Cute, also known as °C-ute, was a Japanese girl group formed in 2005. Consisting of Hello! Project Kids members Maimi Yajima, Saki Nakajima, Airi Suzuki, Chisato Okai, and Mai Hagiwara, the group was put Tsunku, the mastermind behind Hello! Project. Their journey began in 2002, showcasing their talents on various variety shows and acting as backup dancers for other acts, laying the groundwork for their eventual debut. The group started with indie singles, making a splash with "Massara Blue Jeans" in 2006, and quickly followed up with hits like "Oki na Ai de Motenashite." Cutie Queen Vol. 1, Cute's studio debut, came out a few months later and reached number 15 on the Oricon charts. Their first official single, "Sakura Chirari," released in 2007, catapulted them to stardom, marking them as the youngest group to rank in the top 10 of the Oricon Daily Singles Chart. That year, Cute won their first Japan Record Award for Best New Artist. Their unique blend of pop and energetic performances earned them nominations and accolades, including a memorable nomination for the Japan Record Award's Grand Prix in 2008 with "Edo no Temari Uta II." Despite changes in their lineup, with the departure of members like Kanna Arihara and Erika Umeda, Cute persisted, releasing hit after hit. Released in 2012, the song "Kimi wa Jitensha Watashi wa Densha de Kitaku," became their highest-selling single, showcasing their widespread appeal. In 2015, Cute celebrated their 10th anniversary in the music industry with a concert at Yokohama Arena and issued their ninth studio LP °Cmaj9 (°Cmaj9), which cracked the Top 10 of the Japanese charts. However, by 2016, most of its members decided to pursue different career paths, leading to the group's disbandment. "To Tomorrow / Final Squall / The Curtain Rises," peaked at number 2 in Japan. The group's final show took place on June 12, 2017, at Saitama Super Arena.
