Hello! Project Kids 2 (ハロー！プロジェクト・キッズ 2; sometimes referred to as H!P Kids 2 is a group of 20 girls chosen out of 300,000 applicants. The results of this audition were announced on the June 30, 2017 episode of Hello! Project Station, taking place after Berryz Koubou's and ℃-ute's disbandments and Momoko Tsugunaga's graduation from Country Girls and Hello! Project. This consists of members from 2 years old to 9 years old. They are the sister group to Hello! Pro Kenshuusei and Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido. Unlike the original Hello Project Kids, Due to the training concept, once one of the members reach 10 years old, they will be asked to consider going to either debut in a group or to join either Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Tokyo or Hokkaido to go into more extensive and harder training.
Current Members[]
1st Generation[]
- Anna Kazune (和音 アンナ) - September 11, 2013
- Natsumi Asakura (浅倉 夏美) - October 20, 2013
- Reina Shimura (志村 れいな) - May 8, 2014
- Kanon Watabiki (綿引 香音) - November 30, 2014
- Aya Kishimoto (岸本 彩) - February 13, 2015
2nd Generation[]
- Fuuka Ninomiya (二宮 ふうか) - April 25, 2013
- Jennifer Matsubara (松原 ジェニファー) - August 5, 2014
- Rinko Yuzuki (唯月 凜子) - June 14, 2015
4th Generation[]
- Eri Honda (本田 絵里) - September 19, 2014
- Minako Ogawa (小川 美奈子) - October 22, 2015
5th Generation[]
- Iroha Yabiku (屋比 彩春) - November 2, 2014
- Tomona Noguchi (野口 久知奈) - January 31, 2016
Former Members[]
- Ami Sasamoto (笹本 安美) - August 14, 2007 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 31 August 2017)
- Minami Kon (昆 美波) - October 19, 2007 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 31 August 2017)
- Miou Yamazaki (山﨑 美桜) - December 21, 2007 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 31 August 2017)
- Rina Ogata (尾形 里奈) - May 19, 2008 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 10 November 2017)
- Yumeno Chinen (知念 ゆめの) - July 19, 2008 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 15 November 2017)
- Seiko Kasahara (笠原 聖子) - December 22, 2008 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 15 November 2017)
- Sayaka Ono (小野 さやか) - January 25, 2009 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 15 November 2017)
- Ayaka Sato (里 彩花) - September 23, 2009 (Debuted in Hana Factory, Graduated 15 November 2017)
- Moe Niizuma (新妻 萌衣) - June 19, 2009 (Transferred to Bright Project, Graduated 30 April 2018)
- Rumi Maeda (前田 瑠美) - September 5, 2011 (Joined Juice=Juice, Graduated 7 July 2021)
- Honoka Sakamoto (坂本 ほのか) - August 18, 2012 (Joined Morning Musume, Graduated 29 June 2022)
- Ai Oyama (大山 愛) - October 10, 2011 (Joined Juice=Juice, Graduated 25 May 2023)
- Miyuki Perri (ペリ みゆき) - December 12, 2010 (Joined 2024 New Group, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Kotone Minamino (南野 ことね) - February 22, 2011 (Joined 2024 New Group, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Risa Suzuki (鈴木 里沙) - August 31, 2012 (Joined Tsubaki Factory, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Nanami Hirano (平野 奈々美) - July 6, 2010 (Debuted in Sugar Plum Fairies, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Azusa Okada (岡田 愛咲) - September 29, 2010 (Debuted in Sugar Plum Fairies, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Rena Funaki (船木 玲奈) - February 13, 2011 (Debuted in Sugar Plum Fairies, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Kiki Hirata (平田 樹々) - June 11, 2011 (Debuted in Sugar Plum Fairies, Graduated 7 February 2024)
- Maaya Endo (遠藤 真綾) - February 7, 2012 (Debuted in Sugar Plum Fairies, Graduated 7 February 2024)
History[]
2017[]
The Hello! Project Kids 2 joined Hello! Project in June 2017 and consists of 20 young girls chosen out of 300,000 applicants in the Hello! Project Kids 2 Audition. The results of this audition were announced in the June 30, 2017 episode of Hello! Project Station. The members were Ami Sasamoto, Minami Kon, Miou Yamazaki, Rina Ogata, Yumeno Chinen, Seiko Kasahara, Sayaka Ono, Moe Niizuma, Ayaka Sato, Nanami Hirano, Azusa Okada, Rena Funaki, Kiki Hirata, Maaya Endo, Honoka Sakamoto, Anna Kazune, Natsumi Asakura, Reina Shimura, Kanon Watabiki and Aya Kishimoto.
