Author: ミーナ

[Interview] PASH! 2020/5 Edition – IDOLiSH7 Second BEAT! – TRIGGER Special Interview

Released: 2020/4/10

Featured:
Saito Soma (Kujou Tenn in IDOLiSH7)

※This was presented as three separate interviews with each of the TRIGGER members. Only Soma’s interview is translated here, as well as Soma mentions from the other interviews.

Mentioned:
Hatano Wataru (Yaotome Gaku in IDOLiSH7)
Sato Takuya (Tsunashi Ryuunosuke in IDOLiSH7)
Masuda Toshiki (Izumi Iori in IDOLiSH7)

Tenn strives for perfection

Q: How did you feel when Season 2 was announced?

Soma: Rather than being excited like “Phew, it’s happening!”, it was more of a natural acceptance, like “The time has finally come.” In the mobile game’s story, the second arc and beyond has the idols’ relationships and surrounding circumstances becoming more complex. I was personally hoping to see it in anime form, so I was very happy about the Season 2 announcement as both an actor and a fan.

Q: Did you talk about the announcement with the other cast members?

Soma: I have a lot of chances to see them at various recordings, so we definitely brought it up. We mostly talked about our favourite scenes and the scenes we were looking forward to. In IDOLiSH7, the characters face many setbacks and obstructions… Honestly, the story is heart-wrenching to read at times, but watching them overcome their trials and grow stronger makes me feel like I’m being given a push on the back. Although it’s not quite the same as them, we’re performers too, so we get excited talking about the scenes that struck home.

Q: What did you think of the completed Episode 1?

Soma: I first watched it at the “IDOLiSH7 Fan Meeting vol.5 Welcome! Ai na Night!!” event. The story was great, but I also noticed that there was a lot of thought put into the details. There was a lot of meaningful direction, not just in the characters’ expressions and lines of sight, but also in the sound effects and blocking. The information was also dense, and Episode 1 felt like it was an hour long. Anyway, there was also foreshadowing scattered throughout, so whether you’ve read the game story or not, don’t blink or you’ll miss something.

Also, I have a personal theory that there must be someone in the staff who wants to make Iori cuter *laughs*. He was cute enough to make me think that. He looks cool at first glance, but he pouts when he’s angry and smiles when he’s happy. It’s a normal thing as far as humans go, but when you’re only looking at them as idols, you tend to forget the finer behaviour that adds depth to the work. But of course, everyone else is cute too!

Q: Was there any memorable direction during the recording?

Soma: At the end of Season 1, Tenn acknowledges his younger brother Riku as an idol, so during the test run for Season 2, I approached it with Tenn’s love towards his brother rather than the strictness of a professional. However, I was told to be strict. In the game, Tenn’s attitude towards Riku has changed a lot, so it was hard to rewind those feelings. But rather than tracing my past performance, I strived to express him in a way that could only be done in anime.

Another memorable instruction was in a later episode, when Tenn gets into an argument with Iori. Even though Masuda-san spoke in a relatively mild, comedic tone, I was asked to make Tenn’s tongue-clicking “dead serious.”

Also, there’s a scene where Tenn sighs after a conversation with Riku. For that, I was told “Please express Tenn’s conflicted feelings after saying harsh words while actually being concerned about Riku, with only a sigh.” It was difficult to get the balance right, but I like that delicate, clumsy side of him.

Q: I see. So, Tenn’s way of breathing is a must-check in Season 2. What else should we keep an eye out for?

Soma: Tenn is TRIGGER’s center, and such a perfect idol that people call him a modern-day angel. He spares no effort in giving the audience the greatest time of their lives. His high degree of professionalism results in him being harsh on both himself and others. In Season 2, I get the feeling that they’re intentionally emphasizing that stoic-ness of his. While watching, if you try to imagine why he’s saying harsh words and taking a cold attitude, and what feelings are hidden behind them, you might be able to sense what’s going on inside him. I believe that the person known as Kujou Tenn has a lot of charm packed in there. Please pay attention to his complicated relationship with Riku, who’s his twin brother as well as a rival competing with him to reach greater heights.

Q: What is Kujou Tenn to you?

Soma: In short, he’s someone I respect a lot. When Tenn says something harsh, there’s always a reason behind it. He says it because it’s necessary to say it. Tenn acts as a helpful warning to me, making me question whether I’m worthy of being the one responsible for his weighty words.

