Kamen Joshi

Kamen Joshi (仮面女子), meaning "Masked Girls" in Japanese language, is a Japanese girl group consisted of three smaller teams with several members for each.[1][2] They are called "Masked Girls" because each member of the group wears a mask which covers up their face when performing. They do take off their masks when they need to show off their face on TV and other medias. Unlike normal idols, it is easier for fans to go out and see the girls while Kamen Joshi performs daily at the P.A.R.M.S theater in Akihabara.

Kamen Joshi
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresJ-Pop, electropop, heavy metal, rock
Years active2013 (2013)–present
LabelsAlice Project (agency)
Destroy Records (studio)
Associated actsAlice Juban
Steam Girls
Armor Girls
Websitewww.alice-project.biz/kamenjoshi

Kamen Joshi became the first independent female artist to achieve a number-one single on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart in January 2015, achieving sales figures of over 130,000 copies of their single "Genkidane☆".

During the 2016 United States presidential election campaigning period, Kamen Joshi released a video voicing their support of Donald Trump, with a disclaimer stating that the video is only "entertainment", and "does not represent the political thoughts and beliefs of the members and their affiliated offices."[3]

Members

The group includes the members of Alice Juban (ja), Steam Girls (ja) and Armor Girls (ja),[4] three separate groups with their own distinct images and sounds. All three groups regularly perform at their exclusive Alice Project theater in Pasela, Akihabara.

Alice Juban

The first of the Kamen Joshi groups to be formed, Alice Juban's music often includes metal breakdowns and rap sections. All members wear Jason Voorhees-style hockey masks and wield a selection of prop weapons ranging from chainsaws to giant scissors.

  • Anna Tachibana (ja)
  • Nodoka Sakura (ja)
  • Kanon Mori
  • Nanaka Kawamura
  • Yuki Sakura (ja)

Steam Girls

Steam Girls was formed as Alice Juban's official sister and rival group. Though their first song "destiny" was a pop-rock number, since the release of "HIGH and LOW" in 2013 their music has come to incorporate more sounds from electronic and dance music. The members wear gas masks and leg warmers in a style combining elements from steampunk and cybergoth fashion. On stage, they carry distinctive prop guns that fire laser beams and clouds of dry ice together, creating a vivid on-stage effect.

  • Sara Kurose (ja)
  • Erina Kamiya (ja)
  • Mai Mizusawa
  • Mana Sakamoto
  • Yuuka Kojima
  • Tomoka Igari

Armor Girls

Armor Girls was formed after Alice Juban and Steam Girls had already released two singles as Kamen Joshi, making them the most recent addition to the group. Their masks are medieval armour helmets with visors, and they carry prop swords. Musically, Armor Girls' songs incorporate elements from Irish and Celtic folk music, leading to a unique sound they call "mori rock", or "forest rock".

  • Misa Kubota
  • Moa Tsukino
  • Mayu Kusunoki
  • Hitomi Momose
  • Maki Kitamura
  • Yua Yamashita

Discography

Singles
Release date Title Oricon[note 1] Ref.
March 6, 2013 "Kamen Joshi" 13 [5]
December 11, 2013 "Mousou Nikki" 4 [6]
January 1, 2015 "Genkidane" 1 [7]
January 3, 2017 "Kamen Tairiku ~Personia~/ISUMI ~Shikisai no Machi de~" 2 [8]

DVDs
Release date Title Oricon Ref.
May 2, 2016 "Kamen Joshi One-Man Live Chikyu no Oheso in Saitama Super Arena" 13 [9]
gollark: I have a customized ulyricizer script.
gollark: !tr 10
gollark: Oh, NOW the autodeleter works.
gollark: !tr 10
gollark: ABR autodelyrifies it.

References
  1. Peak ranking on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart.
  1. ボブ・サップが仮面女子のライブに乱入　立花あんなに催眠術を実施. www.billboard-japan.com (in Japanese). November 25, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  2. "Oricon Weekly Charts for 12/29 ~ 1/4". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  3. KAMEN JOSHI :IDOL MAGIC FOR TRUMP M-A-G-A!, retrieved 2020-04-25
  4. メンバー. www.alice-project.biz (in Japanese). Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  5. 仮面女子. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  6. "妄想日記(Type-A)". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. "元気種☆(Type-A)". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  8. "仮面大陸～ペルソニア～/ISUMI～四季彩の街で～[Type-A]". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  9. 仮面女子ワンマンライブ in さいたまスーパーアリーナ. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
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