Hopes and Dreams
Hopes and Dreams | |
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 Hopes and Dreams in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Nazudo, Haruhata |
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| Years active | 2006-2021 |
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Hopes and Dreams (Japanese: 希望と夢; Hepburn: Kibō To Yume), also known as KBTY is a Haruhati girl group formed by Shinba Records. The group is composed of eleven members: Aoka, Sakura, Sorahi, Yako, Honoka, Shia, Nijika, Chiai, Hikari, Manaka and Itoha. Hopes and Dreams is regarded as Haruhata's most popular idol group having sold more records than any other group in Haruhati history. Hopes and Dreams has earned numerous accolades and the honorific nickname "The Messengers of Nation's Future" in their home country for the group's impact on Haruhata's cultural and political landscape.
Hopes and Dreams debuted May 15, 2006, with the single "Watashi no Shin Hi" from their debut EP "My New Day". The group rose to fame in 2008 with the single "Arai Crystal". The group maintained their success throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, being the highest selling musical act in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2021. The group also became the first idol group to sell over one million records in a single year, doing so in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
With over 11 million record sales in Haruhata, Hopes and Dreams is one of the best selling musical artists in Haruhata of all time, as well as the best selling musical group of all time. Hopes and Dreams is the most successful musical artist in the history of the Calico Combined Charts with 51 number-one singles and 23 number-one albums, the most of any musical artist in Haruhati history. They have also been recognised for their cultural impact, shaping fashion and music of the 2010s and early 2020s, as well as shifting public opinion on LGBT rights in Haruhata, becoming one of the first Haruhati artists to publically express support for LGBT rights. Hopes and Dreams is recognised as Haruhata's most successful music group of all time.
Name
The group's name is Kibō To Yume (希望と夢) meaning Hopes and Dreams, where the english name of the group is derived from. They are also known as KBTY, an abbreviated form of the group's Japanese-language name. The name showcases the groups desire to give hope for the future.
Career
1998-2006: Formation and debut
Prior to the group's debut, Hopes and Dreams was conceptualized in 1998 by Shinba Records CEO Tōji Fujiwara after the birth of his daughter, aiming to create an idol group that would inspire his daughter to become a strong woman who would follow her dreams. However, Shinba's small size and financial situation meant the idea would be postponed until much later.
The first member to be added to Hopes and Dreams was Aoka Kitazume in 2003, having trained under the company since 2000. Other members would be added to the group via a nationwide audition process in 2004, with Sakura Miyagahara, Yako Ebihara, Honoka Saito, Shia Kobayashi, Nijika Imaizumi and Hikari Aita alongside three other singers passing the auditions. However, following the departure of three members, Manaka Ito was scouted at the theme park by a Shinba scout, and then auditioned in 2005. Itoha Seki was transferred to the label in 2005 after being kicked out from Cassini Records' new idol group.
In February 2006, Hopes and Dreams were revealed at Seiga Idol Con 2006, where they had their first live stage performance as a ten-piece group. They performed what would become their second single, "Kibō To Yume".
Following their stage debut, Sorahi Harada, was recommended to the label by Aoka Kitazume in 2006, becoming a last minute edition to the group before their official debut.
On May 15, 2006, Hopes and Dreams officially made their debut with their first single, "Watashi no Shin Hi" (私の新日). The group promoted the single by performing on HaruTV's SHIDOL. Despite underwhelming sales, Hopes and Dreams subsequently released their debut EP My New Day on August 9, 2006, preceded by "Watashi no Shin Hi" and the digital single "Kibō To Yume" (希望と夢). Despite achieving cult status in later years, the EP sold under 1,000 copies in 2006, peaking at 60 on the Calico Combined Albums Chart. The group followed up the EP with the single "Saiai" (最愛) on November 20.
2007: Rising popularity and Shōjo Sekai
Despite falling sales since debut, "Girl World", released January 4, 2007, marked the first single to sell over 1,000 records, as well as Hopes and Dreams' first Calico Physical Singles Chart appearance, peaking at 70. Subsequent singles "Love, Live, Last", released March 21 and "Class:HOPE!!", released June 20 continued the group's rising sales trend, as well as being the group's first appearance on both the Calico Digital Singles Chart and Combined Singles Chart. Following another single, Hopes and Dreams released their debut album Shōjo Sekai on September 10, 2007. The album became a minor success, only just reaching the top 10 of the Calico Combined Album Chart.
2008-2009: Breakthrough, Watashitachi no Jidai and Summer Boo
Following the success of their debut album, Hopes and Dreams held their first live concert, 1-Nichi-me, to promote Shōjo Sekai.
Though the group's popularity was steadily growing, it skyrocketed following the release of "Sakura Chiru To Ki", released February 26. It became the first single to break the top 5 on all Calico charts, as well as selling over 10 thousand physical units in the first week. These achievements were soon topped by their subsequent single "Arai Crystal", which peaked at 2 on the Calico Combined Singles Chart. The success of the prior two singles prompted Hopes and Dreams' first national tour, Watashi no Shin Hi, the group performing in 9 locations to over 24,000 people. The tour was then released on DVD, becoming the best selling music DVD of 2008.
The group also released their first christmas single, the double A-side "GOOD MORNING / Christmas Dream". "GOOD MORNING" became Hopes and Dreams first number 1 single on any Calico Chart, topping all 3 and becoming the group's best selling single of the time.
2010-2011: Love Fantasia, hiatus and worldwide recognition
2012-2014: THE IMPOSSIBLE
Artistry
Legacy
Endorsements
Discography
- Shōjo Sekai (2007)
- Watashitachi no Jidai (2009)
- Natsuyasumi (2009)
- Love Fantasia (2010)
- Fukanō (2012)
- The Most Beautiful Moment Of All (2013)
- Kibō To Yume (2014)
- Graduation Day (2015)
- 11 (2018)
- Happy Endings (2021)