It has been announced that 5th generation member Eisa Ikeda will be the center for the idol group Nogizaka46's 41st single, "When Did You Last Run Up the Stairs?" (on sale April 8th). The announcement was made on the variety show "Nogizaka Koujichuu" (Nogizaka Construction), which aired late at night on February 15th.
Ikeda is 23 years old, born on May 12th, 2002. He has an unusual background, attending Tokyo University of the Arts while still a member of a group, and last year held his first solo exhibition, "Wings: A Duck's Dream," in Tokyo. He is a regular on TOKYO MX's art variety show, "What Beauty Does Eiji Kotoge Have!" (Tuesdays at midnight), and was even cast in McDonald's TV commercial, "Samurai Mac: 'It's OK to chase two rabbits at once.'" In October of last year, he was also chosen to appear in a wide range of activities.
After being appointed center, Ikeda updated her Instagram (@teresaikedaofficial) and declared her determination to fans, saying, "I'm very grateful to have been chosen as the center. I can't say that I'm full of confidence, but when I think about the people who thought about it a lot and decided to put me here, and all of you who have walked with me, an immature person, in Nogizaka and brought me to this point, I definitely don't want to cause any anxiety or regret."
"I joined Nogizaka46 at the age of 19 and was aware that I was allowed to live freely and was able to go to university as I pleased, so there was a time when I thought I would never be the center (I couldn't face my activities head-on unless I convinced myself of this), which is why the announcement of the selection this time was such a big shock to me," she said frankly, adding, "Now that I've been chosen, I will give it my all, body and soul, and all my strength for Nogizaka46 and this single. I'll do my best until I die!"
