【Shochiku Co., Ltd.】 【Winner of the Bookstore Award, with a total of over 1.5 million copies sold in the series! 】Official Report from the Opening Performance of the Reading Play “Naruse Will Take Over the World,” September 13th (Sat) – 15th (Mon, National Holiday), 2025
Shochiku Co., Ltd. Press Release: September 14, 2025 [A Bookstore Award-winning work with a total of over 1.5 million copies sold!] Official report from the opening night of the reading drama “Naruse Will Take Over the World,” held from Saturday, September 13th to Monday, September 15th, 2025.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-74e249b3c7e9f6dad1a28882f06d553f-2048×1365.jpg By the time the reading performance, which began quietly, drew to a close, the entire theater was enveloped in the passionate presence of “Akari Naruse.” Her voice alone portrayed her youth, her surging emotions, and above all, her “power to believe in this world,” resonated with each and every audience member. Since its publication in 2023, the original novel by Miyajima Mina, “Naruse Will Take Over the World” (Shincho Bunko), has surprised, resonated with, and made many readers laugh, saying, “I’ve never met a protagonist like this before.” Set in Otsu, Shiga, the story depicts the unstoppable drive of high school girl Naruse Akari, who “always accomplishes what she sets her mind to,” and the way she draws those around her into her life. In addition to literary acclaim, the work has gained popularity through word of mouth from readers, winning numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Award. Together with its sequel, “Naruse Follows the Path He Believes,” the series has become a social phenomenon, selling over 1.5 million copies. The story is brought to life on stage in the form of a live reading. What’s more, the cast, featuring popular and talented voice actors, changes daily, allowing for a unique experience with each performance. In today’s performance, Iwata Haruki played the role of Naruse Akari, Tsumugi Risa played the role of Shimazaki Miyuki, and Umeda Shuichiro played the role of Nishiura Koichiro.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-2263f5d2bf1a29d3e99486bd64c0a14b-2048×1365.jpg Iwata Haruki’s character, Naruse Akari, may at first appear eccentric and unconventional, but Iwata’s performance carefully captured the delicate emotions, such as the straightforwardness and loneliness, that lie at her core. What was particularly impressive was not the scenes of emotional outbursts, but the determination that permeates everyday conversations, and the strength of her words, which she uses without fear of being outdated. Even within the limited format of a reading play, her voice was imbued with overwhelming passion and persuasiveness, and Naruse’s seemingly outlandish declaration, “Shimazaki, I want to reach the pinnacle of comedy,” had the power to naturally draw the audience’s attention. Iwata’s acting, cultivated through her work on stage and multimedia productions, and her delicate emotional expression, glimpsed within her cheerfulness, vividly brought out the multifaceted nature of Naruse.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-37f309ff7fd68bbaeb228b5dec7ff66e-2048×1365.jpg As Shimazaki Miyuki, Risa Tsumugi delivered a well-balanced
performance as the watchful eye of her “unusual best friend,” Akari Naruse. While surprised by Naruse’s eccentric behavior, Tsumugi’s Shimazaki possesses the tolerance to accept it without rejecting it, making her a “window of empathy” for the audience. Her voice possesses a natural friendliness and softness, which, combined with Shimazaki’s lifelike charm, supported the story’s realism. Her performance, which does not exaggerate emotional ups and downs but instead shows a restrained tone, creates a sense of calm and security that calms the entire stage. As the “other protagonist” who supports Naruse’s strong personality, Risa Tsumugi accurately embodied Shimazaki’s delicate humanity, further enhancing the depth of the play.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-785a999f7a3154353fccb81df74a648c-2048×1365.jpg In this work, the dialogue between Iwata Haruka (who plays Naruse Akari) and Tsumugi Risa (who plays Shimazaki Miyuki) is an important element that supports the story’s emotion and realism, and their light-hearted, manzai-like exchanges in particular are one of the work’s major charms. The relationship between Naruse and Shimazaki is almost like that of a “boke” (funny man) and a “tsukkomi” (straight man). Naruse, played by Iwata, is single-minded about what he wants to do and repeatedly speaks and acts in ways that are unconventional. Shimazaki, played by Tsumugi, immediately responds with calm and precise tsukkomi (comedian) to his outlandish remarks and actions. Despite being a reading play, this