Nako Yabuki and Hitomi Honda, former members of the group IZ*ONE, will try to make a re-debut as a K-pop girl group.
Seoul Economy Star reported on April 19th that Nako Yabuki and Hitomi Honda will appear on Mnet’s survival entertainment program “Queendom Puzzle”.
“Queendom Puzzle” is a program that continues the “Comeback War: Queendom” and “Queendom 2” series that started in 2019. Unlike active girl groups competing in this season, the format was changed to complete a global project girl group by combining former and current girl group members like a puzzle.
Yabuki Nako and Honda Hitomi have reportedly also participated as individuals, not as groups, and will compete for a spot in the final debut group.
The two are experienced K-pop girl group survivalists. They were selected as the final members of group IZ*ONE through Mnet’s “Produce 48” in 2018, and disbanded in April 2021, after 2 years and 6 months.
Later, Nako Yabuki returned as a central member of the Japanese girl group HKT48. Last month, she showed her face to Korean fans by serving as the MC for the SBS M Korea-Japan joint audition “The Idol Band: Boys Battle”. At that time, she also announced her intention to become an actor.
Honda Hitomi also returned to the Japanese girl group AKB48 after the disbandment of I*ZONE. She made her acting debut in July of last year when she starred in a Japanese drama.
Another Japanese member, Miyawaki Sakura, re-debuted in the group LE SSERAFIM with Kim Chaewon from IZ*ONE last year and is actively promoting.
Regarding their appearance, Mnet said, “The overall casting is in progress, so it is difficult to tell.”
Source:(A)