Hello! Project

Hello! Project (ハロー！プロジェクト), often shortened to H!P, is the name for a collection of female groups and artists all produced by Tsunku, a member of Sharam Q. Morning Musume is the main group of Hello! Project, with a number of Morning Musume ex-members forming the majority of the solo artists in H!P. Besides the core groups and solo artists that form H!P's line-up, various special units are formed by mixing these groups and solo artists. Shuffle units, usually formed by shuffling all the H!P members into three temporary units, were formed once a year but since 2006 the idea has been dropped.

The group is managed by the Up-Front Agency. Almost all Hello! Project artists' recordings are published by Up-Front Works on either the zetima, PICCOLO TOWN or hachama record labels. But Iida Kaori's Mediterranean styled works are released under the Chichukai label and Maeda Yuki's under the Rice Music label. Country Musume's older work was released on the Potato Label, Coconuts Musume's older works were originally released on the Sony record label, Sheki-Dol's first singles were released on SPREE RECORDS and Heike Michiyo's older works on Warner Music Japan, but they eventually all moved to zetima.

While there is a range of music and styles covered by the Hello! Project artists, all remain more-or-less firmly in the bubblegum pop category. Morning Musume is a good starting point, but each artist and group offers their own style.

Current Line-up[]

Groups[]

Morning Musume
Hello! Project Kids
Hello! Pro Egg
- Tomoiki Ki wo Uetai
- Shugo Chara Egg!
Ice Creammusume
Ecomoni
SI☆NA
Guardians 4

Solo Artists[]

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu
Mano Erina

Other Projects[]

Gatas Brilhantes H.P. (Futsal)
Metro Rabbits H.P. (Kickball)

Former Artists and Groups[]

Former Groups[]

Tanpopo
Taiyou to Ciscomoon / T&C Bomber
- Kominato Miwa
- RuRu
- Shinoda Miho
Sheki-Dol
- Kitagami Ami
- Oki Ibuki
- Suenaga Mami
- Arai Saki
Petitmoni
Minimoni
Country Musume
W
- Kago Ai
GAM
Coconuts Musume
- April
- Chelsea
- Danielle
- Lehua
- Mika
- Ayaka
v-u-den
Melon Kinenbi
Ongaku Gatas

Former Artists[]

Graduated from H!P as Solo Artists
- Miyoshi Chinatsu
- Ishii Rika
- Heike Michiyo
- Shimmin (H!P foreign student from Korea)
- Goto Maki
- Nakazawa Yuko
- Iida Kaori
- Abe Natsumi
- Yasuda Kei
- Yaguchi Mari
- Ishikawa Rika
- Yoshizawa Hitomi
- Tsuji Nozomi
- Konno Asami
- Ogawa Makoto
- Fujimoto Miki
- Inaba Atsuko
- Satoda Mai
- Maeda Yuki
- Matsuura Aya
- Miyoshi Erika
- Okada Yui
- Kusumi Koharu
Graduated from Morning Musume and H!P
- Fukuda Asuka
- Ishiguro Aya
- Ichii Sayaka
- Kusumi Koharu
Graduated from Country Musume and H!P
- Yanagihara Hiromi (deceased)
- Kobayashi Azusa
- Rinne
- Asami
- Miuna
Graduated from Berryz Koubou and H!P
- Ishimura Maiha
Left °C-ute and H!P
- Murakami Megumi
- Arihara Kanna
- Umeda Erika

Shuffle Units[]

2000
- Akagumi 4
- Kiiro 5
- Aoiro 7
2001
- 3nin Matsuri
- 7nin Matsuri
- 10nin Matsuri
2002
- Happy 7
- Sexy 8
- Odoru 11
2003
- SALT5
- 7AIR
- 11WATER
2004
- H.P. All Stars
2005
- Sexy Otonajan
- Elegies
- Puripuri Pink

Special Units[]

Gomattou
ZYX
ROMANS
Morning Musume Otomegumi
Morning Musume Sakuragumi
Aa!
Nochiura Natsumi
DEF.DIVA
Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai
Kira☆Pika
Athena & Robikerottsu
High-King

The Shuffle Units were temporary groups usually formed during the summer. The original concept was to shuffle all the members from Hello! Project to form three new groups who would then release three singles at the same time to see which group would sell the most. This idea was probably dropped due to low sales during 2003 when all songs were released on one single. Since then the shuffle units have become more of an annual tradition rather than a contest. In 2004 all members of the Hello! Project formed a single unit, H.P. All Stars and in 2005 only eleven members were shuffled between three groups. Since 2006 there have not been any new shuffle units.

