Sonim (ソニン; real name Sung Sun-Im 성선임) is a Japanese actress and pop singer. She gained notoriety when she joined the Tsunku produced group EE JUMP in 2000.
Biography[]
1999[]
In 1999, the Hello! Project group Morning Musume was holding its third generation audition titled Morning Musume 2nd Tsuika Audition and upon the recommendation of a friend, Sonim participated but ultimately was not chosen for the group. Following the conclusion of the audition, she was scouted by Fukuda Asuka's manager and Harmony Promotion president Wada Kaoru.
2000-2002[]
In January 2000, Sonim and Goto Yuki, the brother of then Morning Musume member Goto Maki, formed the group EE JUMP produced by Tsunku, managed by Wada Kaoru and they released their debut single, "LOVE IS ENERGY!" on October 18, 2000.
In August 2001, Goto took a break from the group following an altercation with their manager, and Sonim recorded the group's fifth single titled "WINTER -Samui Kisetsu no Monogatari-" as a solo, released on November 28, 2001 and credited as "EE JUMP featuring Sonim". On April 12, 2002 FRIDAY magazine published photos of Goto at a hostess club and reported that he was drinking underage, and as a result the group announced their disbandment, and their first album which was scheduled for release on May 9 was cancelled.
On August 21, 2002 she released her debut single as a soloist titled "Curry Rice no Onna".
2003[]
In January, she debuted as an actress in the TBS drama ‘Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003’ (High School Teacher 2003), where she plays the role of Kudo Beniko, a high school student. [1]
In April, she won the new Actor Award at the 36th Television Drama Academy Awards for her role in Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003. [2]
She held her first concert tour from June 6th to June 13th, titled Sonim First Concert Tour ‘Hana’ in six locations in Japan. [3]
2004[]
On January 6, 10 and 18, she held the Sonim Concert Tour 2004 'Alive' in Tokyo, Aichi and Osaka respectively. [4]
In November, she made her stage debut at the Tennozu Galaxy Theatre in the production ‘8-ri no Onna Tachi’, a recreation of the French play ‘Huit Femmes’ (Eight Women). [5]
2006[]
Sonim appeared in the SBS drama ‘Tree of Heaven’ from February 8 to March 9. She played the role of Mika, the female lead’s friend.[6]
On September 9, the movie ‘The Backdancers!’ was released, in which Sonim plays the role of Tomoe.[7]
In the same month, she debuted as a singer in Korea with a Korean version of her song ‘Curry Rice no Onna’ titled ‘Goai’[8]
2007[]
In January, she made her first musical appearance in ’Sweeney Todd’, playing the role of Johanna. [9]
In November, Sonim collaborated with Osawa Akane to form the unit Tomboy, and they released their debut single "Superstar" on November 14, 2007 under Avex Trax.
2008[]
In July, she took part in the musical ‘Miss Saigon’ playing the role of Kim.[10]
2009[]
On March 31, Sonim’s name disappeared from the HARMONY PROMOTION website, and her official website was also closed. On April 1, she transferred to NASA Entertainment, and a temporary website for her was also launched.[11]
On July 14, her official YouTube channel, Sonim Official Tube, was launched.[12]
2012[]
Sonim transferred to the agency No.9 in April. She announced this on her blog on July 27.[13]
In December, she started studying abroad in New York under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Overseas Training Program for Emerging Artists. She studied abroad for a year and during this time, her entertainment activities were suspended.[14]
2014[]
Sonim returned to Japan in July, and her first stage appearance after returning was as Polly Peachum in ‘The Threepenny Opera’, which happened in September.[15]
2016[]
In April she received the 41st Kazuo Kikuta Drama Award for her performances in ‘RENT’, Troilus and Cressida’ and ‘Dance of the Vampires’. This is her first award for theatre.[16][17]
2017[]
On March 13, Sonim appeared on the TV programme ‘Fukijiri Sensei, Don’t Be Like Me! (しくじり先生 俺みたいになるな!!).[18]
In November, she took part in the musical ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, playing the role of Janet Wise.[19]
2018[]
In January, she transferred to AMUSE.[20]
2023[]
Sonim's drama 'Dai Byoin Senkyo' (Captured Hospital) aired from January 14 to March 18. She plays the role of Izumi Sakura.[21]
On April 15, Sonim held her first fan meeting in 5 years, titled 「Sonim ”MILESTONE” Fan meeting~Talk & Live 2023~」[22]
In June, Sonim took part in the musical 'Factory Girls', playing the role of Harriet Farley.[23]
Sonim took part in the play 'Measure for Measure' from October 18 to November 19, playing the role of Isabella. At the same time, she also took part in the play 'All's Well That Ends Well', playing the role of Diana.[24]
2024[]
On January 13, Sonim's drama 'Shin Kuukou Senkyo' started airing. This is the sequel to her 2023 drama 'Dai Byoin Senkyo'. She plays the role of Izumi Sakura. [25]
On March 29, Sonim announced on her Instagram that she would be taking part in the musical L'art Reste, which is set to take part from July 18 to July 28. This is a remake of the Korean musical with the same name, and Sonim is going to play the lead role of Kim Hyang-an. [26]
Personal Life[]
Profile[]
- Birth Name: Sung Sun-Im (성선임)
- Stage Name: Sonim (ソニン)
- Birthdate: March 10, 1983
- Birthplace: Kochi, Japan
- Ethnicity: Korean
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 159 cm (5 ft 2.5 in)?
