Magnolia Factory

Magnolia Factory (こぶしファクトリー, Kobushi Fakutori) was a Japanese girl idol group, formed by Up Front Group under the umbrella of Hello! Project in January 2015. The group was initially composed of eight girls who were members of Hello Pro Kenshusei. Their sister group was Camellia Factory. They disbanded on March 30, 2020.

Magnolia Factory
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2015 (2015)–2020 (2020)
LabelsUp-Front Works
Associated actsHello Pro Kenshusei
Camellia Factory
Websitehelloproject.com/kobushifactory/
Past members
  • Ayaka Hirose
  • Minami Nomura
  • Ayano Hamaura
  • Sakurako Wada
  • Rei Inoue
  • Rio Fujii
  • Rena Ogawa
  • Natsumi Taguchi

History

2015-2016: Formation and debut

On January 2, 2015, during the Hello! Project 2015 Winter concert series, it was announced that a new unit consisting of Rio Fujii, Ayaka Hirose, Minami Nomura, Rena Ogawa, Ayano Hamaura, Natsumi Taguchi, Sakurako Wada, and Rei Inoue, was formed.[1] On February 25, Up Front Group announced that the name of the new unit would be Magnolia Factory.[2] On March 8, it was announced that the leader and the sub-leader of the unit were determined as Ayaka Hirose and Rio Fujii respectively.[3]

On September 2, the group released their debut single, "Dosukoi! Kenkyo ni Daitan / Rāmen Daisuki Koizumi-san no Uta / Nen ni wa Nen (Nen'iri Ver.)".[4]

On November 20, it was announced that they had won a Newcomer Award at the 57th Japan Record Awards[5] At the ceremony on December 30, they were presented with their award and were later announced as the winners of the Best Newcomer Award.[6]

On February 17, 2016, the group released their second single, "Sakura Night Fever / Chotto Guchoku ni! Chototsumōshin / Osu! Kobushi Tamashī"[7]

Their third single, "Samba! Kobushi Janeiro / Bacchikoi Seishun! / Ora wa Ninkimono", was released on July 27, 2016.[8]

On November 30, they relessed their first studio album, Kobushi Sono Ichi.[9]

2017-2018: Line-up changes

On May 12, 2017, Rio Fujii announced she would graduate from the group at the end of the Hello! Project 2017 Summer concert tour to focus on becoming a nurse or a teacher.[10]

On June 14, the group released their fourth single, "Shalala! Yareru Hazu sa / Ee ja nai ka Ninja nai ka".[11]

Rio Fujii's contract was terminated on July 6 due to her lack of compliance with the rules.[12]

On July 13, Hello! Project announced that Rena Ogawa would take a hiatus from the group's activities due to anxiety neurosis. On September 6, it was announced that Ogawa had graduated from Magnolia Factory and Hello! Project after her condition failed to improve.[13]

On December 6, Hello! Project announced that Natsumi Taguchi would no longer be part of the group for not complying with the rules and as a result, her contract was terminated.[14]

On March 28, 2018, the group released their fifth single, "Kore Kara da! / Ashita Tenki ni Naare".[15]

On August 8, they released their sixth single "Kitto Watashi wa / Naseba Naru".[16]

2019-2020: Disbandment

On April 24, 2019, the group released their seventh single, "Oh No Ōnō / Haru Urara".[17]

They released their second studio album, Kobushi Dai Ni Maku, on October 2.[18]

On March 4, 2020, the group released their eighth and final single, "Seishun no Hana / Start Line".[19]

The group disbanded on March 30 with a concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.[20]

Former members
  • Ayaka Hirose (広瀬 彩海) - Leader
  • Minami Nomura (野村 みな美)
  • Ayano Hamaura (浜浦 彩乃)
  • Sakurako Wada (和田 桜子)
  • Rei Inoue (井上 玲音)
  • Rio Fujii (藤井 梨央) - Sub-leader
  • Rena Ogawa (小川 麗奈)
  • Natsumi Taguchi (田口 夏実)

Timeline
  • Black (horizontal) = hiatus

Discography

Albums
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Kobushi Sono Ichi
(辛夷其ノ壱)		 11

