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