Da-ice
Japanese boy band known for their 2021 Japan Record Awards win.
Da-ice (stylized as Da-iCE and pronounced 'dice') is a Japanese boy band formed in January 2011. The group consists of five members: Yudai Ohno, Toru Iwaoka, Taiki Kudo, Sota Hanamura, and Hayate Wada. They were formerly signed to Universal Sigma until they transferred to Avex Trax in June 2020, and are currently managed by Avex Management Inc. The group's name is pronounced 'dice' despite the hyphen, with five sides of a die representing the members and the last side representing the fans; the lowercase 'a-i' signifies 'love' in Japanese.
- field
- Japanese boy band
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Winning the Grand Prix at the 63rd Japan Record Awards for the single 'Citrus'
Lore & Background
Da-ice formed in January 2011 when their current manager gathered the five members. Initially named Blackout, they changed the name because 'blackout' meant a power outage. Their first concert was held in April 2011 in Shibuya Vuenos. From May to September 2012, they performed as the opening act for AAA on the 'AAA Tour 2012 -777- Triple Seven', which grew their Twitter followers from about 2,000 to over 10,000. Their debut indie mini-album, released on 12 December 2012, ranked 1st on the Recochoku ringtone daily chart and peaked at number 15 on the Oricon Daily Albums Chart.
In 2013, they held two tours and released their first indie single 'I'll Be Back', which ranked number 14 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. They announced their major debut in 2014, and their debut single 'Shout It Out' was chosen by fans via a nationwide online vote. The single ranked second on the Oricon Daily Chart and fourth on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Their first full album, Fight Back, was released on 15 October 2014. In 2016, their second album Every Season ranked first on the Oricon Daily Ranking a day before its official release, with sales exceeding 30,000 copies.
On 22 December 2021, they released the single 'liveDevil', the opening theme for Kamen Rider Revice, featuring additional vocals from Subaru Kimura. The side B song 'Promise' was the ending theme for the movie Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations. On 30 December 2021, their single 'Citrus' won the Grand Prix at the 63rd Japan Record Awards.
Reader's Guide
Da-ice's significance lies in their steady rise from an indie group to a major-label act, culminating in a prestigious Japan Record Awards Grand Prix win in 2021. Their name and branding—representing the five members and fans as sides of a die, with 'ai' (love) in lowercase—reflect a deliberate connection with their audience. Their early exposure as opening act for AAA helped build a fanbase, and their debut single was chosen by fan vote, emphasizing audience engagement. The group's versatility is shown by their work in anime and film, including the Kamen Rider franchise and Pixar's Turning Red. Their transfer from Universal Sigma to Avex Trax in 2020 marked a new chapter. The 2021 Grand Prix win for 'Citrus' is a major milestone, placing them among Japan's top musical acts. Their legacy includes a dedicated fanbase and a model of fan-inclusive promotion.
Did You Know?
- The group was originally named Blackout before changing it because 'blackout' meant a power outage.
- Their debut single 'Shout It Out' was chosen by fans from three possible songs via a nationwide online vote.
- Their single 'liveDevil' served as the opening theme for Kamen Rider Revice, with additional vocals from Subaru Kimura.
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