About Sayonara Ponytail
Introduction
Sayonara Ponytail (2009 ~ Present) is a music collective consisting of 12 members who are involved in vocals, music production, mixing, etc. Their current members are Miina, Ayumin, Nacchan, Yuyu, Shuka, Kuroneko, Fukkun, Maumau, 324P, Megane-kun, Megu, and S-chan. They are often referred to as "SayoPony."
Gods
Yuritan and later Chiitan functioned as the group’s “Gods,” or illustrators who gave faces to the members of the elusive SayoPony. Yuritan left the group in 2013 and Chiitan left the group in 2016.
Guest illustrators have participated in post-2016 album releases, notably Kurokawa Nice for their 8cm single Seishun Nostalgia; Uchiyama Yunico for their 5th album Kimi wa Boku no Uchuu (You are My Universe) and the Naniya-exclusive single Kami-sama no Itazura (Whimsical Gods); Ueda Ryoutarou for the 7-inch LP Sentimental and 7-inch LP Humming no Iro; Mizuno Shinya for their remix cassette tape Sayonara Ponytail 324P Remix; Uemula for their album Kitarubeki Sekai (What's Meant to Be); Nakamori Kemuri for their 10th anniversary album ROM; and AAMY for their 7th album Kimagure Fanroad (Fickle Fanroad).
Presence Outside of Japan
Sayonara Ponytail rose to relevance outside of Japan through their participation in singing the ending theme for popular anime, Kill la Kill. Sayonara Ponytail has also recorded the ending theme for the anime Tsuritama as well two pieces for Kishida Mel's game, Blue Reflection.
Music History
In 2009, Sayonara Ponytail was formed.
In 2010, Sayonara Ponytail released their first tracks over MySpace (now defunct). At the time of their debut, they consisted of three vocalists: Miina, Nacchan, and Ayumin.
On April 27, 2011, Sayonara Ponytail released their first album, Momyu no Ki no Mukougawa under the recording label felicity.
On July 29, 2011, they released their first single, Houkago Tasogare Kousaten / Mata ne, Bye Bye which consisted of 324P remixes of the two tracks.
On September 7, 2011, they released their second single, Kira Kira no EP which consisted of four tracks: Tooi Hi no Hanabi, Mattari Shite Shimattari, Sayonara, Arigatoo, and Sukoshi Naketanda.
Later in 2011, Sayonara Ponytail signed with Epic Records Japan, a record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ).
On October 12, 2011, Sayonara Ponytail released their album Mahou no Melody. Two versions of Mahou no Melody were released. The limited edition first print included a bonus disc with three additional tracks.
On May 26, 2012, Sayonara Ponytail released their single Sora mo Toberu Hazu / Bianca / Koi Suru Sports. The title track, Sora mo Toberu Hazu, is a remake of Japanese band Spitz's song of the same name. Sayonara Ponytail's version of Sora mo Toberu Hazu was chosen as the ending theme for the fishing anime, Tsuritama. Three versions of this single were released. The limited edition first print included a bonus disc with 5 additional tracks, and the Tsuritama version of the single included the anime ending version of Sora mo Toberu Hazu.
On December 5, 2012, Sayonara Ponytail released their mini-album Nandaka Kimi ga Koishikute. Two versions of this album were released. The limited edition first print included a bonus ninth track.
On the October 30, 2012 broadcast of Sayonara Ponytail's web radio series, School of Lock, member Miina shared that Sayonara Ponytail was looking for new members. On October 31, 2012, Sayonara Ponytail posted an advertisement for new members. Applications to the Sayonara Ponytail collective were closed on November 20, 2012.
In December 2012, new members Shuka and Yuyu were announced as new members.
On March 6, 2013, Sayonara Ponytail released their album Seishun Fantasia. This album would be the last that Yuritan (referred to as First-Generation God) and Ayumin (referred to as First-Generation Ayumin) would participate in, and the first that Shuka and Yuyu would participate in. Two versions of this album were released. The limited edition first print included a bonus disc with four tracks.
On June 10, 2013, Yuritan left Sayonara Ponytail. A new God (illustrator), Chiitan (referred to as Second-Generation God), joined the group.
In December 2013, First-Generation Ayumin announced her graduation from the group. A new Ayumin (referred to as Second-Generation Ayumin) joined the group.
