Nao Toyama had her solo debut on 1 February 2017. On 24 May 2017, she released her second single and also held a release event in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture and Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture where more than 2,100 fans attended in two days. She was able to gain a lot of attention all over Japan, and on 11 June 2017 she held an event in Kanagawa called Hoshi ga Kirei at the Hamagin Kodomo Uchuu Kagaku-kan Uchuu Gekijou. She also celebrated the release of her second single Ima Koko/Tsuki ga Kirei at the event. 220 lucky fans chosen by her were invited to her premium stage called Planetarium.
This event was different from regular anime events, as the atmosphere seemed more serious. When Nao Toyama came on stage in a white dress, the whole venue was cast in a calm, bright light. And with this calm air, the talk segment started. Before the event, fans could ask some questions they wanted her to answer. Some of them asked questions that had something to do with the anime Tsuki ga Kirei. For example ‘What would you do, if you liked the same person as your friend?’ and others asked question that had to do with her music, ‘What did the graffiti in the making of the music video say?’
After the talk event came the Ima Koko! Music Video Kansho-kai segment. For this part, the venue turned down the light to project a starry sky. They played the ‘Ima Koko’ music video in the middle of the night sky and everybody was bewitched by Nao Toyama who seemed like floating through the night sky. After the video, a spotlight illuminated a stage that was seemingly floating in the middle of the night sky. She came back on stage and the last segment of the event started: the live performance. The only thing reflecting in the eyes of the fans were Nao Toyama and the starry sky. The audience watched over her in silence as Toyama started the concert with the song ‘Bright Heart’.
Toyama showed her full cuteness during the performance, giving the audience no other choice but to smile brightly as they were charmed by her clear singing voice. Without so much as a breath, ‘Hatsukoi’ began after the song finished. It is a cover of a song by Kozo Murashita. Wrapped in the sound of her beautiful voice, some of the fans even shed tears. And while some were still wiping their tears, the third song, the very popular ballad ‘Tsuki ga Kirei,’ started to play. Those who looked into the ‘sky’ were surprised to find a lyrics video. Reading the exact words of the song showed the deep meaning of the lyrics, which gave the audience the chance to feel the love it contains to its fullest. This song as well made some fans cry because of their overwhelming emotions.
And as expected, the last song was ‘Ima Koko’. In the music video is a scene where Toyama is singing under the starry sky. The audience forgot the tears from previous ballads with this uplifting song. At some parts, the audience could cheer in time with the song and it was like the fans and Toyama were connected through an invisible bond.
With this, the event ended, leaving the fans looking forward to the upcoming Anisummer event. But this event with its starry sky and Nao Toyama’s beautiful voice will probably stay in the memories of fans.
The first season of the new year is just one month away from its finale. It was a great start with many amazing titles that made these past months worth the extra hours we put in front of our sets. Now, it is time for the cold wind to give way to the pink hues of the sakura tree and for the Winter 2018 season to give the anime baton to Spring 2018.
