was a Japanese TV showPatrick W. Galbraith, Jason G. Karlin -Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture 2012 - Page 24 "This was the brainchild of a producer at Fuji TV who had been involved with the program Idoling!!! (2006–), and was intended to create (1) a stream of new idols in Tokyo, (2) a new relationship between idols and media, and (3) the world's the world's largest "trade show" for idols. The first event featured 49 idol groups and attracted over 5,000 people" with an attached female idol group created by Fuji TV. The concept of the group was to watch as the girls grow as idols and experience various things. Idoling's main source of exposure was their TV show, which aired several new episodes every week on FUJI TV ONE, with more than 1000 episodes broadcast since October 30, 2006.Idoling!!! TV episode schedule on FUJI TV ONEIdoling!!! TV episode info Over the years of the show, Idoling!!! released 7 studio albums, 24 singles, collaborated with other idol groups (such as AKB48), released DVD specials and gave many live performances and concerts. The group officially disbanded on October 27, 2015, with the graduation of all remaining members.
History
2006–2010 In October, 2006 auditions were held for 50 people in agencies, and 9 idols were chosen out of them. The audition videos were released on a DVD that accompanied their first single, while the members' first meet-and-greet was featured on the DVD that accompanied their first album, Daiji na Mono.
On March 3, 2008, it was announced that new members would join the group, and then on March 31, on Fuji Television's official site, photos, names and ages of the new members were revealed. With the addition of new members, the group doubled to 18 members until Maia Kobayashi (#10) left shortly after her debut to focus on her education.
On January 18, 2009, Rumi Koizumi (#2) announced her graduation from Idoling!!! due in part to health concerns. Soon after, it was announced that Sayaka Kato (#1), Maria Eto (#4), Mira Takiguchi (#5) and Michelle Miki (#18) would all graduate from Idoling!!! in March 2009. Shortly after the departure of these members, three new members were added to commemorate the official third generation of Idoling!!!: Yurika Tachibana (#19), Ai Ōkawa (#20) and Idoling!!!'s youngest member yet, Kaede Hashimoto (#21).
On October 1, 2009, Idoling!!! opened auditions for its fourth generation to debut in Spring 2010, with the audition process carrying on into February 2010. The new members were announced on March 6. In April 2010, the new fourth generation members were introduced in the show: Ruka Kurata (#22), Yūna Itō (#23), Manami Nomoto (#24), Kaoru Gotō (#25) and Chika Ojima (#26).
2011 In February 2011, all members left Japan for the first time, and went to Taiwan. They did a small live promotion, broadcast on TV, for the release of their third album SUNRISE in Taiwan. This marks their first official release outside Japan.
On April 12, 2011, it was announced that Kaoru Gotō (#25) would take a six-month hiatus from Idoling!!! to deal with a family emergency. At the end of April 2011, Idoling!!! appeared on their second regular program, "Fuji TV Kara no~!" with host Yamazaki of the comedy duo, "Untouchable". At the end of August 2011 Kaoru Gotō (#25) returned from her hiatus and on Tokyo Idol Festival 2011 appeared on stage with the group. On October 1, 2011, Idoling!!! opened auditions for its fifth generation to debut in Spring 2012, with the audition process carrying until the end of November. The 15 finalists were presented at their eleventh live concert on December 4, 2011. The fans voted through a voting ID that comes with Idoling's 17th single "MAMORE!!!". The new members were announced during an event in February.
October 2011 saw the release of Idoling!!!'s first international collaboration on the fourth single from the album Smash of French DJ Martin Solveig with the song "Big In Japan", which also featured Canadian electronic music band Dragonette. A music video with Idoling!!! was released in October 2011. Shortly afterwards Idoling!!! released a video thanking Martin Solveig and expressed their wish to go to France. Just a week after their 11th Live, on December 11, 2011 Erika Yazawa (#7) and Phongchi (#8) announced their graduation from the group to pursue a career as talents. On December 23 a final graduation live concert was held. Neither of them were included in the single "MAMORE!!!".
2012 On March 2, 2012, the new fifth generation members were introduced on the show: Kurumi Takahashi (#27), Karen Ishida (#28), Ramu Tamagawa (#29), and Reia Kiyoku (#30).
