You Kikkawa Explained

You Kikkawa
Native Name:吉川 友
Native Name Lang:ja
Alias:Kikka, Kobeni Hanasaki starring You Kikkawa
Birth Date:1 May 1992
Birth Place:Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Genre:J-pop
Years Active:2007–present
Label:Zetima, Universal J

[1] is a Japanese singer and actress. Kikkawa achieved early fame portraying Kobeni Hanasaki from Kirarin Revolution Stage 3 and later debuted as a solo singer with the song, "Kikkake wa You!"

Career

2006–2010: Pre-debut, Kirarin Revolution

Kikkawa auditioned for Morning Musume's 8th generation in 2006 and was one of six finalists out of 6,883 applicants.[2] Despite not making the group, she was accepted into Hello! Project's trainee group, Hello Pro Egg, in 2007.[3] [4] Prior to joining, she had done minor theatre work.

In 2008, Kikkawa provided the voice to Kobeni Hanasaki in Kirarin Revolution Stage 3.[5] She became part of the in-show subgroup MilkyWay with Koharu Kusumi from Morning Musume and Sayaka Kitahara from Hello Pro Egg. Kikkawa also released songs for the soundtrack under the name "Kobeni Hanasaki starring You Kikkawa."[6] She also made televised and concert appearances portraying Kobeni in real life.

2011–present: Solo debut

In 2011, Kikkawa debuted as a solo singer with the song "Kikkake wa You!"

She appeared in the 2011 film Cheerfu11y.[7]

In 2013, she played the role of Chava in the Japanese production of Fiddler on the Roof.

On May 6, 2015, Kikkawa releases her 9th single, "Hana", which is the longest single among idol artists in Japan, with about 17 and a half minutes in length, with strong influences of Takarazuka.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN
One for You
  • Released: January 18, 2012
  • Label: Universal J
  • Formats: CD
9[8]
Two You
  • Released: April 24, 2013
  • Label: Universal J
  • Formats: CD
59[9]
You the 3rd: Wildflower
  • Released: October 14, 2015
  • Label: Universal J
  • Formats: CD
55[10]

Cover albums

Singles

Regular singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleDatePeak chart positionsSales (JPN)RIAJ
certification[13]
Album
JPN
[14]
"Kikkake wa You"May 11, 20119One for You
"Hapirapi (Sunrise)"October 5, 20114
"Konna Watashi de Yokattara"December 28, 201116
"Koko kara Hajimarun da"July 11, 201225Two You
"Darling to Madonna"September 26, 201218
"Sekaijū ni Kimi wa Hitori dake"January 16, 201319
"Urahara Temptation"June 25, 201417You the 3rd: Wildflower
"Amai Melody"October 29, 201416
"Hana"May 6, 201515
"Ha wo Kuishibare"
"Charming Shōbu Sedai"
June 25, 201423Non-album singles
"Sayonara, Standard"May 24, 201731
"Distortion"
"Tokimeita no ni Through"
January 17, 201821
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Digital singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleDatePeak chart positionsSales (JPN)RIAJ
certification
JPN
"Neo Sugar Sugar You"May 23, 2018
"Saikō no Onna"September 12, 2018
"Kawaisōna Onna"March 2, 2019
"Koi"May 1, 2019
"Yoake"July 31, 2019
"Tokai no Onna"March 10, 2020
"#Himatsubushi "June 3, 2020
"Taboo"December 10, 2020
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Kaidan Shin Mimi Bukuro KaikiYuko HitotsugiLead role in "Tsukimono"
2011Cheerfu11yKanna IshikawaLead role
Kikkake wa You!HerselfLead role

Television

Tours

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kikkawa You Official website. November 23, 2012. Hello! Project. ja. November 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121109163627/http://www.kikkawayou.com/. dead.
  2. ハロー!モーニング。 . TV Tokyo . December 10, 2006 . ja.
  3. Web site: Up-Front Agency profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722220858/http://www.up-front-agency.co.jp/artist/kikkawa-you/profile.php. dead. July 22, 2011. Up-Front Agency Co., Ltd.. Japan. ja . May 10, 2011.
  4. Web site: List of people appearing at the May 13, 2007 Hello! Project new members concert. April 7, 2007. Hello! Project. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20070621101255/http://www.helloproject.com/sarutori/profile/index.html. June 21, 2007.
  5. Web site: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/contents/kirarin/staff/index.html. ja:あにてれ:きらりん☆レボリューション. TV Tokyo. June 21, 2017. ja.
  6. News: https://natalie.mu/music/news/14012 . ja:のえる&こべにソロ収録!きらレボ楽曲集第5弾 . ja . . March 4, 2009 . December 19, 2018.
  7. Web site: Stars of Cheerfu11y appear at a premium screening of their movie. simplymissj. October 13, 2011. October 14, 2011. Tokyohive.
  8. Web site: One for YOU!(初回限定盤) . ja . . December 18, 2018 .
  9. Web site: Two YOU(初回限定盤) . ja . . December 18, 2018 .
  10. Web site: YOU the 3rd.~WILDFLOWER~(初回限定盤) . ja . . December 18, 2018 .
  11. Web site: Best of YOU!(初回限定盤) . ja . . December 18, 2018 .
  12. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/460663/products/992891/1/ . ja:ボカリスト?(初回限定盤) . ja . . December 18, 2018 .
  13. Web site: ゴールドディスク認定 . . Japanese . 2021-04-13.
  14. Web site: 吉川友 . May 26, 2017 . . 2021-05-01.
  15. News: https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000155938 . ja:吉川友、初バンドツアー開幕。“甘いきっか”と“甘くないきっか”で死角なし . ja . BARKS . June 5, 2018 . December 19, 2018.