With the recent withdrawal of both Horii Nina and Tanaka Asami on June 3rd this year, Houkago Princesses little sister unit, HouPri YOUTH, went defunct, thanks to its lack of members. This also meant that, at the time, there would be no new 'successors'coming into the main group, not until new trainees were found, of course.
Actually, it was quite surprising that management hadn't already sourced a few new girls before the withdrawal of Nina and Asami. Then again, it would have probably made the auditions they recently held contain a little less impact. Who knows?
So, it was then announced on June 16th via SHOWROOM LIVE that Houkago Princess would hold auditions, with the winners being announced towards the end of August or early September. Girls between the ages of 15 - 25 could audition to become a potential Princess in the running, and they could apply either on SHOWROOM LIVE, or through private documentation and screenings.
And given the date this is being posted, y'all can guess that a few girls made it! So, what are we waiting for? Let's discover just how many made it through, and who they are! Are ya ready to go on another little HouPri trip down member-lane?
Let's GO!
After receiving well over 1,000 applications for their nation-wide search, Houkago Princess finally introduced the faces of a new YOUTH generation to the public! On August 26th and August 28th respectively, 18 new members were unveiled to the public! August 26th saw the debut of the first twelve members, whilst August 28th introduced the final 6, creating one of Houkago Princesses largest generations yet, right after the 3rd generation (which totaled to 7 new members in the trainee programme).
And with all new members accounted for, Houkago Princess and YOUTH brings the Princess-themed unit to a total of 26 members! Someone, call Aki-P up! HouPri48's a-GO!
SIDE BIT: Does the first 12 members' introduction represent 12 o'clock, the time the magic wears off, and the final 6 members' intro represents the 6 is 16 o'clock, when the members become Princesses? >o> Or am I reading too deeply into this, as per usual?
Jokes aside, it's time we take a look at the new HouPri hopefuls! Who is who, and what will we make of them? Better yet, how long will they stay? It's all speculation at this point, but for now, let's celebrate the arrival of a new generation, and look forward to their developments as Idols!
Let's get those profiles up, and take a look!
HouPri YOUTH Generation
~2017~
Name: Kawanishi Touka (川西冬華)
D.O.B: February 17th, 2000Age: 17 years old
Hometown: Osaka
Blood Type: B
Hobby: Singing
Bio: A third year high school student who is one of three new members hailing from Osaka! Her birthday is one day before leader Odagiri Nana's!Twitter: @touka_kawanishi
Comments:
First of all, is her name really Touka? There are two ways to read her name' Fuyuka, and Touka. Well, as she is using the name 'Touka' in her twitter handle, I'll go with that one. It's a damn unique name, though, which makes her seem quite interesting from the get-go.
One of the things that struck me about Touka when I saw her picture for the first time, was how undeniably cute she is. Believe me, these profile images that ASCII took don't really do any of the members justice, because Touka is gorgeous, and she seems to have a cheeky look about her in some pictures she has posted.
I look forward to finding more out about her, but so far, it's her looks that have me captured! Plus, I love how she's just seemed to flock straight to what she knows; Kansai dialect, and being a part of the Osaka-Trio!
Name: Kansai Erina (閑歳絵里菜)
D.O.B: July 12th, 2001Age: 16 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: A
Hobby: Idol Appreciation
Bio: A high school freshman, and also the youngest member! She shares her birthday with HouPri's own Diva, Maika.
Twitter: @Erina_houpri
It seems that, after trying out in a few different auditions, Erina has finally found her place in Houkago Princess. Right now, I just find the girl downright adorable, but it seems she's gaining some momentum, and has quite a few followers already. I'm unsure if Erina's been in the idol circuit before entering HouPri, and for now, I can't find anything out about her background. However, I'm glad she's already got a decent following. She seems like a very promising candidate, and despite her young age, she seems like an energetic, entertaining individual.
I look forward to seeing how Erina grows, and I hope that she stays in a while. I want this girl to blossom into a cute, energetic princess, and show us all that princesses can be just as energetic as they are graceful.
