Hello! Project Shin Member Audition

'''Hello! Project Shin Member Audition''' (ハロー！プロジェクト新メンバーオーディション) is the audition for new members to join Hello! Project as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations in 2018. It was announced on July 15, 2017 at Hello! Project 2017 SUMMER ~HELLO! MEETING~.

On November 13, 2017, a AmebaTV program following the audition, titled ''Shoujotachi no Ketsudan ~Mitchaku!! Hello! Project 20 Shuunen Audition~ (少女たちの決断〜密着!!ハロー!プロジェクト20周年オーディション〜; Girls' Decisions ~Close Coverage!! Hello! Project 20th Anniversary Audition~''), began. To make the audition memorable, the program will show full close coverage of the audition for the first time since 2011. In addition, various past and current Hello! Project members will watch and comment on the audition process from a studio. Unreleased footage and stories from the audition will also be uploaded onto AmebaVideo.

Audition Details

 * Application Requirements:
 * Female, minimum of 9 years of age and maximum of 17 years of age by July 15, 2017.
 * Must be able to attend lessons in Tokyo.
 * Must not currently be under contract with any agencies.
 * Must have consent from legal guardian if under the age of 15.
 * Application Deadline: August 14, 2017
 * Total Applicants: TBA Auditionees
 * Training Camp Choreographer: Mitsubachi Maki
 * Training Camp Singing Teacher: Marron
 * Broadcast:
 * Shoujotachi no Ketsudan ~Mitchaku!! Hello! Project 20 Shuunen Audition~ on AmebaTV
 * Extras on AmebaVideo

First Round
The application deadline was on August 14, 2017 at noon.

Screening of the primary documents was completed on August 25, 2017, and it was announced that successful applicants would be sent information on the second round screening through the mail.

Second Round
89 girls from all over the country were selected to take part in the second round screenings held in both Tokyo and Osaka in September 2017.

Recording director Hashimoto Shin was a member of the judging panel in Tokyo. He and three other judges reviewed each girl's profile and interviewed them.

In this round the girls had to:
 * Show a special skill.
 * Sing a song of their choice.
 * Give a performance to the rhythm of "Shalala! Yareru Hazu sa"
 * (103) Matsubara Yuriya
 * (107) Kanemitsu Ruru
 * (113) Tamenaga Shion
 * (122) Ogura Shiho
 * (123) Ogura Miho
 * (124) Kubota Nanami
 * (126) Shutto Anna
 * (174) Goto Sayaka
 * (176) Hashimoto Momoko
 * (177) Hiromoto Ruri
 * (180) Kodama Mai
 * (TBA) Hirai Miho
 * (TBA) Mineta Himena

Final Round
The finalists were taken to a training camp from where they received dance and vocal lessons. Marron divided the parts of "Jealousy Jealousy" to the girls. They had to individually record and dance "Jealousy Jealousy".

8 girls were chosen to participate. They include:
 * Kodama Mai (児玉麻衣), 15
 * Hashimoto Momoko (橋本桃呼), 14
 * Tamenaga Shion (為永幸音), 14
 * Goto Sayaka (後藤咲香), 14
 * Kubota Nanami (窪田七海), 13
 * Shutto Anna (出頭杏奈), 13
 * Kanemitsu Ruru (金光留々), 12
 * Matsubara Yuriya (松原ユリヤ), 10

Trivia

 * Applicants may have a chance to join any of the main groups, the new group, or Engeki Joshibu.
 * Michishige Sayumi is the narrator for Shoujotachi no Ketsudan ~Mitchaku!! Hello! Project 20 Shuunen Audition~. She watched the recordings as she narrated and wanted to cheer on the audition candidates after seeing them do their best. Michishige also wondered to herself which group the candidates will join or which group certain girls would fit in with.