22/7 (group)

22/7 (ナナブンノニジュウニ, Nanabun no Nijūni) is a Japanese idol girl group formed through a media mix project by Yasushi Akimoto, Aniplex, and Sony Music Records, which included the members performing as a musical group and an anime television series based on their characters. The members consist of voice actresses who provide the voice and motion capture for their characters.

22/7
22/7 characters. From top left: Miyako, Reika, Akane, Jun, Sakura, Miu, Nicole, and Ayaka. (Not pictured: Yuki, Tsubomi, and Mikami)
Background information
GenresJ-pop
Years active2017–present
Labels
Members
  • Nagomi Saijō (Miu Takigawa)
  • Uta Kawase (Nicole Saitō)
  • Sally Amaki (Sakura Fujima)
  • Kanae Shirosawa (Akane Maruyama)
  • Moe Suzuhana (Mikami Kamiki)
  • Nao Aikawa (Sora Nishiura)
  • Mao Asaoka (Touko Kiryu)
  • Oto Amaya (Toa Yagami)
  • Mina Kiyoi (Kaede Nagamine)
  • Satsuki Shiina (Sumika Orihara)
  • Runa Shijo (Hotaru Ichinose)
  • Ema Tsukishiro (Mizuki Himuro)
  • Rino Mochizuki (Honoka Sera)
Past members
  • Mei Hanakawa (Nicole Saitō)
  • Chiharu Hokaze (Reika Sato)
  • Mizuha Kuraoka (Miyako Kono)
  • Urara Takasuji (Yuki Tojo)
  • Ruri Umino (Jun Toda)
  • Aina Takeda (Tsubomi Hiiragi)
  • Reina Miyase (Ayaka Tachikawa)
Websitewww.nanabunnonijyuuni.com Edit this at Wikidata

History

2017: Debut

An audition for 8 characters, which included both a CD debut and an anime, was held until December 17, 2016, with the final examination taking place on December 24, 2016.[1] On December 25, 2016, the idol group name was revealed as 22/7, which was chosen because it is an approximation to the mathematical constant , a transcendental number that represents their concept as "idols transcending through dimensions."[2] Among 10,325 applicants, 11 voice actresses were chosen through voting, with only the first 8 characters announced.[3] The group held their debut showcase on June 16, 2017,[4] and an animated adaptation was announced during their first live event on July 22, 2017.[5] 22/7's first single, "Boku wa Sonzai Shiteinakatta", was released on August 22, 2017, with the jacket designs illustrated by Yukiko Horiguchi.[6] The music video was animated by Tatsunoko Production.[6]

2018: 22/7 Keisanchū, final three characters revealed

On April 11, 2018, 22/7 released their second single, "Shampoo no Nioi ga Shita", with the CD visuals designed by Horiguchi again.[7] A series of animated character shorts were also released.[8] To promote the group's upcoming activities, 22/7 launched individual social media channels for the characters, including YouTube.[9] 22/7's variety show, 22/7 Keisanchū, was broadcast on Tokyo MX beginning July 7, 2018.[9]

22/7's third single, "Rikaisha", was released on August 22, 2018. The song was promoted during their annual live event on July 22, 2018, where they also announced Chiharu Hokaze had been elected the leader of the group.[10] "Rikaisha" debuted at #7 on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart.[11] On September 21, 2018, the last 3 characters for the remaining members of the group were revealed during a promotional event.[12]

2019–present: Departure of Hanakawa, 22/7's anime adaptation

On July 22, 2019, the music video for their fourth single, "Nani mo Shite Agerarenai" was released, becoming the first of their releases to reveal all 11 characters. The single was released on August 21, 2019, with the disc debuting in 4th with 29,000 units sold in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. On December 11, 2019, Mei Hanakawa announced that she was leaving the group due to health issues.[13] Hanakawa's final performance with the group was held on December 24, 2019, where Uta Kawase was introduced as a new member taking over the role of Nicole Saitō.[14]

In February 2020, Takatsuji and Kuraoka went on hiatus due to poor health;[15] Takatsuji resumed activities with the group on May 15 while Kuraoka returned to the group in September 2020.[16] On December 1, 2020, Takeda went on hiatus to focus on her studies.[16] On December 23, 2020, Hokaze announced she was leaving the group to pursue voice acting full-time, her final release with the group being "Boku ga Motteru Mono nara", which was released on February 28, 2021.[17] On March 22, 2021, it was announced Takeda would return on April 10, 2021.[18]

The remaining eight members continued to perform activities. On September 29, 2021, Umino and Kuraoka announced they were leaving the group in November while Takeda announced she was leaving in December.[19] Umino stated her reason for leaving is to pursue voice acting full-time; Kuraoka stated it was to find a career path suitable for her; and Takeda stated she wanted to pursue a career as a model and television personality.[19] On November 2, 2021, it was announced that Takatsuji would be leaving the group following a series of unexplained absences from work.[20] Following the departures of the five members, the project announced on December 27, 2021 that they were retiring the five characters played by them.[21]