Name: Kirisawa Ririsa (桐澤怜々紗)
D.O.B: April 23rd, 1996Age: 21 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: B
Hobby: Shopping
Bio: Nicknamed Riri, a young woman who is also a 3rd year university student.
Twitter: @ririsa_kirisawa
Ririsa caught my eye first for her name, and second for her looks. Of all the members, it seems like Ririsa has the most distinct features, thanks to her straight nose and big eyes. She looks a little Western, actually, but that means very little. Regardless, though, Ririsa is very beautiful, and at the beginning, I pegged her as a girl I'd consider my favourite. That's changed a little, but! I want to follow Ririsa, and I want to see her debut! I think she has a mature look that would fit well in Houpri.
I believe that Ririsa was one of the members chosen amongst the SHOWROOM auditionees, so she's charmed both management and the fans. I would love to find out more about Ririsa down the line, and of course, we have time to learn more and figure out just how much we like her. Hopefully, she will reveal a little more at a later date, but for now, let's enjoy the beautiful Ririsa in HouPri YOUTH!
Name: Kusunoki Rea (楠木れあ)
D.O.B: October 11th, 1997Age: 19 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Cooking
Bio: The first place winner for the SHOWROOM Auditions. A lover of everyone's smiles. Her birthday is a day before Kizuki Saori's.
Twitter: @kusunoki_rea
Comments:
These pictures really do not justice to Rea, because lordeh, she's a beauty! Honestly, though, I know little about her, aside from the fact that she snagged the #1 spot during the SHOWROOM auditions for HouPri, which all but secured her a spot in the YOUTH unit. Clearly, she's a very sweet girl, and charming, to boot! It's no surprise that she has a good chunk of followers on her Twitter already, though I'm actually surprised she doesn't have more? Her SHOWROOM following need to follow her, now!
I really would like to hear Rea sing, now, but so far, she's not my favourite member of the lot. I think she looks stunning, and want to see her progress as an Idol, but for now, I'm not a full-blown fan. Hopefully, she posts a bit more on Twitter, shows off her personality, and allows me to fall in love with her. Let's wait and see!
Name: Kohinata Nanase (小日向ななせ)
D.O.B: January 28th, 1996Age: 21 years old
Hometown: Aichi
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Window shopping
Bio: Notorious selfie-taker, and a lover of Sanrio, Houkago Princess and wearing yukata's. Gravure model Makino Sayumi is her friend.
Twitter: @nanase_kohinata
Comments:
The more I find out about Nanase, the more I like her. Another SHOWROOM auditionee, Nanase seemed to do her homework when auditioning for HouPri. She went to live shows, took cheki shots with the Regular members, and even went to Coconuts Lounge to watch the senior members, all before she was officially debuted on August 26th. And, after finding all this out about her, I am honestly so glad to see her standing on stage as a YOUTH member! Already, it feels like Nanase is a dedicated, hard-working member, so I hope to see her shine during her time as a YOUTH member.
It also feels like, out of all the members, Nanase is the most likely to take on a big-sister role. She's taken quite a few two-shots with the members, which could mean very little, but it feels like she's trying to give equal attention to fellow YOUTH members. I think her age helps in that 'big-sister' role, too; she's one of the oldest here, after all!
It seems like Nanase is truly a team player, and I hope she makes it as a Princess! Though I didn't originally think much of her, aside from her being pretty cute and a little eye-catching, I can't deny that right now, she has captured my heart! I look forward to seeing more of Nanase, and I hope beyond all hope that she debuts! Pleeeeease!!!
Name: Sawada Momoka (澤田桃佳)
D.O.B: February 6th, 2001
Age: 16 years old
Hometown: Osaka
Blood Type: A
Hobby: Surfing
Bio: A high school sophomore who is one-third of the Osaka-Trio! A lover of travel, she has been to Hawaii and Korea, and enjoys talking in Kansai dialect with her fellow Osaka members.
Twitter: @hopuumomo
Comments:
I really would love to find out more about Momoka, because she's intrigued me now! Hopefully, she updates her twitter regularly, and allows us to see just who she is. So far, though, I feel like she's a confident, energetic girl who really will try hard. Also, she looks absolute adorable, and would make such a cute princess!
