The name of H!P ８ person new unit is 「Kobushi Factory」 Elegance and strength

On the ２５th, the name of the 8 person new unit under female idol collective 「Hello！ Project」 has been decided as 「Kobushi Factory」。 The formation of the new unit was announced at the New Year's performance that was held on the ２nd of January at Nakano Sunplaza in Tokyo。

　For the origin of the unit's name、 there is the 「elegance」 of the magnolia kobushi、 the flower of Japanese origin which blooms with an abundance of white flowers、 informing you of the advent of spring、 while at the same time the name has the meaning of the desire for the group to possess a 「strength」 that is symbolised by a 「clenched fist (nigirikobushi)」、 those are the thoughts behind it。 「Friendship」「Trust」「Welcome」 in the language of flowers、 by mutually deepening their 「friendship」 and having 「trust」、 they aim to be a group who are 「welcoming」。

　Also、 the 「Factory」 includes the meaning of inheriting the soul of 「Ｂｅｒｒｙｚ Kobo (Berryz Factory)」 that will go on hiatus。

　The name selection included Shimizu Saki （２３） who will assume the role of 「Hello！ Project Advisor」 after the hiatus of 「Ｂｅｒｒｙｚ Kobo」。

　「Kobushi Factory」 is composed of 8 people、 Fujii Rio （１５） Hirose Ayaka （１５） Nomura Minami （１５） Ogawa Rena （１４） Hamaura Ayano （１４） Taguchi Natsumi （１４） Wada Sakurako （１３）Inoue Rei （１３）。 With the exception of Fujii who is in her １st year of senior high, all of them are in middle school。  At９ p.m. today on the broadcast of the Hello！ Project Official  ＷＥＢ video programme 「HaroSute」, a video of the moment of the name announcement will be aired。

　From the ２６th of March at Ikebukuro's 「ＢＩＧ　ＴＲＥＥ　ＴＨＥＡＴＥＲ」 in Tokyo,  the curtains will be raised for 「Kobushi Factory」's musical 「Ｗｅｅｋ　Ｅｎｄ　Ｓｕｒｖｉｖｏｒ」 、 and there will be advance sales of their first ＤＶＤ single 「Nen ni ha Nen／ Survivor」 limited only to the venue。

[ 25th February 2015 6:00 p.m. ]

Source: Sponichi Annex