Chatmonchy
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | www |
Chatmonchy (Japanese: チャットモンチー, romanized: chattomonchī) was a female rock trio originating from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The group featured Eriko Hashimoto on guitar and lead vocals, Akiko Fukuoka handling bass and backing vocals, and formerly Kumiko Takahashi on drums and backing vocals.
Beginning in 2005, they were affiliated with Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records label. The band declared their decision to disband in November 2017.
Their concluding solo performance took place on July 4, 2018, at the Nippon Budokan arena. This event was succeeded by their final "Konason Fest," held over two days on July 21 and 22.
2000–2004: Formation of the group
Eriko Hashimoto established Chatmonchy in 2000 during her high school years in Tokushima, motivated by her brother’s musical endeavors. She started learning guitar with the goal of assembling a three-member band.
The name "Chatmonchy" merges the word "chat," chosen arbitrarily from a dictionary, with "monchi," inspired by an endearing monkey doll character from the anime Futago no Monchhichi. After completing high school, the members initially went separate ways.
Fukuoka, who attended the same high school as Hashimoto, joined to form an acoustic duo. When their drummer withdrew shortly before a 2004 concert, Takahashi—then part of another band but acquainted through their university’s Light Music Club—stepped in as drummer.
Independently, the band produced and distributed their album , selling approximately 1,500 copies mainly within Tokushima. This grassroots success attracted attention from record companies.
2005–2008: Album releases
On November 23, 2005, Chatmonchy launched chatmonchy has come, their debut album under Ki/oon Records with production by Supercar's Junji Ishiwatari. The album sold over 20,000 units. Following this release, the band relocated permanently to Tokyo.
The single Koi no Kemuri was released in March 2006 but did not enter the charts. In July, their album Miminari debuted at number 10 on Oricon’s album rankings. Later that year in November, the single Shangri-La reached number 6 on Oricon and was featured as the ending theme for the anime series Hataraki Man.
April 2007 saw the release of Joshi-tachi ni Asu wa Nai, which did not chart; however, in June, the double A-side single Tobiuo no Butterfly / Sekai ga Owaru Yoru ni entered the charts at number 9. The September single Daidai, used as the twelfth ending theme for the anime Bleach, debuted at number 12. October’s album Seimeiryoku climbed to number 2 on Oricon charts. Additionally, November marked their first DVD release titled Chatmonchy Restaurant Appetizer.
In February 2008, their single Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira debuted at number 11 alongside a live DVD called Chatmonchy Restaurant Soup. June’s single Kaze Fukeba Koi reached number 8 on Oricon, while November’s single Somaru Yo entered at number 10.
2009–2018
On February 4, 2009, Chatmonchy unveiled the single "Last Love Letter," which entered the Oricon charts at position seven. The following month, their album Kokuhaku was released, debuting at number two, alongside the Blu-ray titled Chatmonchy Restaurant Main Dish.
In March 2010, the band took part in SXSW in Austin, Texas as part of the Japan Nite tour and embarked on a brief US tour with stops in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Their track "Koko Dake no Hanashi" served as the opening theme for the anime Kuragehime.
On July 29, 2011, Kumiko declared her intention to leave the group after completing scheduled performances that September; from October onward, Chatmonchy continued performing as a duo.
In May 2013, Eriko revealed her marriage to Shoichi Igari of Tacica and announced her pregnancy; she welcomed her son in October of that year.
The band's sixth studio album, Kyōmei, was released on May 13, 2015, featuring contributions from new supporting musicians.
On November 24, 2017, Chatmonchy announced their decision to disband in July 2018. Their final record, Tanjō, was issued in June 2018.
Following the group's dissolution, Eriko has pursued solo work including releasing a demo CD, while Akiko has concentrated on production activities for the band Yonige.
Band members
- – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums (2000–2018)
- Akiko Fukuoka – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, piano, drums (2002–2018)
- Kumiko Takahashi – drums and percussion, backing vocals (2003–2011)
- Touring members
- Aiko Kitano – drums and backing vocals (2014–2016)
- Hiroko Sebu – keyboards and backing vocals (2014–2016)
- Ryōsuke Shimomura – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (2014–2016)
- Akira Tsuneoka – drums (2014–2016)
Discography
- Miminari (2006)
- Seimeiryoku (2007)
- Kokuhaku (2009)
- You More (2011)
- Henshin (2012)
- Kyōmei (2015)
- Tanjō (2018)