BeForU

BeForU (ビーフォーユー) is an all female Japanese Pop group that belongs to the Avex label. Final members were Riyu Kosaka, Ayano Tachibana, Hiromi Nishiuchi and Megumi Fukushita. Its original 4 members were chosen from a Bemani Audition set by Naoki Maeda, and debuted as BeForU in 2001 with their first song "DIVE", which was notable as being the first J-Pop song in the Dance Dance Revolution series. Originally formed by 小坂りゆ, Noria, 代真 and 前原しゆな, after the departure of the last in 2004, auditions were made again and 3 new members joined: 南さやか, 外花りさ and 有沢みはる, known as the BeForU NEXT. In 2006 they were signed to the Avex label, and released their first major single "Red Rocket Rising" later that year. In 2007, due to personal problems and health problems, Yoma and Miharu Arisawa left the group, and on December 30th of the same year, Noria and Lisa Sotohana had their "graduations" from BeForU, to start their upcoming solo careers. On January 2008 were introduced three new members, Ayano Tachibana, Hiromi Nishiuchi and Megumi Fukushita. In April 2008, Sayaka Minami left the group, leaving Riyu, Ayano, Hitomi, and Megumi as the final members of BeForU. In October 2009 their official site got closed, and as their major contract ended, apart from the start of Riyu Kosaka's start as a "free" artist announcement, future plans for BeForU got unknown, leading into an undefinite hiatus for them.