Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Morning Musume auditions

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Genre
  
Music

Country
  
Japan

Founder
  
Tsunku

Location(s)
  
Tokyo

Inaugurated
  
1998

Attendance
  
5,000–25,000

This is a list of auditions held for the J-pop group Morning Musume.

Contents

Tsuika Audition (2nd Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Not specified
  • Total applicants: 5,000
  • Broadcast on ASAYAN in 1998
  • No training camp and theme song
  • Winners: Sayaka Ichii, Mari Yaguchi, and Kei Yasuda
  • 2nd Tsuika Audition (3rd Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
  • Total applicants: 11,000
  • Broadcast on ASAYAN in 1999
  • Training camp, theme song: "Summer Night Town" (Morning Musume's 2nd single)
  • Kumi Koda participated in this audition and sang Blue Zone by famous Japanese idol, singer, painter, seiyuu, model, actress, mother, jewelry designer, spokesperson, and inspirational speaker Kudo Shizuka.
  • Winner: Maki Goto
  • 3rd Tsuika Audition (4th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
  • Total applicants: 25,000
  • Broadcast on ASAYAN in 2000
  • Training camp, theme song: "Akai Nikkichō" (Akagumi 4's single)
  • Miki Fujimoto and Mai Satoda participated in this audition. Both would later join Hello! Project, with Fujimoto eventually joining Morning Musume as part of the 6th generation.
  • Winners: Rika Ishikawa, Ai Kago, Nozomi Tsuji, and Hitomi Yoshizawa
  • Love Audition 21 (5th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade student
  • Total applicants: 25,827
  • Broadcast on muSix! in 2001
  • Training camp, theme song: "Love Namidairo" (Aya Matsuura's 3rd single)
  • Aiko Kayō, Reina Tanaka, Yukina Kinoshita and Erika Miyoshi participated in this audition. Tanaka was a finalist but was kicked out due to not meeting age requirements; she would later enter and pass the following year's audition, while Miyoshi won the 2003 Hello! Project audition and later joined v-u-den. Kayō was also a finalist, but was not chosen. She debuted as solo artist under Avex Trax label two years later.
  • Winners: Asami Konno, Risa Niigaki, Makoto Ogawa, and Ai Takahashi
  • Love Audition 2002 (6th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, 7th-12th grade
  • Application Song: "Do It! Now"
  • Total applicants: 12,417
  • Broadcast on muSix! in 2002
  • Training camp, theme song: "Do It! Now" (dance, Morning Musume's 15th single), "Akai Freesia" (voice training, Melon Kinenbi's 8th single)
  • Miuna Saito participated in this audition. She later joined Country Musume.
  • Winners: Miki Fujimoto, Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, and Reina Tanaka
  • Lucky 7 Audition (7th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, minimum of 9th grade and under 20 years of age
  • Application Song theme: A capella
  • Total applicants: N/A
  • Training camp and theme song: "Dokusen'yoku" (dance, from Morning Musume's Ai no Dai 6 Kan album), "Haru no Uta" (voice training, from Morning Musume's Ai no Dai 6 Kan album)
  • Broadcast on Hello! Morning starting September, 2004. Audition result aired on January 9, 2005
  • Winner: None
  • Audition 2005 (7th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, minimum of 7th grade and under 22 years of age
  • Total applicants: 21,611
  • No training camp and theme song
  • Broadcast on Hello! Morning starting February 9, 2005. Audition result aired on May 1, 2005.
  • Finalists: Ai Suma, Risa Kubo, Koharu Kusumi, Keiko Inagaki and Airi Furukawa
  • Winner: Koharu Kusumi
  • Ai Suma later became a member of Hello! Project's Kansai-based group SI☆NA until its disbandment in April 2011. Airi Furukawa became a member of SKE48's second generation in March 2009.
  • Happy 8 Ki Audition (8th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, junior high or under 21 years of age
  • Total applicants: 6,883
  • Training camp and theme song: Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan (dance, Morning Musume's 30th single) and Aruiteru (voice training, Morning Musume's 31st single)
  • Broadcast on Hello! Morning starting September 2006. Audition result aired on December 10, 2006.
  • Finalists: Minami Okumura, Natsumi Hanada, Yuu Kikkawa, Aika Mitsui, Sumire Satou, and Masuda Ayami
  • Winner: Aika Mitsui
  • Kikkawa would later become a soloist. Kashiwagi later joined AKB48 Team B becoming the Captain, Sato also later joined Team B and Kitō joined Team KII of SKE48. Kawamura joined the 2nd Generation of Idoling!!! in 2008.
  • Kyuukie Audition (9th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, Minimum of age 10 and under 17 years of age
  • Total applicants: 9,000+
  • Second Examination: Held at Hokkaido on 10/9 or Osaka on 10/11. The 2nd exam required questioning, PR, and singing an a cappella song.
  • Training camp and theme song: Get Up Rapper, Crazy About You (dance, 2003 H!P Shuffle, Minimoni's 10th single) and Aitai Lonely Christmas (voice training, Cute's 14th single)
  • Broadcast on Bijou Gaku starting December 16, 2010, ending 23 December 2010. Audition winners were announced January 2, 2011.
  • Finalists: Erina Ikuta, Riho Sayashi, Kanon Suzuki, Aina Otsuka, and Minami Mogi
  • Winners: ex-Egg Mizuki Fukumura, Erina Ikuta, Riho Sayashi and Kanon Suzuki
  • Aina Otsuka & Minami Mogi were added into Hello! Pro Kenshuusei in June 2011.
  • Genki Jirushi (10th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, Minimum of age 10 and under 17 years of age.
  • Total applicants: 6,000+
  • Training camp and theme song: Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai (dance, A-side of Morning Musume's 47th single from Kono Chikyū no Heiwa o Honki de Negatterun Da yo! / Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai!) and Jishin Motte Yume o Motte Tobitatsu Kara (voice training, graduation commemorative song of Ai Takahashi)
  • Broadcast on Hello Pro! Time from the September 9 to the September 22, 2011. Audition winners were announced September 29, 2011.
  • Finalists: Haruna Iikubo, Masaki Sato, Ayumi Ishida, Haruka Kudo, Meru Tashima, Hinako Oogami, Ayumi Miyagi, Miwa Satsuki, Fuuka Tanaka, and Sara Murakami
  • Winners: Haruna Iikubo, Masaki Satō, Ayumi Ishida and ex-Egg Haruka Kudō
  • Meru Tashima later successfully auditioned for the second generation of HKT48. Sara Murakami later joined a group called Gekidan Her Best as Sara Murose.
  • Suppin Utahime (11th Generation Audition)

