EE Jump
{{Short description|Japanese musical duo}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = EE Jump
| image =
| image_size =
| native_name =
| alias =
| origin = Japan
| genre = J-pop
| years_active = 2000–2002
| label = Toy's Factory
| associated_acts =
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20001018230958/http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp:80/eej.html Website]
| past_members = * Sonim
}}
EE Jump (stylized as EE JUMP) was a Japanese duo formed by Harmony Production in 2000. The duo's music was produced by Tsunku, with songs released through Toy's Factory.{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/disco.html |title=EE Jump's Official Website: Discography |work=Harmony Promotion |language=ja |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020212043112/http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/disco.html |archivedate=February 12, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 4, 2018 }} The members consisted of Sonim (lead vocals) and Yuki (rapper).
EE Jump became well known for their song "Otto Totto Natsu da ze!", which charted at No. 5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. However, after several scandals involving Yuki, the duo disbanded in April 2002.
History
=Pre-debut=
In 1999, three teenagers were scouted by Harmony Promotion and were assigned to a group under the name "EE Jump", a pun of the Japanese phrase {{nihongo|"that's great"|いいじゃん|ii jan}}. The group's music was produced by Tsunku. Sonim auditioned for Morning Musume's third generation and was scouted by their manager, Kaoru Wada, to be the group's lead vocalist;{{cite news | first=Mamoru | last=Onoda | url=https://nikkan-spa.jp/1701374 | title=円熟期のソニン、アイドル時代を語る「あとがないって気持ちは常にあった」 | trans-title=Sonim all grown up, speaks about her idol period: "I've constantly felt that there's no future" | language=ja | work={{ill|Nikkan Spa!|ja|SPA!}} | date=2020-09-26 | access-date=2022-06-07 | archive-date=June 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608032416/https://nikkan-spa.jp/1701374 | url-status=live }} Yuki Goto, the younger brother of then-Morning Musume member Maki Goto, was scouted while at one of his sister's events and became the group's rapper.{{Cite episode |series=金曜日のスマたちへ「波瀾万丈2時間スペシャル」後藤真希 24歳の告白 |network=Tokyo Broadcasting System |date=2010-07-23 |language=ja}} Half-Canadian, half-Japanese Ken was assigned the group's dancer.{{cite news | first=Chianko | last=Sorama | url=https://www.excite.co.jp/News/90s/20171014/E1506920534474.html | title=たった２年で解散に……波乱万丈の人気ユニットだった「EE JUMP」 | language=ja | work=Excite | date=2017-10-14 | accessdate=2018-09-03 | archive-date=September 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904084640/https://www.excite.co.jp/News/90s/20171014/E1506920534474.html | url-status=live }} The trio made their first television appearance on Warau Inu no Bōken to perform a dance routine.{{cite news | author=Kojihei | url=https://www.excite.co.jp/News/90s/20160822/E1471502112842.html | title=やんちゃ過ぎた後藤真希の弟・ユウキの転落人生 強盗傷害罪で逮捕も… | language=ja | work=Excite | date=2016-08-22 | accessdate=2018-09-03 | archive-date=September 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905023013/https://www.excite.co.jp/News/90s/20160822/E1471502112842.html | url-status=live }} Shortly before their CD debut, Ken left the agency. In Yuki's 2013 memoir, he stated that Ken had retired because he wanted to play soccer professionally.
=2000-2001: Debut=
EE Jump released their debut single, "Love is Energy!", on October 18, 2000, which served as the theme song for Warau Inu no Bōken. The music video was filmed in Manhattan, New York. Their single was followed up by "Hello! Atarashii Watashi" on January 24, 2001. Their third single, "Otto Totto Natsu da ze!", was released on May 16, 2001 as the theme song for Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ. The song became a summer hit, charting at #5 on Oricon. EE Jump also had their own weekly radio show on Mondays, titled {{nihongo|EE Jump no Radio de Ii jan|EE JUMPのラジオでイイジャン}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/profile.html |title=EE Jump's Official Website: Profile |work=Harmony Promotion |language=ja |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801160804/http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/profile.html |archivedate=August 1, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 7, 2018 }}
EE Jump's fourth single, "Iki na Rhythm!", was released on August 29, 2001. However, during the single's promotions, Yuki had an argument with the group's female manager over their crowded work schedules, which led to him physically assaulting her, checking out of his hotel room without permission, and fleeing to Tochigi Prefecture. In response, chief manager Kaoru Wada suspended his activities for three months. During this time, Sonim continued activities without him, releasing their fifth single, "Winter (Samui Kisetsu no Monogatari)", on November 28, 2001 under the name EE Jump featuring Sonim.
=2002: Disbandment=
In February 2002, Yuki eventually rejoined the group after releasing an apology, and EE Jump released their sixth single, "Seishun no Sunrise", on March 6, 2002. Shortly after graduating middle school, he was photographed by tabloid magazine Friday at a cabaret club drinking alcohol while underage with a member of Johnny's Jr.{{cite news | first=Steve | last=McClure | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2002/04/24/music/two-men-and-a-poor-baby/#.W6NBbflRfIU | title=Two men and a poor baby | work=The Japan Times | date=2002-04-24 | accessdate=2018-09-19}} Wada warned Yuki to keep his personal life private, but after Yuki refused, Wada and Tsunku agreed to revoke his contract in April 2002. EE Jump's first album, titled EE Jump Collection 1, was scheduled for release on May 9, 2002, but it was cancelled upon his dismissal. After Yuki's dismissal, EE Jump disbanded and the group was rebranded to promote Sonim as a solo artist.{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/eej.html |title=EE Jump's Official Website |work=Harmony Promotion |language=ja |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802024233/http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/eej.html |archivedate=August 2, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 4, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/news.html |title=EE Jump's Official Website: News |work=Harmony Promotion |language=ja |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802200513/http://www.harmonypromotion.co.jp/news.html |archivedate=August 2, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 4, 2018 }} The songs "Ai wa Motto Sou Janakute", "Missing You", and "Ada Boy & Da Girl", which were originally written for EE Jump's cancelled album, were re-recorded and released as B-sides to Sonim's singles.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/486033/1/|title=カレーライスの女|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|accessdate=2022-04-02|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403001833/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/486033/1/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/494282/1/|title=津軽海峡の女|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|accessdate=2022-04-02|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403001832/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/494282/1/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/520843/1/|title=合コン後のファミレスにて|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|accessdate=2022-04-02|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403001807/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/303674/products/520843/1/|url-status=live}}
Members
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
!rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Details !colspan="1"| Peak chart positions !rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Sales |
|---|
| width="30"|JPN |
| scope="row"| {{nihongo|EE Jump Collection 1|EE JUMP コレクション1}}
| 2002 |
{{hidden|Tracklisting|
}} | — | — |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
=Singles=
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2000