They were called H!P Kids 2 due to their young age at the time of their joining and after Berryz Koubou's and ℃-ute's disbandments and Momoko Tsugunga's graduation from Country Girls and Hello! Project. Their audition tapes were aired on Hello! Project Station on June 30, 2017. In the same year, Hello! Project Kids 2 were featured in the musical films Annie and JK Ninja Girls. Hello! Project Kids 2 became regulars on ANGERME's variety show, Hello Kids 2, which ran from June to September 2017. In addition to that, They support Hello! Project in various ways, such as dancing at live events and concerts. Their first recordings and PV shootings as a group was for the single "Together, Now and Forever!/When Children Rule the World" in July 2017.
In August 2017, some of the members were placed in bands led by members of Morning Musume' 17, ANGERME, Juice=Juice and Tsubaki Factory: Ami Sasamoto, Seiko Kasahara and Azusa Okada were selected to be in Rainbow Magic, while Minami Kon, Miou Yamazaki, Rina Ogata, Yumeno Chinen and Ayaka Sato were placed in Superstar. Both units were short-lived, and their activity stopped when three of the Hello! Project Kids 2 members Ami Sasamoto, Minami Kon and Miou Yamazaki were chosen to be in a new group. At the same time 3 new members 4 year old Fuuka Ninomiya, 3 year old Jennifer Matsubara and 2 year old Rinko Yuzuki had joined Hello Project Kids 2.
During October 2017, Seiko Kasahara and Sayaka Ono were in the female ensemble alongside Minami Kon for the Hello Project musical Kinky Boots.
During November, Rina Ogata, Sayaka Ono and Seiko Kasahara will be one of the lost boys along with Momohime Kiyono, Mei Yamazaki, Rin Hashisako, Ami Sasamoto and Miou Yamazaki in the Hello! Project musical Peter Pan. It was announced that Rina Ogata was chosen to join Ami Sasamoto, Minami Kon and Miou Yamazaki's new group and that another member had joined Hello! Project Kids 2, The new member was six year old Ai Oyama.
It was announced that Sayaka Ono, Seiko Kasahara and Ayaka Sato were chosen to join Ami Sasamoto, Minami Kon, Miou Yamazaki and Rina Ogata's new group which will be named Hana Factory and that 4 members had joined Hello! Project Kids 2, The new members were Miyuki Perri aged 7, Risa Suzuki aged 5, Eri Honda aged 3 and Minako Ogawa aged 2.
On December 11, Hello! Project Kids 2 and Hana Factory had their very first performance in the opening act of Morning Musume Tanjou 20 Shuunen Kinen Concert Tour 2017 Aki ~We are MORNING MUSUME~, The 8 Hana Factory members sang Together, Now and Forever!, Hello! Project Kids 2 members and the Hana Factory members sang Mikaeri Bijin to Haruka Kudo, Haruka Kudo sang Whistle Down the Wind to the Hello! Project Kids 2 members and The Hello! Project Kids 2 members together with Haruka Kudo performed When Children Rule the World.
