Onyanko Club

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Members of Onyanko Club.

Onyanko Club (おニャン子クラブ, meaning Kitten Club) was a large Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s with a new approach to the idol formula. There were 54 members in rotation, in addition to several subgroups such as Nyangilas, Ushirogami Hikaretai, and Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi, the latter two of which provided most of the soundtrack to the popular 80s anime series High School! Kimengumi. They debuted in 1985 and ended in 1987, though there were several reunion appearances, including one on a recent episode of Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ. Several big-name idols stemmed from the group, the best known being Shizuka Kudō. The same formula was present with the more internationally familiar 1990s group Morning Musume.

Although people compare Onyanko Club to Morning Musume, they (Morning Musume) have shown a small tribute at the end of their member "roll call"-esque song "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari" where in the end they do the classic "Nyan Nyan" pose. The song is similar to the series of "Kaiin Bango no Uta" released by the Onyanko Club, which had three different versions in all.

[edit] Nyangirasu

Nyangirasu (ニャンギラス) was the second of three off shoot groups within the Onyanko Club. They had the shortest run with only two singles and one album. Members consisted of Aki Kihara (6), Mika Nagoya (9), Rika Tatsumi (15), and Mako Shiraishi (22). Their first single, "Watashi wa Rikachan", featured Tatsumi Rika with the lead vocals. Their second and last single, "Jibun no Yuunomo Nandesu Keredo" was last performed at the Onyanko Panic! Sotsugyou Kinen Concert where Nagoya Mika graduated from Onyanko Club.