The idol world doesn’t slow down for a second, does it?  And especially so if you’re one of the busiest bees in this bustling business, that is Beni Usakura. In a relatively short span, (especially in idol years), she’s gone from an abandoned audition candidate to group member to group leader, organizer, producer, marketer, and all-around DIY master of a hearty never-say-die group that is a breathing manifestation of her creative energy.

During the entire taxing process of preparing for Kotao’s departure, she’s been holding auditions for new members to keep her beloved group’s legacy going. Beni decided to tease us a bit for a couple of days, but at last, we’ve been introduced to her first officially inducted member…

https://twitter.com/avandoned_idol/status/1088060790781792256

Please welcome Inukai Haru! I’d like to tell you more about her, but I don’t really know much of anything yet, and that’s okay, cause we fans will be learning all about her together! She’s graced us with a twitter account, so do the right thing and follow her, and  then maybe take a moment to wish her well as she takes her first steps into the limelight.

Another development to be aware of: あヴぁんだんど, or Avandoned as we usually call them, are henceforth going to be formally named avandoned.  No kana and no capital latin letters, just a nice simple word. (That’s the twitter tag they’re encouraging fans to use as well.) Yeah, it’ll still be a pain in the neck to look for with search engines, but we idol fans are used to that anyway.

Also (If I understood things correctly.), there are still at least two (I think) more members that will be introduced when they are ready to debut. At present, only Haru is trained, so the group will start activities as a duo for the time being until the new blood is ready to appear, so even more exciting new changes in direction are lying ahead for us!

https://twitter.com/usakura_beni/status/1088081396633980928

One question I have no answer for: Around the release of the “Lemon Peels” single, avandoned had announced that they were working on a full-length album. I don’t know what’s happened with that, but I’m going remain positive that’ll still happen even if it takes a different form than we originally expected. Are there as-yet unreleased Beni & Kaoto recordings? You better believe I want to hear em!

So gang, let’s rally around the new avandoned and give them the support that they deserve. In short time we’ll have some video footage of the group’s incarnation, and what’s even more exciting to me, new music! Some great things are coming from this new beginning…