Produce 101 Japan: The Girls

Produce 101 Japan: The Girls

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"Produce 101 Japan: The Girls" is the third season of Produce 101 Japan, following the success of the two all-male seasons in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Auditions for the show took place in spring 2023, and the number of auditions broke previous seasons' records, with 14,000 applications (compared to 6,000 for season 1).

Streaming is exclusively via Lemino: https://lemino.docomo.ne.jp/
-Account creation is required, but this is free. However, you need a Japanese phone number.

On September 2nd, the theme song "LEAP HIGH! ~Ashita e, Me Ippai~" was released on Youtube:


if the video does not show watch the video here

On September 3rd, the official profiles of the season's trainees were released: https://produce101.jp/profile/list/

The center position for the theme song is held by Sakurai Miu (櫻井美羽):



Sakurai notably participated in the survival shows "Nizi Project" and "Girls Planet 999" previously

Contestants:

• Aita Rin (会田 凛) - Fukushima, born in 2006
• Aoki Yuka (青木友香) - Tochigi, born in 2003
• Akiyama Ema (秋山 愛) - Tokyo, born in 2003
• Abe Nagomi (阿部 和) - Kanagawa, born in 2007
• Aramaki Joa (荒牧深愛) - Tokyo, born in 2005
• Ando Chiharu (安藤千陽) - Fukuoka, born in 2004
• Ando Yui (安藤佑唯) - Aichi, born in 2004
• Iida Shizuki (飯田栞月) - Tokyo, born in 2004
• Ishii Ran (石井 蘭) - Saitama, born in 2004
  
• Iyota Hana (井餘田 華) - Tokyo, born in 2006
• Ueki Mimi (植木美々) - Kanagawa, born in 2007
• Uchiyama Rin (内山 凜) - Tokyo, born in 2008 (youngest)
• Ebihara Tsuzumi (海老原 鼓) - Kanagawa, born in 2007
  
• Oikawa Rie (及川里桜) - Miyagi, born in 2006
• Ota Sara (太田紗蘭) - Kanagawa, born in 2005
  
• Otsubo Karen (大坪楓恋) - Fukuoka, born in 2004
• Okabe Nonoka (岡部 望々花) - Kyoto, born in 2005
• Okamura Nana (岡村菜那) - Hokkaido, born in 2005
• Oda Aruha (小田有葉) - Tokyo, born in 2002
• Oyanagi Emi (小栁絵美) - Indonesia, born in 2003
• Kasahara Momona (笠原桃奈) - Kanagawa, born in 2003
• Kataoka Rio (片岡陽音) - Osaka, born in 2004
• Kato Airi (加藤愛梨) - Tokyo, born in 2004
• Kato Kagura (加藤神楽) - Osaka, born in 2005
  
• Kato Kokoro (加藤 心) - Aichi, born in 2000
• Kato Konomi (加藤好実) - Tokyo, born in 2004
  
• Kamada Moe (鎌田 萌) - Osaka, born in 2004
• Kamio Ayano (神尾彩乃) - Osaka, born in 2006
  
• Kawagishi Runa (川岸瑠那) - Tokyo, born in 2001
• Kawabata Rank (川畑蘭華) - Aichi, born in 2006
• Kanno Miyu (菅野美優) - Kagawa, born in 2003
• Kikukawa Aki (菊川亜樹) - Fukuoka, born in 2001
• Kitazato Rio (北里理桜) - Fukuoka, born in 2004
• Kitazume Sakura (北爪 さくら) - Gunma, born in 2004
• Kino Riko (木野稟子) - Kyoto, born in 2005
• Kurihara Kano (栗原果乃) - Saitama, born in 2004
• Kurokawa Hanako (黒川穂香) - Tokushima, born in 2005
• Kenmotsu Nano (釼持菜乃) - Niigata, born in 2001
  
