1st Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition

Heike Michiyo & Morning Musume Imouto-bun Audition (平家みちよ&モーニング娘. 妹分オーディション; Heike Michiyo & Morning Musume Sister Audition), was an audition for a new member to join [https://helloproject.fandom.com/wiki/Hello!_Project Hello! Project]. Application details was included with Heike Michiyo's fifth single, with a deadline set for February 1999. Second interviews was held in late March to early April.3,264 girls sent in their application, and 157 girls passed the first round.

The audition process was aired on Idol wo Sagase, presenting a new girl in each episode starting with episode.

On May 18, 1999 it was revealed on Idol wo Sagase that Rumiko Chigi had passed the audition. She was given the stage name Chinatsu Miyoshi shortly after she won.

Audition Details
 * Application Requirements:
 * Female, 15 to 17 years old
 * Must send in a recording of Heike Michiyo's Anata no Yume ni Naritai and MOrning Musume's Memory no Seishun no Hikari on cassette tape, entering name and age on the cassette label (without the cassette case).
 * Two photos (full length and close up).
 * Self introduction book with name, date of birth, age, size (height, bust, waist, hip), work history, education (school name, grade), and a self PR (maximum 200 characters).
 * Enclose an A-4 size statonary sheet with phone number and stamps, and select the district to participate in the second interviews (Toky, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo or Fukuoka).
 * Those who pass will be contacted about second interview at end of March.
 * Application Deadline:February 1999
 * Total Applicants: 3,264
 * Broadcast:
 * Idol wo Sagase

At Home Interviews
In episodes #13 to #17 on Idol wo Sagase, a small segment was aired with a girl who had sent in an application. She answers questions, show her room, dance and sing the chorus of a song.

Episode #13

Asami Yuko (浅美優子), 17, sings Hamasaki Ayumi's Depend on You

Episode #14

Episode #15

Episode #16

Arai Miki (新井美喜), 15, sings Amuro Namie's BODY FEELS EXIT

Episode #17

Ikehata Chisue (池端千季), 18, sings PUFFY's Ai no Shirushi