Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku
私立恵比寿中学
Also known asEbichu
King of Gakugeeeekai
5572320
Infinities
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsStardust Ongaku Shuppan (2010–2011)
Defstar Records (2012–2015)
SME Records (2015–present)
MembersRika Mayama
Ayaka Yasumoto
Mirei Hoshina
Kaho Kobayashi
Riko Nakayama
Cocona Sakuragi
Yuno Kokubo
Nonoka Kazami
Emma Sakurai
Yuna Nakamura
Past membersKanon Nanaki
Narumi Uno
Hinaki Yano
Rio Koike
Reina Miyazaki
Mizuki
Natsu Anno
Hirono Suzuki
Rina Matsuno† (deceased)
Aika Hirota
Hinata Kashiwagi
Websiteshiritsuebichu.jp

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (私立恵比寿中学, Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku, literally "Ebisu Private Junior High School") is a Japanese female idol group. The group's name is officially shortened to Ebichu (えびちゅう、エビ中).[1] The group was created by 3B Junior, the third section of the talent agency Stardust Promotion. Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku is considered a "little sister" group to another Stardust Promotion girl group, Momoiro Clover Z.[2][3]

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku is named after a fictitious school in Ebisu, a neighborhood in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was planned as a group of elementary and middle school students. However, this concept has changed as the members aged. The group currently uses "Forever a Middle-schooler" as their concept.

The group was officially nicknamed "King of the School Play", and was advertised as being a group with very rough singing and dancing skills. Or, more accurately, the group's slogan at the time was "Unarticulated dance and shaky vocals."[4] However, the group has outgrown said slogan over time, and have since reached a point where they're praised for their vocal skills.[5] Originally formed as a quintet on August 4, 2009, the lineup has changed multiple times since then, with some members having "changed school" (the group's official term for leaving it) and some having "transferred in" (joined).[6][7] The most recent lineup change occurred on October 1, 2022 when 2 new members were integrated into the group.

  1. ^ "Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku's official site". Stardust Promotion, Inc. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. ^ ももクロ妹分・私立恵比寿中学が新曲を発表 (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  3. ^ De View (2011-06-20). 平均年齢12.7歳のガールズユニット「私立恵比寿中学」が新曲発表 ニューシングルは「おばけテクノ」と「高速盆踊り (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  4. ^ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学 (1/7)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  5. ^ Ato, Daishi (December 19, 2019). "私立恵比寿中学、これからを予感させる歌の「表現力」はいかにして生まれたのか？". Rolling Stone Japan.
  6. ^ 校長からの話. Shiritsu Ebisu Chūgaku's official blog (in Japanese). 2010-08-05. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  7. ^ "Power Push - 私立恵比寿中学 (2/7)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-03.