On October 30, it was announced that idol group Morning Musume would sing the official support song for the Japanese national team at the 'Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics'.
The group has also been appointed as the ambassadors for "Nippon! Call Project" to cheer for the Japanese national team. For this project, they will collect people's "Nippon!" calls from all over Japan by using a smartphone application, and the shouts of encouragement will form a "炎 (=flame)" mark. Then it will be sent to the Japan's team members. Reportedly, the official support song will also contain the shouts from people all over Japan.
Morning Musume members attended the project's launching ceremony held at Haneda Airport along with Hashimoto Seiko, the Chef de Mission for the Japanese team, and the candidates for the Japanese women's ice hockey team.
The leader of the group, Michishige Sayumi, enthusiastically said, "I was surprised at this important task and felt a little worried, but it is amazing to be able to sing the support song. I feel that we need to do our best."
When asked about other Olympic games, Michishige would be paying attention to, she answered, "It will be figure skating. Since many skaters of the same generation as me or younger than me are taking active parts, looking at them gives me courage and positive feelings that I also need to try my best." She revealed that she pays special attention to Asada Mao.
Sources: 1, 2, 3