Sugar (trio)
{{Short description|Japanese idol trio}}
{{distinguish|text=the country trio Dave & Sugar}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sugar
| image = Sugar Japanese trio 1982.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Sugar in 1982. From left to right: Kumiko Nagasawa, Miki Kasamatsu, and Kimiko Tokumoto.
| background = **Mandatory** Use one: group_or_band, classical_ensemble, or temporary
| alias = シュガー
| origin =
| genre = J-Pop
| years_active = {{Start date|1981}}–{{End date|1987}}
| label = For Life
| associated_acts =
| website =
| past_members = Miki Kasamatsu
Kumiko Nagasawa
Kimiko Tokumoto (deceased)
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}
Sugar (Japanese: シュガー) were a Japanese idol trio formed in 1981 by Miki Kasamatsu, Kumiko Nagasawa, and Kimiko Mohri. Originally formed as a band with all three members playing instruments, the group slowly shifted away from use of their instruments an becoming a vocal group by the latter half of their career. They attracted attention with their debut single "Wedding Bell," which charted at No. 2 on the Oricon charts.
History
Kumiko Nagasawa and Kimiko Mohri were junior high classmates at Yokohama City Terao Junior High School and previously formed the band Karinto (かりんとう) at Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi High School, where Mohri attended. The duo also participated in the 14th Yamaha Popular Song Contest in 1977{{Cite web|url=http://www.yamaha-mf.or.jp/history/e-history/popcon/pop14.html|script-title=ja:第14回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト|publisher=Yamaha Music Foundation|access-date=2012-04-25|language=ja}} before joining the band Cutie Panchos when it was formed in December 1978.{{cite web|url=https://sugiyamakiyotaka.jp/history/|title=杉山清貴の過去から現在「KT's History」|language=ja|author=Sugiyama, Kiyotaka|author-link=Kiyotaka Sugiyama|website=Island Afternoon Answer}}{{cite web|url=https://jocr.jp/mmt/20190502143515/|title=4月20日 ゲスト：杉山清貴さん|language=ja|date=May 2, 2019|author=Tashiro, Sayaka; Koji, Takemoto|website=Sayaka Tashiro's Mirache Music Triangle|publisher=Radio Kansai}}
After Cutie Panchos lost the Popcon Grand Prix in 1980, the pair left the band and created Sugar with Miki Kasamatsu, who had met them after, in 1981.{{cite web|url=https://besunet.com/entamenews/suga_miki-10971|title=シュガーのミキ・笠松美樹の今現在、年齢や活動、結婚は?|language=ja|website=TV Bangumi Kara Hakken! Kininaruhito-tachi|date=March 13, 2020}} They named themselves Sugar as it was the opposite of salt as well as to show their "sweet voices."{{cite web|url=https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/blogmusica/diary/201503050000/|title=Sugar 「ウェディング・ベル」 (2)|language=ja|date=March 6, 2015|website=Ongaku Nikki Rokku ya Jazu no Meiban Meikyoku no Shōkai to Sonohoka no Hitorigoto|publisher=Rakuten}} On November 21, 1981, they released their debut single, "Wedding Bell" on For Life Music.{{cite web|url=https://ameblo.jp/inoueno2000/entry-12611267974.html|title=ウエディング・ベルから40年、それぞれの人生を歩んだシュガーの、ミキ、クミ、そしてモーリ。|language=ja|date=July 15, 2020|website=Otoko Chi Oya ー ON・CO・CHI・SHIN ー|publisher=Ameba}} That same year, they released their debut album, Sugar Dream.{{cite web|url=https://ameblo.jp/heretic880703/entry-12592696387.html|title=シュガー - シュガー・ドリーム|language=ja|website=HERETIC!!!|publisher=Ameba}}
In 1982, they participated in the 33rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen with the Red Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/Real_Live_32159/|title=【帰ってきたアイドル親衛隊】3週続けての入り待ちで、色紙に3人のサインがそろい労いの言葉を頂けたSugar|date=February 4, 2017|website=Excite|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/history/history.html?count=33|title=サザンオールスターズ大活躍、出場歌手による「ビートルズ・メドレー」も。|language=ja|website=NHK}} In 1987, the group disbanded.{{cite web|url=http://selectmusic.jugem.jp/?eid=214|title=驚愕！アイフォンでシュガーの「ウエディングベル」を高音質で聴く方法|language=ja|date=August 27, 2013|website=Jugem}}
Members
= Miki Kasamatsu =
Miki Kasamatsu (born July 15, 1960) attended Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi High School before graduating at Nihon University Tsurugaoka High School. She was the keyboardist of the band.{{cite web|url=https://togashira7777.site/?p=11819|title=シュガー(歌手)、笠松美樹(ミキ)の今現在は？かわいいままなの？|language=ja|date=March 12, 2020|website=Manga Jirō no Blog}}
Kasamatsu is now a freelance composer, creating songs for video games and anime.{{cite web|url=https://tk5556.com/sugermiki-genzai-1783|title=Suger(シュガー)のミキ(笠松美樹)の現在は？昔の顔画像もかわいい！|website=Taakichi no Torendo Saito Sōgō Hasshin|date=March 13, 2020|language=ja}}
= Kumiko Nagasawa =
Kumiko Nagasawa (born July 15, 1960) was the guitarist of the group. After the disbandment of the band, she began working as a designer at Being Inc.{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20200313-OHT1T50144.html|title=出産時に急死の「Ｓｕｇａｒ」毛利公子さん、親友・クミこと長沢久美子さんが３０年目に明かした真相|date=March 13, 2020|website=Sports Hochi|language=ja}} She restarted her music career as a solo musician and now also leads a band called Kumi's Band since 2015, which includes members of Cutie Panchos.{{cite web|url=https://utina-ketumekko.com/nagasawakumiko|title=【長沢久美子】Sugarクミ今現在の経歴がヤバイ！結婚して夫や子供は？|language=ja|website=Utina Ketumekko|date=13 March 2020 }}
Nagasawa also runs the Sugar Project, which aims to protect dogs.{{cite web|url=https://tokyojapan3939.com/bakuhou-sugar-22759|title=長沢久美子の現在は？Sugarの「ウエディング・ベル」が懐かしい♪【爆報】|language=ja|date=March 13, 2013|website=Geinō Nyūsu Sokuhō Japan}}
= Kimiko Tokumoto =
Kimiko Tokumoto (née Mohri, September 29, 1960 – April 7, 1990){{cite web|url=https://ameblo.jp/babahdkmr/entry-12408462467.html|title=モーリ（毛利公子）（1960年9月29日生～1990年4月7日没、シュガーのベース、リーダー）|language=ja|website=Hideakim no Blog|date=September 29, 2020|publisher=Ameba}} was the leader and bassist of the group.