The Special Units only released one or two singles and were never mentioned again, so it can be assumed they will not be active anymore.

Auditions[]

For Morning Musume Auditions see Morning Musume#Auditions.

1st Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition[]

date: 1999.2.??
number of applicants: 3,264
selected: 三佳千夏 (Miyoshi Chinatsu)

2nd Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition []

date: 1999.05.12 (application details were included with Morning Musume's 5th single Manatsu no Kousen)
second interview in June 1999
number of applicants: 4000
selected: Saito Hitomi, Murata Megumi, Ohtani Masae and Shibata Ayumi (see Melon Kinenbi)

3rd Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition []

date: 1999.09.09 (application details were included with Morning Musume's 7th single LOVE Machine)
second interview in November 1999
number of applicants: unknown
selected: none

4th Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition []

date: 2000.05.17 (application details were included with Morning Musume's 9th single Happy Summer Wedding)
second interview in June 2000
number of applicants: 1500
selected: Matsuura Aya, also selected: Sheki-Dol (who debuted earlier than Aya)

Pacific Dream Pop Singer Contest []

held in Hawaii in November 1998
number of applicants: 1500
result: Ayaka, Mika Todd, Chelsea Ching, April Barbaran and Danielle Delaunay passed the examination by Makoto of Sharan Q (see Coconuts Musume)

Hello! Project Kids Audition []

applicant recruitment via Hello! Morning in 2002
number of applicants: 27958
selected: 15 people (see Hello! Project Kids)

Hello! Pro Egg Audition []

applicant recruitment via Hello! Morning in 2004
number of applicants: 10570
selected: 32 people, including Okada Yui of v-u-den and 4 futsal trainees of Gatas Brilhantes H.P. (see Hello! Pro Egg)

Hello! Project Kansai Audition 2005 []

date: 2005-10-24 to 2005-11-21
applicant recruitment via Hello! Morning in 2005
number of applicants: Unknown
selected: Iwashima Manami, Abe Asami, Nakayama Nana, and Suma Ai (see Hello! Pro Kansai)

Media[]

Radio[]

Many of the groups/girls in Hello! Project host radio shows or have in the past. They include guest speakers, upcoming release previews, the girls' selected choices of music and often funny radio skits or segments.

Current Shows []

| Title | Host | Dates |-

Afternoon Paradise -Trip In the Country-	Kimura Ayaka with Tokutake Hirofumi	2005-10-03 to present day
Ai say Hello	Mitsui Aika	2007-05-04 to present day
All Night Nippon	various guest appearances	1998-09-10 to present day
Berryz Koubou Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!	Berryz Koubou	2004-03-30 to present day
Hello! Music Latte	Kimura Ayaka	2005-04-?? to present day
°C-ute Yajima Maimi no I My Me ♡ Maimi~	Yajima Maimi	2006-07-04 to present day
Cutie☆Paradise	°C-ute	2008-10-29 to present day
FIVE STARS	Niigaki Risa & Kamei Eri (Mondays), Matsuura Aya (Tuesdays), and Tanaka Reina (Wednesdays)	2007-10-02 to present day
Girls Kiss	SI☆NA	2008-02-16 to present day
Guts10☆Gatas	Ongaku Gatas	2007-10-01 to present day
Konya mo Usa-chan Peace	Michishige Sayumi	2006-10-05 to present day
pop up inc.	various guest appearances	2003-04-?? to present day
Maeda Yuki no Music & Diary	Maeda Yuki	2007-07-?? to present day
Recomen	various semi-regular guest appearances	2003 to present day
Shindoru Parlor	various hosts	2000 to present day
Tokyo → Niigata Music Convoy	Melon Kinenbi	2005-10-03 to present day
Yaruki Manman!	various semi-regular guest appearances	2003 to present day
Young Town Douyoubi	various guest appearances	1997-11-02 to present day

