Ninja (group)
| Company type | Idol group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Shonentai Junior (Shonentai Jr.) |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Area served | Japan |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Owner | Johnny & Associates |
was a Japanese idol ensemble overseen by the talent management firm Johnny & Associates from 1990 until 1997. They gained recognition for their dynamic acrobatic stage presence and for reinterpreting songs originally performed by Hibari Misora early in their career.
History
Prior to their official debut in 1985, the group performed under the name , serving as backup performers for the Shonentai during television appearances and the musical production Playzone. In early 1988, two years ahead of their major debut, they appeared with Otokogumi and Shonentai as "" at the prestigious Nippon Budokan venue.
Their debut single, "Omatsuri Ninja," was released in August 1990 through Nippon Columbia. This track, which partially reimagined Hibari Misora's 1952 hit "Matsuri Manbo," entered the charts at number three. That same year, they received multiple accolades including "Best New Artist" honors at the 32nd Japan Record Awards, 21st Japan Music Awards, and 19th FNS Music Festival. Additionally, they performed on the nationally broadcast show Kōhaku Uta Gassen. By 1991, with the release of "Himiko," the group began producing original material.
In 1993, following the departure of Shiga and Furukawa, the six remaining members issued their final single titled "Harapeko." The following year, under the pseudonym , they released "Do Your Best." Their 1995 single "Money Magic," a cover of a song by Godiego, was their first cover release since 1991. Their last single, "Tatoe Kimi ga Usotsuitemo," came out in 1996 but did not chart. After releasing their final studio album Hi La Ri, they quietly withdrew from the music industry without formally announcing a disbandment.
In 2023, former member Shiga disclosed publicly that he was a victim of the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal and has since been actively involved in addressing sexual abuse issues connected to Johnny's Association.
Ninja
- leader
-
- departed in 1994
-
- departed in 1994
Shounen Ninja
-
- belonged to Shounen Ninja; exited before major debut due to commitments with Cha-Cha.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Position (JP) |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Omatsuri Ninja" (お祭り忍者) | 3 | Nippon Columbia |
| 1991 | "Ringo Hakusho" (リンゴ白書) | 9 | |
| "O-i! Kurumayasan" (おーぃ！車屋さん) | 11 | ||
| "Himiko" (秘・美・子) | 17 | ||
| 1992 | "Kimi ni Want You" (君に御中) | 21 | |
| "Harassho" (ハラショ!) | 20 | ||
| "Naminda Naminda no Karaoke Box" (涙 涙のカラオケボックス) | 49 | ||
| 1993 | "Nihon" (日本) | 48 | |
| "Nihon Bugi" (日本ブギ) | 37 | ||
| "Harapeko" | 57 | ||
| 1994 | "Do Your Best" | 59 | |
| 1995 | "Monkey Magic" (モンキー・マジック) | 69 | |
| "Tatoe Kimi ga Uso wo Tsuitemi" (たとえ君が嘘をついても) |
Video singles
rowspan="3" | 1991| Year | Title | Chart Position (JP) |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Omatsuri Ninja/Burai" (お祭り忍者/無頼) |
align="center"|3 |
rowspan="4" | Nippon Columbia |
| "Ringo Hakusho/Kiri no Persona" (リンゴ白書/霧の仮面（ペルソナ）) |
align="center"|9 | ||
| "O-i! Kurumayasan/Heysay Boogie" (おーぃ！車屋さん/ヘイセイ・ブギー) |
align="center"|11 | ||
| "Himiko/Replay" (秘・美・子/リプレイ) |
align="center"|17 |
Studio albums
| Album Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Ninja (忍者) |
|
|
| Ninja Hakusho (NINJA白書) |
|
align="center" | 11 |
| Summer Fiesta |
|
|
| Ninja San Jou (忍者参上) |
|
|
| Maitta (まいった) |
|
|
| Summer Ski |
|
|
| Nihon Ichi (日本一) |
|
|
| Hi La Ri |
|
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Do Our Best |
|
- |
Videography
| Release Date | Title of Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991.10.1 | Summer Fiesta Ninja Live |
| 2 | 1991.10.1 | Summer Fiesta Ninja Documentary |
| 3 | 1992.10.1 | On & Off |
| 4 | 1993.3.1 | Fuyu no Jin '93 |
| 5 | 1993.12.1 | Ninja Kenmonroku |