It shows in his attitude towards Riku too—since Tenn is stoic, he has an extreme side to him as well. While he appears perfect, there are times when I think he’s actually someone who’s striving towards perfection. That side of him is really precious, and I’m sure he’s going to keep improving in the future, so I want to improve alongside him too.

Q: You’ve participated in several IDOLiSH7 events so far. Which ones were the most memorable for you?

Soma: It’d have to be the concerts. For the 2nd Live “REUNION,” we went through a lot of ideas trying to figure out how we could make it even better than the 1st Live “Road to Infinity.” The direction intent behind the set list was clear, and I remember discussing and rehearsing with Hatano-san and Sato-san countless times. After the concert was over, I felt a sense of accomplishment, as well as the desire to put on an even more expressive performance as Kujou Tenn next time.

Q: Lastly, please give a message for the readers who are looking forward to IDOLiSH7 Second BEAT!

Soma: First off, thank you for supporting us thus far. TRIGGER and IDOLiSH7 have a perfect rival relationship, teaching and learning from each other at the same time, and now Re:vale is joining in as the reliable big brothers. I think you’ll find the anime even deeper if you pay attention to not just the characters’ words, but also their expressions, tones of voice, and the camerawork. I’ll also be looking forward to the broadcast every week, so let’s enjoy it together until the end. Please continue to support IDOLiSH7.

Q: Out of all the TRIGGER songs that have been released so far, which one stands out to you the most?

Soma: When we were recording “Leopard Eyes,” we were instructed to prioritize sexiness, so we did. When I heard the finished version afterwards, I felt as though I’d gained a better understanding of Kujou Tenn. When I’m singing as Tenn, I change my singing style and enunciation depending on the song, but even now, I still use “Leopard Eyes” as my baseline.

Mentions

  • Satotaku: “Due to scheduling, it was difficult to record at the same time as Hatano-kun and Saito-kun. But even under those circumstances, I’d think ‘Those two would definitely voice it this way,’ and I’m sure they were doing the same. The trust and respect for each other that we’ve built up over the years resembles TRIGGER. On the other hand, when I do get to see them, I’m happy from the bottom of my heart. The moment I open the studio door and see their faces, I go into TRIGGER mode.”

[Interview] Shounen no Kyoukai – Cast Interview

Original Link: https://www.b-boy.jp/special/syounen/cd/interview.html
Published: 2020/4/10

※Only Soma’s section has been translated in this post.

Q: What were your impressions of the Shounen no Kyoukai recording?

When I read the original work, the relationship polygon was so serious and dense that I felt it was going to be a challenge to convert to voice form. When I was checking the script, there were some parts that were hard for me to visualize, but today when we were all acting it out together, I realized “Oh, I don’t need to approach this logically; I can just let it carry me away.” We were able to produce the dialogues in a way that can only be done in person, and that was a lot of fun. Partway through, we got weirdly excited *laughs* and I felt a sense of unity with everyone.

Q: What did you think about the character you played?

I voiced Yuka at various stages of life, from child to adult. As a child, he was the center of attention, and ability-wise he was #1. As he grew up, he went through a phase where he acted lethargic, thinking it made him cool, and later, he found out that he was an omega. The work depicts how he changes from then until adulthood. I was impressed by his internal conflict as he faces the truths of being an omega, becoming a pair with Kaoru, and not being able to go back to how he was before. I was also an active kid up until around second grade, always wanting to play dodgeball and whatnot, but I developed lethargy syndrome after that as well. So, I expressed the parts I could empathize with as I knew them, without embellishment.

Q: What did you think about the special “omegaverse” setting?

This is my first time appearing in an omegaverse work. The setting has six genders that are unsurpassable walls, and the highlight is how the characters struggle against it. I felt that the omegaverse setting makes it easy to depict those clear boundaries.

From Yuka’s point of view, he knows that as an omega, what he’s experiencing is only a physiological reaction. But his body acts contrary to what he wants, and when he crosses the line, he becomes anxious about whether they’re truly understanding each other’s feelings. Even from a reader’s perspective, it moved my heart. The last part of the drama CD is certainly something that can only happen in an omegaverse.

Q: What gets you suddenly excited like you’re in heat, and why?

