Mihimaru GT

Overview

Mihimaru GT was a Japanese male-female duo made up of vocalist Hiroko and creator Miyake. Formed in 2003, they were signed to Universal Music Japan. Their signature song "Kibun Jojo" (気分上々↑↑) became a major hit in 2006 and earned them their first appearance on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen that year. The duo has been on indefinite hiatus since December 31, 2013.

The name combines the "mi" of Miyake, the "hi" of Hiroko, "maru" (as found at the end of ship names) and "GT" from Gran Turismo.

Members

• Hiroko: main vocals, rap, lyrics and composition
• Miyake: vocals, rap, keyboards, programming, guitar, lyrics, composition and arrangement
• Keith Haines (1963–2018): support keyboardist

Career

Formation and debut

Hiroko, who had aspired to be a vocalist since childhood, met Miyake, a creator who had supplied songs to many well-known artists, and they formed Mihimaru GT in 2003. They debuted on July 30 with the single "Yakusoku" (約束). In the early days they played on the street and in live houses and clubs, and endured a long stretch of little recognition until "Kibun Jojo" took off.

2006: the breakthrough

"Kibun Jojo" was released on May 3, 2006. Used in a hair color commercial in which the two appeared, it became a big hit and led to their first appearance on TV Asahi's Music Station. That year they received the Gold Artist Award at the Best Hit Kayosai 2006, the Yusen Music Award at the 39th Japan Yusen Taisho, and the Gold Prize at the 48th Japan Record Awards. On December 31 they made their first appearance at the 57th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, opening for the red team. The song later passed one million downloads in the 2010s.

2007–2010

In 2007 they won another Gold Artist Award at the Best Hit Kayosai 2007 for "Gazen Yeah!" (俄然Yeah!) and returned to the 58th Kohaku with the same song. That year Hiroko and Miyake also provided voices in the film Doraemon: Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld – The Seven Magic Users, as a girl and a delivery man respectively. On November 24, 2008 they closed a national tour with a concert at Nippon Budokan, and in December "Girigiri Hero" won the Excellence Award at the 50th Japan Record Awards. In 2009 "Switch" was used for the World Table Tennis Championships in Japan. After an extended break, they held a comeback concert at Yokohama Arena on July 3, 2010. Their later single "Masterpiece" served as a main theme for the TV anime Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal.

Hiatus and afterward

On March 20, 2013 they announced an indefinite hiatus starting December 31 of that year. They appeared as guests at Momoiro Clover Z's Seibu Dome concert on April 13, and held their last concert, mihimaLIVE2013 10th Anniversary Live, at Shibuya Public Hall on September 22. The hiatus began on December 31, 2013. In October 2018, longtime support keyboardist Keith Haines died, and both members posted tributes on social media. On April 12, 2021, Hiroko announced her intention to resume activities.

Musical style

Mihimaru GT was known for urban and pop-oriented songs as well as slow ballads. Hiroko was usually responsible for a song's main melody, while Miyake supplied the rap, and both were involved in every song in some way; they often recorded songs featuring only one member. "H.P.S.J." was used as an ending theme for the anime Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and "Kibun Jojo" has appeared in several rhythm games.