SCANDAL

SCANDAL is a four member all-girl pop-rock band from Osaka, Japan composed of Haruna Ono, Tomomi Ogawa, Rina Suzuki, and Mami Sasazaki. The band was formed on August 21, 2006 after the four girls attended an audition held by their dance and vocal school Caless to find a girl band for Kitty Records and Entertainment. When the girls first attended this audition, none of them knew anything about their respective instruments nor did they know anything about each other. They were simply four young dancers with a dream following the advice of their teachers who had faith in their talents.

The girls began their career by playing street lives in Osaka where they found themselves gaining a small but steady following of fans. In 2008, the girls would release their first ever single titled “Space Ranger”. That same year they would go on their first international tour, performing in France, Hong Kong, and the United States. Despite only speaking Japanese and being amateurs at their instruments, SCANDAL was loved internationally. Fans from all over fell in love with the four bright eyed teenagers whose passion for music showed clearly through how they played.

In the following months, the girls would release two more indie singles titled “Koi Moyou” and “Kagerou”. They would close out their small indie career by releasing their first mini album titled Yah! Yah! Yah! Hello SCANDAL: Maido! SCANDAL Desu! Yah Yah Yah!.

In that same year, only a year and a half after they picked up their instrument for the first time, SCANDAL would be signed to Epic Records Japan to begin their major career. They began their career by releasing their first major single titled “Doll”. The following year of 2009 held the release of their first major album Best SCANDAL.

As SCANDAL continued, they would release more albums and multiple singles, some of them being tie-ins to popular animes such as Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist that would help them grow an international fanbase. Only five years into their career, SCANDAL quickly found themselves setting records and shattering the stereotypical images people held for all-girl Japanese bands.

On March 28, 2012 SCANDAL performed at Nippon Budokan for the first time, thus becoming the girl band to reach Budokan the fastest since their debut. The following year on March 3, 2013 SCANDAL would realize their biggest dream. They played at Osaka Jo Hall for the first time, something that was a longtime dream for the four girls. As they ended their dream performance, SCANDAL promised to continue not just as musicians but also as people who made new dreams for themselves and for their fans.

At the end of 2013, just after ending their national STANDARD Tour, the girls would announce their next biggest concerts. They announced that they would be performing Osaka Jo Hall for a second time on June 22, 2014. This time, they will be performing a 360 stage, something that will be a first for the band. They will also be doing a two day performance at Yokohama Arena, one on June 28, 2014 and the other on June 29, 2014. SCANDAL is the first all-girls band to do a consecutive two day performance at Yokohama Arena since Princess Princess did thirteen years ago.

With a highly dedicated fanbase that continues to grow with every release, SCANDAL is a band that will see a long career. These four talented young women are not just creating wonderful music but they are also inspiring change and inspiring people.

As of May 2014, SCANDAL has 5 albums and 18 singles released, their 19th single will be released in July of 2014.

Members

Haruna Ono is the eldest of the band at 25 and serves as the leader of SCANDAL. She does lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Ever since she was a little girl, Haruna had a passion for music and dreamed of becoming a dancer. She pursued a dance career, even starring in a movie, up until she met her three bandmates and found her passion for rock. Even though Haruna found a new dream, the passion for dance stayed which is why some music videos and performances have dance choreography in them. Haruna is known for her “two personalities”, or being tsundere as some fans call her. On stage, Haruna turns into a rocker who controls the stage with her dominance. But off stage and interviews, she shows her true self as a shy and reserved individual.

Tomomi Ogawa is the 23 year old bassist of SCANDAL. She carries on secondary vocals, singing the most after Haruna. She is also the main lyricist for SCANDAL, although all four girls take part in writing their music. Tomomi is often called a prodigy by her bandmates; they all claim that she can learn anything for her bass quickly. She is known for her high pitched voice and her hyperactive attitude. Similarly to Haruna, Tomomi was an aspiring dancer before finding her passion for rock.

Mami Sasazaki is the 23 year old lead guitarist of SCANDAL; she is only 10 days older than Tomomi. Mami also does vocals, mainly doing backing vocals but she also has main vocals in many songs including solos in “Shoujo M” and “Koe”. Mami is known for her tomboy ways and is also known for her goofy ways that are similar to Tomomi.

Rina Suzuki is the youngest of the band at 22 years old and serves as the drummer of SCANDAL; she also does backing vocals for their songs. Rina is the one who has the most connection to their fans. Even with claiming she is bad at technology, she is always using social media or their blog to interact with fans. Rina is known for being the cutesiest and sweetest of the band. Despite facing criticism for being a feminine drummer, she is adamant that she won’t change. Rina wants to show everyone that a feminine woman is capable of being an amazing drummer.

Albums

• Best SCANDAL (2009)
• Temptation Box (2010)
• Baby Action (2011)
• Queens are Trumps (2012)
• STANDARD (2013)

Singles

1. "Space Ranger" (2008)
2. "Koi Moyou" (2008)
3. "Kagerou" (2008)
4. "Doll" (2008)
5. "Sakura Goodbye" (2009)
6. "Shoujo S" (2009)
7. "Yumemiru Tsubasa" (2009)
8. "Shunkan Sentimental" (2010)
9. "Taiyou to Kimi Ga Egaku STORY" (2010)
10. "Namida no Regret" (2010)
11. "SCANDAL Nanka Buttobase" (2010)
12. "Pride" (2011)
13. "Haruka" (2011)
14. "Love Survive" (2011)
15. "Harukaze" (2012)
16. "Taiyou SCANDALOUS" (2012)
17. "Pin Heel Surfer" (2012)
18. "Awanai Tsumori no, Genki de ne" (2013)
19. "Kagen no Tsuki" (2013)
20. "OVER DRIVE" (2013)
21. "Runners High" (2014)
22. "Departure" (2014)
23. "Yoake no Ryuuseigun" (2014)

Links

• Official Website
• Official Facebook
• Official Twitter
• Official International YouTube (some videos restricted in certain countries)