Author: ミーナ

[Interview] Harajuku Pop Web – Saito Soma – “Petrichor” and “in bloom”

Published: 2020/7/8
Original URL: https://harajuku-pop.com/21129

“I’m the type that pays attention to the visual nuances of words”

Q: Like flipping pages in a book, your artist career has entered Chapter 2 with the “in bloom” series. I’m interested in the reason why you’ve separated it into “Chapter 1” and “Chapter 2.” Was it done deliberately to make a clear distinction about what you’ll be presenting next?

It’s not that deep—It’d been about two years since the label asked me if I was interested in a music career, and after releasing an album and performing a live concert, I felt that I’d reached a sort of milestone. Looking back, there was a nice flow from “Fish Story,” the amazing song Oishi Masayoshi-san wrote for me, until my album quantum stranger. Many of the songs were themed around “traveling” or “the end of the world.” But since I was a voice actor doing a singing career, I thought that pop entertainment would have to be at the core no matter what. However, I couldn’t stop my desires from building, and I started wanting to do darker, more incomprehensible songs. So from now on, I’m going to create more varied music, so please lend me your support. Although it kind of feels like I’m trying to show off, and it’s a bit embarrassing… *laughs*

Q: I was also intrigued by the name of this series, “in bloom.” What was the reason behind that?

I didn’t really think there was a need to give it a name, but the producer asked me to give it one so that the connection would be easier to understand *laughs*. The original plan was to release a single in June, but due to various circumstances, it had to be turned into digital releases instead. So, when I was putting together the songs I had in reserve, I noticed that many of them had a seasonal feel to them. I was originally thinking of using “in bloom” as a song name, but I realized that it was perfect for this series and decided on it right away. It had a nice ring to it, and personally, I’m the type that pays attention to the appearance—or rather, the visual nuances of words. “in bloom” was both visually and audibly appealing. So it’s not like I chose this title from the very beginning to form the overall concept. It’s more like it dawned upon me.

Q: You say that the themes for this series are “the changing of seasons” and “what comes after the end of the world.” I can feel romance and emotion in “the changing of seasons,” but what I’m really interested in is “what comes after the end of the world.” Could you tell us the reason behind these two themes?

I’ve always liked the process of change as well as ambiguity. So, I wanted to write songs that gave off the feeling of the rainy season or that brief moment between summer and fall. I enjoy turning nameless concepts into songs rather than simply giving them names. I still have yet to write a coherent message song—my approach is to express certain situations or feelings in the form of music. In that sense, the three songs in this series express the changing of seasons in their own separate ways.

As for “what comes after the end of the world,” I mentioned earlier that many of my songs so far had “the end of the world” as a motif. When I was reading Dazai Osamu’s Roman Dourou, I encountered a phrase that left an impression on me: “The real story always begins after the dance of love has ended. Most films end with the formation of a happy couple, but what we want to know is what kind of life they live afterwards.” There are two themes I’ve chosen not to write about for the time being: message songs (as mentioned earlier) and love songs. Setting that aside, I very much agreed with that passage. So far, I’ve been writing stories about how people would receive the end of the world, but now, it’s a question of what happens next. Is the world completely over, or…? I wanted to try writing songs about that. This theme will continue beyond the scope of these three songs, too.

“I like the scent of rain. I also like both the sound and appearance of the word ‘petrichor.'”

Q: The first digital song in the series is “Petrichor.” The word refers to the scent that rises from the ground when it rains, and I thought the word had a lovely aesthetic. I’m very interested in what led you to it.

I don’t remember how I learned this word, but… At first, I had a sort of prototype for the song, and when I came up with it, I knew it was going to have rain. And originally, I didn’t want to use katakana for the title—I wanted to give it a bit more of a Japanese setting. But I got stuck, and when I was brainstorming, I suddenly remembered this word and decided to lift the restriction on katakana. From there, it was a relatively smooth path to the overall image. I like the scent of rain. I also like both the sound and appearance of the word “petrichor.”

Q: Since the “in bloom” series is about the changing of seasons, will the next songs also take place in specific seasons? I’m also interested in why you chose to begin with a season about rain.

“in bloom” is currently expected to be three songs, so that’s the plan.

Many of my songs already have rain or nighttime as a motif, and since this June marked my third anniversary since my debut, I was planning on releasing a single with all three songs about rain. The title was going to be “Ame no Sanbusaku” (Trilogy of Rain), an homage to Yoru no Sanbusaku (Trilogy of Night) by the author Fukunaga Takehito. That was the original plan. However, due to various circumstances, that became difficult to achieve, but I really wanted to release Petrichor in June no matter what. So, it became a series of digital releases. The other songs don’t have a rain theme and originally weren’t going to be used here, but since the new theme was the changing of seasons, I thought they’d be perfect. Come to think of it, “Reminiscence,” the coupling song on my Date single, was also originally titled “Ame” (Rain).

Q: “Petrichor” has a light, pleasant feeling that makes you want to go out in a raincoat with an umbrella and strut around in the rain. What did you keep in mind when you were composing this song?

Bringing out the nuance of splashing raindrops while not making it too upbeat.

The recurring sax riff is somewhat off key, but that’s because I was aiming for a sound that can’t be expressed on the musical scale. “Blue notes” are the same way, but I really wanted to express something “ambiguous” or “unclear” here too. So, people who listen to music from a logical perspective might feel that something is off. But when I created the riff, I hoped that it’d continue to linger in people’s ears after the song was over.

Also, it was the correct choice to add the noise guitar to the intro and outro—I’m talking about the sound coming from around the left side. I showed the arranger, Saku-san, a video of a no wave guitarist named Arto Lindsay, and selfishly asked him, “Please do it like this, playing the rhythm with noise instead of melody.” *laughs* I’m sorry for always making such complicated requests. Thank you for yet another wonderful arrangement, Saku-san!

As for the vocals, I like how the harmony in the hook has an Elliot Smith feel to it. Whenever we’re recording, everyone will be playing the keyboard or guitar and saying, “Wouldn’t this way sound more urban and stylish?” while making changes to the melody, and it’s enjoyable having that sense of teamwork.

The song takes a rather peculiar turn from the second verse. It’s presumptuous of me to say this, but personally I think the part that goes “kuruizaku you na…” is reminiscent of Inoue Yosui. I also like that the part afterwards has a spoken sound rather than rap or song.

“For some reason, I’m incredibly drawn towards things relating to ‘rain.'”

Q: When I listen to “Petrichor,” I feel romance in Japan’s damp and humid season. What is your personal impression of the rainy season, Soma-san?

I’m not good with humidity, so I can’t say I love it, but for some reason, I’m incredibly drawn towards things relating to ‘rain,’ whether it be the shape of the kanji (雨), the rhythm of rainfall, or the scent and colour. It’s like everything is quietly hidden away rather than shown in detail. Isn’t it exciting when you pass by someone whose face is hidden behind an umbrella, and you can only see their mouth?

Q: In “Petrichor,” we see the protagonist walking on the street against a rainy backdrop with colours being painted in, depicting the lyrics of the song. Was there anything you kept in mind or aimed for when writing the lyrics?

Madness and enchantment… The listeners’ interpretations of this song are quite divided. There’s no correct answer, so thank you all for ending up exactly as I’d hoped *laughed*.

My personal interpretation is that it’s definitely not only an upbeat, light song. This is ultimately only my perspective, but while this song has a Singin’ in the Rain-like feeling, it’s closer to A Clockwork Orange, in my opinion. This person might seem like they’re in a really good mood, but how does it look to a third party? When writing a novel, there’s a technique called the “unreliable narrator,” and this is it.

But, what’s most important is to interpret it the way you want to. Have confidence in your interpretation—believe in it and assume responsibility for it. I think that’s the best way to enjoy the song, and I hope people will come up with all sorts of interpretations.

Q: I always try to avoid going outside on rainy days, but after listening to “Petrichor,” I got the feeling that it could lead to something dramatic. In the lyrics, there’s a part about “taking a little detour”—when do you feel like doing that, Soma-san?

I do it pretty much all the time. I love going for walks, and I’ve always enjoyed taking a different route every time. Even when I was a student, I’d constantly take different routes home. But, unlike the person in “Petrichor,” on rainy days I’d run straight home *laughs*. Then again, we don’t know where this person is coming from and where he’s going. He’s insane, in a way. So to be honest, it makes me think “this person looks like he’s having a lot of fun, but he’s kind of scary.” Going back to the original topic, I really love taking unknown roads and being inspired by what I see there.

Q: In “Petrichor,” I could sense the emotional “changing of seasons.” Are there hints of the other theme, “what comes after the end of the world,” hidden in the song as well?

I think it might be inelegant to explain too much of that, but… hmm, perhaps there isn’t that much in this song. I think this song is really introspective and subjective. Rather, since it’s about the rainy season and the changing of seasons, you’d think the person would be emotional, but he actually seems extremely ephemeral. It feels like he’s really enjoying what he’s doing.