- Western Zodiac: Pisces
- Eastern Zodiac: Pig (Boar in Japan)
Discography[]
- [2003.05.14] Hana (華)
Publications[]
Photobooks[]
- [2003.07.25] Sonim Mania (ソニンまにあ)
- [2004.06.10] Gekkan Sonim (月刊ソニン)
- [2006.02] digi+KISHIN girls Sonim (digi+KISHIN girls ソニン)
Works[]
Film[]
- [2006] The Backdancers! (as Tomoe)
Television[]
- [2003] Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 (as Kudo Beniko)
- [2006] Tree of Heaven (as Mika)
- [2023] Dai Byoin Senkyo (as Izumi Sakura)
- [2024] Shin Kuukou Senkyo (as Izumi Sakura)
Theater[]
- [2004] 8-ri no Onna Tachi (Huit Femmes/Eight Women)
- [2007-2011] Sweeney Todd (as Johanna)
- [2008-2009] Miss Saigon (as Kim)
- [2009] Henry VI (as Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc))
- [2010-2015] RENT (as Mimi (2010), Maureen (2012-2015))
- [2014] The Threepenny Opera (as Polly Peachum)
- [2014] Mozart (as Constanze)
- [2015] Wuthering Heights (as Isabella Linton)
- [2015-2016] Dance of The Vampires (as Magda)
- [2016] Kinky Boots (as Lauren)
- [2016-2018] 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille (as Solene Rigot)
- [2017-2020] Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (as Cynthia Weil)
- [2017] The Rocky Horror Show (as Janet Weiss)
- [2018-2021] Marie Antoinette (as Margrid Arnaud)
- [2020] West Side Story (as Anita)
- [2021] Oliver! (as Nancy)
- [2022] The 39 Steps (as Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret)
- [2023] Factory Girls (as Harriet Farley)
- [2023] Measure for Measure (as Isabella)
- [2023] All's Well That Ends Well (as Diana)
- [2024] L'art Reste (as Kim Hyang-an)
Trivia[]
- When EE JUMP was formed in 2000, the group and its members were signed to Harmony Promotion which was created by UP-FRONT AGENCY in 1994.
- As a solo artist, her first four singles and first album were produced and written by Tsunku.
- She was one of the few talents of Korean descent under UP-FRONT AGENCY, the others being Shim Min and Jang Dayeon.
- She owned a male chihuahua called Kan (感) that passed away on November 15, 2018.
References[]
- ↑ MyDramaList page for Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ [4]
- ↑ [5]
- ↑ AsianWiki page for 'The Backdancers!'
- ↑ [6]
- ↑ [7]
- ↑ [8]
- ↑ [9]
- ↑ [10]
- ↑ [11]
- ↑ [12]
- ↑ [13]
- ↑ [14]
- ↑ [15]
- ↑ [16]
- ↑ [17]
- ↑ [18]
- ↑ [19]
- ↑ [20]
- ↑ [21]
- ↑ [22]
- ↑ [23]
- ↑ [24]
- ↑ "第25回レインボー・リール東京～東京国際レズビアン&ゲイ映画祭～" (in Japanese). Rainbow Reel Tokyo. 2016-7.
- ↑ "私のベジらいふ" (in Japanese). Official Blog. 2011-5-27.
External Links[]
- Social Media Pages: Twitter, Instagram, Instagram (food), Instagram (dog)
- YouTube Channel
- Official No.9 Profile
- Wikipedia: English