Determining the Top of 5,000 Entrants: Japan's Largest Campus Contest Crowns Its Grand Prix Winners, Itsuki Harada and Kasumi Tsukishiro! ~Former Hinatazaka46 Member Ayaka Takamoto, Kuro-chan, and Junichi Tosaka Provide Serious Advice to the Winners!~

Themiss Co., Ltd. held the awards ceremony for 'CAMPUS BOYS 2026' and 'CAMPUS GIRLS 2026,' two of the largest domestic campus contests to determine the 'No. 1 male and female university students in Japan,' on Friday, March 27, 2026. The Grand Prix for 'CAMPUS BOYS 2026' was awarded to Itsuki Harada, a 4th-year student at Senshu University from Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Grand Prix for 'CAMPUS GIRLS 2026' was awarded to Kasumi Tsukishiro, a 3rd-year student at Toyo University from Chiba Prefecture.

'CAMPUS BOYS 2026' and 'CAMPUS GIRLS 2026' are among the largest campus contests in Japan, collaborating with major talent agencies that represent many of the country's leading actors and celebrities to discover new talent for the entertainment industry. This year marks the 6th edition of 'CAMPUS BOYS' and the 3rd edition of 'CAMPUS GIRLS,' with total entries exceeding 5,000.

At the awards ceremony, 12 finalists who advanced through the preliminary rounds, semifinals, and finals from four blocks appeared on stage. In both the BOYS and GIRLS categories, 10 awards were presented, including the Grand Prix and Runner-up. The selection for the top two awards was based on a comprehensive evaluation of web and on-site voting results, live streaming points, interview screenings, and social media engagement. The event featured former Hinatazaka46 member Ayaka Takamoto as the cheering ambassador, comedian Kuro-chan of Yasuda Dai Circus as guest MC, and freelance announcer Junichi Tosaka as the main MC.

■ Advice for Nervous Finalists! Ayaka Takamoto's Method for Staying Calm: 'Dare to Have Unnecessary Confidence!'

Kuro-chan, serving as guest MC for the fifth time, and cheering ambassador Ayaka Takamoto appeared on stage. When asked how to avoid nervousness on a big stage, Takamoto reflected on her own experience, saying, 'I used to get nervous, but I started thinking of nervousness as the root of failure. So, I decided to dare to have unnecessary confidence!' revealing her unique self-control technique.

Additionally, when asked about their student days in connection with the campus contest, Kuro-chan confessed, 'Actually, I was the student council president in junior high school.' He shared a bitter memory, saying, 'Believing that working for everyone was important, I used student council funds to buy snacks for our meetings, but people around me started shouting that it was embezzlement!'