That said, just because I wrote the song doesn’t mean I’m going to openly explain everything, although I’m not going to tell any crazy lies either, of course. There might be something hidden in smoke, so please listen to the song while keeping that in mind.

The “world” is another tricky aspect, though. Is it referring to the whole world, or this person’s world? I hope that the various interpretations will blend in with the raindrops.

Q: The recording members were: Bass – Ochi Shunsuke (CRCK/LCKS), Sax – Fujita Junnosuke (TRI4TH), Piano – Watanabe Shunsuke (Schroeder-Headz). Were you looking for a band arrangement?

No, I wasn’t. In fact, I wanted to reduce the amount of sounds as much as possible. Japanese pop music always ends up increasing the sound density and filling the gaps in the songs. It’s an additive process, whereas I wanted subtraction—a song where you could hear empty space. So, I didn’t ask for anyone specific. Since it’s also a jazzy song, I requested people who would perform this subtraction while preserving the song’s groove. In the end, everyone performed wonderfully and I was extremely happy with the result. Their performance was especially great in the outro, so please listen closely to it.

“Rain in slow motion is truly beautiful, don’t you think?”

Q: The MV for “Petrichor” was also lovely like a watercolour painting. Was there anything you were aiming for in particular with it?

Filming MVs in these times is rather difficult, and this was the result of researching what would be possible. I’m truly thankful to the movie team for creating something beautiful under such limited time constraints. When I gave them the general idea of what I wanted and they came back with the watercolour aesthetic, I thought, “This is it!” It really is a stylish video that matches the song. I asked the usual two to do the fashion styling and makeup, and of course, they did a wonderful job as always. Yet again, I felt how blessed I was to be able to create something with a team.

Q: Do you have any interesting stories from the filming? Also, what would you say the highlight of the MV is?

I remember that on the filming day, it just barely didn’t rain, but right after we finished filming, it suddenly started pouring. The movie team really did a wonderful job, so please watch it several times. Rain in slow motion is truly beautiful, don’t you think? As an aside, there’s a cut where I was snapping my fingers as I walked, but I actually can’t get any sound to come out at all *laughs*.

Q: What does the completed song mean to you now?

I think that once a song is out, it no longer belongs to me—it’s been released into the atmosphere. Personally, this time I’m very satisfied that I was able to express a hidden madness appearing and disappearing from behind the upbeat-ness, but when it comes to music, the most important thing is that it’s being listened to. There’s no greater happiness than having your song listened to by one more person, one more time. But if I may say an additional thing, it’s that I’m glad it became a song with a suspicious air, fitting for the opening to my new series.

Q: I’m also curious as to why this series is taking the form of digital releases.

As I wrote above, it was originally going to be a CD single. Currently, physical and digital releases coexist, and both sides have their advantages. But I grew up in the era of buying CDs in my hometown’s used record shop based on their covers, excitedly listening to them at home, and feeling overjoyed when there was a secret track after the last song. So, next time, I definitely want to release a CD.

Q: I’m very interested in what form the rest of the “in bloom” series will take. Is there anything you’re allowed to tell us right now?

The second song is called “Summerholic!” and it’ll be released on August 19th. It’s an “upper” band tune for the height of summer. This one is rather simple; I think it’s an honest song that’s only been “twisted” once. That said, there are still tricks inserted throughout, so I think it’ll be fun to listen to. As I said for “Petrichor,” this one might also have a horror vibe depending on the listener. Well, it’s summer after all *laughs*.

The third song takes place between summer and fall. It features an emotional band sound and sentimental lyrics. This one has more of the “end of the world” motif, but the perspective is still a bit different from my previous songs. We just finished recording it the other day, so I’m looking forward to hearing the completed version.

Anyway, I have an infinite number of written songs in reserve… In the past, I showed part of the demo for a song called “Hokuou (Kari)” (Scandinavia (Temp)) on Twitter, and I have a lot of other materials stocked up too. The temporary titles are “Oasis Miss,” “Bossa Nova,” “VW,” “Marilyn Manson,” “Kujira” (Whale), etc… I want to do my best so that these songs will have the chance to see the light of day.

Q: What kind of situation do you want people to listen to “Petrichor” in?

I think one of the best things about this generation is that you can listen to music at any time. So, please enjoy the song in any situation you like. My personal recommendation is while taking a walk. It’s really fun listening to it at night and copying the MV, although people might think you’re strange *laughs*. I didn’t have any exact time of day in mind when I wrote the song, but I think it might be an unexpectedly good fit for the morning. After waking up in the morning, you could listen to it on the veranda while watching the drizzling rain.

“Books and sleep are my idea fountains.”

Q: Please tell us about your favourite fashion style.

I like relatively simple clothes as well as French style clothes. In the past, I didn’t like wearing rings or watches, but tastes sure do change as years pass. For watches, rather than expensive ones or mechanically-impressive ones, I prefer ones that feel right for my body, and I’m still searching for the best one.

As for colours, I’d say I have a lot of green or black items. I often voice blue-type characters which leads to wearing costumes with cool colours, but if I had to state my preference, it’d be autumnal colours such as deep burgundy. I’m also attracted to pale tones; in other words, items with ambiguous colours. I love sweaters and cardigans too.

Q: Is there anything you’re particular about when it comes to fashion? Do you have any favourite brands?

How the clothes feel on my skin. Not getting tired when wearing them—when I’m recording and have to talk for a long time, I often wear loose clothes that won’t feel tight against my body.

I have a lot of favourite brands, but I’m the type that likes to enjoy my fashion quietly, so it’s a secret *laughs*. Even if you know what brands I like, please keep it to yourself.

If I have to name something, I wear Dr. Martens shoes quite often. I own several pairs, and they fit the shape of my feet and are comfortable to walk in on any surface. I like Paraboot for the same reason. My latest concern is that caps don’t look good on me because I have a round face *laughs*. I like using nice things for a long time.

Q: What’s essential to your lifestyle, Soma-san?

Books and sleep. Both of them are my idea fountains.

By the way, “lifestyle” is a very important keyword for beyond the “in bloom” series. That said, it’s still in the planning stage, so I don’t know how it’s going to turn out… Even when the world ends, life continues (or does it?). Keep that in the back of your mind, and someday the connection will be made.

Also, something nice I bought recently was a Le Creuset bowl. You can serve any type of food nicely in it, and it’s easy to clean. All I have to do is move the food from the frying pan to the bowl, eat, then wash the bowl, dry, and put it back. I’ve been cooking for myself more often lately, but I’m pretty much only using this bowl *laughs*.

I also bought a carbonated water maker-type thing, which has proven to be very valuable as well. It’s strange, because I used to not like carbonated drinks.

I also want a funnily-shaped guitar. Something with a really peaky sound… I should stop, because I could go on forever *laughs*.

Q: Lastly, please give us a message of your choice.

Thank you for reading all the way here! I hope you’ll listen to “Petrichor” many times! I plan on bringing you lots of songs this year, so please support my musical activities in addition to my voice acting work!

[Blog Post] Petrichor

Original URL: https://ameblo.jp/somasaito/entry-12607039774.html
Published: 2020/6/26

A friend recommended me Yagi Nagaharu-san’s manga, and I absolutely loved them…!
It’s to the point where I’m lamenting, “Why didn’t I read these earlier?” Mugendai no Hibi and Wakusei no Kage Sasu Toki were both amazing. There was a bit of a resemblance to papanya-san’s works.
Music-wise, I’ve been listening to a lot of Mystery Jets, from their second release onward. I really do love this band. I’m producing serotonin. Saito Soma here.

⭐︎

Now then, tomorrow… or rather, in a few hours, the digital single “Petrichor” will go on sale!
I had to release this song during the rainy season no matter what. I actually wanted to release it on a CD, but due to various circumstances, I settled for a digital release. I think that means you’ll be able to listen to it on various media though, so please do!

Next, I’d like to do a simple, informal introduction to the song. It might be best to listen to it without any prior information, so if you want to go that route, please wait a little longer and read this after it’s been released!

It’s the rainy season, and amidst the gently falling rain, a lone figure walks with a sway on the wet stone pavement, perhaps taking a stroll or returning home. He’s in a dreamy, or perhaps enjoyable state of mind. The lyrics feel about the same as usual, but I chose words with stems that are like raindrops—they feel round and light. The MV ends at just the right time, but I personally love what happens next in the song as well. Please listen to it.

On the music side, the most important thing to point out is the sax riff. I remember that once I came up with it, I swiftly obtained a grasp of the entire song’s image. Aside from that, the bass and kick drum are fairly emphasized, making for a strong rhythm section like what you’d hear in hip hop. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear the messy noise guitar in the far background, which blends and blurs in with the rain sounds. I think there are various ways to listen to the song.

