Idoling!!!

History

Auditions for Idoling!!! were held in October 2006, with 50 people from agencies trying out and 9 idols selected. The audition videos were released on a DVD accompanying the group's first single, while the first meet-and-greet appeared on a DVD with the debut album Daiji na Mono. On March 3, 2008, new members were announced, and on March 31 their photos, names and ages were revealed on Fuji Television's official site. The group doubled to 18 members, though Maia Kobayashi (#10) left shortly after her debut to focus on her education.

Rumi Koizumi (#2) announced her graduation on January 18, 2009 due partly to health concerns, and soon after Sayaka Kato (#1), Maria Eto (#4), Mira Takiguchi (#5) and Michelle Miki (#18) all graduated in March 2009. Three new members were added as the official third generation: Yurika Tachibana (#19), Ai Ōkawa (#20) and Kaede Hashimoto (#21), the youngest member yet. On October 1, 2009, auditions opened for a fourth generation to debut in Spring 2010, with the process continuing into February 2010.

2011

The new members were announced on March 6, and in April 2010 they were introduced on the show: Ruka Kurata (#22), Yūna Itō (#23), Manami Nomoto (#24), Kaoru Gotō (#25) and Chika Ojima (#26). In February 2011, all members left Japan for the first time to go to Taiwan for a small live promotion broadcast on TV, marking the group's first official release outside Japan. On April 12, 2011, Kaoru Gotō (#25) announced a six-month hiatus for a family emergency; she returned at the end of August 2011 and appeared on stage at Tokyo Idol Festival 2011.

On October 1, 2011, auditions opened for a fifth generation to debut in Spring 2012, with 15 finalists presented at the eleventh live concert on December 4, 2011. Fans voted using an ID that came with the 17th single "MAMORE!!!", and the new members were announced during an event in February.

Filmography

Idoling!!! released numerous live concert DVDs and specials. The first two live DVDs, Idoling!!! 1st Live "Motto Ganbare Otome(Warai)" and Idoling!!! 2nd Live "Daiji na Mono", both came out on June 18, 2008.

Later releases include Idoling!!! 3rd Live "Kimeru Nara Kono Natsussung!!!" (January 14, 2009), Idoling!!! 4th Live "Nanika ga Okoru Yokan ga...ng!!!"

(June 24, 2009), and Idoling!!! Sotsugyou Live ~Aratanaru Tabidaching!!!~ (July 1, 2009). The group also issued location-based DVDs such as Idoling!!! in Okinawa Manza Beach ~Gravure Idol no DVDtte Koko Made Yaranainjya...ng!!!~ (November 18, 2009) and Idoling!!! in Ishigakijima ~Gravure Idol no DVDppokushitemimashita ng!!! (February 4, 2009).

Later DVDs include Idoling!!! 6th Live "Ya!O!ng!!!" (April 21, 2010), Idoling!!! 7th Live "Jinsei=Shugyounaring!!!" (July 7, 2010), and Idoling!!! 8th Live "Kono Kimochi wa Sou da Are da Koinandeshou ng!!!" (November 17, 2010).

The group also released TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2010 (February 9, 2011) and Idoling!!! 9th Live "Bonnou no Kazu dake Ai ga Aru!

Oshougatsu eve ng!!!" (May 18, 2011). Blu-ray releases include Idoling!!! 11th Live "Meccha Chikaizo!

Big Egg ng!!!" (June 6, 2012) and Idoling!!! Hatsu da! Tour da! ZEPPng!!! special contents Morita Suzuka Namida no Sotsugyō Live (December 19, 2012).

Live and Event Participation

Idoling!!! held regular live series at various venues. Hachitama Live ran from April 2009 to March 2010, held monthly at Fuji TV Kyutai Studio in Odaiba, Tokyo, with special editions outside the studio, including one at Oiso Long Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture. The 4th Generation Final Audition took place at Yoshimoto Prince Theater. Shinahachi Live ran from April 2010 to November 2011, held several times a month at Yoshimoto Prince Theater in Shinagawa, Tokyo, as a joint live with Yoshimoto's idol group YGA, with special performances at Namba Grand Kagetsu (NGK) in Osaka.

Jukuhachi Live ran from December 2011 to July 2012, held monthly at Lumine the Yoshimoto in Shinjuku, Tokyo, continuing the joint live with YGA after the Prince Theater closed, with one special at NGK. Shibuhachi Live began in September 2012, held several times a month at Mt. Rainier Hall Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure in Shibuya, Tokyo, introducing the "Namagoe live" performance (singing without a microphone). Nicohachi Live began in November 2011, held twice a month at Nicofarre in Roppongi, Tokyo, with two sessions per day broadcast on Niconico namahousou for 1,600 niconico points; viewers could vote on songs and comment live, with comments shown on the LED wall.

The group also participated in events such as TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2010, Tokyo Earth Ride 2010, TOKYO EARTH WORKERS collection 2011, TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2011, EKIDEN for PEACE 2011 (including a relay race), TOKYO EARTH WORKERS collection 2012, EXIT TUNES ACADEMY in Saitama Super Arena as an opening act, and Yubi Matsuri at Nippon Budokan produced by HKT48 Rino Sashihara.

Idoling!!! Programs

The Idoling!!! TV show began on October 30, 2006, airing every weekday on Fuji TV 739 (formerly Fuji TV 721) and Fuji TV CSHD, with unedited episodes. Since 2009, the show aired two or three times per week. The unedited format sometimes showed mistakes, as in episode 459.

The show is a variety program with recurring core segments and other segments that gain temporary popularity. Fuji TV On Demand, a paid streaming service, offers episodes in MP4 format (1280x720 pixels, 2000 kbit/s bitrate), with durations sometimes reaching 40 minutes. The terrestrial channel Fuji TV (CX) broadcasts an edited version fitting a 30-minute slot with commercials, sometimes combining two CS episodes, and includes narration, captions, and extra segments such as ARG starting December 29, 2012. uRaIdoling is a fanclub-only collection of behind-the-scenes episodes covering activities like visiting members' houses, cooking, games, solo interviews, and PV making-of documentaries.

Gekkan Idoling are monthly specials featuring off-location activities such as cooking lessons and camping trips, similar to uRaIdoling but longer and involving most or all members.

Did You Know?

• In fall 2010, the 20 members were divided into 10 pairs; fans voted for a duo to perform a track on the next single, and Team Gakuran won with "Ichikoi".