22/7 History

A page containing all information of the history of 22/7, mainly recounting the audition process leading up to the final group formation.

Digital Idol Project
Each character appeared as a silhouette on the audition site on Oct. 17, 2016 and could be seen in the live-streaming site SHOWROOM during the audition period. Girls between the ages of 15 and 25 living in Japan were eligible to participate in the audition process. Applicants were informed that if they made it through all five stages, "they will breathe life into these idols as a member of the unit."

The initial press release included the following comment from Producer Yasushi Akimoto:

"‘Idols that don’t exist.’ While idols of the ‘80s existed mostly in images, the idols being spread across the internet are closer to everyday life. We choose the words we send in SNS, but the real message in those is fleeting. Adults want to protect them, but the messages girls send are done so in real-time. There’s no time for managers to choose or correct the images that get exposed. These ‘as-is’ images posted on programs like Instagram are spreading, so there’s no system in place to protect them. It made me think about making fictional idols, and that is this project. I call them ‘digital idols.’ Many things are made using the latest technology like CG, but this project began with its characters, story, and songs. It’s based on the idea of, ‘What if this kind of girl wanted to be an idol…?’ Because they don’t actually exist, things can be extraordinary. What about a girl that looks like that? Or an idol who says these kinds of things? Or an idol as scandalous as this? These will be very modern idols achievable through fiction and designed by a number of wonderful character designers." Aniplex Representative Director Atsuhiro Iwakami:

"Yasushi Akimoto will be the producer, and who knows what kind of stories these characters will be pulled into. It’s an unknown world and I’m looking forward to it." Comment from Sony Music Records Representative Manabu Tsujino:

"I feel like we’ve finally found the innovation the music industry has been searching for since we entered the 21st century."

Characters
Characters and Character Designers
 * From the left silhouette to the right*

■ Miyako Kouno Character Design: Mieko Hosoi /  Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash ,  Nerawareta Gakuen ,  Aiura

■ Nicole Saitou Character Design: Kurehito Misaki /  How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend

■ Reika Satou Character Design: Hirokazu Koyama (TYPE-MOON) /  Fate/Grand Order ,  Mahoutsukai no Yoru

■ Miu Takigawa Character Design: Yukiko Horiguchi /  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-On! K-On!] ,  Tamako Market

■ Ayaka Tachikawa Character Design: Sakura Koharu (QP: flapper) /  Girl Friend (Kari)

■ Jun Toda Character Design: Masayoshi Tanaka /  Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day ,  The Anthem of the Heart ,  Your Name

■ Sakura Fujima Character Design: Kantoku /  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_%22Hentai%22_Prince_and_the_Stony_Cat. The “Hentai” Prince and the Stony Cat]. ,  Garakowa: Restore the World ,  Magical Suite Prism Nana

■ Akane Maruyama Character Design: Tometa Ohara (QP:flapper) /  Girl Friend (Kari)

The first four character images were revealed with a Showroom event at 8:00 pm on October 22, 2016.

The second four character images were revealed with a Showroom event at 8:00 pm on October 29, 2016.

Later in the project's evolution, final additional characters were announced, and were revealed on September 20, 2018.

■ Mikami Kamiki Character Design: Kouhaku Kuroboshi/ Kino's Journey, SAO Alternative

■ Yuki Tojo Character Design: Akio Watanabe/ Monogatari

■ Tsubomi Hiiragi Character Design: Mel Kishida/ Atelier (Rorona, Totori, Meruru)

First Round (10,325 Applicants)
Review of Application Documents

Application Deadline: Nov. 11 at 5:00 pm

Second Round
Practical Skills Screening (Singing)
 * Dec. 3, 2016 in Hokkaido


 * Dec. 4, 2016 in Fukuoka and Tokyo


 * Dec. 10, 2016 in Osaka


 * Dec. 11, 2016 in Nagoya

Third Round
Practical Skills Screening (Dancing, Acting)

Dec. 17, 2016 in Tokyo

Fourth Round (25 Candidates)
SHOWROOM Screening

Dec. 18 to 22, 2016

Final Round
Practical Skills Screening (Singing)

Dec. 24, 2016

Immediately Post-Audition
On December 25, 2016, the idol unit name was revealed to be 22/7. The name was chosen because it is an approximation of pi, an irrational number that can not be expressed in integer division.

The members were still officially referred to by their SHOWROOM digital idol entry numbers. However, they were tentatively assigned anime character roles as follows:

■ Miyako Kouno (Digital Idol 21)

■ Nicole Saitou (Digital Idol 7)

■ Reika Satou (Digital Idol 4)

■ Miu Takigawa (Digital Idol 19)

■ Ayaka Tachikawa (Digital Idol 25)

■ Jun Toda (Digital Idol 9)

■ Sakura Fujima (Digital Idol 11)

■ Akane Maruyama (Digital Idol 22)

■ TBD (Digital Idol 2)

■ TBD (Digital Idol 15)

■ TBD (Digital Idol 18)

■ TBD (Digital Idol 20)

Stage Name Assignment Streams
From February 28, 2017 through March 3, 2017, the members held SHOWROOM streams in order to get fan input for their stage names. On March 4, 2017, they gained their stage names, they were able to cast aside their "Digital Idol" designations.

