Last week, it was decided by Hello! Project Idol group S/mileage‘s first generation members Ayaka Wada and Kanon Fukuda that the group will add new members from Hello! Pro Kenshuusei, Hello! Project’s aspiring trainees.

This idea was initially proposed by Wada and Fukuda themselves, much to producer Tsunku’s surprise. Their reasoning was that the 2nd generation was worried what would happen if and when the two graduate from the group. As a result, 3 members of the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei became S/mileage’s new members!

Check out their profiles below!

Mizuki Murota

• Date of Birth: 1998/06/12 (16 years old)
• Origin: Chiba Prefecture
• Blood Type: AB
• Height: 153cm
• Hobby: Dancing
• Skills: Dance, pantomime
• * Began as Hello! Pro Kenshuusei on 1st March 2012.

Rikako Sasaki

• Date of Birth: 2001/05/28 (13 years old)
• Origin: Miyagi Prefecture
• Blood Type: A
• Height: 154cm
• Hobby: Collecting picture books of children, sport
• Skills: Dance, running
• * Began as Hello! Pro Kenshuusei on 1st March 2013.

Maho Aikawa

• Date of Birth: 1999/03/26 (15 years old)
• Origin: Kanagawa Prefecture
• Blood Type: A
• Height: 163cm
• Hobby: Eating
• Skills: Classical ballet
• * Began as Hello! Pro Kenshuusei on 1st April 2014.

All 9 members will began activities together January 2nd at New Year Hello! Project performance with a single scheduled for spring.

The next step in S/mileage’s transformation is to change their name to start a new chapter with new members. They will be accepting suggestions until October 31st via a special website.

(via UP-FRONT)