As a sister group of the idol group「ＡＫＢ48」、「ＳＴＵ48」 will start this summer in the 7 prefectures of the Setouchi Inland Sea such as Hiroshima and Kagawa。The final judgment will be held on the 19th and the members will be decided。As the idol group from Setouchi they're expected to attract popularity nationwide and lead to regional revitalization。
February 18、the 2nd jugdement of STU48's 1st Generation audition was held at the Hiroshima venue。「I was really nervous、but it was nice to made it with a smile」 we were told by one finalist with a smile of relief。
STU48 recruited the 1st Generation from January to February this year。8061 girls applied from all across the country。A total of 101 girls got into the final round by February 26 after the document screening。
The final audition will be held on March 19。According to the STU48 Management Secretariat「The number of the final 1st Generation members has not been decided and will depend on various things」。
The existing groups of the AKB Group are doing their lives in their respective theater in major cities、but the STU48 theater will be on board。The ship will go around the main ports in Setouchi and will show the girl's singing and dancing。Murahashi Katsunori, General Manager of the Setouchi Tourism Promotion Organization which contains ＤＭＯ（Tourist Spot Management Organization, said「If the idol travels around the area、there are fans that will follow。It'll lead to demands such of food and lodging」。
The birth of an idol group rooted in the area is expected to promote tourism。Many fans from outside the prefectures are expected to visit for live events and shows。General Manager Murahashi「Through ＳＴＵ48、the name of Setouchi is already known accros the country, which is the starting point to get people interested」。
The expectation of holding the「Senbatsu Sousenkyo」of the AKB Group is already high。A Event in which the fans will decide the next song Senbatsu of the members by popular vote。Since 2015 it has been held in regional cities of the sister groups based in Fukuoka and Niigata、so there's already a high possibility of holding the Event in Setouchi after STU48's inauguration。It is estimated that economic effects in Fukuoka and Niigata were 2billion Yen and 1.5billion Yen respectively due to demand of accommodation by fans。
Unlike the sister groups based in the metropolitan areas such as Akihabara/Tokyo and Sakae/Nagoya, STU48 is based in a local city and is expected to have an effect on regional tourism。An precedent example is NGT48 in Niigata Prefecturw which was established in 2015。Since it's inauguration、members were appointed to Niigata's immigration Promotion Video and Prefecture produced Rice Promotion activites、and collaborated therfor with local companies to sell items that members invented、and are just actively participating in regional revitalization。
General Manager Murahashi「The demand to appoint members of STU48 in tie-up products and various PR activities are increasing。We will even consider a collaboration of STU48 and Setouchi DMO」。
Prior to the launch, the attention to STU48 is already high, especially after Sashihara Rino-san, who was the first member with two consecutive victories in the Senbatsu Sousenkyo, announced on radio that she will participate a theater manager and kennin of STU48。All the eyes are on STU48, whether the group will grow into a powerful content responsible for the local revitalization of the Setouchi area。
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