Mononofu Fans Gather at Movie Theater for Momoiro Clover Z's 'The Curtain Rises' Completion Preview Screening

On January 27th, a completion preview screening and stage greeting for the film "The Curtain Rises" took place at Balt 9 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. When the five lead actresses of Momoiro Clover Z (Kanako Momota, Shiori Tamai, Ayaka Sasaki, Anzu Ariyasu, Reni Takagi) and director Katsuyuki Motohiro, known for the "Bayside Shakedown" series, appeared on stage, a huge cheer erupted from the packed audience of Mononofu (Momoiro Clover Z fans, originally meaning samurai). Fuji TV announcer Masaharu Miyake, who also made a special appearance in the film "The Curtain Rises" and is known as a Mononofu (a fan of Momoiro Clover Z, originally meaning samurai), appeared as the MC before the stage greeting.

In a concert-like atmosphere, they created a sense of unity with the fans through the customary self-introductions and roll call. Each member commented, such as Momota saying, "I believe movies are made together with the audience, so today is the first step towards completion. Please spread the word to as many people as possible."

Furthermore, a guest who even surprised Momoclo themselves appeared that day bearing a "major announcement." Emerging from a section of the audience was MLB New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. As he descended the stage amid stunned silence, Takagi couldn't help but mutter, "How did someone that big manage to stay hidden?" Pitcher Tanaka announced a project titled "The Greatest Promotion Operation in History: Here We Go, Nation! Wait for Us, Every Theater!" This initiative involves all five Momoclo members giving stage greetings at 127 theaters nationwide, marking the first time such a stage greeting has been attempted by the lead actors of a film.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by playwright and director Oriza Hirata, depicting a girls' high school drama club. Hirata also served as acting supervisor for the film version, resulting in a realistic portrayal of the world of high school theater. As pitcher Tanaka remarked, "It reminded me of my own high school club activities," the film allows viewers to relate to the passionate youth of club life, even without prior knowledge of the theater world. Watch for the passionate performances of Momoclo's five members, who grow not only as characters but as actresses with each scene. The film opens on February 28th.

Reference:
Movie "The Curtain Rises" Official Website (http://www.makuga-agaru.jp/)