On April 6, 1990, Tokumoto felt labor pains and went to the doctor with her sister, Mamoru Mohri, as her husband was abroad on a business trip.{{cite web|url=https://zaitakudemamawork.com/2020/03/13/sugar-mourikimiko/|title=シュガーモーリ毛利公子死因や夫赤ちゃんの現在は?解散後の活躍や画像は?|language=ja|date=March 13, 2020|website=Zaitakude Mama Work}} When they got there, the heartbeat of the child could no longer be confirmed and was she told that she suffered from stillbirth.{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20200313-OHT1T50144.html|title=出産時に急死の「Ｓｕｇａｒ」毛利公子さん、親友・クミこと長沢久美子さんが３０年目に明かした真相|language=ja|date=March 13, 2020|website=Sports Hochi}} They decided to stay at the hospital overnight and leave the next day, but during their stay, her sister noticed that Tokumoto was not breathing and was taken immediately by another paramedic.{{cite web|url=https://matome.eternalcollegest.com/post-2158419980151580901|title=シュガー モーリの死因は何だったのか？|date=April 20, 2021|website=Onigiri Matome|language=ja}} Tokumoto died while being transferred, with the cause being unknown.{{cite web|url=https://girlschannel.net/topics/2629938/|title=「ウエディング・ベル」がヒット、29歳で急死「Sugar」モーリの謎をメンバー激白|date=March 15, 2020|website=GirlsChannel}}{{cite web|url=https://mangafan.biz/archives/24213|title=コーラスグループ・Sugarのモーリの本名、死因を紹介|website=Mangafan|date=March 13, 2020|language=ja}}
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
| Artist = Sugar
| Studio =4
| EP =
| Singles = 11
| Music videos =
| Option =
| Option name = Promotional singles
| Live =
| Compilation = 3
| Image =
}}
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Label |
| align="center"|1981
|Sugar Dream |rowspan="4" align="center"|For Life Music |
| align="center"|1982
|Coffee Break |
| align="center"|1983
|Sugar Bean |
| align="center"|1985
|29:00 AM |
= Compilation albums =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Label |
| align="center"|1983
|Faces |rowspan="3" align="center"|For Life Music |
| align="center"|1987
|Sugar |
| align="center"|2004
|Golden Best |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! A-Side ! B-Side ! Album ! Label |
| align="center"|1981
|"Wedding Bell" (ウエディング・ベル) |"Shinsen Bishō On'na" (新鮮微笑女) |align=center|Sugar Dream |rowspan=11 align=center|For Life Music |
| rowspan=4 align="center"|1982
|"Abanchūru wa Rukkusu-shidai" (アバンチュールはルックスしだい) |"Shin'nyū Shain to Torabayu (A.M.9 To P.M.5)" (新入社員ととらばーゆ（A.M.9 to P.M.5）) | rowspan=2 {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| "Watashi ￮ ni ho Rika Hito" (私○にほリカ人)
|"An non Sutorīto" (an non ストリート) |
| "Misty Night"
|"Uwakina Benkyō Gāru" (浮気な勉強ガール) |align=center|Coffee Break |
| "Wedding Well II" (ウエディング・ベル II)
|"Abanchūru wa Rukkusu-shidai II" (アバンチュールはルックスしだい II) | rowspan=1 {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| rowspan=4 align="center"|1983
|"Kisu ga Ippai" (キスがいっぱい) | "Haru Hana-zakari" (春・花ざかり) |align=center|Sugar Bean |
| "Chū Bura Rabu" (中ブラ・ラブ)
|"Chū Bura Rabu (Kareoke)" (中ブラ・ラブ (カラオケ)) | rowspan=1 {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| "Tamago" (タマゴ)
|"Imagination Express | rowspan=3 {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| "Circus Game"
|"Suimasen My Love" (スイマセン My love) |
| rowspan=2 align="center"|1985
|"Koi wa Masukarēdo" (恋はマスカレード) |"Midnight Call" |
| "Naito Porisu" (ナイト・ポリス)
|"Goin' Man" |align=center|29:00 AM |