Let's all await Princess Momoka's debut, everyone!
Name: Shirakawa Ai (白川 愛)
D.O.B: January 19th, 1994
Age: 23 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: A
Hobby: Handicrafts
Bio: The oldest member of the YOUTH team, and a lover of many things. She also does not like to lose. Ai has a fondness for cute things, especially in the colours pink and if they have rabbit motifs. She also loves bread, especially croissants, and will often buy them at the bakery. Ai will generally visit the Aquarium alone, because she takes so long walking around it. She especially loves to see the jellyfish, penguins, dolphins, killer whales and manta rays. She also enjoys cooking, would often cook dinner with her brother. Shares her birthday with Takano Hiyori.
Twitter: @shirakawa___ai
Comments:
I feel like Shirakawa Ai is one of the most informative members of the lot, and oh gosh, I am so thankful for that! Because of this, I've started to adore the girl already, and she's made it into my favourites for the current lineup of YOUTH, thus far! This girl is just awesome.
I guess for a research and information hog like me, it's great when an Idol like Ai comes along to fill in the gaps. It's like she understands what we wota need, and why we need it! But, aside from that, she's also very cute, however, her personality is what I'm attracted to, most of all. Her twitter account has captivated me, which I didn't expect, but this girl... she got to me, based mostly on her interests and the fact that she's sharing the information freely instead of keeping it hidden.
Ai is the most interesting member, by far, and one of the girls who I'm going to keep my eye on. I feel really excited for her, now, and I hope to see more of her as time goes on. Much like Momoka and Nanase, I really want to see Ai debut. She seems like such a perfect fit for HouPri, both in cuteness and maturity! And, damn, it's so hard to believe that she's actually 23! Wow!
Name: Suzuki Ai (鈴木亜依)
D.O.B: May 26th, 1999
Age: 18 years old
Hometown: Ibaraki
Blood Type: A
Hobby: Watching Anime
Bio; A third year high school student who seems to be more of a mystery than anything. Her twitter profile picture is a drawing, rather than a photograph.
Twitter: @suzuki_ai
Comments:
I really don't know what to say about Suzuki Ai, because she really is a mystery. Out of all the new members, Ai-2 is the least active, and really doesn't have many pictures of herself on her twitter feed. There's a couple of two-shots, but that really is it. Either she's very shy, or poor Ai-2 doesn't know what to say!
I would like to know more about Ai-2, of course, but with so little information out there about her, it's hard to decipher how I feel towards her. Plus, she hasn't stood out to me, looks-wise, but there's got to be something about her that caught the attention of management! Hopefully, the more she grows as an idol, the more she reveals. I want her to show off her strengths, and become a demure but confident Idol we can all adore! So, whilst she may not stand out to me now, I will quietly cheer on the sidelines for Ai-2, the quietest member of them all.
Name: Serizawa Ayame (芹沢あやめ)
D.O.B: July 6th, 1999
Age: 18 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: AB
Hobby: Adoring flowers and cats
Bio: Another mystery! All we know is that she may be a cat lady...
Twitter: @ayame_s08
Comments:
Ayame and Ai-2 are gonna be the death of me, because arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh, I cannot find anything on either of them, aside from that they have practiced their dancing and are improving themselves to perform on stage with Houpri! Hopefully, some information comes out soon, because Ayame looks like an absolute doll, and I'd like to adore her! But, without a solid profile or full twitter feed, that's pretty hard to do! Argh!
It's a nightmare, following Idols with little to no information! But, again, she's gorgeous, and for those who love an Idol's aesthetic over their personality, Ayame is the member to follow! She's freakin' beautiful, and if she ever debuts, I can see her being one of more mature members, in looks. She may only be 18, but damn, she's gorgeous!
Name: Takano Hiyori (高野日和)
D.O.B: January 19th, 2000
Age: 17 years old
Hometown: Ehime Prefecture
Blood Type: AB
Hobby: Flowers and sewing
Bio: A 3rd year high school student with a love for bean paste, plums and cotton candy. Hiyori loves to sing, and gets along well with fellow member Masuda Hana, who she looks up to as an older sister figure. Shares her birthday with Shirakawa Ai.
