パスコード, Hepburn: Pasukōdo, stylized as PassCode), is a Japanese metal idol group that was founded in 2013.[2]
PassCode | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Osaka Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013-present |
| Labels | we-B studios Universal Music Japan JPU Records |
| Members | Nao Minami Kaede Takashima Hinako Ōgami Emily Arima |
| Past members | Reika Kanzaki Saki Sakurai Kyōko Kazuki Yūri Kurohara Yuna Imada |
| Website | passcode-official |
History edit
Passcode was formed in Osaka in 2013 and consists of the four vocalists Nao Minami, Kaede Takashima, Emily Arima and Hinako Ōgami. Passcode is supported by a backup band.[3]
After releasing several singles and albums on smaller labels, the group signed to Universal Music Japan and released their second full-length album Zenith in 2017.[4] In 2018 the band signed with British record label JPU Records and released a best-of record called Ex Libris Passcode in Europe.[5]
Their song "Ichika Bachika" became the opening song for the second season of the live-action film adaption of Kakegurui.[6] In June 2020, their ninth single "Starry Sky" debuted at number 1 on the Japanese Oricon weekly singles chart and the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart, selling over 7,000 units in its first week after release.[7][8]
Musical style edit
The musical style of Passcode can be described as kawaii metal.[1] Some vocalists use harsh vocals next to cleans. Yuna Imada contributed the harsh vocals before her retirement in 2021, with the job now handled by former Ladybaby member Emily Arima.[citation needed] Kaede Takashima uses the harsh vocals in some tracks like "Taking You Out" and "Club Kids Never Die". The band uses Auto-Tune while singing.[3]
The band mixes metalcore with EDM and J-pop.[4] The songs are written in Japanese language and contain English-language parts as well.[3]
Members edit
- Nao Minami – vocals, and dancer (2013–present)
- Kaede Takashima – vocals, and dancer (2014–present)
- Hinako Ōgami – vocals, and dancer (2015–present)
- Emily Arima - vocals, and dancer (2021–present)
Past members
- Reika Kamisaki – vocals, and dancer (2013)
- Saki Sakurai – vocals, and dancer (2013)
- Kyōko Kazuki – vocals, and dancer (2013)
- Yūri Kurohara – vocals, and dancer (2013–2015)
- Yuna Imada - vocals, and dancer (2014–2021)
Discography edit
| Passcode discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 5 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 3 |
| Video albums | 13 |
| Music videos | 28 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Singles | 10 |
Studio albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [9] |
JPN Billboard Hot [10] |
JPN Billboard Top [11] | ||
| All Is Vanity |
|
— | — | — |
| Virtual |
|
43 | 60 | 28 |
| Zenith |
|
20 | 27 | 19 |
| Clarity |
|
10 | 7 | 8 |
| Strive |
|
18 | 13 | 14 |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart or that the chart did not exist. | ||||
EPs edit
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [9] |
JPN Billboard Hot [10] |
JPN Billboard Top [11] | ||
| Reverberate EP. |
|
18 | 19 | 17 |
| Groundswell EP. |
|
18 | — | — |
Compilations edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [9] |
JPN Billboard Hot [10] |
JPN Billboard Top [11] | ||
| Locus |
|
15 | 10 | 14 |
| Ex Libris Passcode |
|
— | — | — |
| Passcode the Best -Link- |
|
18 | 18 | 15 |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | ||||
Live albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [9] |
JPN Billboard Top [11] | ||
| Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited |
|
93 | 79 |
Singles edit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [13] |
JPN Hot 100 [14] |
JPN Hot Singles [15] | |||
| "Nextage" | 2014 | 165 | — | — | Virtual |
| "Now I Know" | 2015 | 111 | — | — | |
| "Never Sleep Again" | 159 | — | — | ||
| "Miss Unlimited" | 2016 | 43 | — | 29 | Zenith |
| "Bite the Bullet" | 2017 | 16 | 86 | 16 | |
| "Ray" | 2018 | 16 | 64 | 15 | Clarity |
| "Tonight / Taking You Out" | 12 | 65[a] | 13 | ||
| "Atlas" | 2019 | 18 | — | 20 | Strive |
| "Starry Sky" | 2020 | 1 | — | 1 | |
| "Freely / Flavor of Blue" | 2021 | 12 | — | 15 | non-album single |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||
DVD / Blu-ray edit
| Title | Video details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN DVDs [16] |
JPN Blu-rays [17] | ||
| All Is Vanity |
|
198 | — |
| "Trial of Passcode" Tour Final Tokyo at Akasaka Blitz |
|
— | — |
| Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited Premium Box |
|
— | 58 |
| Passcode Miss Unlimited Tour 2016 at Studio Coast |
|
— | — |
| Passcode Zenith Tour 2017 Final Series at Tsutaya O-East |
|
— | — |
| Passcode Presents Versus Passcode 2018 at Bigcat |
|
— | — |
| Passcode Taking You Out Tonight! Tour 2018 Final at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo |
|
19 | 16 |
| PassCode Zepp Tour 2019 at Zepp Osaka Bayside |
|
24 | 23 |
| Passcode Clarity Plus Tour 19-20 Final at Studio Coast |
|
36 | 30 |
| Passcode Starry Tour 2020 Final at KT Zepp Yokohama |
|
23 | 12 |
| Passcode "Strive for Budokon Tour 2021 at Toyosu Pit |
|
10 | 7 |
| Passcode Zepp Tour 2021 at Haneda |
|
57 | 48 |
| Passcode Nippon Budokan 2022 |
|
17 | 18 |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||
Music videos edit
| Song | Year | Link |
|---|---|---|
| "Asterisk" (アスタリスク) | 2014 | [1] |
| "XYZ" | [2] | |
| "Over There" | [3] | |
| "Seize the Day" | [4] | |