• Kobayashi Sae (小林さえ) - Kanagawa, born in 2005
• Koyama Mana (小山麻菜) - Kanagawa, born in 1998 (oldest)
• Saito Serina (斉藤 芹菜) - Osaka, born in 2006
• Sakaguchi Rino (坂口梨乃) - Kanagawa, born in 2003
• Sakata Kotone (坂田琴音) - Kyoto, born in 2003
• ☆ Sakurai Miu ☆ (櫻井美羽) - Aichi, born in 2002
• Sakuraba Haruka (桜庭遥花) - Hokkaido, born in 2006
• Sasaki Kokona (佐々木 心菜) - Mie, born in 2006
• Sasaki Tsukushi (佐々木 つくし) - Iwate, born in 2006
• Sato Ameli (佐藤 あめり) - America, born in 2004
• Sano Jueri (佐野 じゅえり) - Tokyo, born in 2003
• Shibagaki Arisa (柴垣有佐) - Aichi, born in 2006
• Shibuya Mei (渋谷芽衣) - Hyogo, born in 2006
• Shimizu Keiko (清水恵子) - Aichi, born in 2005
• Shiromaru Maho (城丸真歩) - Kumamoto, born in 2004
• Shinzawa Mika (新澤実華) - Niigata, born in 2004
• Sugai Natsuho (菅井夏帆) - Saitama, born in 2003
• Suzuki Rena (鈴木玲名) - Tokyo, born in 2006
• Sutani Yurara (須谷 緩) - Hyogo, born in 2005
• Sudo Sakura (須藤紗暮) - Fukuoka, born in 2003
• Sekiguchi Rikako (関口 理香子) - Kanagawa, born in 2007
• Takagi Mayu (髙木舞優) - Chiba, born in 2003
• Takahashi Hina (髙橋妃那) - Saitama, born in 2008
• Takabatake Momoka (髙畠百加) - Tokyo, born in 2004
• Takami Ayane (高見文寧) - Iwate, born in 2005
• Tanaka Koto (田中 琴) - Aichi, born in 2005
• Tanaka Hana (田中 花) - Osaka, born in 2008
• Tanaka Yuuki (田中優希) - Kanagawa, born in 2004
• Tanabe Karin (田邊果凜) - Hiroshima, born in 2003
• Tani Seia (谷 聖彩) - Saitama, born in 2006
• Tabata Nana (田端那菜) - Saitama, born in 2006
• Tabuchi Miu (田淵美優) - Fukuyama, born in 2004
• Nakano Kokona (中野心結) - Tokyo, born in 2007
• Nakamura Aoi (中村 葵) - Nagano, born in 2006
• Nakamura Riro (中村璃彩) - Osaka, born in 2005
• Nakamori Kotone (中森琴音) - Fukuoka, born in 2001
• Nakamori Mikoto (中森美琴) - Fukuoka, born in 2001
• Nakayama Honoka (中山 穗乃楓) - Aichi, born in 2002
• Hatta Mena (八田芽奈) - Hyogo, born in 2006
• Hamasaki Aiko (濵嵜愛子) - Fukuoka, born in 2003
• Bando Fuka (坂東楓夏) - Tokyo, born in 2004
• Hidaka Hazuki (日髙葉月) - Osaka, born in 2007
• Fujimoto Ayaka (藤本彩花) - Saitama, born in 2001
• Furuhasahi Sayaka (古橋 沙也佳) - Chiba, born in 2002
• Hosoi Ayaka (細井彩加) - Chiba, born in 2002
• Matsushita Miyu (松下実夢) - Ishikawa, born in 2000
• Mizukami Rimika (水上 凜巳花) - Fukuoka, born in 2003 - former HKT48
• Murakami Rino (村上璃杏) - Okayama, born in 2006
• Mogi Shion (茂木詩音) - Chiba, born in 2006
• Motohashi Meika (本橋明桜) - Chiba, born in 2006
• Moro Anon (茂呂空音) - Tokyo, born in 2003
• Yamaguchi Misaki (山口愛咲) - Miyazaki, born in 2007
• Yamasaki Mitsuki (山崎美月) - Tokyo, born in 2001
• Yamamoto Suzu (山本すず) - Tokyo, born in 2006
  
• Yoshida Ayano (吉田彩乃) - Osaka, born in 2001
• Yoshida Hana (吉田花夏) - Nara, born in 2006
• Wakimoto Mihaya (脇本美颯) - Okayama, born in 2006
• Watanabe Miyu (渡辺未優) - Hyogo, born in 2007

 

So far, I only recognize the three contestants from Girls Planet 999.
Sakurai Miu, Fujimoto Ayaka & Kanno Miyu

 

The Produce 101 Japan Global Fanbase X account (https://twitter.com/pd_jpn) has started a long thread with English-language profiles of each member:

https://twitter.com/pd_jpn/status/1698000747755966702

At the time I'm posting this the thread is still being updated (it's reached about halfway so far).