Lately I’ve been into this game with “holes” and “rods”… and other shapes of blocks… That’s right, it’s Tetris *laughs*. I normally don’t play puzzle games much, but some years ago I played it again at a friend’s house and ended up buying the game. Recently I started playing it again when I have some spare time at home, and I got into it again. I even read strategy guides online. Lately, whenever I see a rod I start playing Tetris in my head *laughs*. I’m addicted.

Q: A message for the fans, please.

Yuka is listed first on the character list, but this story is really about each of the four characters, and can only exist by interweaving the four. The original work’s fantastic composition and well thought-out story made it a really worthwhile read, and all of us did our very best to transform it into audio. I’m anxiously looking forward to hearing the completed version too. The original work is in its third season now, so while the four of us have reached a stopping point here, I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of emotions we’ll be expressing in the future, from the perspective of a reader and a performer. I hope you enjoy listening to this drama CD, and thank you for supporting Shounen no Kyoukai.

[Interview] spoon.2Di vol.59 – Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-

(Article was character visuals only, so I won’t be scanning it.)

Released: 2020/3/28

Features:
Saito Soma (Yumeno Gentaro in Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-)

Mentioned:
Iwasaki Ryota (Nurude Sasara in Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-)
Shirai Yusuke (Amemura Ramuda in Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-)

Q: What were your impressions after hearing Gentaro’s solo song “Utena”?

It was very fitting for Fling Posse, and a stylish and mellow song. I’ve been approaching the songs with a variety of styles as Gentaro, and this song made me feel that yet another new door was being opened. I personally love this style of music, so I was anxious to start recording it! *laughs*

Upon listening to it once, it made me imagine Gentaro striding along with a listless expression. It feels like a song with both heartrending and pop elements, like a sad smile.

Q: What aspects of Gentaro do you think the lyrics portray? Were there any phrases that particularly stood out to you?

The most impressionable part had to be the final line. Up until then, he’d been elegantly describing the scenery, not his sentiments, and then at the very end, he reveals his emotions. I think it’s a wonderful punchline, perfectly matching his lyrical side. It reminded me of the first drama track, when I said he might be fond of (and skilled at) writing lyrics like these. Also, I admire Yumeno-sensei’s usage of difficult kanji. *laughs*

Q: Did you receive any suggestions from the recording director?

The recording took much longer than usual. The chorus parts went by without a hitch, but the first part had a difficult flow that was neither rap nor song, and getting the harmony/overlap balance right required incredibly detailed adjustments. After recording most of the main track, I discussed it with the director and then recorded additional overlaps and ad libs. Those were combined beautifully, resulting in what I feel is a wonderful track.

Q: In the drama track “A Marionette’s Loneliness, Tears, and Hope,” Ramuda’s secret is revealed, Fling Posse’s bonds grow stronger, and one part of Gentaro’s secret is shown. What were your impressions after reading and acting out the story?

When Fling Posse first started out, it felt like behind their light-hearted conversations, they weren’t fully opening up to each other. As time passed, they grew to trust each other more, building solidarity as a team. And now, this story dials it up to eleven.

When I read the scenario, I felt once again that I love this team. I’m sure there isn’t anyone out there that wouldn’t like the developments at the end, and there were also parts that alluded to Gentaro and Dice’s deepest secrets. I’m not allowed to say much, but I’m sure more will be revealed in the developments to come, so please look forward to it!

Q: Was there anything you paid particular attention to when recording the raps in the drama track? Do you have any favourite lyrics from it?

Out of all of the drama raps so far, these ones were the ones where you could feel their bonds the most. I’m sure they’ll be even more powerful when you hear them as part of the story. Both of them have a comfortable beat, and recording went smoothly. They aren’t full-length songs, but the lyrics couldn’t have existed without this story and this trio, and that’s amazing. I especially like the part starting from Ramuda’s “Hear that? They said I’m their friend.” No matter what anyone says, the three of them have grown to trust each other over time.

Q: With the songs and drama track on this release, was there anything you rediscovered about Gentaro and Shibuya Division’s strengths?

Gentaro is aloof and it’s hard to tell when he’s being serious, but he’s surprisingly sensible and worldly-wise—I think he also acts as a balancer. But of course, he also loves to say incomprehensible things and seems to be on a different wavelength *laughs*. His profession as an author is his greatest strength, making him fundamentally able to take on any character or story. So, I change up my enunciation and flow depending on the song and the part. The way he’s not confined to any one shape—truly like a phantom, ungraspable—is the great thing about him.

I’ve talked about Shibuya a whole bunch in the other questions already, but I’m convinced that this team is the greatest posse.

