Sugar (trio)

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Sugar
Sugar in 1982. From left to right: Kumiko Nagasawa, Miki Kasamatsu, and Kimiko Tokumoto.
Background information
Also known asシュガー
GenresJ-Pop
Years active1981 (1981)–1987 (1987)
LabelsFor Life
Past membersMiki Kasamatsu
Kumiko Nagasawa
Kimiko Tokumoto (deceased)

Sugar (Japanese: シュガー) were a Japanese idol trio formed in 1981 by Miki Kasamatsu, Kumiko Nagasawa, and Kimiko Mohri. Originally formed as a band with all three members playing instruments, the group slowly shifted away from use of their instruments an becoming a vocal group by the latter half of their career. They attracted attention with their debut single "Wedding Bell," which charted at No. 2 on the Oricon charts.

History[edit]

Kumiko Nagasawa and Kimiko Mohri were junior high classmates at Yokohama City Terao Junior High School and previously formed the band Karinto (かりんとう) at Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi High School, where Mohri attended. The duo also participated in the 14th Yamaha Popular Song Contest in 1977[1] before joining the band Cutie Panchos when it was formed in December 1978.[2][3]

After Cutie Panchos lost the Popcon Grand Prix in 1980, the pair left the band and created Sugar with Miki Kasamatsu, who had met them after, in 1981.[4] They named themselves Sugar as it was the opposite of salt as well as to show their "sweet voices."[5] On November 21, 1981, they released their debut single, "Wedding Bell" on For Life Music.[6] That same year, they released their debut album, Sugar Dream.[7]

In 1982, they participated in the 33rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen with the Red Group.[8][9] In 1987, the group disbanded.[10]

Members[edit]

Miki Kasamatsu[edit]

Miki Kasamatsu (born July 15, 1960) attended Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi High School before graduating at Nihon University Tsurugaoka High School. She was the keyboardist of the band.[11] Kasamatsu is now a freelance composer, creating songs for video games and anime.[12]

Kumiko Nagasawa[edit]

Kumiko Nagasawa (born July 15, 1960) was the guitarist of the group. After the disbandment of the band, she began working as a designer at Being Inc.[13] She restarted her music career as a solo musician and now also leads a band called Kumi's Band since 2015, which includes members of Cutie Panchos.[14]

Nagasawa also runs the Sugar Project, which aims to protect dogs.[15]

Kimiko Tokumoto[edit]

Kimiko Tokumoto (née Mohri, September 29, 1960 – April 7, 1990)[16] was the leader and bassist of the group.

On April 6, 1990, Tokumoto felt labor pains and went to the doctor with her sister, Mamoru Mohri, as her husband was abroad on a business trip.[17] When they got there, the heartbeat of the child could no longer be confirmed and was she told that she suffered from stillbirth.[18] They decided to stay at the hospital overnight and leave the next day, but during their stay, her sister noticed that Tokumoto was not breathing and was taken immediately by another paramedic.[19] Tokumoto died while being transferred, with the cause being unknown.[20][21]

Discography[edit]

Sugar discography
Studio albums4
Compilation albums3
Singles11

Studio albums[edit]

Year Title Label
1981 Sugar Dream For Life Music
1982 Coffee Break
1983 Sugar Bean
1985 29:00 AM

Compilation albums[edit]

Year Title Label
1983 Faces For Life Music
1987 Sugar
2004 Golden Best

Singles[edit]

