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Enogu (えのぐ, from the Japanese word 絵具, meaning distemper, colors, paints) is a group of Japanese Virtual Idols that was under Iwamoto-chou Geinousha's virtual idol project and now do activities as a independent company.
Introduction Video
環(たまき)とあんずからのお願い
Enogu's debut video (as Antama)
【女優部初登場！】岩本町芸能社感謝祭 2017
First video with the actresses unit (Later Hinatsukuri).
Members
| Name | Japanese | Unit | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Anzu | 鈴木あんず | Antama (あんたま) |  |
| Shirafuji Tamaki | 白藤環 | Antama (あんたま) |   |
| Hinata Nao | 日向奈央 | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |   |
Former Members
| Name | Japanese | Unit | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurihara Sakurako "Rako" | 栗原桜子 | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |   |
| Natsume Haru | 夏目ハル | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |   |
Personalities
History
2017
They started activities as a 2-person group known previously as Antama (あんたま) formed by Suzuki Anzu (鈴木あんず) and Shirafuji Tamaki (白藤環), who debuted on YouTube on 28 August 2017.
On 25 December, a new group called the Actresses Unit (女優部 / Joyū-bu) was debuted with new three members: Natsume Haru (夏目ハル), Hinata Nao (日向奈央) and Kurihara Sakurako (栗原桜子).
2018
On 21 February 2018, Enogu formed its classic lineup when the two units were merged. On May 5, 2018 they did their proper first show as five girl assembly with a live performance of their first single, the eponymous song "Enogu" [1]. The Actresses Unit was later renamed as Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり).
The initial announcement of the creation of Enogu was received with a harsh backlash from their fans because of misunderstandings originated from the official statement released by the chief manager of the group, Yuuta Marumo. [1] The way he delivered the statement was interpreted as he was changing completely the lineup with new members instead of just merging the two existent groups.
On 23 February, the Actresses Unit released an apology video explaining the reasons who lead to this misunderstanding and reassuring the fans that there won't be changes on the formation beyond of a merge. In the video, Rako, who was wrongly targeted with some of the fan backlash, was crying, and when the other girls tried to touch her to console her it caused glitches in the motion capture system. To this day the first announcement video is the most disliked video in all Enogu's videography.[2]
2019
On 4 March, it was announced that the voice actress behind Natsume Haru will take a break due to her poor health.[3]
On 2 April, it was announced that the voice actress behind Kurihara Sakurako would temporarily suspend activities due to an undisclosed medical condition.[4]
On 7 April, the 1-year anniversary VR live event was held at DMM VR theater, with the 3 active girls: Anzu, Nao and Tamaki.[5]
On 13 September, Natsume Haru resumed her activities with Enogu.[6]
2020
On 31 January, Iwamotochou Geinousha (via the official Twitter account of Enogu and their official website) announced the permanent retirement of Kurihara Sakurako].[7]
Since 31 January, Enogu was reformed as an idol quartet after the departure of Kurihara Sakurako due to poor health and following her absence from streams, events and performances since April 2019.
Rako's departure from Enogu and Iwamotochou Geinousha is scheduled to be effective on 29 February 2020. According to the official statement, despite Rako's intentions to resume her activities, the specialists in charge of her medical condition had clarified that her long and ongoing treatment had made impossible for her to continue, so the best for her in this situation was to conclude her activities as an idol altogether. Iwamotochou Geinousha also stated that they will not expand on the details of Rako's medical situation and urged her fans to respect her privacy. Also Iwamotochou Geinousha confirmed that Rako will not release a personal statement addressing her fans nor she will be active on her official social network accounts.[8]
2022
On 10 July, Natsume Haru and Iwamotochou Geinousha announced the conclusion of her activities with Enogu to be effective on 31 December 2022, citing personal reasons related with her family.[9][10] The same day, Haru and the rest of Enogu did a livestream addressing this announcement.[11]
It is expected that Enogu will return to be an idol trio group from 31 December 2022 onwards, since the announcement of Natsume Haru's graduation on 10 July 2022.
2023
On 6 November, Iwamotochou Geinousha announced their bankruptcy and closing of all activities on 31 December 2023.[12] Nonetheless the talents have announced they will continue activities in a semi-autonomous scale, honoring previous commitments while becoming independent and/or transferring their brand to a another company.
2024
On 8 January, The members of Enogu announced the creation of Enogu LLC. (えのぐ合同会社 Enogu Gōdō gaisha), a multi-armed multimedia company founded to replace their earlier company Iwamotochou Geinousha.[13]
Trivia
- As of 2019, along with Kizuna AI, Weatheroid Type A Airi and Kosaki Micha, the members of Enogu were the only Virtual YouTubers who had their accounts officially verified by Twitter. Eventually as the VTuber trend grew and become more popular, the number of virtual talents having their verifiedTwitter accounts increased.
