Flower (group)

FLOWER promoting "Taiyou to Himawari" (2013)

FLOWER is a Japanese pop girl group signed to the Sony Music Japan record label. Originally a four member dance unit serving as backup dancers for EXILE, FLOWER added two more dancers and three vocalists. The new members were selected through a nationwide talent search by LDH titled EXILE Presents VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 3 ~For Girls~. They made their debut on October 12, 2011 with the single "Still".

Members

• Mizuno Erina (Performer/Leader)
• Nakajima Mio (Performer)
• Fujii Shuuka (Performer)
• Shigetome Manami (Performer)
• Washio Reina (Vocalist)
• Muto Chiharu (Vocalist)
• Ichiki Kyoka (Performer/Vocalist)
• Bando Nozomi (Performer)
• Sato Harumi (Performer)

Information

Pre-Debut

In 2009, EXPG (EXILE Professional Gym) recruited four girls to form a new dance unit. The four members, Mizuno Erina (leader), Fujii Shuuka, Shigetome Manami and Nakajima Mio became known as FLOWER, and they participated in EXILE music videos in addition to doing modeling work. Most notably, they served as backup dancers during EXILE LIVE TOUR 2010 FANTASY, alongside groups like Happiness and Dream who are also under the LDH agency. Little was actually known about the group when they mysteriously appeared on the LDH website under the category of "Artist".

In 2011, E-Girls (EXILE Girls) was formed as a joint project featuring Dream, Happiness, and FLOWER. While the other two groups had vocalists, FLOWER only performed as a dance act at E-Girls' shows.

EXILE Presents VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 3 ~For Girls~

In February of 2011, it was announced that EXILE would be sponsoring a nationwide talent search, titled EXILE Presents VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 3 ~For Girls~, specifically aimed at young girls, ages 12-25. Thousands auditioned through three stages of initial screening. In the end, two dancers (otherwise noted as "performers") were selected to join FLOWER. They were Bando Nozomi and Sato Harumi. However, the winners of the vocalist audition would not be announced until an E-girls show on May 14, 2011 held at SHIBUYA-AX. There, it was announced that Washio Reina, Muto Chiharu and Ichiki Kyoka would be the vocalists of FLOWER. The new FLOWER performed their audition song, "Still" and also revealed that it would be their debut single.

FLOWER (2009) L to R: Shigetome, Fujii, Mizuno, Nakajima

Discography

Singles

• [2011.10.12] Still
• [2012.02.29] SAKURA Regret (SAKURA リグレット)
• [2012.08.22] forget-me-not ~Wasurenagusa~ (ワスレナグサ)
• [2012.11.28] Koibito ga Santa Claus (恋人がサンタクロース)
• [2013.08.07] Taiyou to Himawari (太陽と向日葵)

External Links

• Official Website
• Sony Music Official Profile
• Official Blog