Twitter: @hiyori_t_0119
Comments:
The first thing I thought of when I saw Hiyori's name was Hiyokoi. HA! XD Honestly, though, that's a good manga. Read it. Int erms of the real Hiyori, though, I honestly didn't have much of an impression of her at first, but, it seems that Hiyori may acknowledge this herself. During the first benefits live, Hiyori admitted that she's not that great at talking, and that she becomes very tense. But, she wants to improve herself and become an Idol that anyone can recognise.
It seems like a lot of the new YOUTH members are looking out for Hiyori right now, with Nanase helping her in learning the choreography, Ai-2 making her laugh despite her nerves, and Hana acting as a sister figure to her. So, she seems like she's dependent on a few of the members right now, but, that's not a bad thing! In fact, it may help Hiyori in the long-run, and she will become a cherished member, too. Plus, she has that slight underdog feel!
I think it's a good thing that Hiyori herself knows her short-comings, and honestly, it makes me want to watch her grow even more. Though she's not a favourite right now, I can see myself liking Hiyori more, because now that I know what she's like a little more (she's pretty open, but mostly about her shortcomings XD), I think I want to focus on how she grows, and to see if she blossoms.
She may be the underdog right now, but one day, Hiyori might just transform into a wonderful Idol! But will she become the Princess she longs to be?
Name: Takamiya Yuri (高宮悠里)
D.O.B: June 17th, 1995
Age: 22 years old
Hometown: Oita Prefecture
Blood Type: B
Hobby: Idol Appreciation
Bio: Nicknamed Yuritan, she aims to become a sparkling princess. She loves to dance.
Twitter: @yuuri_takamiya
Comments:
It seems like she's caught the eye of the fans, because Yuri has 402 followers already, bringing her close to Erina's own 475! So, she has some promise already, and I hope that she gives her all in performances. Also, given how she likes to dance, I want to see how skillful she is. Hopefully, Yuri is on-par with both Miran and Saori, because I would love to see another great dancer in the group, in the near future.
I still don't know much about her, but from the snippets we have been given, I'm excited to see what Yuri can bring to the stage. Let's hope some videos pop up soon enough.
Name: Nakano Yui (中野 唯)
D.O.B: February 11th, 2000
Age: 17 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: AB
Hobby: Reading Princess Rules
Bio: A girl who wants to be called Hime-chan.
Twitter: @yuiprincess211
Comments:
Another mystery, but only because her old twitter account has been wiped. Actually, with Yui, I'm sad that they didn't show off the mole on her nose in these pictures. It's one of her defining features!
Now, whilst I can't say much in regards to how her Twitter shows off her personality, I can say that, whenever I look at Yui's pictures, I'm always caught off-guard. This girl isn't exactly striking in any way, but, when you take a look at her, it feels like Yui is filled with confidence. She looks totally self-assured and laid back, and even though her expression feels the same in every damn picture, I can't help but think 'there's a cheeky lil' shit'. And for that, I kinda like her XD Her looks have completely owned me!
Plus, she reminds me of a friend. I don't know why, cause they look nothing alike, but she reminds me of someone, all the same. It may be the confidence or the expression.
So, yeah. I know little about Yui, but, she's intriguing.
Name: Hanamura Nami (花村なみ)
D.O.B: July 23rd, 1996
Age: 21 years old
Hometown: Chiba Prefecture
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Idol research
Bio: A lover of anime, manga and eating. A trio of perfection, really.
Twitter: @nami_hanamura
Comments:
Nami is another member who doesn't really stand out to me. It might be her hair, because honestly, I never go for the shortcut members. Still, she's quite cute, and she has chubby cheeks! From her twitter, it seems like Nami might be aiming for near-perfection in all she does, because she says she will review any issues quite a bit. Well, at least we know she's dedicated to improving, and I hope she does improve. It seems like she really is eager to move up the ranks, and show us all she has to offer.
Well, her hobby is Idol research, so actually, that goes hand-in-hand with reviewing her own technique as an Idol. Hopefully, she'll continue her research into Idols as she herself improves!
