This article is about the Japanese boy band. For the type of sculpture made of snow, see Snowman. For the Australian band, see Snowman (band). For other uses, see Snowman (disambiguation).
Snow Man is a Japanese idolboy band formed by Starto Entertainment (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) in 2012.[1] The group was previously a sub-unit of Smile-Up pre-debut trainee group, Junior. The group's activities focused on acrobats and stage play.[2] Along with SixTONES, Snow Man made their official debut on January 22, 2020. The group's simultaneous debut marks the first time for two groups to debut on the same day in the company's history.[3]
Snow Man makes the best selling debut group since KAT-TUN in 2006. D.D./Imitation Rain is the best-selling debut release in Asian history with more than 1.8 million physical copies sold, it is also the first male idol single in 17 years to stayed in the top 100 of the Oricon chart for more than 100 weeks. Since their debut in 2020 the group sold 11 million physical copies in Japan. In 2021, their debut studio album, Snow Mania S1, sold in the first week more than 841k physical copies, and became in the best selling first week for a boygroup studio album in Japan history, and in the second best week for a debut album in the country history. Their single Grandeur was the best-selling release of 2021 in Japan with more than 1 million physical copies sold, with this Snow Man became the first male artist since L'Arc~en~Ciel in 1999 to have two consecutive years a release that sells more than a million copies. Their total physical sales in Japan are 20 million copies.
In January 2022, Snow Man moved from label Avex Trax to Ment Recording. Ment Recording is a newly established joint label between Avex Entertainment and Smile-Up. The other group from the same company and under Avex Trax, Kis-My-Ft2, moved to Ment Recording as well.[4][5]
History
The group was preceded by Mis Snow Man, a unit formed in 2009 that consists of 9 people.[6] The group has been active in stage play series Takizawa Kabuki since 2010.[2] Among them, a unit consists of Tatsuya Fukazawa, Daisuke Sakuma, Shota Watanabe, Ryota Miyadate, Hikaru Iwamoto, and Ryohei Abe was later formed on May 3, 2012.[7] The group's new name, Snow Man, was first announced when the six men stood in the stage of Takizawa Kabuki 2012, when letters suddenly appeared on the big screen behind them. The group's name was officially announced both to them and audience as a surprise.
While active as back dancers for Tackey & Tsubasa, Kis-My-Ft2, A.B.C-Z, and other senior groups, they also regularly appeared in stage plays Dream Boys and Takizawa Kabuki, and from 2015, Shonen-tachi and its movie version. Since all of them are good at acrobatics, they are sometimes referred as "the craftsman group" and are often nominated by seniors in the company as "Junior members they want to have as back dancers."[6] While has been always described as "the best dancer among Junior" since their formation in 2012 and despite their appearances in theater, the group couldn't get the chance to get a debut, leading to its member to "having a thought of leaving several times."[8] In January 2019, Raul from Shonen Ninja, Ren Meguro from Uchuu Six, and a member from Kansai Junior Koji Mukai, was added as new members. While the original 6 members accepted the decision as "they wanted to protect the group," they also felt that the "even if whole group (as original Snow Man) has gone, we just want to realize our dream as Snow Man," and "the only way to get rid of this problem (off my head) is this."
In March 2019, the group, along with 11 other Johnny's Jr. groups (SixTones, Travis Japan, HiHi Jets, Bi Shonen, 7 Men Samurai, Shonen Ninja, Jr.SP, Uchuu Six, Naniwa Danshi, Lil Kansai, and Ae! group) become a part of Island TV, a website that provides video streaming exclusive for Johnny's Jr. members.
The group's debut was first announced by Takizawa, who is told by Johnny Kitagawa in his hospital bed in June 2019.[9] Debuting at the same time as SixTONES, the announcement was officially made in Johnny's Jr. 8.8 Matsuri 〜Tokyo Dome kara Hajimaru〜 concert on August 8, 2019.[10] They also "graduated" from Johhny's Jr. official YouTube channel and officially opened their own YouTube channel on December 25, 2019.