On March 5, 2014, Sayonara Ponytail released their single Shin Sekai Koukyougaku. The title track, Shin Sekai Koukyougaku, was used as the ending theme for the anime Kill la Kill. A limited edition version of the single contains the anime ending theme versions of Shin Sekai Koukyougaku
On May 14, 2014, Sayonara Ponytail announced that they would be in charge of the music for a performance of Naname Line Kyuukou by the Honaga Yoko Project. The performances took place from August 1st to the 3rd.
On May 28, 2014, producer Megu released her album Maison De Megu under the group name Megu to Patron. Maison De Megu was released under AWDR/LR2 records.
On September 11, 2015, Tower Records announced that Sayonara Ponytail had signed with their subsidary record label, T-Palette Records.
On November 4, 2015, Sayonara Ponytail released their album Enban Utopia.
On December 26, 2016, Chiitan announced her graduation from the group.
On June 7, 2017, Sayonara Ponytail released their album Yumemiru Wakusei (The Dreaming Planet). Buyers who could go to their nearest Tower Records store were also given a bonus disc with the Maumau arrangement of their track, Saigo no Yasashisa, as well as a limited-edition sticker while supplies lasted. Yumemiru Wakusei (The Dreaming Planet) also featured Sayonara Ponytail's first music video to utilize 360° camera work.
On August 23, 2017, Sayonara Ponytail announced that their song Naname Line Kyuukou from their album Enban Utopia would be used in a performance by the Honaga Yoko Project. The performances took place between December 1st and December 10th at the Kichijouji Theatre.
On November 15, 2017 the mini-single Tooi Hi no Hanabi was released through online music streaming portals.
On December 20, 2017, Sayonara Ponytail released their 7-inch LP, Sentimental.
On January 17, 2018, Sayonara Ponytail released their 8cm single, Seishun Nostalgia.
On February 14, 2018, Sayonara Ponytail released their album, Kimi wa Boku no Uchuu (You are My Universe). Two versions were released. The limited edition version came in a cardboard sleeve along with a hologram box kit that could be used with a smartphone device to view the holographic music video for the track, Matenrou to Rinkai Ten. The music video was made available through Tower Record's Holobox app as well as through a Youtube Link for people residing outside of Japan. Buyers who could go to their nearest Tower Records store were also able to receive a bonus disc with two tracks (Koi Yori Chocolate and Koi Suru Fortune Cookie (AKB48 cover)) while supplies lasted.
On November 13, 2018, Sayonara Ponytail released their 11 track cassette tape, Sayonara Ponytail 324P Remix through web store Naniya Tokyo.
On May 15, 2019, Sayonara Ponytail released their 7-inch LP, Humming no Iro.
On June 12, 2019, Sayonara Ponytail released their album, Kitarubeki Sekai (What's Meant to Be).
On July 31, 20219, Sayonara Ponytail released a mini-single, Kami-sama no Itazura (Whimsical Gods) through web store Naniya Tokyo. This release came packaged with a Frisbee.
On November 13, 2019, Sayonara Ponytail released their album, ROM to celebrate their tenth anniversary. The album included their best tracks throughout their ten years as well as several new tracks. Buyers who could go to their nearest Tower Records store were also able to receive one randomly selected tote bag and a Kuroneko pinback button.
On August 24, 2020, Sayonara Ponytail released their single Shion through music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.
On September 2, 2020, member Miina released her solo album, Long Time No Sea. A limited edition first print version of the album includes a bonus disc with two tracks.
On October 10, 2020, Sayonara Ponytail announced the pending release of their next album, Kimagure Fanroad (Fickle Fanroad). Kimagure Fanroad (Fickle Fanroad) was released on November 11, 2020 and will came with a randomly selected hand towel.
In 2021, a large portion of Sayonara Ponytail's discography became accessible through the online music streaming service Spotify.
In February 2021, Sayonara Ponytail contributed one musical track to the VIVA LA VALENTINE online event that happened at Sanrio Puroland from February 6th to February 14th.
On February 18, 2021, Miina's solo album Long Time No Sea was re-released as an LP through P-Vine Records. The LP was accompanied by a bonus disc including three demo versions of tracks on the album.