Q: Last year’s 4th Live will be released on Blu-ray/DVD on March 25th. Looking back, are there any aspects of the songs or performances that still stand out to you?

At first, when it turned out that we were going to be performing in a huge venue, I wondered what kind of show we’d be able to put on with that space. Much of the staging was different from our previous concerts, so I think the audience will have enjoyed it. On stage we were performing at full power, and I recall how stable our vocals felt and how much fun it was.

The “Stella in the sky” was particularly memorable *laughs*. I’m afraid of heights so I don’t feel comfortable in high places, but during that section, the audience looked like a sea of twinkling stars, and it felt like the Posse was drifting through the universe.

Q: Osaka Division and Nagoya Division are joining the fray. What are your impressions of the two new divisions, and do you have any favourite characters or songs from them?

Both divisions are very unique teams. Each character has their own completely different direction, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we’ll be interacting with them in the future.

The ones I’m most interested in are Nurude Sasara and Amayado Rei. Sasara-san’s rapping is exceptionally cool, right? I really love the flow of his voice actor, Iwasaki-san’s Kansai dialect. And Amayado-san has an incredible presence, or should I say aura. I can constantly feel that there’s something not straightforward about him, so I’m looking forward to the upcoming story.

Q: The 5th Live will be held in March with all six divisions together, making it the largest-scale event in Hypmic’s history. What kind of show does Shibuya Division want to put on? Let us hear your enthusiasm for the concert.

We haven’t started any concrete planning yet, but with the new divisions joining us, it’s certain to be an even more powerful concert. Shirai Yusuke-kun, who voices Fling Posse’s leader Ramuda, is truly dependable… or rather, he’s full of surprises (in a variety of ways) *laughs* so I’ll trust him and have fun with it. We’ll also be able to perform new songs that we haven’t before, so I’m really excited to see how it’ll turn out! Thank you for your support!

[Interview] Souffle – Saito Soma in Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki

Original Article: https://souffle.life/topics/souffle-special/20200327/
Published: 2020/3/27

Mentioned:
Nakajima Yoshiki, Yashiro Taku, Eguchi Takuya, Hirose Yuya, Takeuchi Shunsuke

Saito Soma recommended Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki in Nikkei Woman’s “Books and Manga to Cheer You Up” feature. He wore a suit to match the characters Imaizumi and Date. In this interview, he talks about why he enjoys SakeKoi so much.

He knew at first sight that he would like it

Q: How did you find out about Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki?

I saw an ad for it online. I thought the art was really cute, and I’ve always liked manga about alcohol and gourmet food, so that piqued my interest. I read Chapter 1 as a start, thought “This is interesting!” and immediately bought the rest of the chapters *laughs*

Haruko-sensei’s art is very much my style. The female characters are so cute, especially the protagonist, Matsuko-san! I knew from first sight that there was no way I wouldn’t like this.

Q: You dressed as Imaizumi and Date for this feature. Which of the two do you relate to more?

I think it’d be Date-san. I relate to his childish passion for his interests, and how he likes matching alcohol with food. Imaizumi-kun really has that modern day youth feel, though… so if you ask which one makes my heart skip a beat, it’s him *laughs*

To be honest, I think Matsuko will have a hard time with those two. Date-san’s quite the ruffian, after all. We’ll see how the troubles continue in Volume 4 and beyond.

Q: The female characters are very unique too. Which one is your type?

(1) Matsuko, the alcohol-loving, easy-going protagonist
(2) Shiraishi, Matsuko’s reliable friend
(3) Mimori, Imaizumi’s self-assured, confident girlfriend
(4) Mogami, Date’s chill coworker

All of Haruko-sensei’s characters are charming, so it’s hard to choose… but Matsuko-san would be the most fun to live with. She seems like she’d always be excited about delicious food. Seeing her drinking and going “That hits the spot~” would make me relax too.

But the one who’s my type is actually Shiraishi-san. I like the cool, beautiful onee-sans, so I thought “She’s my type” from the start. But thinking realistically, considering how fickle I am, I’d probably find myself pretty tied down by a stable adult like her. But then again, I’m okay with that *laughs*

A solo trip to Kyoto, drinking sake while chewing on sweetfish on the riverbed…

Q: This manga loves to show how delicious alcohol and snacks can be. Please tell us which ones interested you!