2018[]
During January and February, Hello! Project Kids 2 started proper activities and performed at Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project 2018 WINTER. They done a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2018 3gatsu ~Little Cherryblossom~ in March in four different cities. They also held Hello! Project Kids 2 Recital 2018 ~Spring Public Ability Diagnosis Test~ in May 6, at the same day as the Kenshuusei's version. At the Hello! Project Kids 2 Spring Diagnosis Test, Rena Funaki won the public votes coming in 1st place and Reina Shimura came 2nd place in the public votes making her a runner-up. The Judge's Awards went to Maaya Endo for the Character Award, Honoka Sakamoto for the Dancing Award and Nanami Hirano for the Singing Award. Bright Project group ANGELIX's members Takase Ayaka and Yabushita Miyuki participated and announced that Moe Niizuma will be transferring to Bright Project. In May, 4 new members had joined Hello! Project Kids 2, They are Kotone Minamino aged 7, Rumi Maeda aged 7, Iroha Yabiku aged 4 and Tomona Noguchi aged 2. They also done a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2018 6gatsu ~Sweetheart~ in June in four different cities. They also done more activities at Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project 2018 SUMMER and a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2018 9gatsu ~Sugarplum~. In December, They did a christmas recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2018 12gatsu ~Santa Claus is Coming to Town~.
2019[]
During January and February, Hello! Project Kids 2 performed at Hello! Project 2019 Winter Concert Tour. They done a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2019 3gatsu ~Gummybear~ in March in four different cities. They also held Hello! Project Kids 2 Recital 2019 ~Spring Public Ability Diagnosis Test~ in May 4, at the same day as the Kenshuusei's version. At the Hello! Project Kids 2 Spring Diagnosis Test, Reina Shimura won the public votes coming in 1st place and Minako Ogawa came 2nd place in the public votes making her a runner-up. The Judge's Awards went to Ai Oyama for the Character Award, Rumi Maeda for the Dancing Award and Eri Honda for the Singing Award. They also done a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2019 6gatsu ~Orangeblossom~ in June in four different cities. They also done more activities at Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER and a recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2019 9gatsu ~Gumdrop~. In December, They did a christmas recital named Hello! Project Kids 2 Happyoukai 2019 12gatsu ~Santa Claus is Coming to Town~. At the same time, Nanami Hirano, Azusa Okada, Rena Funaki, Kiki Hirata and Maaya Endo will debut in a new group named Sugar Plum Fairies.
2020[]
During January and February, Hello! Project Kids 2, Hana Factory and Sugar Plum Fairies performed at Hello! Project 2020 Winter Concert Tour. This is the only activity they have ever done in that year because of a new policy established by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
2021[]
On July 7, Rumi Maeda was announced as a new member of Juice=Juice alongside the Hello! Project "Juice=Juice" "Tsubaki Factory" Goudou Shin Member Audition winner Risa Irie and Hello! Pro Kenshuusei members Ichika Arisawa and Kisaki Ebata.
2022[]
On June 29, Honoka Sakamoto was announced as a new member of Morning Musume alongside the Hello! Project "Juice=Juice" "Morning Musume" Goudou Shin Member Audition winner Rio Sakurai.
2023[]
On May 25, Ai Oyama was announced as a new member of Juice=Juice alongside Hello! Pro Kenshuusei member Mifu Kawashima.
2024[]
On February 7, Risa Suzuki was announced as a new member of Tsubaki Factory alongside Mihane Ishii, Yuu Murata and Fuka Doi. It was also announced that Miyuki Perri and Kotone Minamino would be joining the new group set to debut in 2024 and that Hana Factory and Sugar Plum Fairies continued their activities and debuted.
Trivia[]
- Momo Nakatani of ANGELIX, Hina Masuda, Yua Kikuchi and Lulu Okafuji of Si☆Stella and Yuka Ide, Luna Miyajima and Jui Nogimoto, previously in Les Misérables tried out for Hello! Project Kids 2, but didn't make it.
- As of 30 June 2017, the addition of Hello! Project Kids 2 was the most amount of members added to Hello! Project.
Gallery[]
