Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, 2013 promoting Baito Fighter
Sotokanda Icchoume (外神田いっちょめ), formerly Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome (バクステ外神田一丁目), is an idol group that originally consisted of AKIHABARA Backstage pass members. It was formed on May 1, 2012, after the announcement of their first indies single Produce.
As Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, the majority of the AKIHABARA Backstage cast were members of the idol group. However, not all members were used for the jacket covers for singles and albums. The member chosen were those who had high weekly or monthly popularity rankings, alongside selected girls chosen by the staff and label company (originally Warner Music Japan, later VERSIONMUSIC). Eventually, due to graduations and group changes over the years, not all cast members of the café were also members of the group.
On December 16, 2022, after the management company rebranded itself, it was announced that the group's name would change to Sotokanda Icchome.[1]
As of December 2022, the group runs out of their iTube Studio café in conjunction with aspirational YouTubers. On November 18, 2023, it was announced that the iTube Studio café would close and the group would disband on January 8, 2024.[2]
About[]
Café[]
- Main article: AKIHABARA Backstage pass
The AKIHABARA Backstage pass café was located on the 6th floor of AKIBA Cultures Zone, 1-7-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The café featured a permanent stage for the idol cast to perform on. Store customers and fans were called "producers" because they are set up as the producers to support and "produce" their favorite idol cast members. Currently, the café is home to the iTube Studio café, where the YouTuber cast also serve customers.
Group Name[]
The abbreviation for AKIHABARA Backstage Pass is "Bakuste" (バクステ) and the café was located at the AKIBA Cultures Zone building, in Sotokanda 1-chome. This resulted in naming the idol group "Bakuste Sotokanda 1-chome" (pronunced is Bakusute to Kanda Icchome). The abbreviation for the group Icchome. At the end of 2022, due to overhaul of the management company, the group name was changed to Sotokanda Icchome.
Activities[]
Utilizing the café's popularity voting system, the selected members for singles, and the right to perform at external events, were determined via this system. The rankings of the idol cast were compiled every week, originally monthly, based on the votes of customers who visit the café (producers). The weekly points, later changed back to monthly, were awarded based on the rankings. Based on the results, members would be selected for activities outside the café, TV appearances, CD jacket selections, and more.
The results were compiled monthly and announced at the monthly ranking ceremony. "Idol Cast Points" would be added to Idol Cast members in accordance to their monthly rankings. This would then is listed on cast member's official profile on their website until October 2022.
Members[]
- Main article: Sotokanda Icchoume/Members
Units[]
- Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome Recreation
- Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome Food & Culture
- Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome Newspaper
- Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome Health Care
- Erabareshi
- Pretty Ash
- Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome StageS
History[]
2011[]
AKIHABARA Backstage pass, December 2011 with Tsunku and Shikura
On December 23, the café opened as an idol training entertainment café. On that day, there was an opening day event where it was announced that the cafe is a joint project, with Tsunku, the representative of TNX, and Shikura Chiyomaru, owner of a themed cafes chain. While the cafe's theme is inspiring idols training to debut, they had auditions for the girls for a chance to work at the cafe. Tsunku selected 80 girls out of over a 1,000 applicants to be potential idols, quoting, "We held an audition the same way we did with Morning Musume."
Outside the 80 cast, there were also other groups participating in the café on its opening: OS☆U, Doll Elements (Lovely Doll trainees) and THE Possible. Afterwards, 15 of the opening staff performed Morning Musume.'s LOVE Machine on stage for the first time.
2012[]
On December 1st, Bakusute Produce System 2.0 was announced. Due to the change in the "Oshi" system, the monthly ranking was been changed to a "Weekly Ranking" point aggregation.
2013[]
Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, January 2013 promoting Yoropiku Pikuyoro!
Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, 2013 promoting Bishoujo Mokushiroku
On January 9, it was announced that the group would be making their major single debut in the spring with Baito Fighter, under Warner Music Japan.
In February, 4th Generation auditions were announced.
In June, 5th Generation auditions were announced.
2014[]
In February, 6th Generation auditions were announced.
2015[]
On May 1, it was announced that the group would transfer over to JVC Victor Entertaiment's VERSION MUSIC label.
2016[]
On February 17, during the release of their single, Otome Gokoro no Kagi／The Kagayakeru, it was announced their first fixed unit Erabareshi would form.
2017[]
On March 15, the group released their first compilation album, (1) BEST The Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome ~5nen ga Gyutto SP~.
