AKB48's audition for the 13th generation has come to an end on September 24th, and a total of 33 girls have come closer towards their dream of becoming an idol.

It was a mixtures of smiles and tears, when AKB48's theater manager Togasaki Tomonobu read out the names of the 33 girls. They are now on the road towards their dream, but they still have a long and difficult journey ahead.

The final round of the audition started with the 57 girls who passed the previous interviews, all between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. The tension was clearly seen on their faces, as they faced all the 15 judges, including AKB48's producer Akimoto Yasushi. They first had to dance a short routine from the group's song "Flying Get", and then tried to appeal to the judges with their singing skills.

Akimoto, Togasaki, and the rest of the judges were able to listen to a great variety of songs, including AKB48's "Shonichi", "Sakura No Hanabiratachi", as well as, Iwasaki Yoshimi's "Touch", Southern All Stars' "Itoshi no Eri", Ozaki Yutaka's "Sonzai", and more.

Togasaki encouraged the girls and said, "We had a very long and difficult discussion this time as well. I hope that all of you who passed will work hard in order to become a formal research student and eventually a full-fledged team member."

The upcoming months are going to be packed with various lessons for the 33 girls who passed, but they are all eager to get through this training in order to be able to stand on stage of the AKB48 theater some day.

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Source & Photos: Sanspo