Keyakizaka46 have announced the addition of a new member: Nagahama Neru.

She’s 17, and from the Nagasaki prefecture. Her addition to the group was interesting, mainly due to the fact that she wasn’t added as the result of an audition.

She did attend a few auditions, but on the day of the final audition she was brought back home. Her family ended up being invited to a concert in Fukuoka at her father’s request after seeing her cry and with the approval from the staff she started as an underling of the group Hiragana Keyaki.

It’s a nice story that had a happy ending and while we will have to see how she does it does seem like she has what is needed to be part of the group.

Welcome, Nagahama Neru!