Personally, I don’t really like getting wet from the rain, but I very much enjoy listening closely to the sound of raindrops from inside my room and spacing out. I hope that this becomes a song that gives you a different outlook on rain. Please enjoy it tranquilly with the rain.

And from here on, it’s a surge of consecutive releases!
The next song is quite summery and has a pop sound, but there’s playfulness all throughout and I think it’s a direction I haven’t done much of before.
The third song… I don’t want to say anything yet *laughs*
I think it’ll be about the progression from the end of summer to autumn, so it’s naturally going to be emotional.
And beyond that… I want to write a lot of songs, so that I can bring you more interesting music!

I went on for a long time there, but please listen to my new song “Petrichor”!

⭐︎

That’s all for today!
See you!

Saito Soma

[Interview] CUT 2020/7 Edition – Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Cast Interview/Survey

Released: 2020/6/19

※Only Soma’s part will be translated here, as well as mentions from other sections.

Q: Out of all of the Hypnosis Mic songs, which song or lyric is the most memorable to you, and why?

It’s difficult to choose a song because they’re all so amazing… but as far as Shibuya goes, it’d have to be “Stella.” I remember when I first heard the demo, it was such a good song that I immediately messaged the other two *laughs*. It’s a world from a story written by Gentaro and a song that only Shibuya can sing—I can feel each character’s emotions and past tightly packed within it.

In terms of Gentaro, his “uun sou sa gomeitou” in “Hypnosis Mic -Division Battle Anthem-” was memorable. Most recently would be “Utena” – “kono kanjou ga tsutawatte shimattara ii no ni” (if only these feelings would get across). Up until then he’d been describing a vivid scene, and then he delivers that message in the final line. I think Gentaro’s mellowness is expressed very well there.

Q: What is your personal highlight of your involvement in Hypnosis Mic, and why?

It’d have to be when I first heard about the project. The combination of voice actors and rap content was something I was surprised didn’t exist earlier, and I remember being very excited to see what kind of chemical change it would bring about. I was nervous during my first concert, but Shirai-kun was so calm and composed that I was confident I’d be fine if I followed his lead. I had so much fun playing with him and Nozuyama-kun.

Q: When developing your rap in the image of your character, do you have any special technique or something that you pay extra attention to?

At the beginning, Gentaro had many songs where he used a poetry reading style; in other words, different from the style where you rap to the beat. So, I thought I’d bring out his uniqueness there. As more songs came, I got to challenge varying flows that weren’t limited to that style, which I’m thankful for. But still, he’s a phantom, so instead of matching the sound to the rhythm, I think it’s better to be more laidback and slow down on purpose, creating an atmosphere that bewitches the listener.

Q: If you were to spend one day with your character, what would you want to do?

I think it’d be tiring because he’s constantly telling lies *laughs* but I’d want to leisurely read books with him at a cafe while discussing literature. What authors he likes, the stories he’s written so far, etc. Also, since he enjoys people-watching, I think it’d also be nice to watch pedestrians and fantasize, playing around with worlds that we shouldn’t. I’d also like to ask him about the equipment he uses and his preferences when it comes to stationery.

Q: Summarize your team in one phrase.

Ephemerality, pop, they appear to be facing different directions, but they trust each other to guard their backs. That’s the image I get. It feels like their relations have changed quite a lot compared to the beginning. Just like the Shibuya scramble crossing, their lives are only intersecting for this moment, and they may never run into each other again. Nevertheless, they all strongly believe in the fact that they can be together right now.

Q: What’s your “Senshu Sensei!” (oath of fair play, reference to the opening line of Division Rap Battle) for your future involvement in Hypnosis Mic?

We’re getting closer to the heart of the story, and as a Hypmic fan myself, I’m excited to see where it goes. On top of that, as a member of Fling Posse, I want to treasure the time we spend together. Personally, I want to challenge even more styles of rap. Hypmic is getting even more exciting with new teams and new characters, so please continue to support us!

Mentions:

Shirai Yusuke:

(Regarding the cast after their characters’ relationships evolved during the drama track from Fling Posse -Before The 2nd D.R.B-)
“The three of us didn’t discuss how we were going to do it at the start. I’ve always been the type to act freely on stage, so I feel really at ease when I’m acting as Ramuda on stage—it doesn’t feel different from how I usually am. If anything, it feels like Ramuda would say whatever he wants, but even if I don’t say anything, the other two will poke fun at that and liven things up, which I think is in-character for Fling Posse. It was like that during 5th Live on AbemaTV too; Shibuya was really lively *laughs*. I’d mimic the other divisions during their turns, and the other two would play along with me. It definitely wasn’t visible on camera, but I think the three of us all enjoy that kind of atmosphere. I can depend on them, and they’ll accept all of my antics. Ramuda may be the leader, but it’s not like he pulls people along. It’s more like he acts freely the way he wants and people choose to follow him. So, I hope I can be like that too.”

(Regarding “Stella” at 5th Live)
“Since it was after the newest drama track, I think it became a different ‘Stella’ from the one we performed at 4th Live. It was packed with spontaneity and emotion… I felt like I was linked with Amemura Ramuda’s current mental state and put more passion into it. I think Soma-kun and Nozuyama-kun were the same way, but it’s not like we discussed it beforehand or anything. I think it came about naturally because of how we felt there on stage. The only thing we discussed in advance for 5th Live was the part after Dice’s solo song, where the three of us went ‘Yay!’ followed by ‘The camera’s still rolling!’ reaction *laughs*”

[Interview] Animage 2020/7 Edition – IDOLiSH7 Second Beat!

(No scans provided because it was character visuals only. Cute original art though)

Released: 2020/6/10

Features:
Saito Soma (Kujou Tenn in IDOLiSH7)

※There were also interviews with Ono Kensho and Hoshi Soichiro, but they won’t be included in this post.

Q: In the four episodes that have aired, what impression did you have of Tenn?

The mobile game’s story has already progressed quite far, and there, he seems to have opened up to Riku and the TRIGGER members. But in the anime’s second season, he’s still quite harsh. Rather than thinking he’s grown, I felt that he really does evolve from here on out. In the anime, he’s much stricter with Riku than I thought. Even in the episodes that’ve aired so far, you can see his professional attitude. In my mind, Tenn had already become completely soft on Riku, so at the studio, I discussed with everyone as we recorded the lines. That said, he’s not just strict—he cares about Riku. When you think about it that way, it’s really cute how he can’t even express his kindness well.

Q: What was your impression of IDOLiSH7’s Riku and Re:vale’s Momo?

Riku: Basically, he’s cute! Although I always say that *laughs*. At the start of Season 2, I felt that his earnest feelings towards singing were depicted even more strongly. It’s a similar feeling to his usual adorable smiling and his fixation with standing on stage. I also understand how he gets captivated by the people around him like Tenn. I feel it on a grand scale, like it excels at precisely calculating these emotions. When I see Riku depressed, I want to be there for him, and when he’s happy, I feel happy too. He has a charm that draws the viewers in without them knowing.

Momo: All of the Ainana characters have their own charms, but I personally like Nagi and Momo. I was really happy to see Momo animated in the anime. He was cool when he first appeared and acted dark, and his good-natured big brother aura afterwards was great too. Story-wise, I’m sure many people are already aware, but I’m cautiously looking forward to seeing how the next plot developments are depicted. Momo’s usually the cheerful mood-maker, but in reality, he’s a balancer that thinks deeply about the others. He’s a really kind person, and I think his love runs deep.

Q: Please give us a message for the readers.

Thank you for supporting IDOLiSH7! I have faith that we’ll overcome this situation ((referencing COVID-19)) and bring you the greatest story. Until then, I won’t let my passion for Ainana burn out—I intend on making it even stronger! Please continue to support IDOLiSH7. Ainana is the best!

Recommended Episode: There are so many that it’s hard to choose! But Vibrato’s “Boys Caught Up” was paced like I was watching a movie, and it was an episode I’d like to watch while relaxing on the sofa with an alcoholic drink. It has comedy as well as Nagi being cool, and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

[Interview] PASH! 2020/7 Edition – Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro

(No scans provided because it was anime visuals only)

Released: 2020/6/10

Features:
Saito Soma (Yoshii Isamu in Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro)

Mentioned:
Sakurai Takahiro (Kindaichi Kyousuke in Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro)

“I feel nostalgia from the milk hall scenes”

Q: What kind of person do you think Yoshii Isamu is? Please tell us what you noticed from voicing him, and anything you strive to do while voicing him.

In a way, Yoshii is the most “man of literature”-like of the milk hall cast; you can sense a good kind of greenness from him. He smokes and utters cynical words, but still seems pure somehow… That’s nice; I like that *laughs*. He also plays the role of comedic relief, so I have a lot of fun voicing him.

Q: It seems that you studied literature in university. What did you specialize in? And what kind of impression do you get from this series’ story, Takuboku, and Kyousuke?

