Momoiro Clover Z

Overview

Momoiro Clover Z (ももいろクローバーZ), commonly known as MCZ or Momoclo, is a Japanese four-member idol group under Stardust Promotion. Together with Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku and Chotokimeki Sendenbu, it forms the STAR PLANET collective. In 2014 the group became the first female act to hold a solo concert at National Stadium, drawing 110,000 people over two days. It has twice topped the annual live-attendance ranking among female artists; in 2016 about 636,000 fans attended its concerts, the most ever for a Japanese female group. In 2013 it grossed over ¥5.2 billion, the fourth highest among Japanese music artists, and it has sold more than 3 million physical copies in Japan. The group marked its 15th major-debut anniversary in 2025.

Its trademark is writing a "Z" in the air with a pointing gesture, and its fans are known as "Mononofu." All four members served as Tokyo Olympics torchbearers, and the group's starring film Maku ga Agaru earned the Topic Award at the 39th Japan Academy Film Prize, among other honors.

Career history

Formation and street performances (2007–2008)

In October 2007 the agency launched its first full-fledged idol group project, though little public activity followed. The group's official founding date is May 17, 2008, when it first performed "Ano Sora e Mukatte" at an audition event at Kawasaki Azalea. Named Momoiro Clover to suggest innocent girls who want to bring happiness, the members were all students and active mainly on weekends, earning the nickname "Weekend Heroines." From July they performed on the streets of Yoyogi Park, later at Iidabashi station building. Lineup changes were frequent, and in autumn the leader role passed from Reni Takagi to Kanako Momota. Early on, the group followed a Japanese-style concept with kimono, yukata and traditional instruments.

Yamada Denki tour and major debut (2009–2010)

In March 2009 the group became a five-member unit of Takagi, Momota, Akari Hayami, Shiori Tamai and Ayaka Sasaki. To promote the indie single "Momoiro Punch," they toured Japan by minivan during school holidays, giving 104 concerts at 24 Yamada Denki stores. Momoka Ariyasu joined as a sixth member mid-tour. Sold only at live events, the single still reached No. 11 on Oricon's daily chart and No. 23 weekly. In March 2010 the group declared goals of topping Oricon, appearing on Kohaku Uta Gassen and performing at Budokan. Its major-label debut "Ikuze! Kaito Shojo" came in May, debuting at No. 1 daily and No. 3 weekly. It then moved to King Records, releasing "Pinky Jones," composed by Narasaki of Coaltar of the Deepers. Its first hall concert at Nihon Seinenkan (1,300 seats) on December 24 sold out in 30 minutes.

Name change and rise (2011 onward)

In January 2011 sub-leader Akari Hayami announced her departure, and at her April 10 graduation concert the group became Momoiro Clover Z. The "Z" signals ultimateness, as in Mazinger Z and Dragon Ball Z, and the group has cited Dragon Ball Z as a direct reference. The first single "Z Densetsu: Owarinaki Kakumei" featured superhero-sentai-inspired outfits and visuals. The debut album Battle and Romance (July 2011) won the Grand Prix at the CD Shop Awards in February 2012, a first for an idol group. A Christmas 2011 concert at Saitama Super Arena followed, and the group later achieved its dreams of playing Budokan and appearing on Kohaku. After the 2014 National Stadium concerts came a 2015 recording with Kiss, and in 2016 the first overseas tour, Trans America Ultra Live, in Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York. Ariyasu left on January 21, 2018, leaving the current four members. The group also hosts the annual local-revitalization live Momoclo Haru no Ichidaiji, has supported Onagawa and Kumamoto earthquake recovery, and in 2020 donated a total of ¥20 million.

Recent activity (2023 onward)

The live album Yoyogi Mugendai Kinenbi (recorded May 17, 2023) arrived in August 2023, followed by "Chikai Mirai" in October and a mashup with Ken Matsudaira and TeddyLoid, "Matsuken Samba II x Ikuze! Kaito Shojo," in December. In 2024 the group released "Brand New Day," "Heroes," "Cross Dimension" with Hypnosis Mic's Division Leaders, the album Idola, "Renasser Serenade" and "Yawaku Koishite," plus a live album of its Christmas 2023 Saitama Super Arena show in November. It also shared the stage with Southern All Stars at Rock in Japan Festival 2024. In 2025 came "Acceleration," "Event Horizon" and "Cosmic Commotion" with PAS TASTA.

Musical style

MCZ is known for high-energy performances blending ballet, gymnastics and action-movie elements. Every show is sung live, with no lip-syncing and no lyric prompter. Its repertoire leans toward uplifting songs about dreams and passion, and it has provided theme music for anime including Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball and Pokémon. Songs from rock figures such as Tomoyasu Hotei and Toshihiko Takamizawa, the Kiss collaboration and an Ozzfest appearance have won over rock fans. Members are identified by colors, red, yellow, pink and purple, in the spirit of Super Sentai, and large shows feature the DOWNTOWN MOMOCLO BAND. The current members are Kanako Momota (leader), Shiori Tamai, Ayaka Sasaki and Reni Takagi.