Samurai Rose Project

[Mulboyne]

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Samurai Rose is the name of a project modelled on teen idol group AKB48. The difference here is that all the members are over 40 years old (the eldest is 58 ). Takako Hiramatsu, who runs a temporary staff agency, had the idea last autumn. Having built a business and raised a daughter on her own after getting divorced, she says she wanted to do something fun and got together with four fellow divorcees to set up a girl group just as they'd dreamed of doing when younger. When they advertised for new members at an audition earlier this year, 200 applicants turned up and they chose 35 to join them to turn Samurai Rose into a multi-member affair. October saw the release of the single "Rouge and Martini", an old Princess Princess song, and the group is hoping to generate enough success to warrant a place on next year's NHK Kohaku concert. Meanwwhile, Hiramatsu says they are on a nationwide recruiting drive, hoping to get members from all Japan's prefectures.

[Mulboyne]