I mainly studied Japanese contemporary literature. That said, I wasn’t that serious of a student *laughs*. When I was a student, I’d often get together with friends and we’d discuss literature and ramble about things over drinks. So, I feel nostalgia from the milk hall scenes.

The combination of the innovative and sensitive Takuboku with the unsophisticated yet kind Kyousuke-san makes for a very well balanced duo. I also think it handles the mystery and slice-of-life well.

Q: In Episode 3, Yoshii made an effort to help save Kyousuke who’d been arrested, and in Episode 6, he worked on the murder doll mystery with Takuboku. As someone who’s in close proximity to Takuboku and Kyousuke, what do you think of their relationship where their bond deepens as the episodes progress, despite their quarrels?

First of all, Kyousuke-san’s devotion towards Takuboku is amazing, right? He’s so enamoured with Takuboku’s talent, and in a way, it seems like he’s entrusted his own dreams of adventure to him. But I wonder if it’s actually Takuboku who relies on Kyousuke-san more for emotional support. That’s another reason why I can’t take my eyes off them.

Q: Were there any particularly memorable scenes or lines for you up to Episode 9?

Episode 6 was memorable for me overall, since it was Takuboku and Yoshii’s episode. They both seem similar somehow, right? It was really fun acting out the scene at the end, when they’re going “I don’t want to die yet!”

Q: Since you love literature, please tell us what books and authors you’ve enjoyed reading recently.

For Japanese authors, I like Fukunaga Takehito-san, Tsutsui Yasutaka-san, Maijo Otaro-san, etc. As for the so-called literary masters, I like Uchida Hyakken-san and Tanizaki Junichiro-san.

I recently re-read a novel called The Magus, and I just can’t get enough of that pedantic and aesthetic style. A Japanese novel that I found interesting recently was Murata Sayaka-san’s Shiro-iro no Machi no, Sono Hone no Taion no. It’s rather fetishistic, or rather, it might not be for everyone, but it really struck me.

Q: What do the fans have to look forward to in Episode 10 and beyond?

First of all, thank you for watching up until now! The story is finally in its last stage. It’s been progressing like basso continuo since the start, and the hidden mystery is becoming clear. Please watch until the end, and then rewatch it from the start! Thank you for your continued support!

Q: Out of the unique men of literature that gather at the milk hall, name one for each of the following: someone you think is cool, someone you think is cute, and someone you’d want to be friends with.

  • Someone I think is cool → Nomura-san. He’s everyone’s reliable big brother figure. When he’s there, the conversation develops a rhythm and becomes more fun.
  • Someone I think is cute → Kyousuke-san. Combined with Sakurai-san’s acting, he’s just too cute.
  • Someone I’d want to be friends with → Sakutarou. I’d like to have calm discussions about literature with him.

[Interview] Cho Animedia – Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare – Shimazaki Nobunaga & Saito Soma

Original URL: https://cho-animedia.jp/movie/171781/2/
Published: 2020/6/1

Features:
Shimazaki Nobunaga (Yamamoto Rio in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Saito Soma (Inui Kazuomi in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)

Mentioned:
Suzuki Marika (Ichihara Yuna in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Han Megumi (Yamamoto Akari in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)

※A few of the questions and answers are the same as the Katari, Katarare section of Animedia’s interview in their paper magazine.

Q: The two of you have co-starred quite often. What did you think when you found out you’d be co-starring in this film?

Nobunaga: Both Soma-kun and I auditioned for both Yamamoto Rio and Inui Kazuomi. So, when I was contacted about the casting, based on the trends of the characters we voiced recently, I first thought, “I guess Soma-kun is Rio and I’m Kazuomi.” It was actually the reverse though, so I was a bit surprised.

Soma: Indeed. I had also assumed “I guess Nobunaga-san is voicing Kazuomi. Makes sense!”

Q: Was it an unusual casting?

Nobunaga: It was really just what we thought based on the roles we typically get cast as and the fact that it was me and Soma-kun voicing Rio and Kazuomi. When we talked to each other about the casting, we found out that we’d both thought the same thing.

Soma: When it actually came time to voice Kazuomi, it was a better fit than expected. I thought it was unusual at first, but now I don’t doubt the staff’s choice one bit.

Nobunaga: Indeed. I had a lot of fun voicing Rio too.

Q: What were your impressions after reading the scenario?

Soma: First off, I thought the title was really great. I think those who read the original manga will know what I mean when I say that the work’s entire essence is contained in the title. And this work’s story does a very good job of depicting “when things don’t go well.” Feelings that don’t get across, unrequited love. Just when they think they’ve gotten closer to that person, they drift apart again. These back-and-forth relationships are no different from ours in the real world. And I found it was fascinating that the worries the characters have in the film are things that I can relate to even as an adult.

Nobunaga: I also enjoyed the realism of the characters and story. It made me think, “Yeah, this would happen in that situation” and “People are like this these days.” When I imagine myself in the characters’ shoes, they always do what I would’ve done. All of the characters in this work are very human. Even though the theme is romance, it’s also a story of human drama.

Q: Tell us about the heroines, Ichihara Yuna and Yamamoto Akari.

Nobunaga: Yuna-chan is charming because of her honesty when it comes to both love and friendship. She’s dazzling. I think that this kind of honesty is hard to maintain when you become an adult, especially when you’re concerned about what other people think or afraid of failing. That’s why Yuna-chan’s honesty is radiant and appealing. On the other hand, Akari-chan has relationship experience, so she starts off guiding Yuna-chan, but Yuna-chan’s honesty gradually gets to her, and it was sweet watching her come to terms with her own feelings.

Soma: I think Akari-chan is a girl who has to act mature because of her complicated family situation. That makes it hard for her to be true to her feelings, which is where her story begins. Akari-chan becomes changed through Yuna-chan’s pure, honest energy, and it was comforting to watch her face her feelings, clumsy as it might’ve been. I think anyone who’s gone through puberty will be able to sympathize with that awkwardness of hers. The two girls are completely different in personality and their approach to love, and the story of how they influence each other really pulls you in.

Nobunaga: They really are opposites.

Soma: I like the game that Akari-chan plays throughout the film. I loved how she wouldn’t confess herself, instead trying to draw a confession out of him. I also thought the most dazzling scene was Yuna-chan’s direct “Reject me” line. It’s great to see the girls’ different approaches to love.

Q: What was it like voicing the characters?

Nobunaga: I said earlier that I originally thought I’d be voicing Kazuomi, but I found that I related to Rio more after voicing him. He’s the type that acts based on emotion, which is similar to me. So, while he’s extremely handsome, I loved how he became a mess for the sake of expressing his love. I’ve wanted to act out such a scene for a long time now, so I gave it everything I had.

Soma: When I read the original manga, I couldn’t get a grasp on Kazuomi’s character. He has a caring and sociable personality, but he thinks too much about balancing his own feelings with other people’s expectations, and ends up getting stuck. I couldn’t get a good read on his heart at first. But when we began recording and I followed the story again from his point of view, it somehow settled in. The last scene where Kazuomi becomes honest with his own feelings left a deep impression on me when I acted it out, so please pay extra attention to that.

Q: For Yuna’s voice actress, Suzuki Marika-san, this was her first appearance in an anime film, and after the recording, she said she felt how amazing the veteran voice actors were. Did you two give her any advice?

Nobunaga: We didn’t have anything to say regarding acting, right?

Soma: Right. I think the three of us, including Akari’s voice actress Han Megumi-san, reassured her and told her to take it easy.

Nobunaga: Yeah, I think you can put on your best performance when you have both nervousness and relaxedness in moderation. As her senpais, all we did was create that atmosphere for her.

Soma: Han-san was especially supportive of her.

Nobunaga: They were like sisters. *laughs*

Q: It sounds like it was a very warm recording session. As for the completed film, Rio and Kazuomi both go through love where they have a difficult time expressing their feelings. What would you do in their situations?

Nobunaga: I think I would make a move. I’ll ponder over things for a while, but in the end, I tend to be true to my feelings. Even if I make a move and it doesn’t work out, that’s a weight off my shoulders, and I think it’s always important to express how you feel. That’s also why I respect people like Akari and Kazuomi, who can repress their feelings for the sake of others. It’s admirable because it’s something I can’t do.

Soma: Wow, I agree with everything he said laughs. If I had to find something different, I think it’d be that I admire the idea of “a love that might not come true,” and worrying that your feelings might never reach the other person. But in actuality, I don’t think I’d be able to keep my feelings a secret and worry like that. If I realize I love them, I’ll probably take action right away.

Q: Who would you recommend this film to?

Soma: The theme of this film is “love,” but I want it to be seen by a wide range of people, without narrowing it down to that one point. This is because I think everyone has some form of “adolescence.” Whether it involves love, friendship, or something else, I think there’ll be parts of this film that’ll tug at your heartstrings. If you’re an adult like us, it might make you think “I should’ve gotten more out of my youth.” *laughs* But that’s not a painful feeling; rather, it’s something you feel in a refreshing, touching way.

