Management agency Watanabe Entertainment held the finals of its "Manatsu no Girls Audition" on Monday. Out of the five finalists, the grand prize winner was 12-year-old Kurumi Takahashi, a junior high student from Saitama.

The audition was organized twice before in 2006 and 2008, under the name "B-Girl Audition." This year's competition attracted 17,212 contestants. In the finals, the judging rounds included the typical swimsuit and special talent sections, plus a singing round using songs by idol Shoko Nakagawa (24), who served as a special judge.

The event also featured some special guests, including AKB48 members Yuki Kashiwagi (18) and Haruka Katayama (19).

After being named as the winner, Takahashi tearfully stated, "I want to become a celebrity who's always smiling and is liked by everyone." Her career with Watanabe Entertainment will start with a commercial for Bandai Namco Games.