Tsunku to start new idol project in 2008

[Tokyograph News]

Producer Tsunku has revealed plans to establish a new idol project, titled NICE GIRL Project (abbreviated as NGP), sometime next year. The undertaking is a collaboration of four companies: TNX, Up-Front Agency, Tanabe Agency, and Spacecraft.

According to an interview with Oricon, Tsunku already has several plans for the project, but it appears that not much has been formalized yet. First of all, The Possible (composed of Hello! Project Eggs) will be transferring from Hello! Project to NGP. Spacecraft's group Canary Club will also be officially attached to the new project.

Tsunku is currently thinking of adding one to three more units by recruiting from Spacecraft and other model agencies, and is already in the process of holding an audition. One possibility Tsunku mentioned is a Hello! Project-style public audition around next summer.

While the groups will of course be involved in music and theater, Tsunku plans to make the Internet an important part of NGP. Performances will be viewable online, along with other videos. Tsunku suggested entertainment shows emphasizing humor, along the lines of the early days of The Drifters and the Crazy Cats.

Based on Tsunku's comments, one of the motivations behind the new project is to develop competition for Morning Musume (and Hello! Project in general). He feels that things will be more interesting if there are rival idol units, and he hopes that the competition will help the groups to improve.

Tsunku also plans to cultivate a new producer to follow in his footsteps. He wants a "second Tsunku" to handle NGP when he's busy with other work, such as Hello! Project.

NICE GIRL Project is expected to begin formal operations between April and July of 2008.

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