For the snacks, it was the marinated tuna that Matsuko-san made for Imaizumi-kun the first time. I like to cook, and I do marinating sometimes too. It’s a simple snack that doesn’t require any difficult work, but Matsuko-san’s passionate talk about grating fresh wasabi and the mood between them when they went shopping left a big impression on me.

I drink sake often, but I never really thought about drinking single-serve cup sake by myself. I found out through this manga that you can microwave cup sake to make it hot, and realized that there are other ways to enjoy it. There are a lot of different varieties these days, such as the one with the cat label in the manga. It made me realize that cup sake is easier to get into than I expected.

I’m from Yamanashi, so the “Shichiken Sparkling” that appears in the manga is from my home precture. Lately, more people have been telling me that they like Shichiken. Yamanashi is famous for Hakushu whiskey and Koshu wine, but I want to learn more about its local alcohol. Shichiken is very delicious.

Q: What would your ideal way of drinking sake be?

A long time ago, I decided to go on a trip to Kyoto by myself. It was the end of September, and in that cold weather, I drank cold sake and chewed on sweetfish at a riverbed, all by myself.

People probably don’t drink by themselves at the river during that season, so I think the lady who worked there was concerned about me becoming a hermit when she kindly spoke to me. It was a memorable trip, with a beautiful view and mood, and the thought of “Don’t worry, I’m just a tourist!” *laughs*

Q: Do you have any drinking buddies among your fellow voice actors?

Lately I’ve been drinking with Nakajima Yoshiki a lot. We’re at the same agency, and he also enjoys a wide range of creative activities, like writing. We talk about creating things and future plans. I also drink a lot with Yashiro Taku-kun. He’s a good listener, and very fun to drink with.

For senpais it’d be Eguchi Takuya-san, and for kouhais it’d be Hirose Yuya, although he’s from a different agency. A kouhai from the same agency would be Takeuchi Shunsuke-kun. He’s… a bit similar to Imaizumi-kun, maybe. He’s a good guy that makes people smile. Since he’s younger than me, that might be why I feel Imaizumi-kun’s cuteness in him. I also enjoy drinking with my unreserved former classmates, although I haven’t been able to much lately.

Q: You provided a wonderful comment for the Volume 4 wrapper. What kind of feelings went into it?

As someone who had already been reading the series, I was happy when they asked to feature me on the wrapper. Writing wrapper comments is actually quite difficult. There’s a character limit, and you have to consider what kind of information you’re allowed to include.

At Volume 3, I thought “No matter what they say, Matsuko-san’s going to stick with Date-san, right?” But then in Volume 4… Imaizumi-kun is a bad man *laughs*

Q: That’s what the “That’s it, Imaizumi!” line in the comment was about, right? *laughs*

“Anyone would be swayed by a move like that!” In that sense, I think Volume 4 was when I empathized with Matsuko-san the most *laughs* I’m dying to see what happens next!

[Interview] Elegance Eve 2020/5 Edition – Saito Soma in Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki – Part.1

Released: 2020/3/26

※Part of this interview is repeated from Souffle – Saito Soma in Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki.

Soma’s Recommendation Comment: “The considerate comedian Matsuko-san, the cool bespectacled Shiraishi-san, and the clever, worldly Mimori-san are all wonderful! But Matsuko’s probably locked onto Date-san’s route, right? …Or so I thought! That’s it, Koizumi! You are interested, Koizumiii! I can’t wait for the next cup (volume)! I’ll drink another cup sake tonight, wishing for everyone’s happiness!”

Q: How did you find out about Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki?

I saw an ad for it online. I thought the art was really cute, and I’ve always liked manga about alcohol and gourmet food, so that piqued my interest. I read Chapter 1 as a start, thought “This is interesting!” and immediately bought the rest of the chapters *laughs*. Haruko-sensei’s art is very much my style.

I actually microwaved cup sake like Matsuko (the protagonist) did *laughs* and found it relaxing to drink it while reading the manga. I also love all of the characters! It has a comedic touch, so it goes down smoothly.

Q: For this photo shoot, you wore suits inspired by Imaizumi and Date, two of the characters in the manga. What did you think?

I usually don’t get the chance to wear business suits, so it felt very fresh. I’ve imagined before what kind of people might play the role of Imaizumi and Date-san, but I never once thought it would be me. Recreating their scenes and voicing their lines for the PV were novel experiences for me.