Characters

Current

Miu Takigawa (滝川 みう, Takigawa Miu)
Voiced by: Nagomi Saijo[22][3]
A girl who develops inferior complex, Miu serves as the main protagonist of the anime series. She is a 16-year-old girl from Saitama Prefecture who is distinguishable from bangs that covered her eyes most of the time. Miu was designed by Yukiko Horiguchi.[23][24]
Nicole Saitō (斎藤 ニコル, Saitō Nikoru)
Voiced by: Mei Hanakawa (2017–2019),[13] Uta Kawase (2019–present)[25]
Nicole is a 16-year-old girl. She was designed by Kurehito Misaki.[23]
Sakura Fujima (藤間 桜, Fujima Sakura)
Voiced by: Sally Amaki[22][3]
Nicknamed "Ranran", Sakura is the 16-year-old daughter of a good family. She has a sunny personality with a dark side.[26] Originally, Sakura was not written as an English speaker, but after noticing Amaki had drawn in a large overseas fanbase, she was rewritten as an English speaker who had grown up overseas.[27] She was designed by Kantoku.[23][24]
Mikami Kamiki (神木みかみ, Kamiki Mikami)
Voiced by: Moe Suzuhana[22][3]
Mikami is a 16-year-old girl with slow pace who came from Kyoto and speaks in Kyoto dialect. She was designed by Kouhaku Kuroboshi.[23] She was revealed as a character in September 2018.[12]
Toa Yagami (やがみとあ, Yagami Toa)
Voiced by: Oto Amaya[22][3]
Toa is a 15-year-old girl from Kanagawa. Has an upbeat personality. She was designed by Yukiko Horiguchi.[23] She was revealed as a character in April 2020. She is one of the "Nananiji Chapter 2" characters.

Retired

Reika Satō (佐藤 麗華, Satō Reika)
Voiced by: Chiharu Hokaze (2017–2021)[22]
Reika is a 17-year-old honor student who is part of student council. She was designed by Hirokazu Koyama.[23][24] The character was retired on December 27, 2021.[21]
Miyako Kōno (河野 都, Kōno Miyako)
Voiced by: Mizuha Kuraoka (2017–2021)[22][3]
Miyako is an energetic 17-year-old girl from Osaka who speaks Kansai dialect. She was designed by Mieko Hosoi.[23][24] The character was retired on December 27, 2021.[21]
Yuki Tojo (東条悠希, Tōjō Yūki)
Voiced by: Urara Takatsuji (2017-2021)[22][3]
Yuki is a 15-year-old tomboy. She was designed by Akio Watanabe.[23] She was revealed as a character in September 2018.[12] The character was retired on December 27, 2021.[21]
Jun Toda (戸田 ジュン, Toda Jun)
Voiced by: Ruri Umino (2017–2021)[22][3]
Jun is a 15-year-old high class girl. She was designed by Masayoshi Tanaka.[23][24] The character was retired on December 27, 2021.[21]
Tsubomi Hiragi (柊つぼみ, Hīragi Tsubomi)
Voiced by: Aina Takeda (2017–2021)[22][3]
Tsubomi is a 17-year-old girl. She was designed by Mel Kishida.[23] She was revealed as a character in September 2018.[12] The character was retired on December 27, 2021.[21]
Ayaka Tachikawa (立川 絢香, Tachikawa Ayaka)
Voiced by: Reina Miyase (2017–2023)[22][3]
Ayaka is an aggressive and militant 17-year-old girl. She was designed by Koharu Sakura.[23][24]
Akane Maruyama (丸山 あかね, Maruyama Akane)
Voiced by: Kanae Shirosawa[22][3]
Akane is a 16-year-old girl whose personality resembles that of an aloof robot. However, under this face, she is a very hard-working and cheerful girl. She was designed by Tometa Ohara.[23]
Kaede Nagamine (ながみねかえで, Nagamine Kaede)
Voiced by: Mina Kiyoi[22][3]
Kaede is an energetic girl from Kanagawa. She was designed by Nari Teshima.[23] She was revealed as a character in April 2020. She is one of the "Nananiji Chapter 2" characters. It was announced on November 28, 2023 that the character would be retired on December 7 following the voice actress's worsening health issues.[28]

Discography

List of singles, with selected chart positions and sales
TitleYearPeak positionsSales
JPN
[29]
JPN
Hot

[30]
"Boku wa Sonzai Shiteinakatta"
(僕は存在していなかった)
20171052
"Shampoo no Nioi ga Shita"
(シャンプーの匂いがした)
2018818
"Rikaisha" (理解者)1430
"Nani mo Shite Agerarenai" (何もしてあげられない)2019415
"Muzui" (ムズイ)2020217
"Kaze wa Fuiteru ka?" (風は吹いてるか?)28
"Boku ga Motteru Mono Nara" (僕が持ってるものなら)202128
"Kakusei" (覚醒)23
"Kumorizora no Mukō wa Hareteiru" (曇り空の向こうは晴れている)202225
"Kamisama Datte Kimerarenai" (神様だって決められない)202327
"Boku wa Konya, Deteiku" (僕は今夜、出て行く)25
"Ato de Wakaru Koto" (後でわかること)2024216

Filmography

Television

YearTitleNetworkNotes
2018–present22/7 Keisanchū (22/7 計算中)Tokyo MX22/7's variety show[9]
202022/7Tokyo MXAnime adaptation
202122/7 Kenzanchū (22/7 検算中)Tokyo MX22/7's variety show (in person)

References