Schedule Updates - 2009.04.28

I have migrated all of the schedule data into spreadsheets hosted on Google Docs. This change is intended to make the job of updating the schedules more streamlined. With the old method, I was entering the schedule data into a spreadsheet, exporting the data into the correct layout for each type of schedule, and then finding the right spots to paste the HTML code. With this new setup, I should be able to just update the spreadsheet, and the changes should automatically push to the publicly-viewable pages.

Schedule updates were always a very complex and time-consuming task, which is the reason why I normally didn't make any other types of posts on the days I did schedule updates. Now, with the new method of updating the schedules, I should have more time to make posts for new Idoling!!! media.

Idoling!!! 3rd Gen, 7th Single, and Homepage Update

April is the start of the TV year in Japan, and seeing as how TV is an integral part of Idoling!!!, April has typically been the month when major Idoling!!! announcements have been made. This year is no different. Let's start with the Idoling!!! third generation members.



Idoling!!! 19gou - Yurika Tachibana (橘ゆりか)
Yurika is a 16 year old girl from Shiga. Shortly before joining Idoling!!!, her stage name was changed from Yurika Tanaka to Yurika Tachibana. She is under the talent division of Avex Management and has appeared in various TV shows and magazines. Idoling!!! is the first TV show she will regularly appear in.

Idoling!!! 20gou - Ai Ohkawa (大川藍)
Ai is a 15 year old girl from Hyogo. She is a member of the U-SPEC performance team managed by LesPros Entertainment, which is the same talent agency that manages Ami Kikuchi. U-SPEC is similar to the Jclass team that Kikuchi is a part of, but U-SPEC focuses more on singing and dancing talent.

Idoling!!! 21gou - Kaede Hashimoto (橋本楓)
Kaede is a 12 year old girl from Kanagawa. She is a newcomer to the entertainment world and is grouped in the Biscuit Entertainment division of Watanabe Entertainment, which also manages Hitomi Miyake and Rumi Koizumi.

The addition of these three members brings Idoling!!! roster up to 15 members. All three members made their first appearance on today's episode of Idoling!!! and will be included on Idoling!!!'s seventh single. Speaking of which...



Idoling!!!'s seventh single has been titled baby blue and will be coupled with Soushokukei Carnival, and Kajuu 30% Orange Juice Tsubutsubu Iri. Two editions will be released on April 29. The limited edition will come with a bonus DVD featuring the CD jacket photoshoot and videos of the third generation members. The regular edition will come with a trading card chosen randomly from a set of 15. As with every Idoling!!! CD, special sleeves and posters will be given to people who purchase the single from certain retailers.

Last, but certainly not least, the Idoling!!! official Web site has been overhauled and given a new URL: http://blog.fujitv.co.jp/idoling/index.html
The new site uses a new layout that features much less Flash-based content. (Good for people like me who use online dictionaries) Also, the Idoling!!! member and staff blogs no longer require a Fuji TV ID and Idolinger!!! subscription.

Source 1: Idoling!!! Official Web Site
Source 2: natalie.mu

Schedule Updates - 2009.04.06

Event

• Mai Endo, Erica Tonooka, Erika Yazawa, Rurika Yokoyama, Hitomi Sakai, Nao Asahi, Ami Kikuchi, and Hitomi Miyake participated in AKBIdoling!!! handshake events that took place at both Fuji TV and the AKB48 Theater from April 1 to April 5.
• Erica Tonooka will have two release events for her upcoming photobook, IamSeventeen~enjoynow!!! Ima wo Tanoshime~, on April 19 and 25.
• Idoling!!! will have a mini live inside the Fuji TV Sphere on April 26.
• Suzuka Morita will have two release events for her recently-released image DVD, Amakuchi Suzuka, on April 26.

Internet

• Suzuka Morita appears in some special Samurai Sentai Shinkenger videos on the TV Dogatch web site, but registration is required.
• Maria Eto appears in a video titled Yoiko Chikyuu Summit on the Kids Planet section of the Yahoo! Kids web site in Japan.

Magazine

• Mai Endo and Erica Tonooka appeared in Kindai on March 23.
• Suzuka Morita appeared in Toei Heroine Max Vol.7 on March 25.
• Suzuka Morita appeared in Uchuusen Vol.124 on April 1.
• AKBIdoling!!! appeared in Shuukan Playboy on April 6.
• Suzuka Morita will appear in Men's Non-No on April 10.
• Suzuka Morita will appear in Otomodachi on April 28.
• Serina Nagano will appear in Chu→Boh Vol.31 on May 3.

Radio

• Mai Endo and Ami Kikuchi were guests on Recomen! on April 1.
• Erika Yazawa, Hitomi Sakai, and Hitomi Miyake were on the special two-hour AKBIdoling!!! to Chuu Shiyou ze! radio show that aired on April 2.
• Mai Endo was a guest on Uchuu G Men Takuya on April 3.

Release

• Erica Tonooka's photobook, IamSeventeen~enjoynow!!! Ima wo Tanoshime~, has been re-scheduled for release on April 17.
• Idoling!!!'s seventh single, baby blue, is scheduled for release on April 29.
• Erika Yazawa will play the main character in an upcoming movie titled Shutoken kara Yaya Hazureta Kaigan Monogatari ~Soushun, Shoujo to Jibikiami, which is scheduled for release on DVD sometime in June.
• Serina Nagano has a new image DVD titled Utakata scheduled for release on June 1.
• Suzuka Morita has a new image DVD scheduled for release on July 21.

TV

• AKBIdoling!!! performed Chuu Shiyou ze! on AKBingo! on April 2.
• Fonchi and Rurika Yokoyama will appear on Nabeachi! on April 14.
• AKBIdoling!!! will appear on Ongaku Senshi Music Fighter on April 18.