On April 17, 2012, Fuji TV announced partnership with Google YouTube, including the Idoling!!! official YouTube channel. During press conference, Idoling!!! greeted in 15 languages. On May 9, 2012, the Idoling!!! official Facebook page was created but not yet active until July 19.
On May 30, 2012, Suzuka Morita officially graduated from Idoling!!!. Graduation Live was held on the same day at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo. On June 3, 2012, Idoling!!! started their first tour titled . On June 25, 2012, Idoling!!! took part in Yubi Matsuri, an idol festival produced by Rino Sashihara from AKB48. The concert was held at Nippon Budokan before a crowd of 8,000 people and featured such girl groups as Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, Super Girls, Tokyo Girls' Style, Nogizaka46, Passpo, Buono!, Momoiro Clover Z, and Watarirouka Hashiritai 7. On August 5, 2012, Idoling!!! announced their 12th Live to be held at NHK Hall on November 25.Idoling!!! 12th Live On August 10, 2012, Idoling!!! broadcast their 900th episode of their TV show on FUJI TV ONE.
On September 7, 2012, Idoling!!! sold a muffler towel with emblem design that resembled the emblem of J-League "Cerezo Osaka" Football Club.アイドリング!!!のグッズのデザインがセレッソのエンブレムにそっくり？ The item soon dropped from official website after being confirmed by Cerezo Osaka official.セレッソのエンブレムに酷似のタオルマフラー、販売中止&回収へ A few days later, Cerezo Osaka and Idoling!!! announced special collaboration.セレッソがあのアイドルグループとまさかのコラボ！？ On September 20, during Cerezo Osaka vs F.C. Tokyo match fixture at Cerezo Osaka home ground "Kincho Stadium", five Idoling!!! members (#19 Tachibana, #20 Ōkawa, #22 Kurata, #23 Itō, #28 Ishida) performed three songs before the match at the main entrance and one song during the half-time at the pitch.One Up!!! アイドリング!!!LIVE 121020 All members wearing specially designed Cerezo Osaka uniform and to be called "Cerezo na Idoling!!!", except only Tachibana who was wearing F.C. Tokyo uniform due to her being F.C. Tokyo supporter, F.C. Tokyo TV show assistant and reporter.
On November 5, 2012, Idoling!!! announced official Niconico Channel. On December 26, 2012, #24 Nomoto announced graduation from Idoling!!! and retirement from entertainment business due to family circumstance.アイドリング!!!野元愛、12月末をもってグループ卒業
2013 On January 18, all of the first generation members held a reunion live as they promised 5 years ago at Fuji TV Kyutai studio. Currently from the original nine members, six of them are already graduated from the group. On this event, they also talked about the inside story of the group's past. It was broadcast live on FUJI TV ONE titled . They promised to do a reunion event again in 2023.
On April 13, Rurika Yokoyama (#9) announced her solo debut at Idoling!!! Nishi e! Higashi e! Mystery Tour-ng!!! in Zepp Tokyo.アイドリング!!!横山ルリカ、6月にソロデビュー決定 A few months later on June 1, Mai Endō (#3) announced her solo debut at the tour final with a video message from Takanori Nishikawa.アイドリング!!!リーダー遠藤舞、誕生日にソロデビューが決定！
On May 24, Idoling!!! celebrated their TV show's 1000th episode.
On June 27, Idoling!!! Producer, Seita Kadosawa, announced to leave his position in Idoling!!! project.Official twitter Kadosawa stated that the Idoling!!! new members (6th generation) audition and the Idoling!!! 20th single "Summer Lion" are under the new Producer's management.
On July 8, it was revealed that the former Fuji TV show "Quiz! Hexagon" producer, Takashi Kanbara, is the new Idoling!!! Producer.ぽにきゃん！アイドル倶楽部 #12
On July 17, Idoling!!! performed two songs at Ajinomoto Stadium before the J-league match between F.C. Tokyo against Ventforet Kofu.2013.07.17 FC東京vs甲府 アイドロング!!!試合前ライブ A few weeks later on August 28, Idoling!!! 20th Single "Summer Lion" melody was used by F.C. Tokyo supporters as one of their football chants for the first time during the match against Sagan Tosu.20130824 磐田 YNWAからの初サマーライオン
On July 28, Idoling!!! 6th generation members, later to be called as Neo generation, were introduced at Tokyo Idol Festival 2013. They are Mayu Furuhashi (#31), Mayu Sekiya (#32), Ruka Hashimoto (#33), Rena Satō (#34), and Michaela Wako Satō (#35). It was revealed that Ruka Hashimoto is Kaede Hashimoto's real younger sister.