If I were to become the voice actor for one of them, I think I’d be a better fit for Date-san. It was rather difficult to portray Imaizumi-kun’s free, cat-like nature. It’s unfair how he’s normally cool and composed, but becomes all smiles when he’s drunk *laughs*. I think it’d be fun to drink while imagining who I’d want to voice him!

Q: With the release of Volume 4, things are getting more exciting in Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki. A message, please!

When I began reading, I knew instinctively that I was going to like this manga, but I’m enjoying it even more than I thought I would. I think that those who pick it up for the first time because of my collaboration will also enjoy “drinking” it in, so I hope we can enjoy it together. Every chapter has me wondering who Matsuko will end up with, and I really want to know where this is going *laughs*. But it’s great how both sake and this manga make me think, “I want to drink a little more.” I’m savouring each and every chapter. As a fan, I’m looking forward to what happens next.

Bonus: Off-shot from Soma’s stylist, Honda Yuuki:

Bonus: A blog post from Honda Yuuki about the styling:

https://note.com/yuukihonda/n/n236dc47b41e7

It has another off-shot as well. (I won’t be translating it because he doesn’t allow reposting/alterations of his content)

[Interview] Oresama Residence -LOVE or FATE- #1 – Cast Interview

Original Link: https://www.bs-log.com/20200325_1405656/
Published: 2020/3/25

※Only Soma’s section has been translated in this post.

Q1: What are your impressions after reading the script?

During the previous series (ALIVE), I felt that it showed Samareji’s potential to be serious, and this time the scale felt even grander.

It felt like it was still only the beginning of the story, and I was honestly impatient to find out what happens next *laughs*

I felt proud of the three brothers’ growth, as if I were their parent.

As for the story, I thought the content was rather defiant (in a good way). It makes me wonder how long the brothers and the maid will be able to continue their lifestyle, which also alludes to the series as a whole.

I’m looking forward to seeing how they face it.

Q2: A new character appears in this series: Kirishita Mahiro, the brother-in-law. He plays a key role in the story. What are your impressions of him?

Ahh, he’s a dangerous one *laughs*

He’s an enigma in a way unlike the Kaguragi brothers. He doesn’t reveal his true intentions, and won’t let you catch him.

I was in a different recording session from his voice actor, Morikubo-san, so I’m looking forward to hearing the completed version.

There’s a scene in the latter half where he talks alone with the maid, and when I read that, I thought, “I knew it, this guy won’t go for normal methods at all.”

The focus is the unrest he causes to the Saionji household members, but I’m excited to see more of Mahiro-san’s inner self as the story progresses.

Q3: It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Saionji family. Did you feel any changes in the characters’ relationships?

Quite a few.

This relates to the next question as well, but the three brothers have changed quite a bit since the first series.

You can feel it from the very first track.

During recording and free talk, the three of us cast members also talked about how we’ve changed (in a good way)!

I think it’s wonderful how these changes can be shown due to the passage of time in the story.

At first, it was always noisy when the three brothers were together. But now, for example in Fuji and Ran’s scene, or Ran and Gen’s scene, you can really see their development.

Q4: Since this is the third year, the love confession scenes were different from previous ones. Do you think your character has changed when it comes to romance?

Gen changed the most, for sure! *laughs*

Since he’s the youngest, Fuji and Ran have always been protecting him.

At first, it felt as though he’d been spoiled by that environment. But now, after experiencing many things, he’s decided on his future path and is working hard towards his goal. He’s no longer just the cute little youngest sibling.

His confession scene is confident, as an adult. I could feel that change from the script, so I strived to make sure it was more than just cute.

By the way, Fuji and Ran’s scenes are also top-tier in their own ways, so please look forward to those too.

Q5: Please give us a message for the people who’ll be buying the CD.

All of it is worth listening to, and the new character Mahiro-san’s part is important too, but I also hope you’ll pay attention to the aforementioned changes in the brothers and feel their growth.

This drama CD is the prelude to a grand story that’s about to unfold, so I hope you’ll be excited to see what kind of drama there’ll be between the Saionjis, Arisugawas, the maid, and Mahiro.

Also, separate from this CD are the voiced versions of the side stories that we recorded. Unlike the serious main story, these are 100% comedy, so I hope you’ll listen to them too *laughs*

Please continue to support Oresama Residence!

[Interview] SCRAMBLE BIRTH DAY #1 – Cast Interview

Original Link: https://www.bs-log.com/20200325_1405635/
Published: 2020/3/25

※Only Soma’s section has been translated in this post.

