Passcode (group)

PassCode
Origin	Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Genres	Kawaii metal[1] J-pop metalcore EDM
Years active	2013-present
Labels	we-B studios Universal Music Japan JPU Records MoooD Records
Members	Nao Minami Kaede Takashima Hinako Ōgami Emily Arima
Past members	Reika Kanzaki Saki Sakurai Kyōko Kazuki Yūri Kurohara Yuna Imada
Website	passcode-official.com

Passcode (Japanese: パスコード, Hepburn: Pasukōdo, stylized as PassCode), is a Japanese metal idol group founded in 2013.^[2]

History

Passcode was formed in Osaka in 2013 and consists of the four vocalists Nao Minami, Kaede Takashima, Emily Arima and Hinako Ōgami. Passcode is supported by a backup band.^[3]

After releasing several singles and albums on smaller labels, the group signed to Universal Music Japan and released their second full-length album Zenith in 2017.^[4] In 2018 the band signed with British record label JPU Records and released a best-of record called Ex Libris Passcode in Europe.^[5]

Their song "Ichika Bachika" became the opening song for the second season of the live-action film adaption of Kakegurui.^[6] In June 2020, their ninth single "Starry Sky" debuted at number 1 on the Japanese Oricon weekly singles chart and the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart, selling over 7,000 units in its first week after release.^[7][8]

Musical style

The musical style of Passcode can be described as kawaii metal.^[1] Some vocalists use harsh vocals next to cleans. Yuna Imada contributed the harsh vocals before her retirement in 2021, with the job now handled by former Ladybaby member Emily Arima.^{[citation needed]} Kaede Takashima uses the harsh vocals in some tracks like "Taking You Out" and "Club Kids Never Die". The band uses Auto-Tune while singing.^[3]

The band mixes metalcore with EDM and J-pop.^[4] The songs are written in Japanese language and contain English-language parts as well.^[3]

Members

• Nao Minami – vocals, and dancer (2013–present)
• Kaede Takashima – vocals, and dancer (2014–present)
• Hinako Ōgami – vocals, and dancer (2015–present)
• Emily Arima - vocals, and dancer (2021–present)

Past members

• Reika Kamisaki – vocals, and dancer (2013)
• Saki Sakurai – vocals, and dancer (2013)
• Kyōko Kazuki – vocals, and dancer (2013)
• Yūri Kurohara – vocals, and dancer (2013–2015)
• Yuna Imada - vocals, and dancer (2014–2021)

Discography

Passcode discography
Studio albums	5
EPs	1
Live albums	1
Compilation albums	3
Singles	10
Video albums	13
Music videos	28

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon [9]	JPN Billboard Hot [10]	JPN Billboard Top [11]
All Is Vanity	Released: October 1, 2014 Label: we-B studios Formats: CD	—	—	—
Virtual	Released: May 25, 2016 Label: we-B studios Formats: CD, digital download	43	60	28
Zenith	Released: August 2, 2017 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, digital download	20	27	19
Clarity	Released: April 3, 2019 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	10	7	8
Strive	Released: December 23, 2020 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	18	13	14
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or that the chart did not exist.

EPs

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon [9]	JPN Billboard Hot [10]	JPN Billboard Top [11]
Reverberate EP.	Released: December 21, 2022 Label: Univerlsal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	18	19	17
Groundswell EP.	Released: June 21, 2023 Label: Univerlsal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	18	—	—

Compilations

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon [9]	JPN Billboard Hot [10]	JPN Billboard Top [11]
Locus	Released: February 28, 2018 Label: Univerlsal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	15	10	14
Ex Libris Passcode	Released: October 5, 2018[12] Label: JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—
Passcode the Best -Link-	Released: September 29, 2021 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: 2xCD, 2xCD+DVD, 2xCD+Blu-ray, digital download	18	18	15
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon [9]	JPN Billboard Top [11]
Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited	Released: December 19, 2018 Label: Univerlsal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download	93	79

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		JPN Oricon [13]	JPN Hot 100 [14]	JPN Hot Singles [15]
"Nextage"	2014	165	—	—	Virtual
"Now I Know"	2015	111	—	—
"Never Sleep Again"		159	—	—
"Miss Unlimited"	2016	43	—	29	Zenith
"Bite the Bullet"	2017	16	86	16
"Ray"	2018	16	64	15	Clarity
"Tonight / Taking You Out"		12	65[a]	13
"Atlas"	2019	18	—	20	Strive
"Starry Sky"	2020	1	—	1
"Freely / Flavor of Blue"	2021	12	—	15	non-album single
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

