Dream (Japanese group)
Native name | ドリーム |
|---|---|
| Company type | Girl group |
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Avex Dream 2000 talent competition winners: Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, Yu Hasebe |
| Defunct | 2017 (implied by members' departure and disbandment) |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Area served | Japan |
Key people | Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, Yu Hasebe, Risa Ai, Erie Abe, Aya Takamoto, Ami Nakashima, Shizuka Nishida, Sayaka Yamamoto |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Owner | Avex Trax (initially), later Rhythm Zone, LDH (management) |
Dream (ドリーム, Dorīmu) was a Japanese pop girl group established through the 1999 talent competition "Avex Dream 2000". Originally formed as a trio consisting of Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe, the group made their debut in 2000 under the Avex Trax label. The initial lineup achieved sales exceeding 950,700 records, with total cumulative sales surpassing 1.1 million units over a span of ten years.
On July 7, 2002, the primary lyricist Mai Matsumuro departed to embark on a solo career. To fill her position, Avex conducted auditions that led to the addition of six new members, expanding Dream into an eight-member ensemble with the release of the single "Music is My Thing". In March 2004, Risa Ai exited to pursue solo endeavors, reducing the group to seven members until 2007. During this timeframe, the group adopted the name DRM.
In August 2008, Yu Hasebe left to focus on solo projects, leaving Kana Tachibana as the only remaining original member. The group then reverted back to the name Dream.
Dream officially re-launched under the Rhythm Zone label in August 2010 with their single "My Way: Ulala". Their first album as a six-member formation, titled Hands Up!, was released on November 24, 2010.
On November 23, 2010, Kana Tachibana announced her intention to leave, marking the departure of the last founding member; her exit became official on February 20, 2011. Afterwards, Sayaka Yamamoto also left on March 30, 2012 to pursue a solo career.
Avex Dream 2000
In 1999, Avex initiated the "Avex Dream 2000" talent search aiming to form a new idol group. The contest attracted more than 120,000 entrants, including future star Kumi Koda who finished second. The winners—Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe—came together to create Dream.
Debut as a trio Dream
Dream’s debut single "Movin' On" was released on January 1, 2000. It remained in Oricon’s top 15 for seven consecutive weeks and sold over 100,000 copies. This song served as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s Sukiyaki!! London Boots Daisakusen. Their follow-up single "Reality" featured in a "Sea Breeze" advertisement and reached number 17 on Oricon charts. The Eurobeat cover "Night of Fire", with Japanese lyrics penned by Matsumuro, peaked at #20 and was associated with the popular anime Initial D.
Subsequent releases maintained moderate chart positions until "My Will" climbed to number 6 in late 2000 and gained recognition as the ending theme for anime Inuyasha. Other significant singles included "Believe In You", which was featured on NTV’s ZZZ Romihi, and "Solve", peaking at #17 while promoting the Japanese release of Little Nicky. The track "Our Time" (#25) also served as an opening theme for Sukiyaki!! London Boots Daisakusen, with its music video shot in Hawaii. The single "Stay: Now I'm Here" (#19) was used in commercials for Kanebo Hadabisei.
Their debut album Dear..., released on February 28, 2001, reached number five on Oricon charts. On November 28, 2001, they issued "Get Over", which served as the opening theme for anime Hikaru no Go and peaked at number twelve. January 2002 saw the release of "Yourself", used as an image song for the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament; it also marked their final video single. Their second album Process, released February 14, 2002, attained number eight on Oricon.
After Process, lead member and chief lyricist Matsumuro left to focus on her solo career. The last single recorded as a trio was "Sincerely: Ever Dream" (June 10, 2002), a reimagined version of a track from Dear... with new lyrics by Matsumuro; it acted as the third ending theme for Hikaru no Go and coincided with her departure from Dream.
On June 26, 2002, Dream issued their first compilation album titled Eternal Dream, which was their final release as a three-member group. Matsumuro officially exited the group on July 7, 2002.
Eight-member Formation
Following Matsumuro's exit, Avex held auditions and selected six new members: Risa Ai, Erie Abe, Aya Takamoto, Ami Nakashima, Shizuka Nishida, and Sayaka Yamamoto. The group, now consisting of eight members, officially "re-debuted" on February 13, 2003, with the single "Music is My Thing," which served as the fifth ending theme for the anime Hikaru no Go. This track, a Japanese adaptation of a 1986 English song by Belgian singer Samantha Gilles, peaked at number 18 on the Oricon charts and remained there for four weeks.
In the same month, Dream released their third studio album, Dream World, which reached number 23 on Oricon. Their popularity surged once again as they took part in Avex's inaugural a-nation summer festival and appeared on Ayumi Hamasaki's television program Ayuready. Their single "I Love Dream World" marked their return to the top 10 Oricon rankings since 2000's "My Will." Notably, the title incorporates a heart/peace symbol often mistakenly read as "I love world."