■ "Mizuha Kuraoka" (Digital Idol 21) (Tentative Role: Miyako Kouno)

■ "Mei Hanakawa" (Digital Idol 7) (Tentative Role: Nicole Saitou)

■ "Ruri Umino" (Digital Idol 4) (Tentative Role: Reika Satou)

■ "Urara Takatsuji" (Digital Idol 19) (Tentative Role: Miu Takigawa)

■ "Reina Miyase" (Digital Idol 9) (Tentative Role: Jun Toda)

■ "Sally Amaki" (Digital Idol 11) (Tentative Role: Sakura Fujima)

■ "Nagomi Saijo" (Digital Idol 22) (No Tentative, Akane Maruyama yet to be recast)

■ "Chiharu Hokaze" (Digital Idol 2) (No Tentative Role, Akane Maruyama yet to be recast)

■ "Aina Takeda" (Digital Idol 15) (No Tentative Role, Akane Maruyama yet to be recast)

■ "Kanae Shirosawa" (Digital Idol 18) (No Tentative Role, Akane Maruyama yet to be recast)

■ "Moe Suzuhana" (Digital Idol 20) (No Tentative Role, Akane Maruyama yet to be recast)

Note: Nagomi Saijo was tentatively cast as Akane Maruyama after this.

Final Casting and Face Reveal Streams
From May 9, 2017 through May 19, 2017, a series of 22/7 SHOWROOM streams were broadcast to reveal the final casting. Each member had an individual stream during which management would call them by phone and tell them live on-stream which, if any, character they would be cast as. The members would stream as usual with with their faces hidden, they would receive the casting call, and immediately after the call ended, they would show their faces for the first time, and continue streaming while discussing how they were taking the news.

May 9: Mei Hanakawa
Her tentative role, Nicole Saitou, was assigned to her permanently.

May 10: Kanae Shirosawa
She lacked a tentative role, and was permanently assigned Akane Maruyama, Nagomi Saijo's tentative role.

May 11: Sally Amaki
Her tentative role, Sakura Fujima, was assigned to her permanently.

May 12: Chiharu Hokaze
She lacked a tentative role and was permanently assigned Reika Satou, Ruri Umino's tentative role.

May 13: Ruri Umino
Her tentative role was Reika Satou, and was permanently assigned Jun Toda, Reina Miyase's tentative role

May 14: Moe Suzuhana
She lacked a tentative role, and would still lack a permanent role. Her permanent role is now Mikami Kamiki.

May 15: Mizuha Kuraoka
Her tentative role, Miyako Kouno, was assigned to her permanently.

May 16: Urara Takatsuji
Her tentative role was Miu Takigawa, but she would instead still lack a permanent role. Her permanent role now is Yuki Tojo.

May 17: Nagomi Saijo
She lacked a tentative role, and was permanently assigned Miu Takigawa, Urara Takatsuji's tentative role.

May 18: Aina Takeda
She lacked a tentative role, and would still lack a permanent role. Her permanent role now is Tsubomi Hiiragi.

May 19: Reina Miyase
Her tentative role was Jun Toda, and was permanently assigned Ayaka Tachikawa, Digital Idol 25's tentative role.

Sub-Units
On July 1, 2020, it was announced that 22/7 would have sub-units functioning under their main idol group, with fans voting once on which sub-unit formation they like best until the deadline of July 15, 2020.



Option 1

 * 1) Individuality Type (Miyako Kono, Miu Takigawa, Sakura Fujima, Akane Maruyama)
 * 2) Natural Type (Nicole Saito, Reika Sato, Ayaka Tachikawa, Jun Toda)
 * 3) New Faction Type (Mikami Kamiki, Yuki Tojo, Tsubomi Hiiragi)

Option 2

 * 1) Happy Type (Miyako Kono, Yuki Tojo, Jun Toda, Tsubomi Hiiragi)
 * 2) Sexy Type (Nicole Saito, Reika Sato, Ayaka Tachikawa, Akane Maruyama)
 * 3) Loose Fluffy Type (Mikami Kamiki, Miu Takigawa, Sakura Fujima)

Option 3

 * 1) Straightforward Type (Miyako Kono, Reika Sato, Miu Takigawa, Yuki Tojo)
 * 2) My pace Type (Mikami Kamiki, Jun Toda, Tsubomi Hiiragi, Sakura Fujima)
 * 3) Cool Type (Nicole Saito, Ayaka Tachikawa, Akane Maruyama)

Option 4
On July 22, 2020, it was revealed that option 2 had won.
 * 1) Light Music Club Type (Nicole Saito, Reika Sato, Jun Toda, Tsubomi Hiiragi)
 * 2) Culture Club Type (Mikami Mikami, Miyako Kono, Miu Takigawa, Ayaka Tachikawa)
 * 3) Sports Club Type (Yuki Tojo, Sakura Fujima, Akane Maruyama)

Current Status
One or more members interact almost every day by streaming in SHOWROOM. The duration of their streams range from 30 minutes to as much as 4 hours.

Occasionally special group performances are streamed as well.

The schedule is posed daily on the official 22/7 Twitter account.

An anime from the group has been announced for January 2020.

Of the eleven members, eight had been assigned anime characters. The three "hidden gems" members had been assigned anime characters on September 20, 2018.

Their first single is Bokuwa Sonzai Shiteinakatta.

Their second single is Shampoo No Nioi ga Shita.

Their third single is Rikaisha.

Their fourth single is Nani mo Shiteagerarenai.

Their fifth single is Muzui.

Their sixth single is Kaze wa Fuiteru ka?

In July 2018, the 22/7 TV variety show, Keisanchuu, began broadcasting.

22/7's manager is Nina.