, also known as Vanibe, was a Japanese idol girl duo formed in 2007, under the indie label FLOWER LABEL, a sub-label of Tokuma Japan Communications.

Vanilla Beans has had the same line-up since March 2008, when Rika left and Risa joined. In June 2011 they joined the newly formed idol label T-Palette Records, to which they and Negicco were the first artists signed.

After four years under T-Palette Records, the band made its major debut in August 2015 signing a new contract with the popular avex trax label.

Rena, the original member, is a Japanese idol fan. She presents the show posted on the Kawaii Girl Japan website. She conducts interviews and reports on other bands.

History

2007-2009 : The debut under Flower Label Managed by the talent agency LesPros Entertainment, the band formed in mid-2007 by Rika and Rena, later a member of the group Idoling!!! under the independent label Flower Label, a sub-label of Tokuma Japan Communications. They describe themselves as a "next generation idol" group. Before recording songs though, the group visited the Embassy of Japan in Denmark on July 4, 2007, to come forward and present their concept and art projects to the Danes attending this event.

The group released their first single entitled "U ♡ Me" (reads "You love me") in two editions (regular and limited) on October 3, 2007 in Japan; the first steps to reach the top of the charts are difficult and the single only reached the 189th place on Oricon weekly Singles Chart and remained there only for a week.First single regular edition profile on Oricon First single limited edition profile on Oricon This is the only disc released by the original formation of the idol group.

In March 2008, Rika left this group after the first single, and soon after, the female group Idoling!!!, to devote herself to her studies. After an audition, another girl, Lisa (or Risa) joined the band and they recorded their second single "nicola" in one edition, released on May 21, 2008; but sales of the single also failed and only reached 198th place on the Oricon charts.Second single profile on l'Oricon

The band no longer recorded discs until the end of 2008 but was very present on the internet, publishing several singles in digital format.

The band released a third single, "Sakasaka Circus", in an edition on January 28, 2009, but it was not included on any ranking.Third single profile on Oricon On 25 February 2009 the eponymous debut studio album, "Vanilla Beans", was released; it contains the first three physical singles under Flower Label but it was not ranked on the Oricon chart.First studio album's profile on Oricon After these commercial failures, the group began to work better; the fourth single "LOVE & HATE", was released on September 9, 2009 in two versions: "Love Version" and "Hate Version"; it was ranked 79th place on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.Fourth single profile on Oricon (Love version) Fourth single profile on Oricon (Hate version)

2010-2011 : "Vanilla Beans II" and new contract with T-Palette Records In 2010, the group recorded a mini-album "Def & Def", released in May and was ranked 79th place at Oricon Weekly Album Chart as the fourth single; it sold 1,155 copies during the first week.First extended play on Oricon website Furthermore, the first song of this EP, "D & D", was used in a commercial TV spot for deodorant brand of the same name, with the lyrics of the song changed. The members of the group appear in the promotional video.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, the song "Re-Sepp-Ten" was re-recorded by Vanilla Beans, who were known for their avid support of the Danish national team. The pop duo sang a slightly abbreviated version of the song in Danish, but with an unmistakable Japanese accent,Extra Bladet: Hør japansk udgave af 'Re-Sepp-Ten' despite the fact that Denmark and Japan were to meet in the final pool match to the finals.Jyllands Posten: Derfor havnede "Re-Sepp-Ten" i Japan The release retitled "Re-Sepp-ten: Vi er røde, vi er hvide". A music video was made with the then-sitting Danish ambassador to Japan Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, playing the part of Preben Elkjær in the video. The music video was produced and directed by Emil Langballe.

At the end of the year, a compilation, "VaniBest" was released in September 2010, which ranked 160th place on Oricon and sold 887 copies during the first week of sale. "VaniBest" was the last album recorded under Flower Label Group; the band signed the following year, together with the idol group Negicco, a new contract with the idol label T-Palette Records in June 2011, which was newly founded by Ikuo Minewaki (President of Tower Records Japan). Soon after, Vanilla Beans impressed their fans with an unofficial single called "Tengoku e no Kaidan", released June 29, 2011. This is a cover song of "Stairway to Heaven" by British band Led Zeppelin and it marks the beginning of the group under their new label. This single was the first disc to be released under this label and it placed 82nd at Oricon.Single cover profile on Oricon The song was also a promotion, the only single from the band's second album "Vanilla Beans II" which came out on July 20, 2011, but the album did not succeed to reach the best rankings during the first week since the album was ranked 110th on Oricon chart and remained classified only for a week.Second studio album's profile on Oricon It was the first album released by T-Palette Records.

