SKE48 finishes auditions for new members...& SDN48's Sakura Fukuyama leaves show business
Nagoya-based idol unit SKE48 has completed its 4th generation audition, it has been announced. A record number of hopefuls applied for the audition, but only 16 passed to become part of the group. The new members are being added to the kenkyuusei (research student) group, for a total of 26. Along with the 16 girls in each of Team S and Team KII, SKE48 now has 58 members.
The 4th generation audition started accepting submissions in July, open to girls between the ages of 11 and 22. This time, there were 5,888 entries, much more than any previous audition (1st generation: 2,670; 2nd generation: 3,248; 3rd generation: 2,396). That means that the passing rate for this audition was exactly 1 in 368, or less than 0.3%.
The 16 new kenkyuusei are beginning their training, though the details and schedule of their debut presentation have not yet been revealed. However, SKE48 is starting a short tour on October 3 with a concert in Shibuya, Tokyo, which will be followed by performances in Nagoya on October 5 and Kobe on October 17.
source: TOKYOGRAPH
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