Nobunaga: Indeed, I think it’ll move your heart no matter how old you are. Personally, I highly recommend it to people who want to become more proactive. After watching the film, I’m sure it’ll make you want to take action.

Soma: Yeah! It’s especially recommended for people who want to be proactive.

Nobunaga: In that case, I recommend it to everyone except for people who really don’t want to be moved, or want to maintain calmness in their heart. *laughs*

[Interview] TVstation 2020 no.12 – Voice! Voice! Songs!! vol 274 – Shimazaki Nobunaga & Saito Soma

Released: 2020/5/27

Features:
Shimazaki Nobunaga (Yamamoto Rio in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Saito Soma (Inui Kazuomi in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)

Q: Please tell us what made your chest tighten when you read the original manga.

Soma: I liked Rio and Yuna-chan’s direct, honest feelings. Also, I’m rooting for (Rio’s friend) Agatsuma-kun! He’s a good kid.

Nobunaga: Not only did the series make my chest tighten, it was very relatable. Not just the romance, but it made me think things like, “People do do these things in high school” and “People like this do exist.” I could relate to each and every thing, so it really moved my heart.

Soma: When I saw the scene where they were preparing for the school festival, it made me wish I’d enjoyed my teenage years to the fullest too *laughs*. It’s a type of yearning, right? Being able to experience youth again through this work was thrilling in a big way.

Q: Please tell us which character you related to the most.

Nobunaga: Everyone had something I could understand. For example, Rio interacts normally when he’s not interested, but once he’s in love, he suddenly starts blushing. I relate to his faithful representation of a high school boy that tries to look good in front of others. As for Kazuomi, I relate to how he’s passionate about the things he likes—like how he becomes talkative when they’re talking about movies. The girls also had aspects that I could relate to.

Soma: Out of the main four, it’d be Akari-chan for me. Due to her circumstances, she’s forced to be mature, and she keeps herself balanced for the sake of maintaining good relationships with the others. I related to that, although my situation wasn’t as difficult as hers… I also related to her initial stance of guessing what others are feeling before acting, and then the process of facing her own emotions.

Q: Between Akari and Yuna, which is your type?

Nobunaga: Yuna-chan is the one who looks dazzling to me. Akari-chan looks around her and makes adult decisions, but I think Yuna-chan does things that you can’t do when you become an adult. She’s honest and true to her feelings. I think her inexperience and innocence are radiant. The one I relate to more is Akari-chan, though. What about you, Soma-kun?

Soma: I completely agree *laughs*. Yuna-chan is someone you appreciate more the older you get. But if I were a high school student, I don’t think I would’ve been attracted to her.

Nobunaga: Akari-chan is the more mature type, right?

Soma: *nods* I think I admired that. But at our age, Yuna-chan’s directness strikes our hearts. I end up thinking, “Stay honest as you grow up,” like I’m her parent or older brother *laughs*. But if we’re strictly talking about my type, it’d be Akari-chan.

Q: What did you think when you found out you’d be costarring together?

Nobunaga: At first, we only heard that we’d be costarring, and I thought, “Soma-kun’s probably Rio.”

Soma: I also went, “I see, so Kazuomi is Nobunaga-san.” *laughs*

Nobunaga: We thought the same thing *laughs*. But then I was Rio and Soma-kun was Kazuomi.

Soma: It was shocking. When I read the original manga, I couldn’t grasp Kazuomi, but I thought Nobunaga-san would be able to do it *laughs*. That was my first impression, but the movie script included the manga’s essence while adding its own interpretation, so I did feel in sync with Kazuomi while we were recording.

Nobunaga: I’ve been voicing characters in a similar position to Rio, and I relate to him more too, so he clicked with me and it was easy to act as him. It was refreshing, though.

Soma: It was. I don’t voice Kazuomi’s type much, and when I’m with Nobunaga-san, I often voice peculiar characters *laughs*. So it felt novel to me, and I felt secure seeing Nobunaga-san’s wonderful acting during the key parts.

Nobunaga: I think it’s something you always had; you just didn’t show it outwardly. I hope everyone will see this new door you’ve opened.

Q: Did you receive any new inspiration from this film?

Soma: I enjoyed the dialogue between the two towards the end of the film. Since Rio was performed with pure, honest acting and emotion, it was easier to express Kazuomi’s emotions too.

Nobunaga: Rio changes his attitude towards Kazuomi depending on whether he’s desperate or relaxed, so it was interesting seeing Kazuomi’s reactions to that.

Soma: Because the characters have drastic mood swings *laughs*. There were parts of the script that made me wonder if their emotions were jumping around, but in reality, things normally don’t happen in the proper order for people. Real people suddenly get annoyed or sad in the moment, so the story developments actually felt very realistic.

Nobunaga: I think dramas go through the steps to make things easy for people to understand, but this film has realism in the emotional ups and downs and the flow of the story.

Q: There’s also a live action film in the works, but tell us what the advantages of the anime adaptation are.

Soma: The way it directly expresses the atmosphere of the original manga. It shows the unheard sounds and the unseen colours in high quality. I think it’s appealing to see a manga you like in animated form.

Nobunaga: Personally, I think that since the anime is drawn by animators, it’s not “real,” but that means they’re working extra hard to give it realism. I’m sure the live action is also pursuing realism, but in anime, everything is fiction, and I think it’s amazing how they make every effort to create something real within that. I hope you enjoy the reality within the fiction.

Soma: Please watch both adaptations, and if you haven’t read the original manga, please read that too.

[Interview] Oresama Residence -LOVE or FATE- #3 – Cast Interview

Original Link: https://www.bs-log.com/20200527_1408192/
Published: 2020/5/27

Features:
Takeuchi Shunsuke (Saionji Fuji in Oresama Residence)
Saito Soma (Saionji Gen in Oresama Residence)

※Only the Shunsuke+Soma interview has been translated in this post. I haven’t listened to this drama CD yet so I’m not sure if the new character’s name is pronounced Mikado or Tei (or something else). I’ll use Mikado for now and change it later if need be.

Q: What were your impressions after reading the script for the prequel story?

Shunsuke: Mahiro had a strong impact. I was also surprised that we got imprisoned. *laughs*

Soma: The story had Mahiro’s dangerous plan progressing, another new antagonist named Mikado, and the six men building a stronger bond. It really felt like the “twist” part of the classic narrative structure.

Q: Your characters had many dialogues. Were there any scenes that particularly stood out to you from the prequel story?

Soma: The conversation with Miori. I think he’s the type of person that doesn’t express his emotions in an easy-to-understand way, so I was glad that Gen was the one who got to hear his true feelings. I was truly impressed by their scene.

The scene where he flares up at Mikado was also memorable. Also, who would’ve thought the day would come when Gen would pat Miori’s head? I can’t believe they’ve come so far *laughs*. This was the first time Gen showed that he could accept people outside of his family, so I was glad to see his growth. Miori also came a long way and can say how he truly feels now, and as someone who was involved with that, it left an impression on me.

Shunsuke: Gen might be the character who’s made the most rapid growth. It’s like he’s become a man. I think Fuji’s direction has changed a bit…

Soma: It’s like he’s changing in a way that makes him more stable.

Shunsuke: Yeah, Fuji’s become a good guy too. *laughs*

Soma: His bad nature is mostly gone now. *laughs*

Shunsuke: I don’t think the past Fuji was liked because he rubbed people the wrong way, but he did have a persuasive power to his words, making you think that he was correct. Now people listen to his opinion because of who he is, not just because he’s the oldest son or because he’s so amazing. I’m glad that he can show his cooperative side now.

Soma: Even if he says “Because I’m Saionji Fuji-sama!”, they accept it for what it is *laughs*. At first it was more like “Shut up, Fuji-kun,” but now they can nod in agreement.

Q: The characters all have wildly different characteristics. Did you have a favourite character in the story this time?

Shunsuke: I’d say Mahiro. I liked how he was presented. I can’t say he has an attractive personality, but I don’t think there are many people who have his kind of love and whose feelings are that hard to read. It’s like he personifies what happens when one becomes pure. The story revolves around him desperately trying to save people who can’t save themselves, showing the most beautiful aspect of humanity. It really left an impression on me.

Soma: I think that Mahiro himself wanted to be released from his own desires, futility, life, fate, and his younger sister. Even though he made it to England this time, it seemed like he was wishing for his own destruction in another way… I think those who listened to the drama CD will understand.

Every character had their chance in the spotlight this time, but since the story was about Mahiro’s life, he left the biggest impression on me. It was saddening to watch him set his heart on the path to destruction.

Q: Please give us a message for the customers who’ll be buying this CD, based on the highlights of the prequel story.

