| The Peanuts | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | April 1 1941 |
| Origin |  Japan |
| Genre(s) | Japanese pop |
| Occupation(s) | singers, actresses |
| Years active | 1958–1975 |
| Label(s) | King Records |
| Members | |
| Emi Ito Yumi Ito |
|
The Peanuts are a Japanese twin sister singing group. They are Emi Ito (Hideyo Ito) and Yumi Ito Yumi (Tsukiko Ito). The twins were born in Nagoya on April 1, 1941. In the first years they sung Japanese covers of standards, foreign hits, and Japanese folk songs, then they began singing originals, written by their producer, Miyagawa Hiroshi, and songwriters as Sugiyama Kouichi and Rei Nakanishi.
Career
Performing around Nagoya as the "Itou Sisters" in 1958, they were discovered by the president of Watanabe Productions. They debuted on "Higeki Chorus Parade" on February 11th, 1959 and recorded their debut that April. From 1961 to 1972 they had regular appearances on the FUJI TV show "The Hit Parade". In the United States, they have appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and the Danny Kaye Show. In Germany they become popular with their appearances on the Caterina Valente Show "Bonjour Katrin". They are probably most known internationally for their appearances in the Mothra and Godzilla movies of the 1960s, in which they appeared as fairies called shobijin (small beauties) who had telepathic communication with Mothra. Although of course now played by different actresses, the characters have continued to appear in the more recent films as well. They retired from show business on May 25, 1975, having given their last performance on April 4 of that year. Emi/Hideyo married Kenji Sawada in 1973, though they divorced in 1987. Interest in The Peanuts' recordings was revived after W (Double You) covered two of their biggest hits, "Koi No Vacance" and "Koi No Fuga" in 2004 and 2005 respectively. A Japanese TV drama about The Peanuts is in the works, with former Morning Musume member Natsumi Abe and her sister, solo artist Asami Abe, playing the duo.
Discography (not complete)
- 可愛いピーナッツ 1959
- ピーナッツ民謡お国めぐり 1960
- The Hit Parade 1960
- I'll see you in my dreams 1961
- The Hit Parade Vol.2 1962
- The Hit Parade Vol.3 1962
- The Folk Songs 1963
- Popular Standards 1963
- The Hit Parade 1963
- The Hit Parade Vol.4 1964
- The Hit Parade Vol.5 1964
- The Hit Parade Vol.6 1965
- Souvenirs aus Tokio 1965
- The Hit Parade Vol.6 Around the Europe 1966
- ザ・ピーナッツ・デラックス 1967
- Golden Deluxe 1968
- FEELIN' GOOD new dimension of THE PEANUTS 1970
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ダブル・デラックス 1971
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト・アルバム 1971
- 華麗なるフランシス・レイ・サウンド ザ･ピーナッツ最新映画主題歌を歌う 1971
- 世界の女たち 1972
- SUPERDISC 20 1972
- ザ・ピーナッツ・オン・ステージ 1972
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト２０／指輪のあとに 1973
- 情熱の砂漠 1973
- SUPERDISC 20 1973
- 気になる噂／ベスト・オブ・ザ・ピーナッツ 1974
- ザ・ピーナッツベスト２０ 1974
- Eternal! 1975
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト２０ 1975
- Big Star Series ザ・ピーナッツ 1976
- Big Star W Series ザ・ピーナッツ 1977
- The Peanuts Original 1978
- The Peanuts Pops 1978
- The Peanuts Love 1978
- Best Star W Deluxe 1979
- スーパースター・ベスト・アルバム ザ・ピーナッツ 1979
- Monument 1980
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト 1980
- The Peanuts History Vol.1 1983
- The Peanuts History Vol.2 1983
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト 1984
- 復刻盤 ザ・ピーナッツ・オン・ステージ 1984
- ザ・ピーナッツ・ベスト・アルバム 1985
- Ｄ.Ｃ.恋のフーガ 1987
- Ｄ.Ｃ. Retro 1987
