To us in 'Those Days' who were shouting our 'love' at the center of the world.

I went to a preview screening of the movie 'Those Days,' which will be released on February 19th.

Well, where should I start? When it finished, I was crying. Not sobbing, but tears were gently spilling over. The 'love for Hello! Project' that overflowed from the screen from start to finish, and the dazzling brilliance of the 'bonds and friendship'—so straightforward it was almost embarrassing—that were formed through Hello! Project, were irresistibly endearing.

Perhaps many people might think that the title 'Those Days' implies a story just about reminiscing over the Hello! Project of the 2000s. You might feel anxious, thinking, 'I don't know that era, so I might not be able to relate.'

However, at the completion report event streamed live before the screening, the lead actor, Tori Matsuzaka, said,'It's a movie that serves as nourishment for the heart right now.'Taiga Nakano, who plays Kozumin—who could be called the other protagonist—also said,'This movie isn't just about wallowing in nostalgia for "those days"; I want people to feel the importance of the "now" that we have reached after going through them.'he said.

In the first place, many people might think, 'I don't know Hello! Project, so I won't understand it.' Well, that's how it is in general society.

However, if you are obsessed with something, the conversation is easy.

There are no barriers to the unconditional love for an 'oshi' (favorite) common to all genres, or the rowdy fun with friends you met through encountering that 'oshi.' Whether it's idols, anime, actors, Takarazuka, or theme parks, there is no difference in being an 'otaku.' We live through the common language of being an 'otaku.'

There are nights when you love your 'oshi' so much you want to scream.

It's a famous anecdote known among Hello! Project fans.

The character Nakauchi (Kouki Serizawa) is a music-focused fan, but he had the star quality even back then to make people say about Sayumi Michishige,'The one who was good at singing was Michishige.'

'Those days were fun, weren't they?'
'Idiot, now is the most fun.'

There are these men, foolish but earnest, who make you feel like living life with that kind of mindset. No matter the era, if you have an 'oshi,' you are invincible.

I previously wrote about my own 'Those Days' on note. I was also a Hello! Project fan in Tokyo during the same era as the original author and protagonist of the story, Mikito Tsurugi, and his 'Renai Kenkyukai' (Love Research Society) friends. Naturally, there were Aya Matsuura fans like Tsurugi-san, and fanatical Rika Ishikawa fans like Robi-san (Takashi Yamanaka).

That's right. I really want those who were once Rika Ishikawa otaku to watch this movie. I want those who were screaming 'Rika-chan! Rika-chan!' like crazy to watch the state of mind of each otaku leading up to Rika Ishikawa's graduation concert, which was a turning point, and their feelings about the graduation.

To those who were 'Odolists' (dance otaku). I want you to watch Nishio (Ryuya Wakaba) dancing wildly to 'The☆Peace!' with bloodshot eyes, completely absorbed. Our figures from those days, staring at the stage and dancing while thinking, 'So-and-so and I are in sync!', are on the screen.

And I, too, live with the '6th Generation Strongest Legend' in my heart, just like Ito (Kentaro Kokado). Because of Reina Tanaka's singing, I came to love Morning Musume even more.

Above all, I think the way of life of Kozumin (Taiga Nakano), who is like a fundamentalist for Miki Fujimoto, is the core of this movie and the message it most wants to convey. Among the eccentric Renai Kenkyukai, Kozumin is the most eccentric character. His 'Hello! Project love,' which makes him sing even 'Koi ING' and 'Romantic Ukare Mode' in the original key, is incredibly endearing.

By the way, Tori Matsuzaka looked like he was having quite a hard time singing in the original key. But that, too, will likely look irresistibly endearing to Tori Matsuzaka fans.

If the world wasn't in a state of COVID-19 right now, there would definitely have been movie theaters holding loud cheering screenings. And I think I would have definitely participated.

In a movie theater overflowing with Hello! Project fans and Tori Matsuzaka fans, I wanted to do wotagei or dance to 'The☆Peace!', '♡Momoiro Kataomoi♡', and 'Romantic Ukare Mode', and join the Renai Kenkyukai. in singing 'Koi ING' at the top of our lungs while linking arms.

And I wanted to cheer with all my might for Tsurugi-san—no, Tori Matsuzaka-san—as he shook hands with Aya Matsuura in the film, shouting, 'You can do it! It's okay! You can definitely say it!'

I truly hope that once COVID-19 settles down, they will hold screenings at some movie theater. I am sincerely wishing for that.

Oh, and by the way, Yuhane Yamazaki from the current Hello! Project group BEYOOOOONDS plays the role of Aya Matsuura during the handshake scene in the film. Her appearance is limited to just that handshake event, but the undeniable presence of Aya Matsuura was right there.

Between supporting their favorites and falling in love, the Renai Kenkyukai. were running through that era alongside Hello! Project, making a huge ruckus. And the final scene, which is also in the original work—no one could help but cry at the way the direction transitions from that final shot into the end credits along with the music.

In the 'Demon Slayer' movie, I was also in the theater crying, 'Rengoku-san...', while listening to LiSA's 'Homura', but with 'Those Days', I felt the same way—or rather, in terms of emotional attachment, even more feelings overflowed, and I ended up soaking my mask with tears.

That was unfair. You can't help but cry at that. Morning Musume is wonderful. Hello! Project is wonderful. No, really, I just think all geeks are wonderful, and I can't stop the tears. And I feel like saying 'thank you' to all my favorites.

The movie 'Those Days' was a grand ode to geeks.