Enogu (えのぐ), which comes from the Japanese word 絵具 (meaning paints or colors), is a Japanese Virtual Idol group that originally started as part of Iwamoto-chou Geinousha’s virtual idol project and is now an independent company. The group began as a duo called Antama (あんたま), consisting of Suzuki Anzu (鈴木あんず) and Shirafuji Tamaki (白藤環), who debuted on YouTube on August 28, 2017.
On December 25, 2017, the group expanded with the addition of three new members: Natsume Haru (夏目ハル), Hinata Nao (日向奈央), and Kurihara Sakurako (栗原桜子), forming the Actresses Unit (女優部 / Joyū-bu).
Enogu merged the two units on February 21, 2018, creating its classic lineup. The five-member group held their first live performance on May 5, 2018, debuting their first single, “Enogu.” They renamed the Actresses Unit to Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり).
On January 31, 2020, Enogu became a quartet after Kurihara Sakurako left the group due to health issues. She had been absent from streams, events, and performances since April 2019.
Enogu is set to return as a trio starting December 31, 2022, following the announcement of Natsume Haru’s graduation on July 10, 2022.
Basic Details
Here is the information in table format:
| Original Name | Debut Date | Character Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Antama (あんたま) | 2017/08/28 | Unknown |
| Renamed Name | Enogu (えのぐ) |
Media
| Channel | Platform |
|---|---|
| VR Idol | NicoNico |
| Showroom | Showroom |
| Social Media | |
| Official Website | enogu-official.com |
Personal Details
| Name | Birthday | Height | Blood Type | Zodiac Sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Anzu | February 25 | 154 cm (5’0″) | A | Pisces |
| Shirafuji Tamaki | August 31 | 157 cm (5’2″) | B | Virgo |
| Hinata Nao | November 8 | 160 cm (5’3″) | A | Scorpio |
| Kurihara Sakurako | March 16 | 156 cm (5’1″) | A | Pisces |
| Natsume Haru | July 24 | 165 cm (5’5″) | O | Leo |
Introduction Video
Members
| Name | Japanese | Unit | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Anzu | 鈴木あんず | Antama (あんたま) |  |
| Shirafuji Tamaki | 白藤環 | Antama (あんたま) |  |
| Hinata Nao | 日向奈央 | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |  |
Also Read: Thot Chenge
Former Members
| Name | Japanese | Unit | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurihara Sakurako “Rako” | 栗原桜子 | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |  |
| Natsume Haru | 夏目ハル | Hinatsukuri (ひなつくり) |  |
History
The initial announcement regarding the formation of Enogu faced significant backlash from fans due to misunderstandings stemming from a statement issued by the group’s chief manager, Yuuta Marumo. His announcement was misinterpreted as a complete overhaul of the group’s lineup, replacing existing members, rather than merging the two existing groups. On February 23, 2018, the Actresses Unit released an apology video clarifying the situation and assuring fans that the formation would remain unchanged aside from the merger. In the video, Rako, who had been unfairly targeted by some fans, broke down in tears. Attempts by the other members to console her caused glitches in the motion capture system, further adding to the emotional moment. To this day, the initial announcement video remains the most disliked in Enogu’s videography.
2019
On March 4, 2019, it was announced that Natsume Haru, one of the voice actresses, would take a break due to health issues. A month later, on April 2, 2019, the suspension of activities by Kurihara Sakurako was revealed due to an undisclosed medical condition. Despite these setbacks, the group celebrated their first anniversary with a VR live event on April 7, 2019, at the DMM VR Theater featuring the three active members: Anzu, Nao, and Tamaki.
2020
Natsume Haru resumed her activities on September 13, 2019. However, on January 31, 2020, Iwamotochou Geinousha announced Kurihara Sakurako’s permanent retirement, effective February 29, 2020. Although Sakurako wished to return, medical specialists advised that her ongoing treatment rendered her unable to continue as an idol. The agency requested fans to respect her privacy, stating that Sakurako would not release a personal statement or engage on social media.
On July 10, 2022, Natsume Haru announced her decision to leave Enogu due to personal family reasons, with her departure set for December 31, 2022. This announcement was addressed in a livestream with the entire group the same day.
2023
On November 6, 2023, Iwamotochou Geinousha announced its bankruptcy and the termination of all activities by December 31, 2023. Despite this, the talents committed to honoring prior engagements while transitioning to semi-autonomous operations.
2024
On January 8, 2024, the members of Enogu revealed the formation of Enogu LLC. (えのぐ合同会社), a multimedia company established to replace Iwamotochou Geinousha and carry forward their legacy independently.
Trivia
As of 2019, Enogu’s members were among the few virtual YouTubers with verified Twitter accounts, alongside Kizuna AI, Weatheroid Type A Airi, and Kosaki Micha. Over time, as VTubers gained popularity, more virtual talents received verification.The hashtag #えのぐ was nominated in the VTuber breakthrough category at the 2018 Twitter Trend Awards in Japan. Other nominees included Kizuna AI, Kaguya Luna, Mirai Akari, Dennou Shojo Siro, Tokino Sora, Tsukino Mito, Nora Cat, Shinonome Megu, and Yozakura Tama. Kizuna AI won the category.Enogu, along with Fuji Aoi and MonsterZ MATE, signed a music deal with Universal Music Japan.Enogu collaborated with the YumYumMonkey ice cream and snack shop located in Akihabara’s Don Quijote building.
External Links
Media
- Enogu’s official site
- 【VRアイドル】えのぐチャンネル – YouTube Channel
- Enogu’s corporate profile on the Iwamotochou Geinousha website.
- @rbc_geino – Official Enogu Twitter Account
- @anzu15_225 – Anzu Twitter
- @erimakitamaki – Tamaki Twitter
- @hinao_23ku – Nao Twitter
- @haru_neee – Haru Twitter
- @rako_29 – Sakurako Twitter (Inactive since July 2019, deleted since March 2020)
- Showroom (used often for live shows).
- Enogu’s music on Spotify
- @enogu_vr_idol – Official Instagram Profile
- @enogu_vr_idol – Official TikTok Profile
- Official Pixiv Profile
Twitter hashtags
- #えのぐ – General
Further readings
Also Read: Game Club Project
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