Magnolia Factory

Magnolia Factory (こぶしファクトリー, Kobushi Fakutori) was a Japanese girl idol group, formed by Up Front Group under the umbrella of Hello! Project in January 2015. The group was initially composed of eight girls who were members of Hello Pro Kenshusei. Their sister group is Camellia Factory. They disbanded on March 30, 2020.

Magnolia Factory
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2015 (2015)–2020 (2020)
LabelsUp-Front Works
Associated actsHello Pro Kenshusei
Camellia Factory
Websitehelloproject.com/kobushifactory/
Past membersAyaka Hirose
Minami Nomura
Ayano Hamaura
Sakurako Wada
Rei Inoue
Rio Fujii
Rena Ogawa
Natsumi Taguchi

History

2015-2016: Formation and Debut

On January 2, 2015, during the first stage of the Hello! Project 2015 Winter concert series, it was announce that the new unit consisting of Rio Fujii, Ayaka Hirose, Minami Nomura, Rena Ogawa, Ayano Hamaura, Natsumi Taguchi, Sakurako Wada, and Rei Inoue, was formed.[1] Up Front Group announce that the name for the new unit was determined as Kobushi Factory on February 25.[2] On March 8, it was announced that the leader and the sub-leader of the unit were determined as Ayaka Hirose and Rio Fujii respectively.[3]

After member colors were announced through the episode #120 of YouTube program Hello! Project Station (ハロ!ステ, Haro! sute) on June 3,[4] their debut from a major label in Fall 2015, and the titles for their debut singles were announced during the first stage of the Roku-gatsu no nama-tamago Show! concert series on June 14.[5] The date for their debut from a major label was announced as September 2 through the episode #125 of Hello! Project Stationon July 8.[6]

2017-2018: Line-up changes

On May 12, Rio Fujii announced she would graduate from the group to focus on becoming a nurse or a teacher.[7] Later on, the management issued a statement[8] on Hello! Project website that Rio Fujii would no longer be part of the group for not complying with the rules. As a result, her graduation would not take place and her contract was terminated, effective immediately.[9] Both Fujii and the management did not elaborate further, the details and nature of the violation remain unknown to public.

On July 13, Hello! Project announced that Rena Ogawa would take a hiatus from the group's activities until at least mid-August due to anxiety neurosis.[10] However, on September 6, it was announced that Ogawa had graduated from Magnolia Factory and Hello! Project after her condition failed to improve.

On December 6, Hello! Project announced that Natsumi Taguchi would no longer be part of the group for not complying with the rules. As a result, her contract was terminated.

2019-2020: Disbandment

The group disbanded on March 30, 2020, with a concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.[11]

Members

Former
  • Ayaka Hirose (広瀬 彩海) - Leader
  • Minami Nomura (野村 みな美)
  • Ayano Hamaura (浜浦 彩乃)
  • Sakurako Wada (和田 桜子)
  • Rei Inoue (井上 玲音)
  • Rio Fujii (藤井 梨央) - Former sub-leader
  • Rena Ogawa (小川 麗奈)
  • Natsumi Taguchi (田口 夏実)

Timeline
  • Black (horizontal) = hiatus

Discography

Albums
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Kobushi Sono Ichi
(辛夷其ノ壱)		 11

November 30, 2016

2 Kobushi Dai Ni Maku
(辛夷第二幕)		 7

October 2, 2019

Singles
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Dosukoi! Kenkyo ni Daitan / Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san no Uta / Nen ni wa Nen (Nen'iri Ver.)
(ドスコイ！ケンキョにダイタン／ラーメン大好き小泉さんの唄／念には念(念入りVer.))		 3 September 2, 2015
2 Sakura Night Fever / Chotto Guchoku ni! Chototsu Moushin / Osu! Kobushi Tamashii
(桜ナイトフィーバー／チョット愚直に！猪突猛進／押忍！こぶし魂)		 1[12] February 17, 2016
3 Samba! Kobushi Janeiro / Bacchikoi Seishun! / Ora wa Ninkimono
(サンバ！こぶしジャネイロ／バッチ来い青春！／オラはにんきもの)		 3 July 27, 2016
4 Shalala! Yareru Hazu sa / Ee ja nai ka Ninja nai ka
(シャララ！やれるはずさ／エエジャナイカ ニンジャナイカ)		 4 June 14, 2017
5 Kore Kara da! / Ashita Tenki ni Naare
(これからだ!／明日テンキになあれ)		 3 March 28, 2018
6 Kitto Watashi wa / Naseba Naru
(きっと私は/ナセバナル)		 5 August 8, 2018
7 Oh No Ounou / Haru Urara
(Oh No 懊悩／ハルウララ)		 4 April 24, 2019
8 Seishun no Hana / Start Line
(青春の花/スタートライン)		 5[13] March 4, 2020

DVD singles
#TitlePeak rankRelease date
1 Nen ni wa nen / Survivor
(念には念／サバイバー)		 N/A

March 26, 2015

Awards

Japan Record Awards
See also: 57th Japan Record Awards

The Japan Record Awards is a major music awards show held annually in Japan by the Japan Composer's Association.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Magnolia Factory New Artist Award[14] Won
Best New Artist Award[14] Won

References
  1. "ハロプロに新ユニット誕生！３月末にはシングルリリースも". zakzak (Sankei Shimbun). January 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  2. "ハロー！プロジェクトの新ユニット名はBerryz工房スピリットを継承する「こぶしファクトリー」". BARKS. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. "ハロプロ研修生の晴れ舞台で「こぶしファクトリー」のリーダーを発表!". ORICON STYLE. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  4. "ハロ!ステ#120". Hello! Project Station. June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  5. "こぶしファクトリー メジャーデビュー決定のお知らせ！". Hello! Project official site. June 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  6. "ハロ!ステ#125". Hello! Project Station. July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  7. "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  8. "The Fujii Rio termination". Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  9. "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". www.helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  10. "ニュース詳細｜ハロー！プロジェクト　オフィシャルサイト". www.helloproject.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  11. "こぶしファクトリー解散！３・３０ラスト公演、井上「正直悔しい」" (in Japanese). Yahoo! News.
  12. "【オリコン】こぶしファクトリーが初首位 広瀬彩海「夢のよう」". Oricon. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  13. "週間 CDシングルランキング 2020年04月20日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for April 20, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. "第57回 輝く！日本レコード大賞" (in Japanese). TBSテレビ. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
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