Why@Doll, also known as Howadoru (ほわどる), was a Japanese female duo formed by Victor Music Arts in 2011 until their disbandment in 2019. The final line-up consisted of Chiharu Aoki and Haruna Uratani.

Why@Doll
OriginSapporo, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2011–2019
Labels
Past members
  • Chiharu Aoki
  • Haruna Uratani
  • Sakurako Ōda
  • Yume Nagaoka
  • Mayana Saitō
Websitewww.whydoll.jp

History

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Why@Doll is a play on words for "white idol": "White" comes from the image of snow Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, where they were based. The "at" sign between the two words represents the location and the duo's hope for a friendliness with their fans.[1]

Originally from Sapporo, Why@Doll moved to Tokyo in November 2013[2] and signed a contract with Version Music in 2014.[3][dead link] The duo debuted with the single album "Magic Motion No.5" in September 2014.[4] After releasing three singles, one mini album and one album from Version Music, Why@Doll signed a new contract with T-Palette Records in 2016.[5]

On July 17, 2019, due to Aoki's poor health, Why@Doll announced they would disband at the end of November.[6] They hosted their final concert at Asakusa Hana Theater on 24 November.[7]

On August 22, 2021, the duo held a tenth anniversary concert titled "Why@Doll One Night Only Live: Open the Page of Memories" (Veats Shibuya) (Why@Doll One night only live ~思い出のページを開いて~ (Veats Shibuya), Why@Doll One night only live: Omoide no Pēji o Aite (Veats Shibuya)). It was the first time the concert was streamed, and new songs were also performed.[8]

Members

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  • Chiharu Aoki (青木千春, Aoki Chiharu)
  • Haruna Uratani (浦谷はるな, Uratani Haruna)

Discography

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Singles

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No. Title Track listing Release date Label Peak chart position (Oricon)[9] Notes
1 "Fight"
  1. "Fight!"
  2. "Tabidachi" (旅立ち, Trip)
  3. "Fight! (off vocal ver.)"
  4. "Tabidachi" (旅立ち, Trip) (off vocal ver.)
December 27, 2012 Cradle Records (CRC0007)
2 "Yumemiru Tsubasa" (ユメミルツバサ)
  1. "Yumemiru Tsubasa" (ユメミルツバサ)
  2. "Zutto Motto" (ずっと もっと)
  3. "Yumemiru Tsubasa" (ユメミルツバサ) (off vocal ver.)
  4. "Zutto Motto" (ずっと もっと) (off vocal ver.)
December 27, 2012 Cradle Records (CRC0006)
3 "Fuwa-fuwa Party" (ふわふわ♪Party)
  1. "Fuwa-fuwa Party" (ふわふわ♪Party)
  2. "Kimi ni Aitai" (君に逢いたい)
  3. "Seishun Chime" (青春チャイム, Seishun Kuraimu)
  4. "Fuwa-fuwa Party" (ふわふわ♪Party) (off vocal ver.)
  5. "Kimi ni Aitai" (君に逢いたい) (off vocal ver.)
  6. "Seishun Chime" (青春チャイム, Seishun Kuraimu) (off vocal ver.)
August 20, 2013 Cradle Records (CRC0008) 24
4 "Sunrise! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō" (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜, Sanraisu! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō)
  1. "Sunrise! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō" (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜, Sanraisu! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō)
  2. "Hatsukoi Killer Tune" (初恋☆キラーチューン, Hatsukoi Kirā Chūn)
  3. "Sunrise! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō" (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜, Sanraisu! Kimi ga Kureta Kibō) (instrumental)
  4. "Hatsukoi Killer Tune" (初恋☆キラーチューン, Hatsukoi Kirā Chūn) (instrumental)
January 21, 2014 ACUTEDISC (VBCL-1001) 10

Chiharun ver:

  1. Sunrise! Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜)
  2. Hatsukoi☆Killer tune (初恋☆キラーチューン)
  3. Sunrise!〜Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜) (instrumental)
  4. Hatsukoi☆Killer tune (初恋☆キラーチューン) (instrumental)
  5. Sunrise!〜Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜)(Chiharun ver.)
ACUTEDISC (VBCL-1002)

Hāchan ver:

  1. Sunrise!〜Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜)
  2. Hatsukoi☆Killer tune (初恋☆キラーチューン)
  3. Sunrise!〜Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜) (instrumental)
  4. Hatsukoi☆Killer tune (初恋☆キラーチューン) (instrumental)
  5. Sunrise!〜Kimi ga Kureta Kibou (サンライズ!〜君がくれた希望〜)(Hāchan ver.)
ACUTEDISC (VBCL-1003)
5 Magic Motion No.5

【regular】

  1. Magic Motion No.5
  2. Himawari (向日葵)
  3. Magic Motion No.5 (instrumental)
  4. Himawari (向日葵) (instrumental)
24
September
2014
Version Music (VICL-36956) 13

【Hāchan ver.】

  1. Magic Motion No.5
  2. Jet Coaster (ジェットコースター)
  3. Himawari (向日葵) (Hāchan ver.)
  4. Magic Motion No.5 (instrumental)
  5. Jet Coaster (ジェットコースター)(instrumental)
  6. Himawari (向日葵) (instrumental)
Version Music (VICL-36957)

【Chiharun ver.】

  1. Magic Motion No.5
  2. Jet Coaster (ジェットコースター)
  3. Himawari (向日葵) (Chiharun ver.)
  4. Magic Motion No.5 (instrumental)
  5. Jet Coaster (ジェットコースター)(instrumental)
  6. Himawari (向日葵) (instrumental)
Version Music (VICL-36958)

(Eisaku Kubonouchi (album cover art) ver.)