 

Another contestant is Kasahara Momona or Kassa from Angerme another idol group. She was pretty popular before she graduated and the comment section has a lot of japanese fans welcoming her back to showbiz.

 

can't spot Nagi, where is she?
Oh, wait. she was busy talking about UFO and stuff in northern island again!

 

Rooting for Kato Kokoro, who is a member of Cherry Bullet. Her group was mismanaged and she didn’t really have much of a career in Kpop.

 

Nakamori Mikoto, one of the general applicants from OUT OF 48 (she was the leader of the Make You Happy cover team)... she's currently a contestant/trainee of PD101Japan The Girls alongside her twin sister, Nakamori Kotone.

The fact that she's experiencing the stark contrast in terms of budget/scale/exposure/team missions etc between the two idol survival shows just a couple of months after her elimination...

https://twitter.com/produce101jp_/status/1698176624972398605?s=20
https://twitter.com/produce101jp_/status/1698176251893350492?s=20

 

The official YouTube channel has just dropped a shedload of individual member performance videos, each one around 3'50" in length:
https://www.youtube.com/@PRODUCE101JAPAN/videos

As an example here's the one for Rimika:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

At the time of posting this (01:30am in Japan, about 4hrs since these were released), these are the contestants with highest view count. I've only included those with +10k (click on the name to go to the Youtube video):

1. Kasahara Momona (94k) - former ANGERME
2. Sakurai Miu (49k) - center
3. Kato Kokoro (36k) - former Cherry Bullet
4. Yamamoto Suzu (35k)
5. Saito Serina (27k)
6. Ishii Ran (26k) - former Girls2
7. Sasaki Kokona (25k)
8. Kitazato Rio (19k)
9. Murakami Rinon (18k)
10. Mizukami Rimika (16k)
11. Sasaki Tsukushi (15k) - former CDL Infinite
12. Watanabe Miyu (13k)
13. Kato Kagura (11k)
14. Sudo Sakura (10k)

This list is likely due to change quickly within the next few days

This is my personal favourite, Tabata Nana. Her dance is so sharp and she's got a great smile! Please support


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

I wonder how many of these girls are former Chika idols that just haven’t been identified by fans yet

 

Another shedload of individual member videos has just been posted, they're called '1 Minute PR' with self introductions:
https://www.youtube.com/@PRODUCE101JAPAN/videos

Some examples:

Mizukami Rimika:

if the video does not show watch the video here

Kasahara Momona:

if the video does not show watch the video here

Sakurai Miu:

if the video does not show watch the video here

Kato Kokoro:

if the video does not show watch the video here

Tabata Nana:

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Here's another one:

She sings a bit of NMB48's Nagiichi!

if the video does not show watch the video here

And this girl was the first to catch my attention during the signal song (she's left of the center at an early shot with a bright smile!) and she shows off both her vocals and rapping:

if the video does not show watch the video here

This girl also caught my attention during the signal song and her skill is solving a rubik's cube. As someone who can also solve them, I was still very impressed by her speed and the fact she was casually talking at the same time

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

'Behind' video of the 'Japan 101 DAY' event on 9/7:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

'LEAP HIGH' performance with ceremonial first pitch by Sakurai Miu at Chiba Lotte Marines vs. Orix Buffaloes held at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba on 9/9:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

1st episode preview


if the video does not show watch the video here

good lord, the episode looks so dramatic lol

I noticed one of the judges is Nakasone Rino. Legendary Japanese Kpop choreographer, and also directed one of AKB48's best choreographies in Gingham Check.

 

I already know which song these girls are performing

Spoiler

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

pretty interesting. Abe Nagomi catch my attention

 

The official YouTube channel has just released short videos for all of the contestants (I've counted 96 videos!):
https://www.youtube.com/@PRODUCE101JAPAN/videos