Hopefully I find out more about Nami than just her desire to revise and improve. I want to see this girl shine as a personality, not just a performer.
Well, her hobby is Idol research, so actually, that goes hand-in-hand with reviewing her own technique as an Idol. Hopefully, she'll continue her research into Idols as she herself improves!
Hopefully I find out more about Nami than just her desire to revise and improve. I want to see this girl shine as a personality, not just a performer.
Name: Masuda Hana (増田 花)
D.O.B: May 23rd, 1997
Age: 20 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Hair care, tea making
Bio: The big-sister figure to Hiyori, and a lover of tea. Her favourite Houkago Princess song is Himitsu no Tiara to Gelato. She enjoys hair care, and loves Disney and animated films. A girl who wants to become an Idol that excites people.
Comments:
Ah, a tea lover. She will do well in England. Hana seems quite dependable as an Idol, though I don't doubt her nerves during her debut, either, but it's nice that she and Hiyori can depend on each other and act as sister figures towards each other. I think that is seriously sweet, and it makes the duo of Hiyori and Hana so much more likable!
Hana certainly feels like a mature girl, and from the looks of her, I think she could well and truly pull off the regal look. I can't say much else about her, because I've not paid much attention to her due to a lack of information, but I think she will fit in well with the group. Like everyone else, I want to see more of Hana, and to watch her grow as a member. So far, the one detail I do really like about her, is how she;s become a big sister figure to Hiyori, showing that caring side to her towards someone who needs her during this time in their Idol careers.
Hopefully, we can see Hana develop as both an Idol, and a sister figure! I want some Hiyori-Hana pics, guys, and I wanna see them all cute and lovey!
Name: Michishige Rio (道重利緒)
D.O.B: July 17th, 1997
Age: 20 years old
Hometown: Osaka
Blood Type: B
Hobby: Shopping, eating
Bio: A lover of dumplings and tapioca milk tea, and one-third of the legendary Osaka-Trio, and a third of the rumoured Michishige-trio!
Comments:
Rio has already caused a bit of a stori on the internet, due to her last name. It's speculated that she and Sahochi (and we shall include Sayumi) are related, because another Michishige has been added into the Idol mix! Of course, a last name does not define who Rio is, but so far, it's unknown whether the Idols are related, or not.
Well, what's in a name? I want to watch how Rio grows as an Idol, and I want to see her become someone memorable and earnest in all she pursues. I won't say she's my favourite, but honestly, she did catch my eye when she first announced she had passed the SHOWROOM round for the HouPri auditions (and this was before her surname was revealed). She's quite a cute member, though her face is a tad plain, aha. Oh, and I admire her absolute love for dumplings. She's already asking for restaurant recommendations in Tokyo, just so she can find the best dumplings XD
The dumpling Idol, everyone!
Seriously, though, I wanna see how she does. Let her personality shine through (past the dumplings), and let's watch this Idol grow into a princess!
Name: Yamamoto Natsumi (山本夏望)
D.O.B: August 20th, 1998
Age: 19 years old
Hometown: Kagoshima
Blood Type: A
Hobby: Watching movies and dramas
Bio: Nicknamed Natchi, she is a girl who aims to become a strong princess. Her current addiction is pumpkin pudding.
Twitter: @Natsumi_ymamot
Comments:
I've not paid much attention to Natsumi just yet, only because I've just started to follow her on Twitter. That said, her feed is a little scarce thus far, however she's excited about being on-stage and aims to focus on her expressions during her performance. She seems like a very sweet girl, but, yeah... her looks do nothing for me XD I've really got nothing to say, not for now.
I'm glad Natchi made it into the group, but I want to see more from her, personality-wise. So far, I just know she likes pumpkin pudding. That said, if she wants to become a 'strong' princess, I can only hope she will become a force to be reckoned with. That's a bold statement, but it's not your typical one, either. You usually expect 'cute', 'sparkling' or 'dazzling', not 'strong'.
If she becomes a roguish princess, I look forward to it! We need a whirlwind in the group.
Name: Yukino Yuria (雪乃ゆりあ)
D.O.B: October 20th, 1996
Age: 20 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Looking at delicious food
Bio: An Idol who is always hungry. She looks sweet, but she seems to enjoy making faces.