Shunsuke: This is the third volume of a long-running series, so I think it’s extremely satisfying to hear how the Saionjis’ and the Arisugawas’ circumstances cross over all at once. I also think it’ll be fun to speculate on just what kind of man Mahiro is as we head towards the next volume. Please focus your attention on Mahiro.

Soma: Thank you for always supporting Samareji. When you listen to this CD, I’m sure your first thought will be “I want to listen to the last volume now!”, but please look back on all of the past volumes and imagine what the conclusion might be while you wait.

Personally, I think that Samareji as a whole is doing a very noble job of depicting a person’s half-lifetime, and the story is enjoyable whether you look at it from Mahiro’s point of view or us six’s.

Please re-listen to the previous volumes as you await the ending. Thank you for your support.

[Interview] Animate Times – Omikuji Yon Kyoudai Cast Interview

Published: 2020/5/22
Original URL: https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1587624437

Features:
Hatano Wataru (Shuu in Omikuji Yon Kyoudai)
Saito Soma (Ayame in Omikuji Yon Kyoudai)
Nishiyama Koutaro (Aoba in Omikuji Yon Kyoudai)
Takeuchi Shunsuke (Shiki in Omikuji Yon Kyoudai)
Komada Wataru (Ogata Kouichi in Omikuji Yon Kyoudai: Fuyu no Tantei wa Roast Beef ga Osuki)

Mentioned:
Genda Tessyo

※This interview was to commemorate the series’ first-ever BD/DVD release, their Fuyu no Tantei wa Roast Beef ga Osuki event.

Omikuji Yon Kyoudai gained new potential with their first-ever guest member☆

Q: First, please tell us your impressions of the Omikuji Yon Kyoudai: Fuyu no Tantei wa Roast Beef ga Osuki reading theatre that was held last winter.

Hatano: Rather than a normal reading theatre, this one felt like a new form of entertainment. It was on a large-scale stage, so we had to run around a lot.

Kawajiri Keita-san’s script had me laughing just from reading it, and it took each of the actors’ characteristics into play. It was a reading theatre where I really had no idea what would come forth.

Omikuji Yon Kyoudai was originally only the four of us, but by inviting Komada-kun as our first guest, I feel like the series has taken a new step forward.

Takeuchi: This was the second reading theatre we did, the first being Haru wa Omusubi!. I wondered how it’d turn out, but we had Wataru-san as a guest and the script took on a different flavour, so it felt like a new wave of dialogues was born. It showed that Omikuji Yon Kyoudai had room for such new developments.

I wanted to act both the comedic and the heartwarming parts with everything I had, to figure out how to make it the most entertaining, for the sake of the next installment as well.

Saito: I really got tired from laughing so much *laughs*. As they said, I really felt like I’ve grown through these good brothers, good series, and good characters.

Our guest, Koma-chan was a key character in this reading theatre, and if you were to ask me to name an alternative actor for him, no one else comes to mind at all.

We created this stage with this amazing cast, and it was a wonderful event that gave me high hopes for the future of the four brothers… but, it was seriously exhausting. *laughs*

Ayame’s parts were long. I’d keep flipping and flipping the pages, but it’d still be on Ayame.

Komada: Don’t be like that. If we removed any more lines, it wouldn’t be interesting anymore.

Saito: I want to take this opportunity to state that I had the fewest ad libs. *laughs*

Hatano: Who had the most?

Saito: *immediately answers* It was you, Hatano-san.

All: *laughs*

Saito: You were doing that rigid dancing while the lights dimmed, and the evening session had a lot of ad libs, right?

Nishiyama: His movements were visually way more active than everyone else’s. *laughs*

Hatano: Before it began, Kawajiri-san said “The stage transition there is a bit long, so feel free to play around.” So I really did it, only to see that no one else was moving!

All: *laughs*

Hatano: It was so embarrassing!

Saito: It was so funny *laughs*

Q: What were your impressions, Nishiyama-san?

Nishiyama: Both sessions were held on the same day, but it felt like the day and evening sessions were quite different in tone. This was because after the day session, during the break we discussed changes we wanted to make based on the audience’s reactions. I think it was a day of utmost concentration for all of us.

Komada: Like Koutaro-kun said, the audience reactions between the day and evening sessions would make you think they were different shows. All of the cast members made things more entertaining, and it was a lot of fun.

I was participating as the series’ first guest, so I was really excited about that already. During rehearsal, I absorbed as much as I could of the four characters they’d been developing all this time, and went into the performance wanting to simply enjoy the atmosphere.

The gap formed from the powered-up characters is hilarious!

Q: In the after-talk, you talked about how this event was the culmination of what came before it. Regarding what you have in common with the characters you play, has anything changed since your first impression of them?

Saito: I don’t think I have anything (in common). *laughs*

Nishiyama: My first impression of Aoba was that he was the most cheerful and energetic of the four brothers. I also thought he’d be shy around people outside their family, but it turned out that he was unreserved towards Ogata-san in this reading theatre. I realized that he can treat everyone in the same cheerful way.

Komada: Just like you, right? You’re a milder version. *laughs*

Takeuchi: We make new discoveries each time we act as them, so I think every character has gaps like that.

Saito: I think they got deeper with this performance, like their facial expressions that are contrary to their lines. Like how Shuu-nii never fails to find the camera when he poses. The camerawork was excellent too.

Hatano: Shuu had a lot of lines that were directed towards the audience, so I guess it seemed that way. *laughs*

Takeuchi: From this video footage, I think you’ll understand what it means when we say “reading theatre isn’t only about reading.” 81 Produce should use this as teaching material in their training school!

All: *laughs*

Saito: Shiki also sang a lot more than usual.

Takeuchi: He was supposed to just be a karaoke enthusiast at first…

Hatano: It was like the technique of a wandering minstrel. Takeuchi-kun can sing about any theme.

Q: He had singing scenes with a variety of titles, right? I wondered if Shiki’s songs had lyrics and composition behind them.

Takeuchi: This is embarrassing to talk about. *laughs*

Saito: You should say it!

Takeuchi: It’s… Shiki’s mental state *nervous*. I’d prefer to leave it to people’s imagination, so I’m still not going to comment.

Saito: The fortunes are a matter of chance, after all. We don’t know what we’ll get until we pull them. On the other hand, that helped us grow.

Takeuchi: Indeed *laughs*. All of the characters have been powering up.

Saito: *immediately* Ayame was the same as always, though.

Hatano: He’s definitely powering up!

Saito: It felt like the script gave him the “entertainer” position. I didn’t expect there to be a red light overlaid on my face on the live camera… It shocked me again when I saw it in the footage *laughs*. Everyone broke character when it happened.

Hatano: That was something only you could do. *laughs*

Q: In the after-talk, Hatano-san said something along the lines of, “Did Shuu always like girls this much?”

Hatano: In the very first recording, I emphasized the character’s personality strongly, but was directed to keep him as an elegant young man, so that he wouldn’t come across as a philanderer. I’ve been maintaining that since then, but this time, the script made it seem like his pent-up thoughts exploded. So, I boldly went all-in.

But no matter what we saw of him here, that was only one side of his character. He has various sides to him, like how he cares for his brothers. It’s just that this performance made it clear that he loves girls more than he loves food. *laughs*

Saito: There was the part about green peppers too.

Hatano: “Girl pepper” was Aoba’s line.

Nishiyama: It was completely as written in the script.

Q: I see! I thought it was an ad lib. I’d like to compare with the script to see how much of it was ad-libbed.

Hatano: The part where I suddenly got excited about urban legends was completely my own ad lib. *laughs*

Komada: We naturally poked fun at it during the commentary, but Hatano-san was intent on expressing his love for urban legends. He went a long time without looking at the script.

Nishiyama: It was entertaining because it was purely ad-libbed.

Q: For the series’ first guest, Komada-san, what was your first impression of your character, and do you have anything in common with him?

Komada: My role was split into Kouichi and Kouji, who are complete opposites. Kouichi is calm and open-hearted, the type you’d expect to live in the western-style house that the story took place in. Meanwhile, Kouji is oppressive. Even though it was a dual role, it wasn’t particularly difficult to work with emotion-wise. Although, speaking in a mild tone followed by a sudden loud outburst was such a contrast that I’d have to hold back my laughter each time. I think it would’ve made the audience chuckle too, but personally… my attitude wasn’t as rough as Kouji nor as mild as Kouichi, so I was like a third person that was an average of the two.

All: *laughs*

Nishiyama: A third person that grew up watching Kouichi and Kouji, right?

Komada: Having both power and gentleness… That makes it sound like a good thing. Well, let’s leave it at that. *laughs*

Since it’s a video, the silent scenes are noteworthy too!

Q: You talked about the good camerawork as well. Unlike recordings for anime and whatnot where you stand in front of the mic, this reading theatre was like a stage play with visuals and props. What were your personal highlights, or things that can only be enjoyed because of the visuals?