exchange unfolds with the tempo and exquisite timing of a real comedy duo, frequently bringing the audience to fits of laughter. Another defining feature of this exchange is that it doesn’t just end with laughs. While accepting Naruse’s unreasonable demands, Shimazaki herself is gradually influenced and changes. This process of growth is evident in the “change in tone” of their conversation and tsukkomi, and a subtle emotion coexists amidst the laughter. Not only were they skilled as voice actors, but they also exuded a unique atmosphere that only their experienced stage presence could create, a sense of timing that seemed almost improvisational, and, above all, performances that conveyed the joy of the dialogue. These performances were extremely enjoyable for the audience and enhanced the overall appeal of the production. It’s no exaggeration to say that Naruse and Shimazaki were like a “comic duo ready to take over the world.” The combination of Iwata Haruki and Tsumugi Risa brought laughter, warmth, and a deep bond to the story.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-416a950e0e3d07742e6cffd5253fd35b-2048×1365.jpg Umeda Shuichiro’s Nishiura Koichiro is the character closest to “normal” in the story, yet his performance shone with sincere depth to that “ordinariness.” Shocked by Naruse Akari’s strong personality, Nishiura struggles with his own inner conflict, and is eventually influenced by her straightforwardness – Umeda meticulously portrays these fluctuating emotions with delicate vocal expression. As he interacts with Naruse, Nishiura’s tone and timing gradually change, and the process by which he comes to terms with Naruse’s feelings and accepts her “power of belief” is conveyed realistically without any exaggeration. Even without flashy lines or emotional outbursts, the voice acting, like a “gaze” that emanates from within, leaves a quiet aftertaste. Umeda gives a sincere and clear outline to the character of Nishiura, who quietly supports the atmosphere of the entire stage.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-315b5443baf135cfa566170768e408fc-2048×1365.jpg The scene between Iwata Haruki (as Naruse Akari) and Umeda Shuichiro (as Nishiura Koichirou) in this film was one of the most memorable moments in the story. The contrast between Naruse’s bright and outgoing personality and Nishiura’s calm and somewhat cautious demeanor naturally created a sense of tension and warmth in the dialogue between the two. Iwata’s energetic delivery of lines clashed with Nishiura’s calm comments and reactions, creating a sense of realism, like the interactions between real high school students. In particular, in the scene where Naruse says, “I want to live to be 200 years old,” Iwata’s passion and determination are vividly conveyed, and Umeda, while confused, delicately expresses how he gradually comes to accept her sincerity. The two voices overlap, and while they sometimes clash, the process of moving toward mutual understanding touched the hearts of the audience. Although the exchange was voice-only, as is typical of a reading play, the tone of their voices, the timing of their pauses, and their breathing were exquisite, creating the illusion that the two were breathing right in front of me. This scene, woven together by Iwata’s cheerfulness and Umeda’s gentle, watchful attitude, was a powerful and memorable symbol of the play’s overall theme of “friendship and growth.”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-78e3fce0bc16098ec5c743359492d69b-2048×1365.jpg This production was directed by director Minoru Nosaka. Nosaka’s direction, renowned for its realism and dialogue, was a perfect match for the distinctive feature of a reading play: “creating a world solely through voice.” Nosaka has previously been praised for his ability to weave deep human drama through simple spatial direction, and this ability is on full display in this production. The pauses between lines, the flow of breath, the sense of distance between characters—all of these elements came to life onstage as the “realistic adolescence of high school students.” In addition, the original music written specifically for this reading play also greatly supported the worldview of this play. The music, which delicately colors the atmosphere of each scene, harmonizes with Nosaka’s direction, creating a “scene” where words and sound become one. It’s particularly impressive how, while emphasizing the “exuberant individuality” of the character Naruse Akari, he carefully portrays the quiet warmth and fluctuating atmosphere that permeates the entire story. His flexibility in responding to the differences in