In March 2020, the group received their own television show titled Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai (それSnowManにやらせて下さい, lit. Leave It to Snow Man). The show's was revealed as a surprise to Snow Man through their YouTube channel in February 2020.[12] The show first ran from March 25, 2020, on TBS.[13] However, later in the same month, Hikaru Iwamoto was reported to be taking a break from the group's activities after the Japanese magazine Friday published a report of him drinking at love motel in 2017. Through Johnny's apology post, it was written that Iwamoto confirmed that an underage girl was among those present.[14] The other 8 members also made their apology in their appearance at the live music program CDTV Live! Live! on the same day as the reported news. On July 1, Johnny's net and Johnny's web announced that Iwamoto would return to resume his activities.[15]
In April 2020, the group performed the 11th opening theme song for the anime Black Clover, titled "Stories".[16][17]
In May 2020, Snow Man was announced to be a part of Twenty★Twenty, a temporary unit consisting of 75 talents that have debuted in Johnny's, to perform a charity song.[a] The unit was formed to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The song, titled "Smile," is written by Kazutoshi Sakurai and is produced by Hideaki Takizawa.[18]
A movie version of stage play Takizawa Kabuki called Takizawa Kabuki Zero The Movie (滝沢歌舞伎 ZERO The Movie) was released on December 5, 2020, starring the members of Snow Man in the main roles. This marks Snow Man's post-debut first main role in a movie.
In December 2020, it was announced that Ryota Miyadate had tested positive for COVID-19.[19] Their New Years performance was canceled as a result.[20]
On January 5, 2021, Snow Man's song "Grandeur" debuted as the 13th Opening for Black Clover.[21]
In April 2021, it was reported that Daisuke Sakuma would voice the male lead of Chinese animated movie White Snake, Ah Xuan, in its Japanese dub version. This is Sakuma's second voice acting role after he debuted in Black Clover.[22] The Japanese version of the movie also features a theme song by Snow Man, "Yuan" (縁 -YUÁN-).[23]
In August 2021, Snow Man was announced to star in the live action movie adaptation of anime series Mr. Osomatsu. Six of them played as the Matsuno sextuplets while the rest, Ryōta Miyadate, Shōta Watanabe, and Ryōhei Abe, as the movie's original character, each named Period, End, and Close respectively. The film premiered on March 25, 2022.[24] The group also provided the film's theme song "Brother Beat."
In the same month, the group announced their first album release titled Snow Mania S1. The album released on September 29, 2021. The first edition A of the album contains the highly requested group's pre-debut original songs, including "Make It Hot!" and "Owaranai Memories."[25][26]
Member Ryota Miyadate was chosen as the Swarovski jewelry brand's first ambassador in Japan, as revealed on October 1, 2024.[27] In the same month, the group performed the ending theme song for the second season of the anime Blue Lock, titled "One".[28]
Shokai Rap ~We Are Snow Man~ (紹介RAP～WE ARE SNOW MAN～)
Su no Kimi ni Aitai (素の君に会いたい)
Asayake no Hana (朝焼けの花)
2020（post debut）
Black Gold
Be Proud! (2nd theme song for television program Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai!)
Awards
Year
Award
Category
Recipient
Note
2020
WEIBO Account Festival 2019
New Artist Award
Snow Man
GQ MEN OF THE YEAR 2020
Pop Icon Of The Year
Snow Man
ANAN Award 2020
Grand Prize
Snow Man
2021
WEIBO Account Festival in Tokyo 2020
Popular Male Idol Group Award
Snow Man
ORICON Chart 2021
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist
Snow Man
JPY 4.92 Billion
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work
Grandeur
Annual Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work
Grandeur
35th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS
Best 5 New Artist
Snow Man
Single Of The Year
D.D with Imitation Rain
World Music Awards
Best Selling Japanese Single
Grandeur
The only million-selling single in 2021. 1st Male Japanese Act since LArcenCiel in 1999 to have 2 consecutive years with Million-selling singles
IFPI Global Album Sales Chart – No 9
Snow Mania S1
2022
The 110th The Television Drama Academy Awards (Fall 2021)
Best Theme Song – No 2
Secret Touch
Ost. Kieta Hatsukoi / My Love Mix-Up!
36th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARDS
Artist Of The Year – Japan
Snow Man
Album Of The Year – Japan
Snow Mania S1
Best 5 Albums
Snow Mania S1
Single Of The Year
Grandeur
Best 5 Singles
Grandeur Hello Hello
Best 3 Music Videos
Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D.
ORICON Chart 2022
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Artist
Snow Man
JPY 6.01 Billion
Mid-year/Half Ranking – No 1 Sales by Work
Brother Beat
Notes
↑ Except for Iwamoto who was taking a break from activities at the time
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References
↑ ジャニーズJr. SPECIALカード」『Myojo』. Shueisha. August 25, 2018. pp.81–88.
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