Morning Musume LOVE Audition 21

Morning Musume LOVE Audition 21 (モーニング娘。LOVEオーディション21) was an audition held in 2001, in the search of the 5th generation members of Morning Musume.
The winners of the auditions are Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto and Niigaki Risa.
==Audition details==
;Application Requirements
:Female, must be in 7th through 12th Grade during the auditions.
;Total Applicants
:25,827 Auditionees
;Training Camp and Theme Song
:Voice - LOVE Namida Iro (Matsuura Aya)
:Dance - I LOVE NEW YORK CITY
:Group Voice - I WISH (Morning Musume)
;Broadcast
: On MUSIX!
==Audition Process==
===First Round===
The girls submit an application before the due date in order to participate. A total of 25,827 applications were received. Tsunku checked each application and narrowed it down to 161.
=== Second Round ===
All 161 applicants gathered in Tokyo TV studio for second round audition. Tsunku chooses 9 of them for training camp.
===Third round===
9 girls were originally selected for the training camp which lasted for 4 days:
*Ogawa Makoto (小川麻琴), 13
*Sato Mina (佐藤聖奈), 12
*Takahashi Ai (高橋愛), 14
*Niigaki Risa (新垣里沙), 12
*Kayo Aiko (嘉陽愛子), 15
*Kinoshita Yukina (木下優樹菜), 13
*Konno Asami (紺野あさ美), 13
*Suzuki Kumiko (鈴木久美子), 13
*Nishida Natsumi (西田奈津美), 12
==Results==
In 2001, during the television program MUSIX!, it was revealed that Takahashi Ai, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto and Niigaki Risa were the winners of LOVE Audition 2002, becoming 5th generation members.
==Trivia==
*Tanaka Reina was a finalist but was kicked out because she did not meet the age requirements; she would later enter and pass the following year's audition.
*Miyoshi Erika participated in this audition but failed. In 2003, she won the 2003 Hello! Project audition and later joined v-u-den.
*Satoda Mai participated in this audition, but failed. Afterwards, she auditioned for Country Musume and passed.
*Kinoshita Yukina later debuted as a model and actress, and crossed paths with fellow auditionee Satoda Mai in the unit Pabo.
*Kayou Aiko later signed on to Avex Trax in 2003.
*Nishida Natsumi later auditioned for sixth generation, but failed. Afterwards, she debuted as a gravure idol in 2004.
*Yoshiki Risa participated in the audition, and later debuted as a gravure idol in 2004.
*Tanimura Mitsuki participated in the audition, and later debuted as an actress in 2003 under Hori Agency.
*Otake Imaru participated in the audition, and later debuted as a model and singer under the name IMALU in 2009.
*Suzuki Kumiko later became an announcer in 2010.
==Gallery==
08265.jpg|Kayo Aiko
08263.jpg|Takahashi Ai
Picture 7.png
08262.jpg|Sato Seina
08267.jpg|Konno Asami
Picture 469.png
08261.jpg|Ogawa Makoto
Picture 47.png
08264.jpg|Niigaki Risa
Picture 8png.jpg
08269.jpg|Nishida Natsumi
08268.jpg|Kinoshita Yukina 
=== 
External Links ===
* Pictures of the nine finalists (August 26, 2001)
Category:2001 Auditions
Category:Morning Musume Auditions
Category:5th Generation Morning Musume