Nishiyama: Everyone was aware that they could be seen at any moment, so I think it’d be interesting to observe our facial expressions. It was really neat how the footage switched between all of the different cameras showing us.

Komada: Since it’s a reading theatre, we naturally acted out the core lines faithfully, and mixed in some small, fun deviations in the non-important parts. Since there was a live camera, it was a unique reading theatre with many scenes that would make the viewers laugh unexpectedly. I think being able to enjoy that is the best thing about this BD/DVD release.

Saito: We were acting without being able to see what kind of footage was being shown to the audience, so when I watched the footage for this disc release, it made me want to draw attention to the silent parts, too. Since this reading theatre had movement involved, we were able to create “entertainment between the lines,” so the parts without dialogue actually seemed funnier. Komada-san in particular made great facial expressions this time… They really were wonderful. *laughs*

Takeuchi: Komada-san’s face was always there during the close-ups.

Hatano: Koutaro’s close-ups were also nice… and funny. *laughs*

Nishiyama: It didn’t feel like there were that many during the first half (which I commentated)…

Komada: No, there was definitely at least one *laughs*. It wasn’t just the two of us, though.

Nishiyama: Yeah, everyone was great! Koma-chan was good at finding the camera. He looked straight at it, as if he knew it was going to be released on disc. A lot of the things I didn’t know at the time because of the wide stage became clear thanks to this release.

Hatano: Everyone was competing with ad libs, so even the parts I did know greatly exceeded my expectations. The cameramen captured great moments, like when we weren’t speaking and turned to the side to hold back our laughter. Even though it’s in video form, it feels like you’re watching it live.

Hatano-san, the senpai who breaks through the sense of security with ad libs, and Takeuchi-san, totally the cute, spoiled youngest sibling♪

Q: By the way, was there anything you noticed about each other due to being senpais and kouhais at the same agency?

Saito: We were all friends to begin with, but when we’re on stage, it’s not about senpais/kouhais or being from the same agency—we’re all equal as “actors.” I always genuinely think, “Wow, they’re really good.”

For example, Hatano-san has an unwavering sense of stability, and even when the rest of us go off-track with ad libs, he’ll always bring us back to the main story. Or so we thought, but then he took the initiative to force ad libs in, making the rest of us go “Oh, fine!” “We’ll do it too, then.”

Takeuchi: It was like we were given the green light. *laughs*

Komada: Among all the chatter, in the end Hatano-san was enjoying himself the most. He also added things without telling us, making us laugh too. *laughs*

Nishiyama: He came out of nowhere. Despite that, Hatano-san’s presence kept the scene together. If he weren’t there, we’d get even more off-track, so I think he showed us the “logic” of acting.

Saito: On the other hand, Shun-chan laughed too much *laughs*. If you look closely, he’s hiding his laughter behind his hair.

Takeuchi: I really want people to watch the footage *laughs*. I couldn’t hold back my laughter, so I was trying to minimize risk and ended up looking down at my script the whole time.

Saito: That makes you like the youngest sibling; it’s cute.

Hatano: Right, when we see Takeuchi-kun during recordings, he seems like this cool, mighty character with a deep voice, but in this series he has the innocence of the youngest child. Seeing him suddenly smile brightly makes my chest tighten.

Nishiyama: In a way, it’s like his age is showing, and it feels like everyone’s doting on him.

Komada: Rather than the cool aura he gives off during work—please write “in a super low voice” here and make it bold—it constantly felt like he was approaching me like “(in a super low voice) Komada-saaan!” and I thought something like that was only possible because of this particular work.

All of us are from the same agency, we see each other regularly at various jobs, and we’ve known each other for a long time too, so we can relax around each other.

We also spent time making suggestions (including ad libs), and on the day of the show, rather than “It’s time for the real show!”, it felt more like “We finally get to do this.” I think Takeuchi showed that kind of cuteness.

What did the cast think was great about Saito-san, Komada-san, and Nishiyama-san?

Takeuchi: But when it comes to cuteness, it has to be Ayame…

Saito: …*peers at Takeuchi-san* Do you really think so? Look into my eyes and say that without hiding behind your bangs. *laughs*

Takeuchi: *laughs* Ayame really was amazing this time! Even during the picture drama recordings, Ayame’s always opening new doors. In response to that, Soma-san always “opens the doors for real,” not halfway.

Saito: Ayame was originally more normal, and had the impression of the second son that balances everyone out. Why did he end up like this? *laughs*

All: *laughs*

Takeuchi: But since you open the door all the way, it became convincing. The script was amazing too.

Saito: Yeah, I was generally acting according to the script.

Komada: Soma and I debuted around the same time and I know him well, so when I see the way he interposes lines during funny scenes and presents himself to the camera, I think “Well done.” *laughs*

Nishiyama: Soma made me laugh just from the picture. I think he also has the power to move us back on track when the conversation gets derailed.

Hatano: Honestly, starting from the rehearsal I thought each and every one of them was amazing. When I got the script, I initially imagined the stage and how it’d go, but when we actually did it, it greatly exceeded my expectations. And our guest, Komada-kun was excellent too.

Takeuchi: He has a sharp mind and a sense of humour.

Saito: During the evening session, Kouji evaluated the brothers’ costumes and adjusted them one-by-one, and that was all Koma-chan’s ad-libbing. The four of us did our own ad lib comments, and it was amazing how nothing missed its mark. It would’ve been impossible without considerable determination beforehand. I thought, “This guy’s amazing!”

Komada: I suggested it after the day session. Since the four of them were posing, I figured the audience would want to see more of it, and I did too. Plus, it’s hard to put on the costume on stage without a mirror, so I thought I could straighten out their costumes while everyone else was enjoying their poses. Even though I suggested it, I didn’t actually think about what I was going to say, so I gave my honest impressions on the spot. *laughs*

Nishiyama: You did it so well; it was hilarious. *laughs*

Komada: That was my highlight of the day. The “Well done, Komada!” scene.

Hatano: It was incredible! Koutaro was crazy, too. I wondered what was going on with his mental state.

Takeuchi: My personal highlight was Nishiyama-san’s bow during the curtain call. Normally you have your hands at your sides when you bow, but Nishiyama-san alone had them in front, like he was reaching down.

All: *laughs*

Hatano: It turned into a diving posture. *laughs*

Takeuchi: It looks like the start of a match, so we’ll need the judges to take a look at it.

Hatano: With instant replay.

Saito: In slow-motion.

Komada: I think he did it on purpose. *laughs*

Nishiyama: I wasn’t! It’d be insane to do that on purpose by myself. *laughs*

Takeuchi: Nishiyama Koutaro-san really is different. He’s a genius. I don’t think I’m the only one who thought that, so please chime in. *laughs*

Komada: His bow was just one example of how it feels like he claims things for himself.

Saito: I think it happened because he wanted to make people smile. The video footage tells it all, so please pay attention to Nishiyama-san.

Nishiyama: *laughs* I don’t mind at all if you watch me!

The setting for the next show…?

Q: This is something you’ll have to check in the footage. So, the next reading theatre is planned for autumn. Are there any situations you’d like to try, or things you want to challenge?

Hatano: Autumn has a lot of possibilities, huh?

Takeuchi: It’s said that autumn is the best season for reading, too. When you think of autumn, you think of the arts, and when you think of the arts, you think of singing…

Saito: Can we make mascots again like we did for the first show? Then again, a monster was created back then.

Nishiyama: What about the food? We’ve had onigiri and roast beef, so for a taste of autumn, how about fruit?

Komada: That’s good, and baked sweet potatoes. We’ll have a veteran from 81 Produce sing the baked sweet potato song, like Genda (Tessyo)-san, and it’ll be like “You can’t pass by the food cart without stopping!”

Q: That sounds like it’d become an amazing reading theatre. *laughs*

Nishiyama: The original concept we heard for this series was that it was seeking to be bright and fun. Omikuji Yon Kyoudai is something that’s comforting no matter when you watch it, so I want to continue having fun with it.

Hatano: Indeed.

Takeuchi: Oh, how about another set of four brothers?

Saito: Themed after cards, like diamond, spade, et cetera?

Hatano: They come from America, and the oldest son is Genda Tessyo-san.

Saito: That sounds interesting. “YOU guys call yourself the fortune BROTHERS, but you don’t pull fortunes very often, huh? HAHA”

All: *laughs*

Back to the original intent, and look forward to Omikuji Yon Kyoudai’s future developments!

Q: I’m excited to see how much of this gets implemented *laughs*. Lastly, please give a message for the fans looking forward to the BD/DVD.

Komada: Since it’s the first disc release, the selling point is that if you wanted to see it again or couldn’t come on that day: “Don’t worry. Everything is shown.” *laughs*

The making-of also shows a little bit of our planning before the show, so you can get a candid view of how it was put together.

Omikuji Yon Kyoudai is bound to keep doing new things, so I really hope I’ll have the opportunity to participate again.

Please enjoy the BD/DVD from various perspectives!