On August 28, a new group was announced and will be called as 'Idoling NEO'. Yūna Itō will also be transferring to this new group, later followed by Kaoru Gotō. It was also announced that both Idoling!!! and Idoling NEO will release a single on the same day sometime during November 2013. It will be a competition of who will rank the highest on the Oricon chart.
On December 8, it was announced during their 13th live concert that current leader Mai Endō would be graduating from the group on February 14, 2014, during a graduation live at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo. After her graduation she will focus on her solo career.
2015
On February 28, it was announced that Idoling!!! would disband on October 27.
Members As of December 23, 2014, Idoling!!! had twenty one active members.Idoling!!! members' profile - Retrieved January 1, 2013 No Generation Name Flower Birthday Birthplace Blood Type Agency Note6 First (2006) Erica Tonooka(leader) Himawari (Sunflower) 1991.06.11 Kanagawa A Box Corporation9 Rurika Yokoyama Yuri (Lily) 1991.09.27 Kanagawa O Production Ogi12 Second (2008) Sweet pea 1989.08.05 Shizuoka A Production Ogi14 Sumire (Violet) 1989.05.03 Miyazaki O Sony Music Artists Inc.15 Asagao (Japanese morning glory) 1994.04.21 Saitama B Vision Factory17 Hitomi Miyake Ran (Orchid) 1992.07.10 Tokyo A Biscuit Entertainment19 Third (2009) Kasumisou (Baby's-breath) 1992.12.23 Shiga A avex vanguard20 Ai Okawa Bara (Rose) 1993.07.17 Hyogo O LesPros Entertainment21 Suzuran (Lily of the valley) 1997.01.21 Kanagawa A Biscuit Entertainment #33 Ruka Hashimoto's older sister22 Fourth (2010) Gerbera 1996.08.04 Osaka O Avex Management26 Tsukimisou (Evening primrose, more specifically Oenothera tetraptera) 1994.04.19 Chiba B Horipro27 Fifth (2012) Ayame (Japanese iris) 1997.03.27 Saitama A Biscuit Entertainment28 Kalmia 1997.08.06 Fukuoka A Box Corporation29 Epidendrum 1997.04.30 Kanagawa A Biscuit Entertainment31 NEO/Sixth (2013) Suisen (Narcissus) 1998.10.30 Kanagawa O Shochiku Geino32 Plumeria 1995.07.31 Tokyo A avex artist academy33 Carnation 1999.09.25 Kanagawa AB Biscuit Entertainment #21 Kaede Hashimoto's younger sister.Currently the youngest member.34 Iris 1998.11.09 Saitama O Box Corporation35 Bougainvillea 1996.04.17 Tokyo A Avex Management Half Brazilian
Former members No Name Flower Agency Graduation10 Lavender Fit-One May 20082 Dandelion Biscuit Entertainment January 20091 (First Leader) Cherry blossom Fit-One March 20094 Argyranthemum Shochiku Geino March 20095 Pansy Horipro Osaka March 200918 Tagetes Elite Japan March 20097 Tulip Horipro December 20118 Hibiscus SMA Entertainment Inc. December 201111 Rapeseed Horipro Osaka May 201224 Forget-me-not Horipro Osaka December 20123 (Second Leader) Tsubaki (Japanese Camellia) Box Corporation February 201425 Suiren (Water lily) Horipro June 201416 Anemone LesPros Entertainment November 201430 Freesia Production Ogi December 201413 Cosmos Box Corporation March 201523 Daisy Box Corporation April 2015
Timeline
Black - hiatus Yuna Ito, Kaoru Goto, and the NEO generation members performed as "Idoling NEO," a separate subunit of Idoling!!!
Discography
Idoling!!! Singles