- The hashtag #えのぐ was nominated in the breakthrough category (VTuber) on the 2018 Twitter Trend Awards in Japan. Enogu was nominated along Kizuna AI, Kaguya Luna, Mirai Akari, Dennou Shojo Siro, Tokino Sora, Tsukino Mito, Nora Cat, Shinonome Megu and Yozakura Tama. AI was the winner of that category. [2]
- Along with Fuji Aoi and MonsterZ MATE, Enogu is also an artist who signed a deal with Universal Music Japan for the release of their music. [3] [4]
- They have a collaboration with the YumYumMonkey ice cream/snack shop in Akihabara (at Don Quijote building).
External Links
Media
- Enogu's official site
- 【VRアイドル】えのぐチャンネル - YouTube Channel
- Enogu's corporate profile on the Iwamotochou Geinousha website.
- @rbc_geino - Official Enogu Twitter Account
- @anzu15_225 - Anzu Twitter
- @erimakitamaki - Tamaki Twitter
- @hinao_23ku - Nao Twitter
- @haru_neee - Haru Twitter
- @rako_29 - Sakurako Twitter (Inactive since July 2019, deleted since March 2020)
- Showroom (used often for live shows).
- Enogu's music on Spotify
- @enogu_vr_idol - Official Instagram Profile
- @enogu_vr_idol - Official TikTok Profile
- Official Pixiv Profile
Hashtags
- #えのぐ - General
Further reading
References
- ↑ えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu [えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu Ch.]. (2018, February 21). 【デビューについて】岩本町芸能社から重大報告 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu [えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu Ch.]. (2018, February 23). 【2月22日】女優部からみなさまへ！ [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ えのぐ / enogu [@rbc_geino]. (2019, March 4). メンバーお休みのお知らせ 本日20:00から放送の｢えのぐはお話ししたい｣ですが、夏目ハル は体調不良のためお休みさせていただきます。 急な告知となり大変申し訳ございません。 放送は予定通りの時間で行います。 #えのぐ生放送 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ えのぐ / enogu [@rbc_geino]. (2019, April 2). いつも｢えのぐ｣を応援していただき誠にありがとうございます。 本日より、｢えのぐ｣メンバーの栗原桜子が一時活動を休養することをご報告いたします。 ご心配をおかけしますこと深くお詫び申し上げます。 詳しい内容と栗原桜子からのメッセージはこちらをご確認ください。 #岩本町芸能社 #えのぐ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ えのぐ / enogu [@rbc_geino]. (2019, April 4). #えのぐ結成1周年記念ライブ は、いよいよ今週末の4月7日に開催！ DMM VR THEATERで待ってます！！ 今日はリハの様子をチラ見せ👀 ⏬ライブ詳細⏬https://rbc-geino.com/20190407live/ ⏬チケット⏬https://t.pia.jp/pia/event/event.do?eventCd=1910807 前売りチケット販売【本日まで】 当日チケットは会場にて¥5,500で販売！ #えのぐ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu [えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu Ch.]. (2019, September 13). 私、アイドル活動再開します！【夏目ハル】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ https://rbc-geino.com/20200131-2
- ↑ えのぐ / enogu [@rbc_geino]. (2020, January 31). 栗原桜子アイドル活動引退のお知らせ 2020.1.31 岩本町芸能社 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ 夏目ハル [@haru_neee]. (2022, July 10). 皆さまへ えのぐの夏目ハルです 2022年12月31日をもちまして、夏目ハルは、家庭の事情によりアイドル活動を引退する決断をしました 言葉でお伝えしたいことがたくさんあるので本日19:00から生放送でお話しさせてくださいhttps://youtu.be/sHrOarQIt0o 突然のお知らせで驚かせてしまいごめんなさい https://twitter.com/rbc_geino/status/1546041561280290817 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ えのぐ / enogu [@rbc_geino]. (2022, July 10). えのぐ「夏目 ハル」 アイドル活動引退のお知らせ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu [えのぐ -VRアイドル- enogu Ch.]. (2022, July 10). えのぐ「夏目ハル」アイドル活動引退のお知らせ [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ 鈴木あんず Anzu Suzuki（えのぐ） [@anzu15_225]. (2023, November 6). 【ご報告】新会社設立のお知らせ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ 白藤環 Tamaki Shirafuji（えのぐ） [@erimakitamaki]. (2024, January 8). 鈴木あんず、白藤環、日向奈央 の3人を中心に設立する新会社の社名が決定しました！ 「えのぐ合同会社」をよろしくお願いします！ #えのぐ [Tweet]. Twitter.