The Coinlockers (Japanese: ザ・コインロッカーズ, Hepburn: Za Koinrokkāzu) were an all-girl Japanese idol band formed on December 23, 2018. The band had a total of 38 members, all of whom played an instrument, and was produced by Yasushi Akimoto.[1] In 2020, the group was reorganized to only include 13 members, with three members leaving by 2021.[2] That same year, the band announced that they would be disbanding on their third anniversary of their formation, disbanding on December 23, 2021.[3]

The Coinlockers
ザ・コインロッカーズ
Background information
Also known as
  • Koiroka
  • TCL
GenresJ-pop
Years active
  • 2018–2021
LabelsWarner Music Japan

History

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In September 2018, Warner Music Japan and producer Yasushi Akimoto announced that they would have auditions for the start of a "national girl band", using system for selecting members based on songs that some of the members would be participating in.[4] They ultimately chose 39 members from the auditions, but added two more members by the time of their debut.[5] In December 2018, Akimoto unveiled the 41 members of the new band and the name of The Coinlockers during a press conference.[1] They released their debut single "Yuuutsu na Sora ga Sukinanda" on June 19, 2019, which was used as a theme song for the drama Ore no Sukāto, Dokoyatta?[6][7] The band also announced their first nationwide tour that took place in May.[8]

In May 2020, the band reorganized to only include 13 members and released their second single "Boku wa Shiawase Nanoka?"[9] From July 31 to August 14, they released the album Gunjō Mirāju on TikTok, uploading one song a day consecutively.[10] In November 2021, the band announced that they would disband at the end of the year, the third anniversary of their debut, after a final performance at Zepp Haneda Tokyo.[11]

Members

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  • Ueki Mikoko (植木 美心) – vocals, guitar (2018–2019)
  • Misaki Takahashi (長妻 美玖) – vocals, guitar (2018–2019)
  • Kayon (カヨン) – vocals, guitar (2019–2019)
  • Tsumugi Hayasaka (早坂 つむぎ) – bass (2018–2019, 2019)
  • Natsuki Takahashi (髙橋 菜月) – vocals, guitar (2018–2019)
  • Ruka Fukuda (福田 瑠佳) – vocals, guitar (2018–2019)
  • Kagami Nozomi (鏡味 のぞみ) – bass (2018–2019)
  • Akari Yamamoto (山本 朱莉) – vocals, guitar (2018–2019)
  • Sumire Nakajima (中島 すみれ) – bass (2018–2019)
  • Yamagishi Uta (山岸 詩) – bass (2018–2019)
  • Akane Tachibana (立花 明音) – keyboards, drums (2018–2019)
  • Momo Terada (寺田 もも) (2018–2019)
  • Aika Yamamoto (山本 愛華) (2018–2019)
  • Nagatsuma Miku (長妻 美玖) (2018–2019)
  • Tomoka Hashimoto (橋本 朋夏) (2018–2019)
  • Momo Yoshida (吉田 桃) (2018–2019)
  • Yuri (ユリ) (2018–2019)
  • Tsukine Takeuchi (竹内 月音) (2018–2019)
  • Yoshino Tezuka (手塚 愛乃) (2018–2019)
  • Izumi Nohara (野原 衣純) (2018–2019)
  • Kanno Ibuki (菅野 伊吹) (2018–2019)
  • Goryanova Zlata (ゴリヤノバ ズラータ) (2018–2019)
  • Naomi Toya (戸谷 奈桜実) (2018–2019)
  • Yumi Someya (染谷 悠美) (2018–2020)
  • Marin Izumi (泉真凜) (2018–2020)
  • Yukine Nakamura (中村 雪音) (2018–2020)
  • Aimi Narusawa (成澤 愛実) (2018–2021)
  • Mirai Utsunomiya (宇都 宮未来) (2018–2021)
  • Яuu (ルー) – bass (2018–2021)
  • Miku Funai (船井 美玖) – vocals (2018–2021)
  • Yuna Udo (有働 優菜) – keyboards (2018–2021)
  • Aimi Tamura (田村 愛美鈴) – keyboards (2018–2021)
  • Goto Rika (後藤 理花) – keyboards (2018–2021)
  • Natsumi Kinumoto (絹本 夏海) – vocals, guitar (2018–2021)
  • Mori Futaba (森 ふた葉) – drums (2018–2021)
  • Kisei Shimojima (下島 輝星) – guitar (2018–2021)
  • Rina Matsumoto (松本 璃奈) – bass, drums (2018–2021)
  • Hanna (ハンナ) – guitar (2018–2021)
  • Emily (エミリ) – vocals, guitar (2018–2021)

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums with chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon Billboard
Gunjō Mirāju
  • Japanese: 群青ミラージュ
  • Released: July 31–August 14, 2020
  • Label: Warner Music Japan
  • Format: streaming
Seishun to Band wa Tanoshiku de Mendokusai
  • Japanese: 青春とバンドは、楽しくてメンドクサイ
  • Released: March 24, 2021
  • Label: Warner Music Japan
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
18 82
Sutēji
  • Japanese: ステージ
  • Released: December 8, 2021
  • Label: Warner Music Japan
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
12 11

Singles

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List of singles with chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
Oricon Billboard
"Yuuutsu na Sora ga Sukinanda" 2019 16 16 Seishun to Band wa Tanoshiku de Mendokusai
"Boku wa Shiawase Nanoka?" 2020 8 89
"Yumenai Boku ga Yume wo Minda da"
"Kebyō"
"Aisu Chōdai" 2021 Sutēji
"Kimi Oshi!"

References

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  1. ^ a b "秋元康によるガールズバンド"ザ・コインロッカーズ"お披露目、1年後にZepp Tokyoワンマン". Natalie (in Japanese). December 23, 2018.
  2. ^ "秋元康プロデュースのザ・コインロッカーズ、目標に届かず現体制終了". Natalie (in Japanese). December 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "ザ・コインロッカーズ解散 「メンバーの将来やグループの未来などを総合的に判断」 12月にラストライブ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "秋元康×ワーナーミュージック、ガールズバンドプロジェクト始動". Natalie (in Japanese). September 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "39人 誰が選ばれる?ザ・コインロッカーズ TVドラマ主題歌でデビュー". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "秋元康プロデュースのバンド、ドラマ主題歌でデビュー 大抜擢の裏事情". Excite (in Japanese). April 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "ザ・コインロッカーズ×TOWER RECORDS開催決定!". Tower Records (in Japanese). June 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "ザ・コインロッカーズのデビューシングル6月に発売、約150公演の初ツアーも決定". Natalie (in Japanese). April 23, 2019.
  9. ^ "13人の新体制で再始動。新生ザ・コインロッカーズが「僕はしあわせなのか?」を語る【前編】". Walkerplus (in Japanese). May 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "ザ・コインロッカーズがTikTokで配信ライブ、ゲストにうじたまい". Billboard Japan (in Japanese).
  11. ^ "ザ・コインロッカーズ、結成3周年で解散へ 12・22ラストライブ". Oricon (in Japanese). November 5, 2021.