Members

Current members Rena (レナ) (born in Shiga Prefecture) Lisa (リサ, or Risa) (born in Tokyo)

Former members Rika (リカ) (born on August 14, 1988); left the group in March 2008.

Discography Albums Studio albums + Title Album details Peak JPN Released: February 25, 2009 Label: Flower Label Formats: CD — Released: July 20, 2011 Label: T-Palette Records Formats: CD 110 Released: November 19, 2012 Label: T-Palette Records Formats: CD 46 Released: February 3, 2015 Label: T-Palette Records Formats: CD 50 Released: February 3, 2016 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD 43

Compilation albums + Title Album details Peak JPNSources for chart positions are as follows:

Vani Best (ja) Released: September 22, 2010 Label: Flower Label Formats: CD 160 Vani Best II Released: December 18, 2017 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD 77

Extended plays + Title Album details Peak JPN Def & Def (ja) Released: March 19, 2010 Label: Flower Label Formats: CD 79

Singles Physical singles

# Title Release date Charts Track listing OriconWeeklySinglesChartPhysical singles 1 189 U ♡ Mea little criyingU ♡ Me (instrumental)a little criying (instrumental) 2 198 nicolaNostalgianicola (instrumental)Nostalgia (instrumental) 3 not ranked Sakasaka CircusTic TacSakasaka Circus (Instrumental)Tic Tac (Instrumental) 4 79 LOVE & HATEGamla stanKoi no TheoryGamla stan (Rena Solo Ver.) (Love version)Gamla stan (Risa Solo Ver.) (Hate version)LOVE & HATE (Instrumental)Gamla stan (Instrumental)Koi no Theory (Instrumental) ー 89 Tengoku e no KaidanBaby Portable Rocknicolaa little criying 5 34 Toki no KakeraYes? No?Stop Rock'n'Roll (Rena ver.)Hoshi ni Natta Uso (Risa ver.)Toki no Kakera (instrumental)Yes? No? (instrumental) 6 26Sixth single regular edition profile on Oricon Sixth single limited edition profile on Oricon Choco Mint Flavor TimeHitotsu no UtaChoco Mint Flavor Time (Instrumental)Hitotsu no Uta (instrumental) 7 31 Non-SectionHimitsuKimi ga Boku wo ShitteruNon-Section (Instrumental)Himitsu (instrumental) 8 32 Muscats Slope LoveJewel MemoriesMuscats Slope Love (instrumental)Jewel Memories (instrumental) 9 37 Please Me, DarlingNight on the EarthPlease Me, Darling (instrumental)Night on the Earth (instrumental) 10 55 Watashi… Fukō GuseKoi no Snipper 007Watashi… Fukō Guse (instrumental)Koi no Snipper 007 (instrumental) 11 23 Kitto Ii Basho (Fuchi)Zettai Panty LineKitto Ii Basho (Fuchi) (instrumental)Zettai Panty Line (instrumental)12 40 Uchōten GirlKiss wa Me ni Shite Bao!Uchōten Girl (instrumental)Kiss wa Me ni Shite Bao! (instrumental)13 25 Onna wa Sore wo Gaman Shinai Bi-niuslonesome XOnna wa Sore wo Gaman Shinai (instrumental) Bi-nius (instrumental)lonesome X (instrumental) Digital singles # Title Release date Album Notes 1 Afternoon a Go-Go Vanilla Beans 2 Afternoon a Go-Go ~We Love You MIX~ no album 3 Shopping☆Kirari Vanilla Beans 4 Shopping☆Kirari ~Okite Porsche + Dr.USUI Waterfront Mix~ no album 5 Vanilla Beans 6 no album 7 VaniBest

References

External links