November 30, 2016

2 Kobushi Dai Ni Maku
(辛夷第二幕)		 7

October 2, 2019

Singles
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Dosukoi! Kenkyo ni Daitan / Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san no Uta / Nen ni wa Nen (Nen'iri Ver.)
(ドスコイ！ケンキョにダイタン／ラーメン大好き小泉さんの唄／念には念(念入りVer.))		 3 September 2, 2015
2 Sakura Night Fever / Chotto Guchoku ni! Chototsu Moushin / Osu! Kobushi Tamashii
(桜ナイトフィーバー／チョット愚直に！猪突猛進／押忍！こぶし魂)		 1[21] February 17, 2016
3 Samba! Kobushi Janeiro / Bacchikoi Seishun! / Ora wa Ninkimono
(サンバ！こぶしジャネイロ／バッチ来い青春！／オラはにんきもの)		 3 July 27, 2016
4 Shalala! Yareru Hazu sa / Ee ja nai ka Ninja nai ka
(シャララ！やれるはずさ／エエジャナイカ ニンジャナイカ)		 4 June 14, 2017
5 Kore Kara da! / Ashita Tenki ni Naare
(これからだ!／明日テンキになあれ)		 3 March 28, 2018
6 Kitto Watashi wa / Naseba Naru
(きっと私は/ナセバナル)		 5 August 8, 2018
7 Oh No Ounou / Haru Urara
(Oh No 懊悩／ハルウララ)		 4 April 24, 2019
8 Seishun no Hana / Start Line
(青春の花/スタートライン)		 5[22] March 4, 2020

DVD singles
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Nen ni wa nen / Survivor
(念には念／サバイバー)		 N/A

March 26, 2015

Awards

Japan Record Awards
See also: 57th Japan Record Awards

The Japan Record Awards is a major music awards show held annually in Japan by the Japan Composer's Association.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Magnolia Factory New Artist Award[23] Won
Best New Artist Award[23] Won

References
  1. "ハロプロ、年始ライブでサプライズ続出　ピロスエが語る、2015年注目すべき動きとは？". Real Sound. January 6, 2015.
  2. "ハロプロ新ユニット名は"こぶしファクトリー"に決定 Berryz工房のスピリットも継承していけるように……". Billboard Japan. February 25, 2015.
  3. "ハロプロ研修生の晴れ舞台で「こぶしファクトリー」のリーダーを発表!". Oricon News. March 10, 2015.
  4. "【イベントレポート】こぶしファクトリーのデビューイベントに鳴戸親方と大関・琴奨菊。「目指すはアイドル界の横綱」". Barks. September 2, 2015.
  5. "第57回「日本レコード大賞」各賞発表". Model Press. November 20, 2015.
  6. "『レコ大』最優秀新人賞、こぶしファクトリーに決定". Oricon News. December 30, 2015.
  7. "【オリコン】こぶしファクトリーが初首位 広瀬彩海「夢のよう」". Oricon News. February 23, 2016.
  8. "こぶしファクトリー、リオ五輪同世代選手にエール". Oricon News. July 28, 2016.
  9. "ハロプロ冬ソングは全部で何曲？　四季のハロプロ楽曲（冬編）". Real Sound. December 12, 2016.
  10. "こぶしファクトリー 藤井梨央が卒業を発表。今後は学業に専念". Barks. May 12, 2017.
  11. "こぶしファクトリー、主演作で温水洋一ら演じる"忍者オヤジーズ"と歌謡バトル". Barks. June 9, 2017.
  12. "ハロプロ・こぶしファクトリーの藤井梨央、ルール違反で急遽契約解除". Model Press. July 6, 2017.
  13. "こぶしファクトリー小川麗奈　当分活動休止へ…不安神経症、復調の兆し見えず". Sponichi Annex. August 16, 2017.
  14. "こぶしファクトリー田口夏実が契約解除 今年3人目のメンバー離脱＜コメント全文＞". Model Press. December 7, 2017.
  15. "夢アド、主催ツーマン第二弾でこぶしファクトリーと対決". Barks. April 25, 2018.
  16. "こぶしファクトリーとつばきファクトリーが築いてきた"ライバル関係"　対照的な最新作を機に考察". Real Sound. August 12, 2018.
  17. "こぶしファクトリー「令和を代表するアイドルに」平成最後のシングルに感慨". Music Voice. April 24, 2019.
  18. "こぶしファクトリーが切り開く「道」と音楽への飽くなき探究心". Rolling Stone Japan. October 25, 2019.
  19. "こぶしファクトリー、ラストシングル『青春の花/スタートライン』3月4日発売". Tower Records Online. January 10, 2020.
  20. "こぶしファクトリー、3・30解散 リーダー広瀬彩海は音大進学、和田桜子は芸能活動を終了". Oricon News. January 8, 2020.
  21. "【オリコン】こぶしファクトリーが初首位 広瀬彩海「夢のよう」". Oricon. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  22. "週間 CDシングルランキング 2020年04月20日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for April 20, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  23. "第57回 輝く！日本レコード大賞" (in Japanese). TBSテレビ. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
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