Shonentai

Shonentai (少年隊, Shōnentai, lit. "Regiment of Boys") is a three-member Japanese idol group under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. They debuted on December 12, 1985. The group lead an annual musical Playzone from 1986 to 2008 for about 957 performances with a total attendance of over 1.38 million people over the course of 22 years.^[1]

Members

• Noriyuki Higashiyama (東山紀之, Higashiyama Noriyuki, born September 30, 1966). He has an official position in Johnny & Associates.
• Kazukiyo Nishikori (錦織一清, Nishikiori Kazukiyo, born May 22, 1965) The leader.
• Katsuhide Uekusa (植草克秀, Uekusa Katsuhide, born July 24, 1966) Married with a son, who is in Johnny's Jr, and a daughter.^[2][3] It was announced on December 22, 2010 that Uekusa divorced in early December after more than sixteen years of marriage.^[3]

Appearances

TV Dramas

• Monday Drama Land Munasawagi no Houkago (October 24, 1983; Fuji TV)
• Monday Drama Land Munasawagi no Houkago Part II (December 19, 1983; Fuji TV)
• Monday Drama Land Shonentai no Tadaima Houkago Special (June 4, 1984; Fuji TV)
• Monday Drama Land Show up ★ High School (March 4, 1985; Fuji TV)
• Yan Yan Utau Studio~5 Minute Drama Norainu Densetsu PART 1 (TV Tokyo)
• Yan Yan Utau Studio~5 Minute Drama Norainu Densetsu PART 2 (TV Tokyo)
• Kokoro wa Lonely Kimochi wa "..." V (March 1987; Fuji TV)
• Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari Series (TBS) - Only Nishikiori and Uekusa, Higashiyama made a guest appearance
• Shonen Taiya~ Select Stage Atami Satsujin Jiken (October - November, 2001; Fuji TV)
• Shonen Taiya~ Select Stage Shibushi (November - December, 2001; Fuji TV) - Only Higashiyama and Uekusa

TV Shows

• The Young Best Ten (October 6, 1981 – 1982; TV Tokyo)
• Let's GO Idol (1982; TV Tokyo)
• Pinky Punch Daigyakuten (April - September, 1982; TBS)
• Parinko Gakuen No.1 (September 1982 - March 1983; TBS)
• The Hit Stage (April 1983 - March 1984; TBS)
• Namada! Omoshiro Tokkyubin (April - September, 1984; TBS)
• Sekai Marumie! TV Tokusoubu (April 1998–present; NTV) - Only Higashiyama and Uekusa
• Shonentime (October 1999 - March 2000; Fuji TV)
• Shonentime II (April 2000 - September 2000; Fuji TV)
• Shonentime III (October 2000 - March 2001; Fuji TV)
• Shonentaiya (April 2001 - December 2001; Fuji TV)

Film

• Munasawagi no Houkago (1982)
• Love Forever (1983)
• Aitsu to Lullaby (1983)
• 19 Nineteen (1987)

Radio

• Jumping Johnny's Shonentai
• Live On! Johnny's Shonentai
• Live On! Shonentai
• Dakishimete! Shonentai
• Shukan Shonentai Magazine

Musical

• Musical Adventure The Sasuke/Hit Parade (April - May 1985)
• ShowGeki '92 MASK (May 1992)
• PLAYZONE MYSTERY (July 5–27, 1986; 30 performances)
• PLAYZONE '87 TIME-19 (July 3–26, 1987; 30 performances)
• PLAYZONE '88 Capriccio -Tenshi to Akuma no Kisokyoku- (July 4 - August 31, 1988; 51 performances)
• PLAYZONE '89 Again (July - August, 1989; 53 performances)
• PLAYZONE '90 MASK (July 7 - August 19, 1990; 42 performances)
• PLAYZONE '91 SHOCK (July - August, 1991; 41 performances)
• PLAYZONE '92 Saraba Diary (July 11 - August 16, 1992; 39 performances)
• PLAYZONE '93 WINDOW (July 8 - August 19, 1993; 41 performances)
• PLAYZONE '94 MOON (July 5 - August 12, 1994; 45 performances)
• PLAYZONE '95 KING&JOKER (July 7 - August 13, 1995; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE '96 RYTHM (July - August, 1996; 38 performances)
• PLAYZONE '97 RYTHM II (July 12 - August 11, 1997; 35 performances)
• PLAYZONE '98 5nights (July 12 - August 17, 1998; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE 1999 Goodbye&Hello (July 11 - August 15, 1999; 41 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2000 THEME PARK (July 16 - August 20, 2000; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2001 EMOTION ~Shinseiki~ (July 14 - August 17, 2001; 44 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2002 Aishi (July 13 - August 15, 2002; 42 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2003 Vacation (July 14 - August 17, 2003; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2004 WEST SIDE STORY (July 2 - August 16, 2004; 51 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2005 ~20th Anniversary~ Twenty Years...Soshite Mada Minu Miraie (July 6 - August 17, 2005; 44 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2006 Change (July 9 - August 5, 2006; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2007 Change2Chance (July 7 - September 7, 2007; 40 performances)
• PLAYZONE 2008 Change 1986-2008 ~SHOW TIME Hit Series~ (July 6 - August 31, 2008; 45 performances)