Past Shows []

| Title | Host | Dates |-

All Night Nippon	Matsuura Aya	2005-03-30 to 2006-12-27
Anata ga Iru Kara Yaguchi Mari	Yaguchi Mari	2003-04-06 to 2005-03-27
B.B.L	v-u-den	2005-04-03 to 2006-09-30
Blend Kiss	Ayaka, Satoda Mai	2004-06-06 to 2005-06-26
Chanchaka Charmy	Ishikawa Rika	2004-04-01 to 2006-09-21
Chichuukai Sound Stroll	Iida Kaori with Aida Shoko	2005-04-02 to 2007-09-01
Coconut Kiss!	Kimura Ayaka	2006-01-04 to 2006-07-26
Colorful Pleasure	Melon Kinenbi	2003-??-?? to 2005-03-26
Cutie Party	°C-ute	2006-10-07 to 2008-09-27
Dokimiki Night	Fujimoto Miki	2002-10-13 to 2007-09-24
Ea-Moni	Abe Natsumi	2001 to 2003
Fujimoto Miki Heart Days Radio	Fujimoto Miki	2002-10-10 to 2003-03-27
FUN Field Mouretsu Mou-dash	Murata Megumi with rotating guests	2005-04-01 to 2008-03-28
GAKI*KAME	Niigaki Risa and Kamei Eri	2007-04-07 to 2008-09-27
HelloPro Yanen!	with rotating hosts	2004-02-06 to 2008-09-22
Ikinari Inaba, Yoroshiku Yossi	Yoshizawa Hitomi & Inaba Atsuko	2002-10-12 to 2004-03-27
Kibun wa Melon Melon	Shibata Ayumi	2002-01-03 to 2004-03-25
Kimama ni Classic	Nakazawa Yuko	2004-04-02 to 2006-03-31
Kiss the Coconuts!	Coconuts Musume	2001-??-?? to 2004-05-30
Konya mo Koushinchu	Iida Kaori	2001-04-?? to 2003-03-??
Konya mo Mankai	Tanpopo	2000-03-30 to 2001-04-12
Maeda Yuki no Yume Ongakukan	Maeda Yuki	2008-05-06 to 2008-06-30
Majiasa!	Nakazawa Yuko with Matsukaze Masaya	2005-10-02 to 2008-03-30
Matsuura Aya Let's do it!!	Matsuura Aya	2001-03-27 to 2005-03-27
Melonpa	Melon Kinenbi	2002-04-04 to 2004-03-23
Muratajio	Murata Megumi with rotating guests	2008-04-05 to 2008-06-28
Nanmara Saiko~Dabe.	Country Musume	2002-??-?? to 2004-03-25
Oh-So-Ro!	Tanpopo	2000-10-02 to 2003-09-23
Pucchi Moni Diver	Pucchi Moni	1999-10-04 to 2001-12-25
Super Morning Rider	Abe Natsumi	2000 to 2001
Tsunkuban	Tsunku	2001 to 2002

Radio Drama []

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Volume One (2003-10-29)

1. Nani mo nai Machi - Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto
2. Tameki to Kame - Yaguchi Mari, Yasuda Kei
3. Ame Yadori - Fujimoto Miki, Iida Kaori, Yoshizawa Hitomi

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Volume Two (2003-10-29)

1. Radio Friends - Goto Maki, Yaguchi Mari, Saitou Hitomi
2. Hoshizuna no Jima, Watashi no Jima Nakazawa Yuko, Matsuura Aya

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Volume Three (2004-03-31)

1. Onsen Iki no Bus Yurarete - Abe Natsumi, Inaba Atsuko, Tsuji Nozomi, Kago Ai
2. Aa Sakura Bashi - Konno Asami, Ishikawa Rika
3. Crepe no Iru Machi - Fujimoto Miki, Takahashi Ai, Niigaki Risa

