為了慶祝『トラペジウム』的公開，結川あさき先生、羊宮妃那先生、上田麗奈先生、相川遥花先生、木全翔也先生（JO1）以及導演篠原正寛都出席了舞台問候！並向作品的創作者高山一実先生贈送了感謝的康乃馨。

From idol to novelist, Ms. Kazumi Takayama, a first-generation member of Nogizaka46, has stood out and successfully published her novel "Trapezium" with KADOKAWA. This novel has been adapted into an anime film and was released nationwide on May 10th. Of course, we must not forget the film release commemorative stage greeting held at Shinju Balt 9 on May 11th!

The main cast, including original author Mr. Kazumi Takayama, Ms. Asahi Musubu who plays protagonist Higashi Yū, Ms. Hina Yōmiya who plays Ōkawa Kurumi, Ms. Reina Ueda who plays Hanatori Ranko, Ms. Haruka Aikawa who plays Kamei Mika, Mr. Shōya Kimata (JO1) who plays Kudo Shinji, and Director Masahiro Shinohara, all attended this stage greeting.

The story of "Trapezium" is set in the eastern part of the peninsula region 'Jōshū'. The protagonist, Higashi Yū of Jōshū East High School, holds the strong wish to 'definitely become an idol' and sets rules: 1) No social media, 2) No boyfriend, 3) Don't stand out in school, 4) Make the beautiful girls of Tōzainanboku his partners, to live his high school life by these rules.

Yū's dream is to gather the beautiful girls of Tōzainanboku to form an idol group. With his passion and determination, he faces various difficulties, makes the 'shining stars' his partners, and pursues his dream, staking his high school life on it. This work is filled with Takayama's own thoughts, depicting the various hardships and challenges in pursuing a dream.

Mr. Takayama said: "When writing the novel, I was really desperate; I never imagined it would connect to something so big (a film adaptation). If I had known such a future back then, I think I would have been surprised. All the voice actors were also very cute and sparkling... I have many emotions swirling inside. I hope to sublimate these feelings into other works; this anime film adaptation gave me such a precious experience."

Mr. Takayama also shared his favorite part: "My favorite is the opening with the theme song playing; it's a feeling only possible in animation. The combination of Hoshimachi Suisei's singing and the protagonist Yū's sense that 'the story is about to begin' makes it very exciting; that's my favorite scene. The scenes where the Tōzainanboku members sing, or the indescribable expression when Mr. Kimata's Shinji appears are also interesting, so I hope you'll pay attention."

So, how did the voice actors of this movie view their characters? Asahi Musubu, who plays the protagonist Yū, said, "Yū's desire to become an idol is so strong that she might seem selfish, sharp, and sometimes neglectful of her surroundings, which could make her seem unlikable. However, Yū's desire to become an idol is genuine, and all her actions are to achieve that wish, which never changes from start to finish. I hope you won't dislike Yū; please watch over her with warm support, and I would be happy!"

Hina Yōmiya, who plays Ōkawa Kurumi, said, "Kurumi is a fluffy, cute girl who likes 'moe sleeves', but her eyes sparkle for things she loves. Watching Kurumi and the members of Tōzainanboku each struggle with what's in front of them, thinking about what an idol is, and moving forward in their own ways gave me a lot of strength. I would be very happy if you could see what kind of girl Kurumi is, recall her on your way home, and spread the word!"

Reina Ueda, who plays Hanatori Ranko, said, "Ranko is described as a strong character in the work, but she is also glamorous, innocent, and has a distinct personality. On the other hand, she often stands among everyone, trying to be a lubricant. She wants to be helpful to people or slightly ease the atmosphere; she's a child full of tender feelings, so I hope everyone will pay attention to her and watch over her."

Haruka Aikawa, who plays Kamei Mika, said, "Mika is a girl who is passionate about volunteer work, appearing quiet and kind, but her mind is always filled with various thoughts, so there are many emotionally rich scenes. I hope everyone will think, 'How does Mika feel in this scene, why does she say these things?' If you can view her that way, I would be happy. She is a character who grows throughout the work, and I hope you will watch over her warmly."

Shōya Kimata, who plays Kudo Shinji, also said, "Shinji may seem weak and helpless at first glance, but he is actually a very kind and reliable man. In the work, seeing Shinji's clever arrangements and growth in the latter half moved me to tears. The work itself also moved me to tears, and I would be happy if everyone could enjoy it too."

Finally, Director Shinohara said, "When I read the original work, I felt it was a novel filled with many interesting elements. At the same time, I wanted to create a work that could inspire people, so I continued making it with that in mind."

On May 12th, Mother's Day, to celebrate the story of "Trapezium" and the public release of Takayama as the 'mother' who created 'Tōzainanboku', the staff and cast presented carnations as a gift with feelings of gratitude!

Asahi Musubu, who plays Yū, said to Kazumi Takayama: "Thank you for allowing us and everyone who loves this work to encounter 'Trapezium'! I'm truly happy to have met Yū!" He was moved to tears and presented Takayama with a vibrant bouquet of carnations. Takayama, deeply touched, accepted the carnations and said: "Thank you! I couldn't fully express my thoughts in the novel, but the voice actors understood each character's feelings, which made me very happy! I'm deeply moved by everyone's passion and professionalism, and I'm very grateful for this encounter!"

At the end of the stage greeting, Mr. Takayama said: "I really like the connections between people, but putting them into words is difficult; I had this feeling when writing my novel too. 'Trapezium' is a work filled with various thoughts, such as the difficulty of communication, uniquely human collisions, memories from student days, and more. How you feel about it is up to you, so I hope everyone can find enjoyment in it. If it can add a little spice to your lives, I would be very happy!"

Currently, "Trapezium" is being shown nationwide to great acclaim, and let's all look forward to Ms. Kazumi Takayama's next work!