Nishiyama: This is the first time our reading theatre is being released on BD/DVD, so those who came to the event will be able to see it more thoroughly, and those who couldn’t make it can expand on their enjoyment of the picture dramas.

This time, we had Koma-chan as a powerful helper, and I think we were able to put on a bright, fun show. I hope we can act with Koma-chan again, so please watch the BD/DVD a lot and show your support.

Takeuchi: Please enjoy the audio commentary on the BD/DVD too.

Also, Omikuji Yon Kyoudai began with the voiced fortunes on the website, so I’ll be happy if this reading theatre encourages everyone to pull their daily fortunes again.

“Don’t forget your initial intent.” I want to continue trying to create those opportunities.

Saito: Indeed. I’d forgotten because this time we were making roast beef and having a Christmas party. *laughs*

This series has gone on for about four years, and it’s uncommon to have the chance to voice a single series or character for so long. I hope we can continue doing this forever at a relaxed pace.

This time we had Komada-kun too, and despite all that was said, the four of us were able to let loose (in an extremely good way) and have fun while putting all our effort into the show.

Thankfully, the next show is already confirmed, although there are still things we don’t know, like what it’ll be about and what Omikuji Yon Kyoudai’s next developments will be.

It’s probably going to be an autumn full of laughs, huh…?

All: *laughs*

Hatano: It might be ultra serious for all we know. *laughs*

Saito: That’s possible. You don’t know what fortune you’ll get until you draw it, so I hope we get a “very lucky” story.

Please continue to support Omikuji Yon Kyoudai!

Hatano: Omikuji Yon Kyoudai began as voice content that was enjoyed through the website. When we had our first reading theatre, Omikuji Yon Kyoudai: Haru wa Omusubi!, I thought “This might be the first and last time,” but thanks to each and every one of the audience’s support, we were able to perform again, which I’m thankful for.

This series teaches me how it’s important to do your very best every time. There’s entertainment that can only be created during those instants, and I hope we can continue to work together creating that.

Please look forward to the BD/DVD and the next reading theatre!

※This interview was conducted before the COVID-19 state of emergency was declared.

[Interview] Margaret 2020 #12 Edition – Maga-Oshi Vol.20 – Saito Soma x Shimazaki Nobunaga

Released: 2020/5/20

Features:
Saito Soma (Inui Kazuomi in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Shimazaki Nobunaga (Yamamoto Rio in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)

Mentioned:
Umehara Yuuichirou

Q: What are you into right now?

Nobunaga: I recently started using cologne. It’s Dior’s “Sauvage.”

Soma: So mature~

Nobunaga: I didn’t have a habit of using it before, but now that I’m in my 30s, I want to give myself a stylish fragrance.

Soma: *sniffs Nobunaga’s cologne of choice* It’s a refreshing scent. A citrus type? It’s like, refreshing with a hint of allure…

Nobunaga: That’s a good way of putting it. I often get asked what it smells like, but since I hadn’t been using it before, I didn’t know how to explain it. From now on, I’ll say “refreshing with a hint of allure.” *laughs*

Q: Do you regularly use cologne, or only on special days?

Soma: If it’s only for special days, then if I meet Nobunaga-san and he smells nice, I’ll wonder if he thinks meeting me is a special occasion. *laughs*

Nobunaga: It’ll make you conscious of it, huh? *laughs* I don’t necessarily wear it on important days, but when I feel like it. Instead of using it to motivate myself, I want to use it casually.

Soma: What I’m into right now is a recording device called SonicPort. *Shows them the real thing*

Nobunaga: What’s this?

Soma: You plug a guitar or mic into it, and it lets you record what you play. I compose my own music, and this is good enough for making demo tapes. When I start using it, time goes by in a flash…

Nobunaga: You play with it?

Soma: Yeah *laughs*. It feels like a toy, or rather, I can casually play around with sounds in various locations.

Nobunaga: Nice, that sounds convenient.

Soma: Are you interested?

Nobunaga: Yes. One time, I was told “We don’t have enough time, so record your audition tape at home,” and I recorded it with my phone and it came out terribly. *laughs*

Soma: Ahahahaha!

Nobunaga: It worked out in the end because I passed the audition, but ever since then, even if there’s no time, I’ll always record at the office.

Soma: Did your agency staff also think it was bad?

Nobunaga: They probably thought, “Don’t let Nobunaga record by himself” *laughs*. So it’d be nice to have something like this!

Q: What were your honest reactions when you found out you’d be starring together?

Nobunaga: At first, I didn’t ask which role I’d be playing. I assumed that Soma-kun would be Rio.

Soma: Same. I approved of Nobunaga-san as Kazuomi! *laughs*

Nobunaga: Both of us thought it was the other way around.

Soma: So, it was shocking at first.

Nobunaga: Soma-kun being cast as Kazuomi was especially unexpected.

Soma: Yeah, because I’ve never played a character like him before. When I read the original manga, I couldn’t get a grasp on Kazuomi’s character, but I thought that Nobunaga-san would be able to do it. For me, it was a challenging role.

Nobunaga: I’ve actually done characters like Rio before, but I thought my recent image was more like Kazuomi. But, I can empathize better with Rio, so it was easier to perform as him.

Soma: I could also relate to Kazuomi’s human-like awkwardness.

Q: Do you see common aspects with the characters in each other?

Nobunaga: Kazuomi mulls over things in his head and ends up not being able to take action, which I think is an aspect Soma-kun has as well. I’m also like that, but I’m more of an idiot.

Soma: That’s not true *laughs*.

Nobunaga: I think a lot, but in the end I go “Whatever!” and ignore everything. Meanwhile, I think Soma-kun wouldn’t let that happen. It’s like baseball–there are different types of pitches, but at the very end, I’ll play it straight, while Soma-kun will throw a proper curve ball. *laughs*

Soma: Yeah, your “Well, whatever” approach does fit Rio. *laughs*

Q: What’s the highlight of this film?

Soma: Since it’s based off of a shoujo manga, it has scenes that make your heart race. Like when Rio puts his hands on Yuna’s cheeks and goes “I’m over here,” or Rio’s gesturing when he goes “Shh!” *laughs*

Nobunaga: It’s exciting, right? *laughs*

Soma: I like the straightforwardness between Rio and Yuna-chan.

Nobunaga: It’s not just about the romantic scenes, though. I think the characters are very relatable, and it moves your heart.

Soma: I think one of the great things about the story is that things go surprisingly poorly for the characters. They take one step forward, but two steps back. It’s realistic, and I think many people will be able to relate.

Q: What would you do if you could be a high school student again?

Nobunaga: I’d want to go to a co-ed school *laughs*. Going to a boys’ school was fun, so I don’t want to change the past, but it’s true that there was no romance within the school.

Soma: It’s a completely different experience, right? For me, if I could go back to my high school days, I’d want to go up to the rooftop that I couldn’t go to back then. In fiction, there are a lot of situations where the guy skips class on the roof and meets a girl there who’s also skipping class, and they get closer, right? That kind of thing is impossible in real life *laughs*. But, I want to experience it.

Nobunaga: Ahahaha. You could also meet someone in an unused A/V room.

Soma: Yeah! There you find a bookworm senpai with long black hair… I want to experience a story like that.

Nobunaga: I want to experience romance in a co-ed school too. It’s an age when you become conscious of girls, so having girls in the same school as you would change how you act, right? You’d want to look good in front of the girl you like, and you’d work harder at studying and sports. I’d also be interested in my friends’ relationships.

Soma: You could support them, right?

Nobunaga: Spying on a friend’s confession and congratulating them when it goes well *laughs*. I want to have that kind of experience.

Q: What if you were to appear in a shoujo manga?

Soma: I’d want to be one of the main character’s three male friends, namely the quiet type. Please let me be voiced by Umehara Yuuichirou-kun. *laughs*

Nobunaga: Ahh, we’re similar in how we let someone else have the spotlight. Stepping aside like that is cool, though.

Soma: Ahaha. And then, while the main story is going on, in the background I’m getting closer to the cool-type girl in the heroine’s group of friends.

Nobunaga: I can see that happening!

Soma: I’d want to be the star of a spin-off chapter. What about you, Nobunaga-san?

Nobunaga: Realistically, my position would be the stepping stool… but I’d like being the character that keeps the main characters on edge. My actions would make the hero take action.

Soma: Like, “I have to try harder too”?

Nobunaga: Yeah. And then the heroine is touched by what the hero does, and it ends with me being rejected or nothing happening at all. That would be realistic. But ideally, I’d want to live happily with my childhood friend.

Soma: In a mutually loving relationship?

Nobunaga: Yeah. There are a lot of stories where the childhood friend loses, right? Even though they’ve been supporting the protagonist all their life, they lose to a transfer student who suddenly appeared. The childhood friend position might be plain, but I’d want to be married for life to that kind of calm, warm childhood friend!