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Weather Girls

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Weather Girls

Weather Girls (Japanese: ウェザーガールズ, Uezā Gāruzu, Chinese: 天氣女孩; pinyin: Tiānqì Nǚhái) is a group of Taiwanese female idols originally acting as weather forecast reporters on televisions and internet for Taiwan and the United States[1] and later entering entertainment business in Japan.

In Japan, the group is under Pony Canyon and is represented by Ritz Productions.[2]

History

Pre-debut

Next TV Broadcasting Ltd., which runs the Next Media Animation TV or NMA television station, wanted to produce daily weather forecast programs to be distributed in English in Taiwan and the United States, with a group of cute young girls dancing to the reports.[1] In August 2010, NMA formed the Weather Girls, consisting of thirty eight members. Each day of the week is hosted by a different weather girl who would deliver a short message to viewers in an adorable manner, and each month is a different theme.[1][2][3] The themes include the graduation season, in which the girls dressed up in Japanese school uniforms and spoke in Japanese.[1] The ninja and tokusatsu themes have also been used.[4]

2012: debut in Japan

After having been introduced by several Japanese programs in April 2012, the group attracted much attention in Japan. Seven of its members who are most skilled in singing and dancing were then chosen to be debuted in Japan as a musical group. They are reportedly the first Taiwanese girl group to come to Japan.[2][3][5]

The news of the Weather Girls officially debuting as an idol girl group was announced on 8 August 2012.[5] The group held their debut performance on 10 August 2012, at "a-nation musicweek", where they were the opening act.[6]

For their Japanese career, the seven girls were required to take Japanese courses, in addition to dance lessons and performance rehearsals. Their language studies were broadcast on televisions once a week.[3] The group has also been fixed guests on the program Akihabara@TV since 23 September 2012. The program, which aired every Sunday, aimed to educate viewers on different forms of Japanese culture.[7]

The group's first single, called "Koi no Tenkiyohō", was announced in September 2012, and its music video was officially released on 30 September 2012. The single was later revealed to have been produced by Jeff Miyahara.[2][8] On 17 October 2012, the single was physically released in two editions, both containing the song "Koi no Tenkiyohō" and a b-side single titled "Loving Pass ~Koi no Password~".[9]

On 25 December 2012, it was confirmed that the Weather Girls' second single, titled "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō", will be released on 6 February 2013.[10]

2013: first album

The Weather Girls' third single, called "Koi no Love – Sunshine", is scheduled to be released on 5 June 2013.[11]

On 17 May 2013, it has been revealed that, in January 2014, the Weather Girls will take Japan's National Weather Forecasting Licence Examination to become legitimate weather forecasters in the country, in addition to their idol career. The examination has been biannually held since 1994, reportedly with a 5 percent pass rate.[12] For the sake of the examination, the group takes meteorological classes where licensed weather forecasters give lectures and the fans are also allowed to be present.[12]

It has also been announced on 17 May that their first album is to be released on 3 July 2013.[12] Apart from the songs found in the previous singles, the album, whose title is pending, will include nine new studio recordings.[12]

Members

The following are the seven members active in Japan:

# Stage name Chinese name Date of birth In charge of Position
Romanised
(officially) 		Japanese Romanised Chinese Day Element Colour
1 NueNue ニューニュー
(Nyūnyū) 		Zhào Jìngyí
aka Āi Ō Pī 		趙靜儀
aka 哎喔批 		(1991-10-04) 4 October 1991 (age 33) Sunday Wind Yellow
2 Hijon ハイジャン
(Haijan) 		Zhèng Hāijiǎng
aka Hāi Jiǎngjiǎng 		鄭嗨獎
aka 嗨獎獎 		(1990-09-27) 27 September 1990 (age 34) Monday Lightning Green
3 Esse エース
(Ēsu) 		Ài Sī 愛絲 (1991-08-18) 18 August 1991 (age 33) Tuesday Rain Orange
4 Dara ダラ Xiǎo Nǎixī 小奶昔 7 September Wednesday Cloud Red
5 Mia ミア Zhuāng Xīnyí 莊心怡 (1983-07-12) 12 July 1983 (age 41) Thursday Sun Blue
6 Mini ミニ Lín Yíhuì 林怡慧 (1984-06-30) 30 June 1984 (age 40) Friday Snow Pink
7 Yumi ユミ Lín Cǎiwēi 林采薇 (1991-03-05) 5 March 1991 (age 33) Saturday Fog Purple Leader[2]