DVD / Blu-ray

Title	Video details	Peak chart positions
		JPN DVDs [16]	JPN Blu-rays [17]
All Is Vanity	Released: March 18, 2015 Label: We-B Studios	198	—
"Trial of Passcode" Tour Final Tokyo at Akasaka Blitz	Released: July 22, 2016 Label: We-B Studios	—	—
Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited Premium Box	Released: December 19, 2018 Label: Universal Music Japan	—	58
Passcode Miss Unlimited Tour 2016 at Studio Coast	Released: December 19, 2018 Label: Universal Music Japan	—	—
Passcode Zenith Tour 2017 Final Series at Tsutaya O-East	Released: December 19, 2018 Label: Universal Music Japan	—	—
Passcode Presents Versus Passcode 2018 at Bigcat	Released: December 19, 2018 Label: Universal Music Japan	—	—
Passcode Taking You Out Tonight! Tour 2018 Final at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo	Released: March 13, 2019 Label: Universal Music Japan	19	16
PassCode Zepp Tour 2019 at Zepp Osaka Bayside	Released: August 12, 2019 Label: Universal Music Japan	24	23
Passcode Clarity Plus Tour 19-20 Final at Studio Coast	Released: March 15, 2020 Label: Universal Music Japan	36	30
Passcode Starry Tour 2020 Final at KT Zepp Yokohama	Released: November 18, 2020 Label: Universal Music Japan	23	12
Passcode "Strive for Budokon Tour 2021 at Toyosu Pit	Released: June 9, 2021 Label: Universal Music Japan	10	7
Passcode Zepp Tour 2021 at Haneda	Released: December 22, 2021 Label: Universal Music Japan	57	48
Passcode Nippon Budokan 2022	Released: June 29, 2022 Label: Universal Music Japan	17	18
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Music videos

Song	Year	Link
"Asterisk" (アスタリスク)	2014	[1]
"XYZ"		[2]
"Over There"		[3]
"Seize the Day"		[4]
"Kiss no Hanataba" (Kissの花束)		[5]
"Gekidō Progressive" (激動プログレッシブ)		[6]
"Nextage"		[7]
"Now I Know"	2015	[8]
"Orange" (オレンジ)		[9]
"Never Sleep Again"		[10]
"From Here"	2016	[11]
"Axis"		[12]
"Ninja Bomber"		[13]
"Miss Unlimited"		[14]
"Bite the Bullet"	2017	[15]
"One Step Beyond"		[16]
"Same to You"		[17]
"Ray"	2018	[18]
"Taking You Out"		[19]
"Projection"	2019	[20]
"Atlas"		[21]
"Starry Sky"	2020	[22]
"Mantra"		[23]
"Anything New"		[24]
"Spark Ignition"		[25]
"Freely"	2021	[26]
"Flavor of Blue"	2022	[27]
"Siren"		[28]
"Clouds Across the Moon"	2023	[29]

Notes

1. Only "Tonight" charted.

References

1. "The rise of kawaii metal this decade". JRock News. December 25, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
2. "株式会社 we-B studios PassCode". we-B studios. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
3. Saskia (May 30, 2018). "PassCode – Eine Perle aus Fernost" (in German). Silence Musik Magazin. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
4. "Idol Chatter: PassCode Interview". Straight-from-japan.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
5. edoh (August 23, 2018). "PassCode joins JPU Records and announces compiled overseas album plus single". Jrocknews.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
6. Rafael Antonio Pineda (January 22, 2019). "Live-Action Kakegurui Series' 2nd Season Reveals Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
7. "PassCode、『STARRY SKY』で初のシングルチャート首位 三者三様な楽曲でライブ感ある1枚に". Real Sound (in Japanese). 30 May 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
8. "【ビルボード】PassCode『STARRY SKY』、自身初のシングル・セールス首位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2020.
9. "PassCodeのアルバム作品" [Passcode albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
10. Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart:
    • Virtual: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 1, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Zenith: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Locus: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 28, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Clarity: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. April 10, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Strive: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 30, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Passcode the Best -Link-: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
    • Reverberate EP.: "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
11. Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums chart:
    • Virtual: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 1, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Zenith: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Locus: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. March 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Passcode 2016-2018 Live Unlimited: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Clarity: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. April 10, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Strive: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 30, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Passcode the Best -Link-: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Reverberate EP.: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
12. "PassCode、本日10/5リリースの海外デビュー盤『Ex Libris PassCode』を日本でもデジタル配信開始！新録曲が聴けるダイジェスト映像公開も！" (in Japanese). Gekirock.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
13. "PassCodeのシングル作品" [Passcode singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
14. Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
    • "Bite the Bullet": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2017/04/26 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 26, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Ray": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2018/05/30 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 30, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Tonight": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2018/09/19 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 19, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
15. Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart:
    • "Miss Unlimited": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2016/11/02 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Bite the Bullet": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2017/04/26 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 26, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Ray": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2018/05/30 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 30, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Tonight / Taking You Out": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2018/09/19 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 19, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Atlas": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2019/10/02 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 2, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Starry Sky": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2020/05/27 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 27, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Freely / Flavour of Blue": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2021/11/17 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
16. "PassCodeのDVD作品" [Passcode DVDs] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
17. "PassCodeのBlu-ray作品" [Passcode Blu-rays] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2021.

External links

• Official website