interpretations of each cast member and drawing out the “chemistry” that only arises in each episode demonstrates his high level of trust and sensitivity as a director. The warmth of friendship, the pain and joy of growing, the image of people moving forward despite their weaknesses—all of these were brought to life as a “living drama” through words, voices, and a quiet stage setting. This stage, created by Iwata, Tomoki, and Umeda, along with director Nosaka Minoru, is sure to have left a lasting impression on the hearts of many audience members. After the show, the theater lobby was filled with faces that had been given a little courage.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-054c242d0181743681b1978db9116aa7-2048×1365.jpg In the after-talk session following the performance, Iwata Haruki, Tsumugi Risa, and Umeda Shuichiro shared their impressions of the show, their thoughts on their roles, and the direction of the production. Iwata Haruki honestly shared her feelings, saying, “Because the original work has such a strong character, I was nervous about using my own voice to play the role.” Then, when she turned to the audience and asked, “Were you all nervous?”, a huge round of applause erupted, and she couldn’t help but smile at the reaction. The audience’s applause proved that her challenge had been well received. Tsumagi Risa said, “Each of the three performances of this reading play has a different cast, and each one has a different
interpretation, so each time you see it, you’ll discover something new.” She continued, “The way we approach Naruse’s existence is different each time, and that’s what makes this production so interesting,” conveying to the audience the unique appeal of a daily changing cast. Her joy at being able to experience the depth and breadth of the work through vocal expression was evident in every word she spoke. Umeda Shuichiro commented, “I’ve mostly played relatively stable characters up until now, so this role of a wavering, somewhat unreliable high school student was a challenge for me.” While feeling the difficulty of expressing Nishiura’s confusion and hesitation with just his voice, he revealed that he approached the role with the desire to “show a new side of him,” which earned him warm applause from the audience. All three spoke of the room for improvisation allowed by Nosaka’s direction and the importance of finding a rhythm in the acting, saying, “The best part of a recital is that even with the same script, a different atmosphere can be created each day.” The three performers, all brimming with satisfaction, reflected on the work and engaged in lively conversation.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53064/391/53064-391-63cb9fff008a9477e7510bbb225e5c6c-1909×2700.jpg ■Performance Overview Performance Title: Reading Drama “Naruse Goes to Conquer the World” Performance Dates: September 13th (Sat) – 15th (Mon, National Holiday), 2025 September 13th (Sat) Day session: starts at 14:30, Evening session: starts at 18:30 Sunday, September 14th: Day session: starts at 14:30, Evening session: starts at 18:30 Monday, September 15th (national holiday): Day session: starts at 13:00, Evening session: starts at 17:00 *Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes before the start of the show. Venue: Sogetsu Hall (1st basement floor, Sogetsu Kaikan, 7-2-21 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Original work: “Naruse Goes to Take Over the World” by Miyajima Mina (published by Shincho Bunko) Directed by: Nosaka Minoru Script: Tsuchishiro Atsumi Organized and produced by: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Supported by: Nippon Television Network Corporation Cast: September 13th (Sat) Iwata Haruki, Tsumugi Risa, Umeda Shuichiro, and more September 14th (Sun) Anzai Chika, Suwa Nanaka, Imai Fumiya, and more September 15th (Mon/Holiday) Wakayama Shion, Aoki Haruna, Ishitani Haruki, and more ■Story In 2020, at the start of summer vacation in the second year of junior high school, Naruse, a childhood friend, starts saying strange things again. She visits the Seibu Otsu store every day, which is facing closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be featured on live broadcasts… After taking on the challenge of competing in the M-1, she embarks on a long-term experiment with her own hair, and memorizes and fulfills the Citizen’s Charter. No one can take their eyes off Akari Naruse, who continues to forge ahead on her own path with all her might. ■Ticket Information Ticket Price: All seats reserved SS seats: 11,000 yen (tax included), S seats: 9,900 yen (tax included) A seats: 8,800 yen (tax included), B seats: 6,600 yen (tax included) General (first come, first served) tickets eplus https://eplus.jp/naruten_rodoku/ Animate
https://www.animate-onlineshop.jp/pn/pd/3172984/ ■Official performance website/Official target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow ugc
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