| "Kiss no Hanataba" (Kissの花束) | [5] | |
| "Gekidō Progressive" (激動プログレッシブ) | [6] | |
| "Nextage" | [7] | |
| "Now I Know" | 2015 | [8] |
| "Orange" (オレンジ) | [9] | |
| "Never Sleep Again" | [10] | |
| "From Here" | 2016 | [11] |
| "Axis" | [12] | |
| "Ninja Bomber" | [13] | |
| "Miss Unlimited" | [14] | |
| "Bite the Bullet" | 2017 | [15] |
| "One Step Beyond" | [16] | |
| "Same to You" | [17] | |
| "Ray" | 2018 | [18] |
| "Taking You Out" | [19] | |
| "Projection" | 2019 | [20] |
| "Atlas" | [21] | |
| "Starry Sky" | 2020 | [22] |
| "Mantra" | [23] | |
| "Anything New" | [24] | |
| "Spark Ignition" | [25] | |
| "Freely" | 2021 | [26] |
| "Flavor of Blue" | 2022 | [27] |
| "Siren" | [28] | |
| "Clouds Across the Moon" | 2023 | [29] |
Notes edit
- ^ Only "Tonight" charted.
References edit
- ^ a b "The rise of kawaii metal this decade". JRock News. December 25, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ "株式会社 we-B studios PassCode". we-B studios. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Saskia (May 30, 2018). "PassCode – Eine Perle aus Fernost" (in German). Silence Musik Magazin. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Idol Chatter: PassCode Interview". Straight-from-japan.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ edoh (August 23, 2018). "PassCode joins JPU Records and announces compiled overseas album plus single". Jrocknews.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (January 22, 2019). "Live-Action Kakegurui Series' 2nd Season Reveals Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ "PassCode、『STARRY SKY』で初のシングルチャート首位 三者三様な楽曲でライブ感ある1枚に". Real Sound (in Japanese). 30 May 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "【ビルボード】PassCode『STARRY SKY』、自身初のシングル・セールス首位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "PassCodeのアルバム作品" [Passcode albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart:
- Virtual: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 1, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Zenith: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Locus: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 28, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Clarity: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. April 10, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Strive: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 30, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Passcode the Best -Link-: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- Reverberate EP.: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums chart:
- Virtual: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 1, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Zenith: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Locus: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. March 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Clarity: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. April 10, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Strive: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 30, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Passcode the Best -Link-: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Reverberate EP.: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "PassCode、本日10/5リリースの海外デビュー盤『Ex Libris PassCode』を日本でもデジタル配信開始！新録曲が聴けるダイジェスト映像公開も！" (in Japanese). Gekirock.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ "PassCodeのシングル作品" [Passcode singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
- "Bite the Bullet": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2017/04/26 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 26, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Ray": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2018/05/30 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 30, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Tonight": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2018/09/19 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 19, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart:
- "Miss Unlimited": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2016/11/02 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Bite the Bullet": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2017/04/26 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 26, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Ray": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2018/05/30 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 30, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Tonight / Taking You Out": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2018/09/19 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 19, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Atlas": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2019/10/02 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 2, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Starry Sky": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2020/05/27 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 27, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- "Freely / Flavour of Blue": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2021/11/17 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "PassCodeのDVD作品" [Passcode DVDs] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ "PassCodeのBlu-ray作品" [Passcode Blu-rays] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.