Color me somewhat surprised — after Rei unceremoniously split and Rie started up on her solo project, I was among those who thought that Ladybaby, of whatever iteration, was as good as dead. Yes, this is idol, and humans are interchangeable parts, and Ladybaby management has been pretty cutthroat about personnel in the past, but still.
So then imagine how hard the coffee shot out of my face when I read this:
Officially announced today at Kaneko Rie-chan's seijinshiki event there will be recruitment for new member/s for LADYBABY.#LADYBABY #TheIdolFormerlyKnownAsLADYBABY
— ラップスター (@VizMajor) January 8, 2018
And confirmed:
新メンバー募集オーディション決定!https://t.co/EjgwLtkdEh
既に候補者としてお話ししている方もいますが、更なる邂逅を求めオーディションを開催する事にしました。
新体制の人数は決まっていません。
2人になる可能性も4-6人の可能性も1人の可能性もあります。
宜しくお願い致します。— LADYBABY (@ladybaby2015) January 8, 2018
Open to membership in other groups, eh?
There’s also this album thing, which leads me to believe that they are in fact closing the door on Ladybaby 1.5, like spiritually:
The Idol Formerly Known As LADYBABYのMemorial Album発売決定! https://t.co/x39NEBomKu
— LADYBABY (@ladybaby2015) January 8, 2018
Also going on tour (Osaka). I guess when life hands you lemons, you reconstruct the lemons and then turn the lemons into a messy, pulpy curd dessert!
Bonus, if you wanted to see how Rie dressed for her birthday:
深夜の投稿失礼します。
本日の『金子理江 祝!成人パーティー』ご来場のみなさま、ありがとうございました!
集合写真&会場の模様を!Photo:タマイシンゴ pic.twitter.com/d9FDjiAFFw
— LADYBABY (@ladybaby2015) January 8, 2018
Idol makes my head hurt.