PRINCESS PRINCESS

Overview

PRINCESS PRINCESS (affectionately known as "Puri-Puri") is a five-piece Japanese girl band active from 1983 to 1996 and again from 2012 to 2016. Best known for "Diamonds" and "Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Natsu" ("The Hottest Summer in the World"), they are regarded as one of the most commercially successful all-female bands in Japan. Earlier, they performed as "Akasaka Komachi" and "Julian Mama".

The lineup: Kaori Kishitani (née Okui; vocals, guitar), Kanako Nakayama (guitar, backing vocals), Atsuko Watanabe (leader; bass, backing vocals), Tomoko Konno (keyboards, backing vocals) and Kyoko Tomita (drums, backing vocals). Okui wrote the majority of the music, while Nakayama and Tomita largely shared lyric duties.

Career

Formation and early years (1983–1985)

In 1983 TDK Records held an open audition of about 1,400 hopefuls and selected five members, who lived together in Nishi-Nippori, Tokyo, for over two years. Originally named Akasaka Komachi, they played their first live show at Yamano Hall in Ginza on May 29, 1983 and debuted with the single "Hokago Jugyo" on March 21, 1984. Around then Okui switched to vocals and guitar and Watanabe to bass. In 1985, uneasy with idol-style work and facing musical differences, they moved to a new agency and became Julian Mama, releasing no records.

Re-debut (1986–1987)

In May 1986, renamed PRINCESS PRINCESS under producer Toru Okada (of Moonriders), the band re-debuted on CBS Sony with the mini-album Kiss de Crime. Shinko Music took notice; employee Emiko Ichimura, convinced by their live show, persuaded the company's president, and the band joined Shinko in November. Their April 1987 single "Koi wa Balance" had lyrics by Nakayama and music by Kisaburo Suzuki; afterwards the band insisted on releasing self-written material. The album Teleportation also came out in 1987.

Breakthrough (1988–1989)

In 1988, "My Will" gained attention as a commercial song and led to their first appearance on Fuji TV's Yoru no Hit Studio. They released "19 Growing Up -ode to my buddy-" in February, the album Here We Are (February) and Let's Get Crazy (November). "Go Away Boy", a Shiseido summer campaign song, reached the Oricon top 20. In April they achieved their goal of playing Shibuya Public Hall, selling out in two hours. In January 1989 they became the first all-female group to play the Nippon Budokan, and held a New Year show there every year until 1996.

April 1989's "Diamonds" hit No. 1 on Oricon and became a million-seller, winning the 22nd Japan Cable Awards; they declined an NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen invitation because of scheduling. In July "Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Natsu" was reissued on CD and also reached No. 1. In August they staged their first stadium show at Seibu Stadium, and the November album Lovers became their first No. 1 album and a million-seller. In autumn 1989, a dispute over a host's remarks on Yoru no Hit Studio Super led the members to refuse further appearances on the show.

Nationwide tours and later years (1990–1993)

The 1990 "PANIC TOUR '90" covered every prefecture with 62 shows at 56 venues; "Oh Yeah!" was written as its anthem. The December album Princess Princess included solo songs by Konno and Nakayama. "Kiss" (May 1991) was their last No. 1 single, and Dolls in Action followed in December. In 1992 Konno took leave for sudden hearing loss in May, returning in June, and the compilation Singles 1987-1992 appeared in July. 1993 brought Bee-Beep (January), the drama theme "Dakara Honey" (May) and Majestic (late 1993), with a more mature, easy-listening tone.

Solo projects and breakup (1994–1996)

Konno debuted as a soloist in 1994, and other members followed. The band informed industry staff of its decision to disband in April 1995 and announced it in October with the single "Fly Baby Fly"; differing views about trying new things versus keeping their image, and Okui's struggles with songwriting, were among the reasons. Their final album was The Last Princess (1995), the farewell tour slogan was "Let's play at breaking up", and they disbanded in 1996. Okui later married actor Goro Kishitani and took the name Kaori Kishitani.

Reunion (2012–2016)

Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, they reunited to cheer up Japan, initially for 2012 only, with activity continuing until 2016.

Musical style

A pop/rock band with roots in kayokyoku and J-POP, PRINCESS PRINCESS insisted on writing their own songs after their first outside-composed single. Okui contributed over two-thirds of the music, with Nakayama and Tomita splitting lyrics. Early work centered on rock anthems, while later material turned toward mature, easy-listening themes.