EE Jump

EE Jump (イー・イー・ジャンプ, Ī Ī Janpu, stylized as EE JUMP) was a Japanese pop group signed under Toy's Factory with music produced by Tsunku.[1] The members consisted of Sonim, who was the group's lead vocalist, and Yuki, who was the group's rapper.

EE Jump
OriginJapan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2000–2002
LabelsToy's Factory
WebsiteWebsite
Past members

History

Pre-debut

In 1999, three teenagers were scouted by Harmony Promotion and were assigned to a group under the name "EE Jump", a pun of the Japanese phrase "that's great" (いいじゃん, ii jan). The group's music was produced by Tsunku.[1] Sonim was scouted as the group's lead vocalist; Yuki Goto, the younger brother of Maki Goto, was scouted by an agency while at one of his sister's events and became the group's rapper.[2] Half-Canadian, half-Japanese Ken was assigned the group's dancer.[3] The trio made their first television appearance on Warau Inu no Bōken to perform a dance routine.[4] Shortly before their CD debut, Ken left the agency.[3]

2000-2001: Beginnings

EE Jump released their debut single, "Love is Energy!", on October 18, 2000, which served as the theme song for Warau Inu no Bōken.[5] The music video was filmed in Manhattan, New York. Their single was followed up by "Hello! Atarashii Watashi" on January 24, 2001.[6] Their third single, "Otto Totto Natsu da ze!", was released on May 16, 2001 as the theme song for Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ.[7] The song became a summer hit, charting at #5 on Oricon.[3] EE Jump also had their own weekly radio show on Mondays, titled EE Jump no Radio de Ii jan (EE JUMPのラジオでイイジャン).[8]

EE Jump's fourth single, "Iki na Rhythm!", was released on August 29, 2001.[9] However, during the single's promotions, Yuki had an argument with the group's female manager over their crowded work schedules, which led to him physically assaulting her, checking out of his hotel room without permission, and fleeing to Tochigi Prefecture.[4][3] In response, chief manager Kaoru Wada suspended his activities for three months.[4] During this time, Sonim continued activities without him, releasing their fifth single, "Winter (Samui Kisetsu no Monogatari)", on November 28, 2001 under the name "EE Jump featuring Sonim."[10]

2002: Disbandment

In February 2002, Yuki eventually rejoined the group after releasing an apology,[4] and EE Jump released their sixth single, "Seishun no Sunrise", on March 6, 2002.[11] Shortly after graduating middle school, he was photographed by tabloid magazine Friday at a cabaret club drinking alcohol while underage with a member of Johnny's Jr.[4][12] Wada warned Yuki to keep his personal life private, but after Yuki refused, Wada and Tsunku agreed to revoke his contract in April 2002.[4] EE Jump's first album, titled EE Jump Collection 1, was scheduled for release on May 9, 2002, but it was cancelled upon his dismissal.[3][12] Sonim resumed activities without him, and the EE Jump name became defunct, with the agency removing any mention of Yuki from their website.[13][14]

Members

Discography

Studio albums
Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
EE Jump Collection 1 (EE JUMP　コレクション1) 2002
  • Released: May 9, 2002 (cancelled)
  • Label: Toy's Factory
  • Formats: CD
Tracklisting
  1. "Otto Totto Natsu da ze!" (おっととっと夏だぜ!)
  2. "Winter (Samui Kisetsu no Monogatari)" (WINTER～寒い季節の物語～)
  3. "Ada Boy & Da Girl"
  4. "Iki na Rhythm!" (イキナリズム!)
  5. "Seishun no Sunrise" (青春のSUNRISE)
  6. "Ai wa Motto Sou Janakute" (愛はもっとそうじゃなくて) (Sonim solo)
  7. "Love is Energy!"
  8. "Shitamachi Sodachi no Boku Dakara" (下町育ちの僕だから) (Yuki solo)
  9. "Missing You"
  10. "Nakama tte Ii jan!" (仲間っていいじゃん！) (2002 version)
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles
Title Year Peak position Sales
JPN
"Love is Energy!" 2000 18
  • JPN: 50,950
"Hello! Atarashii Watashi" (HELLO!新しい私) 2001 17
  • JPN: 54,880
"Otto Totto Natsu da ze!" (おっととっと夏だぜ!) 5
  • JPN: 188,820
"Iki na Rhythm!" (イキナリズム!) 14
  • JPN: 45,880
"Winter (Samui Kisetsu no Monogatari)" (WINTER～寒い季節の物語～)
(as "EE Jump featuring Sonim")		 10
  • JPN: 65,690
"Seishun no Sunrise" (青春のSUNRISE) 2002 12
  • JPN: 59,410
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

References
  1. "EE Jump's Official Website: Discography". Harmony Promotion (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 12, 2002. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. 金曜日のスマたちへ「波瀾万丈2時間スペシャル」後藤真希 24歳の告白 (in Japanese). July 23, 2010. Tokyo Broadcasting System.
  3. Sorama, Chianko (October 14, 2017). "たった２年で解散に……波乱万丈の人気ユニットだった「EE JUMP」". Excite (in Japanese). Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  4. Kojihei (August 22, 2016). "やんちゃ過ぎた後藤真希の弟・ユウキの転落人生 強盗傷害罪で逮捕も…". Excite (in Japanese). Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  5. "LOVE IS ENERGY!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  6. "HELLO!新しい私" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  7. "おっととっと夏だぜ!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  8. "EE Jump's Official Website: Profile". Harmony Promotion (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 1, 2001. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  9. "イキナリズム!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  10. "WINTER～寒い季節の物語～" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  11. "青春のSUNRISE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  12. McClure, Steve (April 24, 2002). "Two men and a poor baby". The Japan Times. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  13. "EE Jump's Official Website". Harmony Promotion (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  14. "EE Jump's Official Website: News". Harmony Promotion (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
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