UltraCats
Encyclopedia
UltraCats, formed October 19, 2001, is group consisting of members Ucchan, Ōtake, Udo, and Jinny. After Jinny left UltraCats, she started solo career as Chae-Yeon.
's arrival in Japan. Jinny
was already in this show for a year since 2000, but she had not had a chance to pursue her dream of becoming a singer to the fullest, although amongst other projects, she had a chance to take part in the short-lived singing group Brand-new Biscuits through the early 2001.
Knowing her dream and struggle, after Brand-new Biscuits' cessation, Uchimura
started UltraCats as a part of the show, and besides them, he included the members Udo
, which makes it to have a similar member structure to the once popular singing group from the show, Pocket Biscuits, and Ootake later.
Their first step to success as a professional singing group came when they were offered to sing on a stage after the live broadcasting of a popular Korean music program, 'SBS Popular Song.' They offered that after UltraCats' performance, they would have voting by the audience that came to see the program, and if UltraCats were able to obtain at least 70% support by the audience, they can sell a CD in Korea.
To everyone's surprise, UltraCats was able to obtain over 90% support of 426/473 people, going far over the minimum of 331/473 people, and at that moment, in addition to selling a CD in Korea, it was also decided that the Japanese company Sony Music Entertainment
would sell UltraCats' song "Barem" in Japanese in Japan.
asked the producer if they could continue UltraCats as a part of 'Urinari' in some form even after it ended, since he felt responsible for starting the group UltraCats and not being able to do much, especially for Jinny
who he knew came to Japan as she wanted to become a singer, but the answer was no.
So Uchimura
started asking around almost all the TV stations around Tokyo if they could start a show in any form for UltraCats so that they could continue singing and selling CD's, on the condition that he would not need any salaries (he'd been popular and around for more than 15 years so it would cost a lot to just pay him) and that he would do anything to help out such as providing funding for the show if needed.
Eventually TBS
, which is different from the original company that broadcasted 'Urinari' which is NTV
, agreed to give them late-evening 30-minute show time from April, 2002, for half a year, which was titled 'Ultra C.' Through this show, UltraCats was able to sell additional CD's and have a concert at the end of the show, after which Jinny
went back to Korea and became successful as a singer Chae Yeon
in 2003.
Members
- Teruyoshi UchimuraTeruyoshi Uchimura, half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Utchan , and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a...
, Ucchan, born July 22, 1964 - Kazuki ŌtakeKazuki Otake' , also known as Otake, is Japanese comedian. He is former member of Japanese band UltraCats and current member of owarai group Summers.- References :...
, Ōtake, born December 8, 1967 - Udo SuzukiUdo Suzuki, also known as Udo, is a Japanese musician and comedian. He used to be a member of the Japanese band UltraCats and is a member of the owarai group .- External links :* - See also :* List of Japanese comedians...
, Udo, January 19, 1970 - Jinny LeeChae YeonLee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
, Jinny, born December 10, 1978
Formation in 'Urinari'
UltraCats started off as a singing group in a popular Japanese TV show 'Ucchan-Nanchan's Urinari' in 2001, a year after JinnyChae Yeon
Lee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
's arrival in Japan. Jinny
Chae Yeon
Lee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
was already in this show for a year since 2000, but she had not had a chance to pursue her dream of becoming a singer to the fullest, although amongst other projects, she had a chance to take part in the short-lived singing group Brand-new Biscuits through the early 2001.
Knowing her dream and struggle, after Brand-new Biscuits' cessation, Uchimura
Teruyoshi Uchimura
, half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Utchan , and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a...
started UltraCats as a part of the show, and besides them, he included the members Udo
Udo Suzuki
, also known as Udo, is a Japanese musician and comedian. He used to be a member of the Japanese band UltraCats and is a member of the owarai group .- External links :* - See also :* List of Japanese comedians...
, which makes it to have a similar member structure to the once popular singing group from the show, Pocket Biscuits, and Ootake later.
Activities in Korea
However, they were not able to sell any CDs until the very end of the show that suddenly came in March, 2002. In terms of the activities as UltraCats in the show, all they did was going to Korea and trying to sell the group by singing their only song at that time "Barem" in Korean on the streets—which attracted a handful of fans that supported them by going around to their street performances and making a website—and by contacting media and producers, which did not always welcome them.Their first step to success as a professional singing group came when they were offered to sing on a stage after the live broadcasting of a popular Korean music program, 'SBS Popular Song.' They offered that after UltraCats' performance, they would have voting by the audience that came to see the program, and if UltraCats were able to obtain at least 70% support by the audience, they can sell a CD in Korea.
To everyone's surprise, UltraCats was able to obtain over 90% support of 426/473 people, going far over the minimum of 331/473 people, and at that moment, in addition to selling a CD in Korea, it was also decided that the Japanese company Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
would sell UltraCats' song "Barem" in Japanese in Japan.
New Show 'Ultra C'
During the time when they were still continuing their activities in Korea and not being able to sell any CD's, it was decided that the show 'Urinari' would end at the end of March, 2002. UchimuraTeruyoshi Uchimura
, half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Utchan , and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a...
asked the producer if they could continue UltraCats as a part of 'Urinari' in some form even after it ended, since he felt responsible for starting the group UltraCats and not being able to do much, especially for Jinny
Chae Yeon
Lee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
who he knew came to Japan as she wanted to become a singer, but the answer was no.
So Uchimura
Teruyoshi Uchimura
, half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Utchan , and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a...
started asking around almost all the TV stations around Tokyo if they could start a show in any form for UltraCats so that they could continue singing and selling CD's, on the condition that he would not need any salaries (he'd been popular and around for more than 15 years so it would cost a lot to just pay him) and that he would do anything to help out such as providing funding for the show if needed.
Eventually TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
, which is different from the original company that broadcasted 'Urinari' which is NTV
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, agreed to give them late-evening 30-minute show time from April, 2002, for half a year, which was titled 'Ultra C.' Through this show, UltraCats was able to sell additional CD's and have a concert at the end of the show, after which Jinny
Chae Yeon
Lee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
went back to Korea and became successful as a singer Chae Yeon
Chae Yeon
Lee Chae-Yeon , better known as Chae Yeon, is a Korean pop singer who rose to fame with her hit single "Two of Us" in 2004 and her wave dance style.- Beginning of career :...
in 2003.