  • Application requirements: Female, Minimum of age 10 and under 17 years of age.
  • Total applicants: 7,000+
  • Training camp and theme song: What's Up? Ai wa Dō na no yo~, One Two Three (dance, 13 Colorful Character) and Be Alive (voice training, 13 Colorful Character)
  • Broadcast on Hello! SATOYAMA Life starting August 30, 2012.
  • Finalists: Ayano Hamaura, Yumeno Kishimoto, Reina Ichioka, Haruka Ono, Sakura Oda, and Maria Makino
  • Winners: ex-Egg Sakura Oda
  • Reina Ichioka, Yumeno Kishimoto, Maria Makino and non-finalists Kaede Kaga and Sakurako Wada were added to Hello! Pro Kenshuusei in December 2012.
  • Mirai Shōjo (12th Generation Audition)

    An official audition website was created in March 2013, calling for contestants age from 10 to 17 (as of 1 April 2013). Contestants are required to be free from any contractual relationship with any entertainment agency, and legal guardian's consent is required if contestant is under-age.

  • Total applicants: 6500+
  • Training camp and theme song: Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (dance, Juice=Juice) and Kanashiki Amefuri (voice, ℃-ute)
  • Broadcast on Hello! SATOYAMA Life
  • Finalists: Danbara Ruru, Haga Akane, Funaki Musubu, Niinuma Kisora, Oura Hirona, Yamaki Risa, Yokokawa Yumei
  • Winner: None
  • (Golden) Audition! (12th Generation)

    Audition Details

  • Application Requirements:
  • Female, Minimum of age 10 and maximum of 17 years of age by March 31, 2014.
  • Must not currently be under contract with any agencies.
  • Must have consent from legal guardian if under age.
  • Application Deadline: May 11, 2014
  • Total Applicants: TBA
  • Training Camp Choreographer: Yoshiko (Morning Musume's Choreographer)
  • Broadcast: TBA
  • Winner: Haruna Ogata, Miki Nonaka, ex-Egg Maria Makino and ex-Egg Akane Haga.
  • Shinseiki Audition! (13th Generation)

    Audition Details

  • Application Requirements:
  • Female, Minimum of age 10 and maximum of 17 years of age by January 1, 2016 (original). (June 1, 2016 for re-recruitment).
  • Must not currently be under contract with any agencies.
  • Must have consent from legal guardian if under age.
  • Application Deadline: February 14, 2016 (original), August 7, 2016 (re-recruitment)
  • Training Camp Choreographer: Yoshiko (Morning Musume's Choreographer)
  • Winner: ex-Egg Kaede Kaga and ex-egg Reina Yokoyama
  • References

    Morning Musume auditions Wikipedia