  1. "Magic Motion No.5"
  2. "Jet Coaster"
  3. "Travellin' Band"
  4. "Magic Motion No.5" (Instrumental)
  5. "Jet Coaster" (Instrumental)
  6. "Travellin' Band" (Instrumental)
Version Music (VICL-36959)

【Musha Shugyo ver.】

  1. "Magic Motion No.5"
  2. "Travelin' Band"
  3. "Arigatou." (ありがとう。) (Live ver.)
  4. "Himawari" (向日葵) (Live ver.)
  5. "Magic Motion No.5"
  6. "Travelin' Band"
Version Music (VICL-36960)
6 Aimai Moon (曖昧MOON)

【regular】

  1. Aimai Moon (曖昧MOON)
  2. Signal (シグナル)
  3. Aimai Moon (曖昧MOON) (instrumental)
  4. Signal (シグナル)(instrumental)
March 18, 2015 Version Music (VICL-37033) 22

Chiharun and Hāchan ver.

  1. Aimai Moon (曖昧MOON)
  2. Signal (シグナル)
  3. Arigatou. (ありがとう。)
  4. Aimai Moon (曖昧MOON)(instrumental)
  5. Signal (シグナル)(instrumental)
  6. Arigatou. (ありがとう。)(instrumental)
Chiharun ver.
Version Music
(VICL-37034)
Hāchan ver. Version Music
(VICL-37035)
7 clover
  1. "Clover"
  2. "Ringing Bells"
  • "Vector"
December 9, 2015 Version Music
(VICL-37120)
20
8 Sumire Iolite
(菫アイオライト)
  1. Sumire Iolite (菫アイオライト)
  2. Anata Dake Konbanwa (あなただけ今晩は)
  3. Sumire Iolite (菫アイオライト)(Instrumental)
  4. Anata Dake Konbanwa (あなただけ今晩は)(Instrumental)
November 15, 2016 T-Palette Records
(TPRC-0161)
29
9 Kimi ha Steady
(キミはSteady)
  1. "Kimi ha Steady|キミはSteady}}]
  2. Love story wa Shũmatsu ni (ラブ・ストーリーは週末に)
  3. Kimi ha Steady (キミはSteady)(Instrumental)
  4. Love story wa Shũmatsu ni (ラブ・ストーリーは週末に)(Instrumental)
February 28, 2017 T-Palette Records
(TPRC-0172)
43
10 Show Me Your Smile
  1. "Show Me Your Smile"
  2. "Promises, Promises"
  3. Show Me Your Smile (Instrumental)
  4. Promises, Promises (Instrumental)
January 23, 2018 T-Palette Records
(TPRC-0194)
31
11 Sweet Vinegar
  1. Sweet Vinegar
  2. Don't Ask Me Why
  3. Sweet Vinegar (Instrumental)
  4. Don't Ask Me Why (Instrumental)
June 26, 2018 T-Palette Records
(TPRC-0203)
29

Mini Album

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Title Track listing Release Date Label Peak
chart
position
(Oricon)[10]
Notes
Namara!!
  1. "Namara!!"
  2. "Vanilla Shake"
  3. "Nigatsu no Epilogue" (2月のエピローグ, Nigatsu no Epirōgu)
  4. "Jet Coaster"
  5. "Himawari" (向日葵)
  6. "Powder Snow"
  7. "Magic Motion No. 5"
  8. "Namara!! (Reprise)"
February 25, 2015 Version Music (VICL-64309) 69

Albums

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No. Title Track listing Release date Label Peak
chart
position
(Oricon)[10]
Notes
1 Gemini
  1. "Gemini"
  2. "Game"
  3. "Ringing Bells"
  4. "Signal"
  5. "Tactics"
  6. "Vector"
  7. "Shu-shu-star"
  8. "Aimai Moon" (曖昧)
  9. "Setsuna Shooting Star"
  10. Arigatou. (ありがとう。)
  11. Byōsoku Party Night (秒速 Party Night)
  12. "Candy Love"
  13. "Clover"
  14. "Lovers on Earth"
February 10, 2016 Version Music
(VICL-64504)
46
2 Why@Doll
  1. Sumire Iolite (菫アイオライト)
  2. Kimi wa Steady (キミはSteady)
  3. "Tokyo Dancing"
  4. Koi Nano kana? (恋なのかな?)
  5. Mahou no Kagami (マホウノカガミ)
  6. Wasurenaide (忘れないで)
  7. Dreamin' Night
  8. Yoru wo Oyoide (夜を泳いで)
  9. Hello Hello Hello
  10. Koi wa Shooby Doo Bop! (恋はシュビドゥバ!)
August 1, 2017 T-Palette Records
(TPRC-0176)
66

References

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  1. ^ Why@Doll「なまらの国」からやってきた2015年の注目二人組アイドルへインタビュー. Musicite (in Japanese). December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  2. ^ 北海道で人気NO.1アイドルユニット「Why@Doll」(ホワイドール)いよいよ全国進出!. Livedoor News (in Japanese). Livedoor. September 4, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  3. ^ ビクター、ガールズポップ/アイドルに特化した新レーベル「Version Music」設立. Musicman-net.com (in Japanese). February 13, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  4. ^ Why@Doll、3つのミッション達成でメジャーデビュー決定. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  5. ^ Why@DollがT-Palette Recordsに移籍発表. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. July 16, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Last, First (July 17, 2019). ScriptTitle. Why@Doll official website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019. {{cite web}}: Invalid |script-title=: unknown language code (help)
  7. ^ Why@Doll、笑顔と涙のラストステージで全曲披露. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. December 1, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Why@Doll、10周年記念日に一夜限りの復活ライブ開催. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Why@Dollのシングル売上ランキング. Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b ORICON NEWS WHY@DOLLのアルバム売上ランキング