Discography

Singles

1. "Kamenbutokai" (Released: December 12, 1985)
2. "Dekamelon Densetsu" (Released: March 24, 1986)
3. "Diamond・Eyes" (Released: July 7, 1986)
4. "Ballad no youni Nemure" (Released: November 28, 1986)
5. "Stripe Blue" (Released: March 3, 1987)
6. "Kimidakeni" (Released: June 24, 1987)
7. "ABC" (Released: November 11, 1987)
8. "Lady" (Released: November 30, 1987)
9. "Futari" (Released: March 23, 1988)
10. "Silent Dancer" (Released: April 24, 1988)
11. "What's Your Name?" (Released: July 8, 1988)
12. "Jirettaine" (Released: November 10, 1988)
13. "Maittane Konya" (Released: June 19, 1989)
14. "Fuin Love" (Released: April 10, 1990)
15. "Funky Flushin'" (Released: July 7, 1990)
16. "Suna no Otoko" (Released: December 12, 1990)
17. "You're My Life -Utsukushi Hitoe-" (Released: April 29, 1993)
18. "Window" (Released: July 1993)
19. "Excuse" (Released: November 19, 1993)
20. "Oh!!" (Released: December 1, 1995)
21. "Wangan Skier" (Released: January 28, 1998)
22. "Ai to Chinmoku" (Released: August 26, 1998)
23. "Jōnetsu no Ichiya" (Released: June 23, 1999)
24. "Romantic Time" (Released: February 2, 2000)
25. "Kimi ga ita Koro" (Released: February 21, 2001)
26. "So Soh" (Released: July 9, 2006)

Albums

1. Backstage Pass (Released: March 8, 1986)
2. Sho Shonentai' (Released: September 1, 1986)
3. Musical Plazon Mistery (Released: October 30, 1986)
4. Duet (Released: November 28, 1986)
5. Wonderland (Released: December 21, 1986)
6. Private Life: Light & Shadow (Released: April 28, 1987)
7. Time 19 (Released: July 1, 1987)
8. Magical Dowa Tour (Released: September 25, 1987)
9. Musical Time 19 (Released: October 28, 1987)
10. Party (Released: December 14, 1987)
11. Best of Shonentai (Released: March 10, 1988)
12. Capriccio: Tenshi to Akuma no Kasōkyoku (Released: June 10, 1988)
13. Shonentai Musical Playzone '89 Again (Released: September 21, 1989)
14. Shonentai Musical Playzone '90 Mask (Released: June 30, 1990)
15. Heart to Heart 5years Shonentai... Soshite 1991 (Released: December 23, 1990)
16. Ai wa Tsudukeru Koto ni Imi ga Aru (Released: December 1, 1993)
17. Shonentai Musical Playzone'94 Moon (Released: June 17, 1994)
18. Shonentai Musical Playzone'96 Rhythm (Released: July 10, 1996)
19. Shonentai Musical Playzone'97 Rhythm 2 (Released: July 21, 1997)
20. Shonentai Musical Playzone'98 5nights (Released: August 5, 1998)
21. Prism (Released: January 27, 1999)
22. Shonentai Musical Playzone'99 Good bye & Hello (Released: July 7, 1999)
23. Shonentai Musical Playzone2000 Theme Park (Released: August 2, 2000)
24. Shonentai Musical Playzone2001 Shinseiki Emotion (Released: August 1, 2001)
25. Shonentai Musical Playzone2002 Ai Shi (Released: July 31, 2002)
26. Shonentai Musical Playzone2003 Vacation (Released: August 6, 2003)
27. Shonentai Musical Playzone2005 20th Anniversary: Twenty Years… Soshite Mada Minu Mirai e (Released: August 10, 2005)
28. Shonentai Musical Playzone2006 Change (Released: July 26, 2006)
29. Shonentai Musical Playzone2007 Change 2 Chance: First Act (Released: September 5, 2007)

References

1. ↑ "Shonentai to graduate from PLAYZONE". Tokyograph. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
2. ↑ "Uekusa joined by son in Johnny's". Tokyograph. 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2009-12-08. 
3. 1 2 "Shonentai's Katsuhide Uekusa divorces after 16 years". Tokyograph. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2010-12-22.