Morning Musume's Newest Member: Oda Sakura

I'm a bit late, but congratulations to the newest member of Morning Musume: Oda Sakura!

I don't know very much about Oda Sakura, other than that she auditioned for S/mileage's New Member Audition, and did not make it through. Here's the video of her audition. Her singing starts just before the 1:30 mark, and it sounds like she's just imitating the S/mileage members' voices. It sounds like she's trying to force herself to sound cute. This is most likely the reason why she didn't make it into S/mileage.

Since then, she has been a kenshuusei (Hello! Project Egg), getting more and more experience with performing in concerts. She then auditioned for Momusu's 11th generation auditions.

If we take a look at her singing footage for Momusu's 11th gen audition, her voice is so much deeper than I would have expected. Her voice reminds me of 10th gen's Kudou Haruka's voice, but with no huskiness. Her voice sounds a lot more mature, and controlled. 

Kudou Haruka (10th gen)

Many fans would say that Momusu is in need of vocal talent, since Takahashi Ai (5th gen) and Niigaki Risa (5th gen) have graduated. 

Takahashi Ai (5th gen)

Niigaki Risa (5th gen)

Tanaka Reina (6th gen) has been holding the fort since then with Sayashi Riho (9th gen), both taking the bulk of the lines. Michishige Sayumi (6th gen), the current leader, has made great progress in her singing, but has unfortunately been autotuned as of late. (Renai Hunter, One Two Three and Wakuteka Take a Chance anyone?) Ishida Ayumi (10th gen) is getting a bit more spotlight in the choreography, since her main talent is dancing.

Tanaka Reina (6th gen) - Current Subleader

Sayashi Riho (9th gen)

Michishige Sayumi (6th gen) - Current Leader

Ishida Ayumi (10th gen)

It has been awhile since Momusu has only accepted 1 girl. It seems like it's an every 4 generation thing as the generations with only 1 member was the 3rd generation with Goto Maki, and the 7th generation with Koharu Kusumi. These two have gone on to do solo work within Hello! Project, but have both graduated for quite some time. Goto Maki has recently taken a hiatus from the entertainment world, while Koharu Kusumi is focusing on her modeling career.

Goto Maki (3rd gen)

Kusumi Koharu (7th gen)

It seems like there is going to be unintended pressure on Sakura being the only member in her generation. The trend would be that she does some solo work, and it could be highly possible, since Hello! Project is losing their only soloist, Mano Erina, as she has decided to graduate. There is Kikkawa Yuu, but she's not directly under the H!P umbrella as she is releasing under Universal Music.

I'm very excited to see Oda Sakura perform with Momusu, and I'm very curious to know what her member colour will be, especially since Ikuta Erina (9th gen) and Iikubo Haruna (10th gen) have inherited Niigaki Risa's and Takahashi Ai's colours, respectively (from what I've seen in latest group pictures), despite already having assigned colours. 

Ikuta Erina (9th gen) / Original member colour: dark purple / "New" member colour: light green

The orange, the black, and the bat wing hairstyle is perfect for Halloween, but doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the members' looks. 

Iikubo Haruna  (10th gen) / Original member colour: chocolate / "New" member colour: yellow

Not counting Junjun, she's the oldest member to be accepted at 16 years old

Group picture of Momusu's latest line-up

Top row from left to right: Suzuki Kanon (9th gen), Ikuta Erina (9th gen), Fukumura Mizuki (9th gen), Iikubo Haruna (10th gen), Kudou Haruka (10th gen), Sato Masaki (10th gen)
Bottom row from left to right: Sayashi Riho (9th gen), Michishige Sayumi (6th gen), Oda Sakura (11th gen), Tanaka Reina (6th gen), Ishida Ayumi (10th gen)