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w-inds. (ウィンズ, U-inzu) is a Japanese pop vocal group. They are popular in Japan, and have performed in shows such as the annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a Japanese programme inviting only the top-selling artistes of the year. Their first hit was Forever Memories.

History

From 2000 November every week on Sunday, they started having street performance at Yoyogi park and Shibuya. Not long after, they debuted on March 2001. 8,000 people were mobilized at Shibuya heaven to watch them live. Their 1st album, “w-inds.~1st message~” came out on the same year and topped the Oricon Chart within the first day of its release.

Members

Name: Ryohei Chiba
Role: Rap, background singer, dancer
Birth date: 18 November 1984
Birth place: Hokkaido

Name: Keita Tachibana
Role: Vocalist and dancer
Birth date: 16 December 1985
Birth Place: Fukuoka
Height: 183cm

Name: Ryuichi Ogata
Role: Rap, background singer, dancer
Birth date: 17 December 1985
Birth place: Hokkaido

Information

w-inds. has a wide and strong fan base around Asia. They are especially popular in Taiwan and was the only Japanese artiste to be invited to perform on MTV Mandarin Awards in Taiwan in Sep. 2006. They have held concerts in Taiwan twice (2004 and 2005) both receiving great response from fans. In 2004, their concert tickets sold out within 23 minutes and that set a record in Taiwan for the "artiste with the fastest selling tickets", as not even one Taiwanese artiste was able to beat that. Several popular Taiwanese celebrities have attended their concerts as well.

They have been to China to perform in 2002 and has taken part in a China-Japan music festival in 2006. Just this year(2007) in March, they flew to Beijing to participate in another China-Japan music festival along with 2 other Japanese artistes. They have held video conferences in Hong Kong, and on July 2, they are joining the Pop Rock Gala celebrating the 10 anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, for which they bring forward their rehearsing for the annual summer tour.

They hold summer live tours around Japan every year since 2002.

They were also the only Japanese artists to perform in MKMF, a music awards show in Korea in 2006.

They have won 5 awards in 2006 altogether. 3 in Japan, 1 in Korea, and another in Taiwan.

The main vocalist, Keita Tachibana, debuted with a solo single, Michishirube in 18 October, 2006. Contrary to the rumours, Keita has confirmed that w-inds. is not disbanding despite his solo career.

They are featured in various magazines in Japan and throughout Asia, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan etc. They are also often invited to perform in Popjam, CDTV and Music Fighter. Besides, they always win polls conducted by Junon(Japanese magazine) for their good looks and talents.

All their singles and studio albums up to date, have all made into the top 10 positions in the Oricon Charts.

Achievements

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・2001年　第43回日本レコード大賞優秀新人賞受賞(43rd Japan Record, Best Newcomer Award)
・2002年　第39回ゴールデン・アロー賞　音楽新人賞(39th Golden Award, Newcomer Award)
・2002年　第16回日本ゴールドディスク大賞ニューアーティストオブザイヤー(16th Japan Gold Disk, New Artiste Award)
・2002年　第44回日本レコード大賞金賞受賞(44th Japan Record, Gold Award)
・2002年 Performed on 紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen)
・2003年　第45回日本レコード大賞金賞受賞(45th Japan Record, Gold Award)
・2003年 Performed on 紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen)
・2004年 Performed on 紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen)
・2005年　第47回日本レコード大賞金賞受賞(47th Japan Record, Gold Award)
・2005年 Golden Artist at Best Hits Song (Kayousai) Festival
・2005年 Performed on 紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen)
・2006年　MTV　Mandarin　Awards　2006　(台湾) 「The　Most　Popular　Group　Of　Japan」受賞(in Taiwan)
・2006年　MTV　Student　Voice　Awards 「2006　最優秀　ダンスアーティスト賞」受賞(Best Dance Artiste Award)
・2006年　Mnet　KM　Music　Festival　2006 (韓国) 「Best　Asia　Pop　Artist」受賞(in Korea)
・2006年　発表! 第39回　日本有線大賞 「有線音楽賞」受賞(TBS-39th Japanese Cable Grand Prize)
・2006年　第48回 輝く!日本レコード大賞「金賞」受賞(48th Japan Record, Gold Award)
・2006年 Golden Artist at Best Hits Song (Kayousai) Festival
・2006年 Performed on 紅白歌合戦 (Kōhaku Uta Gassen)

Discography

Singles

Albums

DVDs

1. "Private of w-inds." (6 February 2002) -  ??? copies sold
2. "Works vol.1" (20 March 2002) -  ??? copies sold
3. w-inds.1st Live Tour"1st message" (17 October 2002) -  ??? copies sold
4. "Works vol.2" (23 April 2003) - 21,247 copies sold
5. w-inds."THE SYSTEM OF ALIVE"Tourl 2003 (6 November 2003) - 22,611 copies sold
6. "Works vol.3" (21 April 2004) - 31,076 copies sold
7. w-inds."PRIME OF LIFE"Tour 2004 (15 December 2004) - 29,202 copies sold
8. "w-inds.tv" (16 February 2005) -  ??? copies sold
9. "Works vol.4" (20 July 2005) - 24,999 copies sold
10. w-inds.LIVE TOUR 2005“ageha” (14 December 2005) - 30,486 copies sold
11. "Works vol.5" (20 September 2006) - 22,363 copies sold
12. w-inds. LIVE TOUR 2006 "THANKS" (20 December 2006 - Debut: 22,375 Total: 28,020

Movies

• Star Light (2002年5月15日 VHS/DVD)
• ナースのお仕事 ザ・ムービー (2002年12月18日 VHS/DVD)

Photobooks

1. w-inds. (2001年9月30日)
2. w-inds. "move!"(2002年1月18日)
3. w-inds. THE STAGE!(2002年9月20日)
4. w-inds. Keita-1st personal photobook(2002年11月1日)
5. w-inds. Ryohei-1st personal photobook(2002年11月22日)
6. w-inds. Ryuichi―1st personal photobook(2002年12月6日)
7. w-inds. Meets JUNON(2003年9月13日)
8. w-inds. Tour(2004年10月8日)
9. w-inds. Live Tour “ageha” The Document(2005年10月28日)
10. w-inds. vacanza(2006年8月4日)

Trivia

- WaT and King Kong are known to be very good friends of w-inds.
- Ryohei thinks that brown hair suits Keita the most.
- Fans voted the Trial's hairstyle as their favourite.

References

• Oricon yearly single charts Top 100
• Livedoor
• http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/
• w-inds. Livejournal Community

See also

• List of bands from Japan

External links

• Official w-inds. Website
• Keita Tachibana's Solo Website
• W-inds' Wiki.theppn article
• w-inds.swept || Unofficial North American w-inds. Fan Club
• Feel to w-inds. : w-inds. Unofficial Thailand Fansite
• English Translations and Sung versions of w-inds
• w-inds.
• The Use of Gender and Sexuality in the Marketing of w-inds.
• China w-inds. fan club
• w-inds. FC in Vietnam
• w-inds.website
• Keita Solo for w-inds.website

• Boy bands
• J-pop