History
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 joining of new members, it the number of members doubled to 18 until Maia Kobayashi (#10) left shortly after her debut to focus more 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 be graduating 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 up auditions for its fourth generation to debut in Spring 2010, with the audition process carrying on into February 2010. The new members will be 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).
In February 2011, all members went outside of Japan to Taiwan for the first time. They did a small live and TV promotion for the release of their 3rd album SUNRISE in Taiwan. This marks their first official release outside of Japan.
On April 12, 2011, it was announced that Kaoru Gotō (#25) will be taking a six-month hiatus from Idoling!!! to deal with a family emergency.
At the end of April 2011, Idoling!!! debuted 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 up auditions for its fifth generation to debut in Spring 2012, with the audition process carrying until the end of November. The 15 finalists will be presented at Idoling!!! 11th Live on December 4, 2011. The fans will be able to vote through a voting ID that comes with Idoling's 17th single "MAMORE!!!". The new members will then be announced during an event in February.
October 2011 saw the release of Idoling!!!'s first international collaboration on the 4th single from the album Smash of French DJ Martin Solveig with the song "BIG IN JAPAN with Dragonette feat. Idoling!!!". A music video with Idoling!!! was released in October 2011. Shortly afterwards Idoling!!! released a video thanking Martin Solveig and expressed their wish to come 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 a talent. On December 23 a final graduation live will be held. Both will not be included in the new single "MAMORE!!!".
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 Idoling!!! official YouTube channel. During press conference, Idoling!!! greeted in 15 languages.
On May 9, 2012, 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 "Hatsu da!Tour da!!Zepp-ng!!!" (初だ!ツアーだ!!Zeppング!!!, Hatsu da!Tsua da!!Zeppunggu!!!?, "First! Tour!! Zepp!!!").
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 Chūgaku, 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. On August 10, 2012, Idoling!!! broadcasted their 900th episode of their TV show on FUJI TV ONE.
On September 7, 2012, Idoling!!! sold muffler towel with emblem design that look alike the emblem of J-League "Cerezo Osaka" Football Club. The item soon dropped from official website after being confirmed by Cerezo Osaka official. A few days later, Cerezo Osaka and Idoling!!! announced special collaboration. 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. 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.
On January 18, 2013, 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 broadcasted live on FUJI TV ONE titled "Hachitama Live 2013 presents First Generation Reunion Day Special" (はちたまライブ2013 presents 一期生再会の日SP!!!, Hachitama Raibu 2013 presents Ikkisei Saikai no Hi SP!!!?). They promised to do a reunion event again in 2023.
Read more about this topic: Idoling!!!
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