February 2004 saw the release of "Identity: Prologue," a single that doubled as the theme for their ID stage musical, the image song for the GameCube game Custom Robo Battle Revolution, and the official song for the 2004 Yokohama International Women's Ekiden. This was the final single released with all eight members.
After issuing their fourth album ID in 2004, Ai departed to embark on a solo career, reducing Dream to a seven-member ensemble.
Seven-member Dream/DRM
Between 2004 and 2005, Dream issued several singles including "Pure" and "Love Generation." Their last release under Avex Trax as a seven-member unit was "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story" on March 2, 2005, preceding their rebranding to DRM. They also produced two mini-albums—Natsuiro and Boy meets Girl—as well as compilation albums: best-of collection 777: Best of Dreams, Avex cover album Dream Meets Best Hits Avex, and self-cover album 777: Another Side Story.
Following a period of limited activity, Dream launched two albums on January 1, 2007. The first, 7th Anniversary Best, compiled tracks spanning from their debut to recent singles; the second, Greatest Live Hits, featured live performance recordings—both commemorating their seventh anniversary.
DRM
On June 27, 2007, Dream transformed into DRM with an emphasis on dance and vocal harmonies to distance themselves from their idol origins. Their debut under this new identity was the mini-album DRM.
Throughout early 2008—from January through April—DRM released four digital singles monthly. Despite consistent releases on the seventh day of each month, these singles achieved modest commercial impact.
Transition to LDH and Dream's Re-debut
On August 1, 2008, Yu Hasebe exited DRM to pursue solo endeavors, leaving Kana Tachibana as the only remaining original member. The group reinstated the name Dream, disbanded their official fanclub Live Your Dreams, and shifted management from Avex to LDH (Love Dream Happiness).
Their first single under this renewed identity—and first physical release since 2005’s "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story"—was "Perfect Girls / To The Top," launched on September 9, 2009. Distributed exclusively at free concerts across Japan and through mu-mo’s online store, it did not chart on Oricon. To promote their comeback, Dream embarked on a nationwide tour featuring complimentary live shows.
Dream made their initial television live appearance on December 31, 2009, performing "Perfect Girls" during CDTV Premium Live 2009>>2010. On March 1, 2010, they released "Breakout," their second single as a six-member group and another mu-mo exclusive. Following their nationwide free live campaign, Dream conducted a three-date tour in May titled Dream Live Tour 2010: Road to Dream. They also appeared as special guests during labelmate Exile's "Exile Live Tour 2010 Fantasy," alongside fellow LDH acts Happiness and Flower.
Under Rhythm Zone, Dream unveiled their major label debut single "My Way: Ulala" on August 18, 2010. This was succeeded by their second major single "Ev'rybody Alright!" released October 6 of the same year. Their fifth studio album—and first as a six-member group—Hands Up! was launched November 24, 2010. To support it, they toured with Dream Live Tour 2010-2011 "Hands Up!!". On November 23, 2010, Kana Tachibana announced her departure; she officially graduated from the group on February 20, 2011.
The quintet provided the theme song "To you..." for the drama Detective Conan, which aired April 15, 2011; this track was made available exclusively via Japanese mobile platforms.
In 2011 Dream became part of LDH’s female supergroup E-girls, joining forces with Happiness and Flower, complementing male group Exile.
Sayaka Yamamoto left the group on March 31, 2012.
Towards the end of 2016 Erie Abe declared her retirement from show business. Prior to this announcement, Dream published their inaugural photobook titled dreamはDreamの夢を見る。(dream wa Dream no yumewomiru。) on November 30—a visual narrative capturing fourteen years of challenges and member relationships within the group. Erie Abe officially departed December 31, 2016 to focus on studies abroad.
Disbandment
Dream officially parted ways as each member embarked on separate endeavors. Aya transitioned from performing to a strategic position, taking on the role of E.G family chief creative manager. Ami dedicated her efforts to advancing her solo career, while Shizuka directed her focus toward her involvement with Dance Earth Party.
Following Dance Earth Party's indefinite pause in December 2018, Shizuka launched her solo career on May 22, 2019, under the name Dream Shizuka, releasing the single "4FEELS."
Original members
- (Dream 01) (2000–2002)
- (Dream 08) (2000–2008)
- (Dream 07) (2000–2011)
Second generation members
- (Dream 02) (2002–2004)
- (Dream 09) (2002–2012)
- (Dream 03) (2002–2016)
- (Dream 04) (2002–2017)
- (Dream 05) (2002–2017)
- (Dream 06) (2002–2017)
Discography
- Dear... (2001)
- Process (2002)
- ID (2004)
- Hands Up! (2010)