AAA

Overview

AAA (pronounced Triple A, short for "Attack All Around") is a Japanese mixed-gender pop and performance group signed to Avex Trax, which debuted on September 14, 2005 with the single "Blood on Fire". The name means "challenging everything", and the label markets the group as a "super performance unit". The group went on hiatus on December 31, 2020, briefly resumed activity from November 20 to December 25, 2021, and became the first mixed-gender act to complete a six-dome tour. The fan club operation ended on December 26, 2022.

Career

Formation and debut (2002-2005)

Uno Misako passed the Avex Audition 2002, and in 2003 Takahiro Nishijima, Naoya Urata, Mitsuhiro Hidaka, Shinjiro Atae and Shuta Sueyoshi joined as trainees. Yukari Goto joined when AAA was officially announced in April 2005, and Chiaki Ito was added on June 15, making eight members. AAA debuted with "Blood on Fire", used as the theme of the live-action Initial D movie, and won Best Newcomer at the 47th Japan Record Awards.

2006-2012

Their first album, Attack, arrived on January 1, 2006, and the fan club "AAA Party" opened in June. Goto left in June 2007 for health reasons, making AAA a septet; that year the group appeared at Otakon 2007 in Baltimore, their first overseas venture. "Climax Jump", a Kamen Rider Den-O tie-up released as "AAA Den-O Form", was certified Gold. "Mirage" gave them their first Oricon weekly number one single in 2008, alongside the compilation Attack All Around. The 2009 album DepArture peaked at number four. In 2010 "Aitai Riyu / Dream After Dream", with composer Tetsuya Komuro, hit number one and led to their first Kohaku Uta Gassen invitation. The best album #AAABEST (2011) was their first number one album, and Eighth Wonder (2013) was their first original album to top the chart; they appeared on the 64th Kohaku as the first act ever to switch teams, joining the red team.

2013-2018

"Wake up!" became an opening theme of One Piece in 2014. In 2015, for their tenth anniversary, they released seven months in a row, held their first Asia tour, issued AAA 10th ANNIVERSARY BEST (number one) and drew about 50,000 to an outdoor show at Fuji-Q Highland. Their first dome shows followed in 2016 at Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka. WAY OF GLORY came in 2017, when Chiaki Ito left the group, and COLOR A LIFE in 2018.

2019 onward

Naoya Urata announced his departure, leaving five members. The single "BAD LOVE" was released in 2019, followed in February 2020 by AAA 15th Anniversary All Time Best -thanx AAA lot-, and the group paused activities on December 31, 2020. In December 2021 they returned for the AAA DOME TOUR 15th ANNIVERSARY -thanx AAA lot-, with live releases following. In 2026 Takahiro Nishijima announced his departure to focus on throat treatment.

Musical style

AAA excels at songs about love, encouragement and summer, and released concept albums such as Ballad Collection (2013), AAA 夏うたBEST and AAA Start Up応援ソングBEST (2014). "Koine to Amazora" is regarded as a love song that works for romance. The group received songs from varied writers including Tetsuya Komuro and GReeeeN. Their live shows blend singing and dance with acrobatics and theater, and their activities link closely with fashion.