Year A-Side B-Side Album Label
1981 "Wedding Bell" (ウエディング・ベル) "Shinsen Bishō On'na" (新鮮微笑女) Sugar Dream For Life Music
1982 "Abanchūru wa Rukkusu-shidai" (アバンチュールはルックスしだい) "Shin'nyū Shain to Torabayu (A.M.9 To P.M.5)" (新入社員ととらばーゆ(A.M.9 to P.M.5)) Non-album single
"Watashi ○ ni ho Rika Hito" (私○にほリカ人) "An non Sutorīto" (an non ストリート)
"Misty Night" "Uwakina Benkyō Gāru" (浮気な勉強ガール) Coffee Break
"Wedding Well II" (ウエディング・ベル II) "Abanchūru wa Rukkusu-shidai II" (アバンチュールはルックスしだい II) Non-album single
1983 "Kisu ga Ippai" (キスがいっぱい) "Haru Hana-zakari" (春・花ざかり) Sugar Bean
"Chū Bura Rabu" (中ブラ・ラブ) "Chū Bura Rabu (Kareoke)" (中ブラ・ラブ (カラオケ)) Non-album single
"Tamago" (タマゴ) "Imagination Express <Yume Kyūkō>" (IMAGINATION EXPRESS<夢急行>) Non-album single
"Circus Game" "Suimasen My Love" (スイマセン My love)
1985 "Koi wa Masukarēdo" (恋はマスカレード) "Midnight Call"
"Naito Porisu" (ナイト・ポリス) "Goin' Man" 29:00 AM

References[edit]

  1. ^ 第14回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト (in Japanese). Yamaha Music Foundation. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  2. ^ Sugiyama, Kiyotaka. "杉山清貴の過去から現在「KT's History」". Island Afternoon Answer (in Japanese).
  3. ^ Tashiro, Sayaka; Koji, Takemoto (May 2, 2019). "4月20日 ゲスト:杉山清貴さん". Sayaka Tashiro's Mirache Music Triangle (in Japanese). Radio Kansai.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "シュガーのミキ・笠松美樹の今現在、年齢や活動、結婚は?". TV Bangumi Kara Hakken! Kininaruhito-tachi (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Sugar 「ウェディング・ベル」 (2)". Ongaku Nikki Rokku ya Jazu no Meiban Meikyoku no Shōkai to Sonohoka no Hitorigoto (in Japanese). Rakuten. March 6, 2015.
  6. ^ "ウエディング・ベルから40年、それぞれの人生を歩んだシュガーの、ミキ、クミ、そしてモーリ。". Otoko Chi Oya ー ON・CO・CHI・SHIN ー (in Japanese). Ameba. July 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "シュガー - シュガー・ドリーム". HERETIC!!! (in Japanese). Ameba.
  8. ^ "【帰ってきたアイドル親衛隊】3週続けての入り待ちで、色紙に3人のサインがそろい労いの言葉を頂けたSugar". Excite (in Japanese). February 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "サザンオールスターズ大活躍、出場歌手による「ビートルズ・メドレー」も。". NHK (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "驚愕!アイフォンでシュガーの「ウエディングベル」を高音質で聴く方法". Jugem (in Japanese). August 27, 2013.
  11. ^ "シュガー(歌手)、笠松美樹(ミキ)の今現在は?かわいいままなの?". Manga Jirō no Blog (in Japanese). March 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Suger(シュガー)のミキ(笠松美樹)の現在は?昔の顔画像もかわいい!". Taakichi no Torendo Saito Sōgō Hasshin (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "出産時に急死の「Sugar」毛利公子さん、親友・クミこと長沢久美子さんが30年目に明かした真相". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "【長沢久美子】Sugarクミ今現在の経歴がヤバイ!結婚して夫や子供は?". Utina Ketumekko (in Japanese). 13 March 2020.
  15. ^ "長沢久美子の現在は?Sugarの「ウエディング・ベル」が懐かしい♪【爆報】". Geinō Nyūsu Sokuhō Japan (in Japanese). March 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "モーリ(毛利公子)(1960年9月29日生~1990年4月7日没、シュガーのベース、リーダー)". Hideakim no Blog (in Japanese). Ameba. September 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "シュガーモーリ毛利公子死因や夫赤ちゃんの現在は?解散後の活躍や画像は?". Zaitakude Mama Work (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.
  18. ^ "出産時に急死の「Sugar」毛利公子さん、親友・クミこと長沢久美子さんが30年目に明かした真相". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "シュガー モーリの死因は何だったのか?". Onigiri Matome (in Japanese). April 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "「ウエディング・ベル」がヒット、29歳で急死「Sugar」モーリの謎をメンバー激白". GirlsChannel. March 15, 2020.
  21. ^ "コーラスグループ・Sugarのモーリの本名、死因を紹介". Mangafan (in Japanese). March 13, 2020.