Twitter: @yuria_yukinoComments:
There's not much about Yuria yet, but from her feed so far, it seems like she's a pretty playful member. She's not shy about getting up-close and personal with a few of the other members, and yeah, I can't deny that her 'I'm always hungry' phrase has intrigued me. I'm always hungry, myself, but it seems quite funny, given how frank Yuria seems about this aspect of herself. Oh, and her hobby is hilarious XD
Like most of the members so far, there's not a lot about Yuria out there... BUT, I like her. I think she's going to be the class clown, and I honestly can't wait to see how her twitter feed develops, and how her personality will shine through as time goes on. I want to know a lot more about Yuria, and I want to see her develop over time as an Idol, too.
Also... FOOD!!!
Name: Yutsuki Nene (結月ねね)
D.O.B: June 19th, 2001
Age: 16 years old
Hometown: -
Blood Type: AB
Hobby: Takarazuka Theater
Bio: A fan of the Takarazuka Revenue for over 10 years, Nene's room is overflowing with Takarazuka goods! She is a high school freshman who looks similar to Passcode's Kaede!
Twitter: @nene_yudukiComments:
GAWD DAMNIT, Nene's adorable! And yeah, I'm all over her because of her damn cuteness! My love for cute Idols knows no bounds, and whilst I do love a personality, I can't deny a cute or beautiful Idol, either! Like, seriously, Nene is freakin' cuteness personified. She looks like a freakin' doll. Also, I love how obvious it is why she joined HouPri; they dress up. She likes Takarazuka. It's a way to be a Princess on-stage, without the height requirements Takarazuka demands >o> Not that I know Nene's height yet, of course >O<
BUT YEAH! She is so freakin' cute, and I really like her! She's one of my favourites from the new batch of members, and I look forward to seeing more of her. I'm really hopeful for her, actually, and I want to see her debut! We need someone who can rival the extreme cuteness of Saori!
I want to hear her sing. I want to see her dance. I want to see this girl become a true Idol!
.｡.:*♡*:.｡.:*♡*:.｡.:*♡*:.｡.
Image + Info Source: ASCII / Member's Twitter Accounts
And there we have it! All 18 members of HouPri YOUTH, as they stand now! It's a really big group of girls, but, I think that's probably the smartest move Management could make, at this point. After losing so many girls over the past two or so years since YOUTH debuted, and only ever adding 2-3 members - 4, at the most - each time, it seems like the wisest decision is to add this many, because then at least they aren't losing almost all of the YOUTH members in one go.
I mean, if you think about, of all the YOUTH members that have been a part of the group since 2015, only three of the eleven past YOUTH members actually debuted. The rest of them withdrew (or got into a Scandal), and even one of the debuted members left after one single (bye, Marichu XD). So, this move makes sense; add as many as humanly possible (or as many as you can cram onto a stage), that way, you will probably save money on auditions in the long-run, and it will be easier to see who sticks it out longer. It's a lot more effective than just adding 1-2 promising members in a passing audition, plus, the national audition looks good for HouPri, and gets the group some attention.
But, again, this about cutting your losses before the withdrawal bug strikes. So, whilst some people think it's overkill (which it is), there is a purpose for it being this way. Management just want to make sure they have the right girls, yet not have to keep adding them in every month or so. Cause, mate, HouPri YOUTH and HouPri's audition rate is pretty bad.
So, yeah. The members of HouPri YOUTH, everyone! Who knows how long it'll be until one of them gets kicked out or decides to withdraw, but if it's after a month, I'll be damn surprised. Hopefully, we have a few of them left come next year, because damnit, I want some of them to debut! More specifically, my favourites, Nanase, Momoka, Ai, Yuria and Nene. But if any one of them actually debuts into the Regular lineup, I'll be pleased. For now, though, we will just have to see what the future holds, and hope for the best.
Welcome, HouPri YOUTH! I hope you have fun in your quest to become the ultimate Idol Princesses!
Until next time, everyone. Take care~
Much Hope and HouPri Love,
Chiima~
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