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Volume Four (2004-06-09)

1. Gocchin x2 - Goto Maki, Inaba Atsuko
2. EMA - Yoshizawa Hitomi, Shibata Ayumi, Murata Megumi
3. THE☆BENGTOYAH - Yaguchi Mari, Ogawa Makoto, Fujimoto Miki, Konno Asami
4. Pantheon no Toko - Ishikawa Rika, Kamei Eri, Kago Ai

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Series Two Volume One (2004-07-14)

1. Sayonara Ashita - Ishikawa Rika, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Hamamura Jun
2. The • Miss Tsuutenkaku - Iida Kaori, Ohtani Masae, Saitou Hitomi
3. Ojiichan no Mukashibanashi - Konno Asami, Tanaka Reina, Hamamura Jun, Horiuchi Takao

Hello! Project Radio Drama CD Series Two Volume Two (2004-07-14)

1. Shimizu no Futai Kara - Tsuji Nozomi, Takahashi Ai, Inaba Atsuko
2. Dochinko Mangaishi - Abe Natsumi, Fujimoto Miki, Satoda Mai, Inaba Atsuko
3. Naniwa Angels - Nakazawa Yuko, Kago Ai, Matsuura Aya, Hamamura Jun, Horiuchi Takao

TV Shows[]

1999-01-05 to 2002-03-26 Idol wo Sagase! (アイドルをさがせ！)
2000-01-04 to 2000-09-29 Morning Musume no Heso (モーニング娘。のへそ)
2000-04-02 to 2007-04-01 Hello! Morning (ハロー！モーニング)
2000-10-02 to 2001-03-30 Bishoujo Nikki (美少女日記)
2001-04-02 to 2001-09-28 Bishoujo Kyouiku (美少女教育)
2001-10-01 to 2002-03-29 Shin Bishoujo Nikki (新・美少女日記)
2002-04-01 to 2002-09-27 Bishoujo Kyouiku II (美少女教育II)
2002-04-02 to 2002-12-24 Morning Musume Tsuushin (モーニング娘。通信)
2002-09-30 to 2003-03-28 Bishoujo Nikki III (美少女日記III)
2003-03-31 to 2003-09-27 Sexy Onnajyuku (セクシー女塾)
2003-09-29 to 2003-12-26 Soreyuke! Gorokkies (それゆけ!ゴロッキーズ)
2004-01-05 to 2004-04-02 Yoroshiku! Senpai (よろしく!センパイ)
2004-04-05 to 2004-10-01 Futarigoto (二人ゴト)
2004-10-04 to 2004-12-24 Majokko Rikachan no Magical Biyuuden (魔女っ娘。梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝)
2005-01-05 to 2005-04-01 Musume Document 2005 (娘。ドキュメント2005)
2005-04-04 to 2006-05-05 Musume DOKYU! (娘DOKYU!)
2006-03-03 to 2006-11-24 Hello Pro Hour (Online only)
2006-05-08 to 2006-09-29 Musume DOKYU! Eruda Yonchoume no Hitobito (娘DOKYU!～絵流田4丁目の人々～)
2006-10-02 to 2008-03-28 Uta Doki! Pop Classics (歌ドキッ！～ポップクラシックス～)
2006-11-04 to 2007-02-17 °C-ute has come.
2007-04-08 to 2008-09-28 Haromoni@
2008-03-31 to 2008-10-03 Berikyuu! (ベリキュー！)
2008-10-06 to Present Yorosen! (よろセン！)

External links[]

Official Website
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ãƒ�ãƒãƒ¼!ãƒ—ãƒã‚¸ã‚§ã‚¯ãƒˆ Japanese Wikipedia: ハロー!プロジェクト], English Wikipedia: Hello! Project
JpopMusic Forums: Hello! Project Resource Thread (Links, FAQ, & Questions), Hello! Project Release/Oricon Thread
Hello! Database - a database of information about Hello! Project (not up-to-date)
Hello! Project CD Sales Database (not up-to-date)
Luna Tech: Perpetual Hello! Project Age Calculator