Discography

Singles

# Title Release date Peak position on Oricon Weekly Medium
Editions Format Code
1 "Koi no Tenkiyohō" (恋の天気予報; "Weather Forecast of Love")
Track listing
CD
  1. "Koi no Tenkiyohō"
    • "Loving Pass ~Koi no Password~"
    • (恋のパスワード, Loving Pass ~Koi no Pasuwādo~; "Loving Pass - Love Password")
  3. "Koi no Tenki Yohou" (Instrumental)
  4. "Loving Pass ～Koi no Password~" (Instrumental)
DVD
  1. "Koi no Tenkiyohō" (Music Video)
  2. Members' self-introduction VTR (メンバー個人自己紹介VTR)
 17 October 2012 Debut: #29 (17 October 2012)
Closing: #12 (21 October 2012) 		Regular &
Limited 		CD &
CD+DVD 		PCCA-70344
PCCA-03702
2 "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō" (恋はトキメキ注意報; "Heartbeat Storm Warning is Love")
Track listing
CD
  1. "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō"
  2. "Kimi Yohō" (キミ予報; "Your Forecast")
  3. "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō" (Instrumental)
  4. "Kimi Yohō" (Instrumental)
DVD
  1. "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō" (Music Video)
 6 February 2013 Debut: #35 PCCA-70360
PCCA-03774
3 "Koi no Love – Sunshine" (恋のラブ♥サンシャイン; Koi no Rabu - Sanshain; "Love of Love - Sunshine")
Track listing
CD
  1. "Koi no Love – Sunshine"
  2. "Tonight's Weather"
  3. "Koi no Love – Sunshine" (Instrumental)
  4. "Tonight's Weather" (Instrumental)
DVD
  1. "Koi no Love – Sunshine" (Music Video)
 5 June 2013 PCCA-70370
PCCA-03834

DVDs

# Title Release date Medium
Format Code
1 Weather Girls TV Vol. 1
Track listing
  1. Weather Studio 1 (お天気スタジオ1, Otenki Sutajio 1)
  2. "Koi no Tenkeyohō" (Music Video - Dance Shot Version)
  3. Weather Studio 2
  4. "Koi no Tenkeyohō" (Making of)
  5. Weather Studio 3
  6. Japanese Ability Test! (日本語力で対決!, Nihongochikara de taiketsu!)
  7. Weather Studio 4
  8. "Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō" (Music Video - Dance Shot Version)
  9. Weather Studio 5
  10. Koi wa Tokimeki Chūihō" (Making of)
  11. Weather Studio 6
  12. Face-off with Charades! (ジェスチャーゲームで対決!, Jesuchāgēmu de Taiketsu!)
  13. Face-off with Jenga! (ジェンガで対決!, Jenga de Taiketsu!)
  14. Penalty Game with Bubble Attack!? (罰ゲーム 巨大風船アタック!?, Batsu Gēmu Kyodai Fūsen Atakku!?)
  15. Weather Studio 7
  16. Clinging to Weather Girls, vol. 2 (密着ウェザーガールズ vol.2, Mitchaku Uezā Gāruzu vol. 2)
  17. Weather Studio 8
  18. Challenge to Skipping Rope!! (大縄跳びに挑戦!!, Dai Nawatobi ni Chōsen)
 20 March 2013 DVD PCBP-52242

Controversy

Due to the success of the Weather Girls, the Mainland China Guangdong Satellite TV also set up a group of girl meteorologists called "Apple Pie" (Chinese: 苹果派; pinyin: Píngguǒ Pài) to produce the like weather forecast programs.[13] In January 2012, NMA responded to the Chinese group with a press release describing the programs as "plagiarism" and condemning the Chinese authority for its lack of copyright protection laws.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Steven (20-06-2011). "Taiwan's Weather Girls: Come For The Forecast, Stay For The Miniskirts". RocketNews24. Retrieved 01-12-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "'Weather Girls' from Taiwan to make their CD debut in Japan". TokyoHive. 09-08-2012. Retrieved 01-12-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Will the Sun Shine on Weather Girls' Japan Debut?". Japan Real Time. 30-08-2012. Retrieved 01-12-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  4. ^ Steven (10-08-2011). "Taiwan's Weather Girls Form Girl Group in Japan, First Single "Weather Forecast of Love" Coming This October!". RocketNews24. Retrieved 01-12-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b Template:Ja icon"台湾お天気お姉さん"晴れて"日本デビュー！(1/2ページ)". Sanspo. Retrieved 2012-12-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  6. ^ Template:Ja icon"AKB48がミニスカでトリ！K-POPガールズは"悪魔ちゃんダンス"で会場をメロメロに＜ライブレポート＞". modelpress. Retrieved 2012-12-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ Template:Ja icon"日曜日の特別授業！ウェザーガールズのニッポンを勉強するバラエティ". tv.atcommons. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  8. ^ Template:Ja icon"台湾お天気お姉さん"晴れて"日本デビュー！(2/2ページ)". Sanspo. Retrieved 2012-12-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ Template:Ja icon"ウェザーガールズ/恋の天気予報 [CD+DVD] [限定]". CDJournal. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  10. ^ Template:Ja icon"お天気アイドル、ウェザーガールズの2ndシングルは「恋はトキメキ注意報」！". CDJournal. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  11. ^ "Weather Girls – Koi no Love Sunshine". jpop-idols. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  12. ^ a b c d Master Blaster (2013-05-17). "Taiwanese Weather Reporting Idol Group to Take Japan's Grueling National Weather Forecasting License Exam". Rocket News. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  13. ^ a b Eric Jou (26-03-2012). "Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls". Kotaku. Retrieved 01-12-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
Main websites
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