2018[]
On March 21, the group released their 10th single, WOI!, their final under JVC Victor's VERSION MUSIC. On September 1, Asakura Yuri released her first solo legend single, Sing for.
2019[]
After a year and three months, the group released their 11th single, Kyouhansha, their first and only single under FIFTY-FIFTY Records. [3] On November 30, Horiuchi Kaori released her first solo legend single, Never Before.
2021[]
After COVID-19 related delays, the group released their 12th single, My Independence, their first single under Hameln Music and Columbia Marketing.
2022[]
On January 15, the group held their 10th anniversary live, Akihabara Backstage Pass 10Shuunen LIVE ~Yatte Yaruze! Buchi Agete Ikouze!~ (AKIHABARAバックステージpass 10周年ライブ～やってやるぜ！ぶちあげていこうぜ！～), at Otemachi Mitsui Hall.
In February, it was announced that the group would be looking for 10 new members and a new center for an upcoming single, with member Moeno Azuki being in charge of judging them. Applications for new members between the ages of 16 and 25 were open from February 25 to March 25, 2022.
On May 24, their 13th single Oshiete Moonlight was released.
On December 16, 2022, it was announced that the group's name would change to Sotokanda Icchome (外神田いっちょめ), that management would now be iTube Production (iTube Inc.), and that they would work out of the iTube Studio café, the former site of the Bakusute café. [1]
2023[]
On November 18, 2023, after less than a year in operation, it was announced that the iTube Studio café would close and as a result, group would disband on January 8, 2024 with the group's final events taking place in the month of December and the first week of January.[2]
Discography[]
Singles[]
- [2012.08.01] Produce (Indies)
- [2013.01.30] Yoropiku Pikuyoro! (Indies)
- [2013.05.08] Baito Fighter
- [2013.08.14] Bishoujo Mokushiroku
- [2013.11.20] Oh my destiny
- [2014.08.27] Seishun Chronicle / Harinezumi to Jelly Bee
- [2015.08.12] Amai Yuuwaku Dangerous／Ai ue Take off!!
- [2016.02.17] Otome Gokoro no Kagi／The Kagayakeru
- [2016.10.26] Watashi Michi
- [2018.03.21] WOI!
- [2019.06.04] Kyouhansha
- [2021.09.14] My Independence
- [2022.06.21] Oshiete Moonlight
Albums[]
- [2014.01.29] ①The Produce
Compilation Albums[]
- [2017.03.15] (1) BEST The Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome ~5nen ga Gyutto SP~
Video Releases[]
- [2013.08.21] AKIHABARA Backstage pass presents - Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome - 2012 Soshu Hen Special DVD Box
- [2013.08.21] AKIHABARA Backstage pass presents Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome Special DVD Box II - 2012 October - 2013 May -
- [2014.XX.XX] Tsuntsube ♂ PRESENTS! Choushi Bukkoki Matsuri 2013 Aki～Choushi Bukko Ite 5kasho Mawatchauze! Tour ~ Soushuuhen Special
- [2014.XX.XX] Tsuntsube ♂ PRESENTS! Choushi Bukkoki Matsuri 2014 Aki ~ Ookina yamaba Tamaya kagiya ~ Tokyo FINAL Kouen @ LIQUIDROOM
- [2015.XX.XX] AKIHABARA Backstage pass 3Shuunen Kinen Tsunku ♂ PRESENTS! Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome LIVE History 2012-2014
- [2018.08.01] AKIHABARA Backstage pass 6Shuunen Memorial LIVE ~Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome! Choushi Bukkoki Matsuri 2018 Fuyu~
- [2020.01.22] Kokokara Buchiagete Ikou AKIHABARA Backstage pass 7Shuunen Memorial LIVE Hiru Kouen
- [2020.01.22] Kokokara Buchiagete Ikou AKIHABARA Backstage pass 7Shuunen Memorial LIVE Yoru Kouen
- [2020.11.06] AKIHABARA Backstage pass 8Shuunen Memorial LIVE Madamada Buchiagete Ikou
- [2021.10.27] AKIHABARA Backstage pass 9Shuunen LIVE Motto Motto Buchiagete Ikou Hiru Kouen
- [2021.10.27] AKIHABARA Backstage pass 9Shuunen LIVE Motto Motto Buchiagete Ikou Yoru Kouen
Trivia[]
- They are currently the largest group that Tsunku has ever worked with and produced.