Q1: What were your impressions of the recording?

It was a story about youths with a common goal who strengthen their bonds while clearing each of their own challenges.

Each story part was nicely laid out so I had fun acting it out, and I was positive throughout the recording because it was such a refreshing work.

Today was a solo recording, but it’d be nice if the next one was with the entire cast.

Q2: After seeing the work and the script, what kind of characterization did you do?

Eichi shows multiple expressions during the story this time.

There’s the cool face he has at the start, his gentle brotherly face at home, and after everyone opens up to each other, a face more fitting for his young age.

His circumstances mean that he has to earn money in the outside world, and I felt that that’s why he usually acts like an adult. When he meets Mihiro and the others, he learns the joy of creating something with friends his age, and I thought about whether that should be an instant switch or a gradual transition.

I heard that the individual CDs will delve deeper into his character, so I look forward to that.

Q3: Are there any scenes that you put particular effort into?

There were two main ones. The first was related to his younger sister. There was his attitude towards Mana, as well as his opening up to Mihiro about his circumstances.

The second was the scene where he persuades Mihiro on the rooftop.

Q4: This work brings up four fields: Video, Screenplay, Music Composition, and Vocals. Are you interested in any of these?

I believe film-making involves all four of these, so I’d like to try it one day. As for screenplay, I enjoy writing, so I’d like to try studying it professionally.

Q5: Please give us a message for the people who’ll be buying the CD.

This is a story of four youths hiding struggles in their hearts. They have a common goal and form a team, though it’s not a straight path getting to that point.

I’m sure everyone has experienced those youthful feelings of impatience and inability to accept yourself.

The story this time revolves around Mihiro, and I think you’ll be able to relate to him in various ways and see yourself in him.

You can really feel the adolescence in this work, so I hope you’ll listen to it again and again. Thank you for your support.

[Interview] Collar x Malice Drama CD #2 “Sasazuka Takeru Yuukai Jiken” – Official Interview

Original Article: https://www.bs-log.com/20200324_1405514/
Published: 2020/3/24

Features:
Morita Masakazu (Yanagi Aiji in Collar x Malice)
Kaji Yuki (Okazaki Kei in Collar x Malice)
Saito Soma (Enomoto Mineo in Collar x Malice)
Namikawa Daisuke (Sasazuka Takeru in Collar x Malice)
Kimura Ryohei (Shiraishi Kageyuki in Collar x Malice)
Nagase Yu (Yoshinari Hideaki in Collar x Malice)
Ono Yuki (Saeki Yuzuru in Collar x Malice)
Enoki Junya (Kurose Shu in Collar x Malice Unlimited)

Q1: What are your impressions after finishing the recording?

Morita: *Aiji voice* It’s been a while since the last drama CD recording; maybe that’s why I still can’t get out of Aiji’s voice. I’m going to write my impressions in Aiji’s tone. All right?

Kaji: I’m happy to keep having opportunities to interact with the world of Collar x Malice. Thank you!

Saito: I was basically shouting the whole time *laughs* During the test run, the moment I said a single word, I could already tell that it was going to be a shouting Mineo this time. Aiji-san’s ambiguous aura where you can’t tell if he’s joking or serious was as great as ever!

Namikawa: It’s been a while since the last recording, and I had a lot of fun. I felt happy to be able to play this role for so many years.

Kimura: Since the characters are so well-developed, these alternate situations are a lot of fun too!

Nagase: I was extremely nervous, but it was fun. All that nervousness made me hungry, so I want to eat something before I collapse. Like palbochae!

Ono: It’s been a while since I voiced Saeki, and the other cast members were there too…! The recording was fun and progressed quickly. We finished in less than half the time that the staff expected. Everyone was amazing…!

Enoki: I hadn’t gotten to voice Kurose in a long time, and I had a lot of fun. I recommend this CD to Kurose fans, because you get to see both his outer and inner sides.

Q2: Please tell us what you think the highlight of this drama CD is.

Morita: *Aiji voice* Let’s see. This drama CD is supposed to take place in a parallel universe… but I didn’t see it that way. It’d fit into the original story just fine. That’s how serious it is. …Yes, perhaps that’s the highlight.

Kaji: Kei’s on-off switch, as well as his usual trespassing performance *laughs*

Saito: I thought it was going to be a comedic story like parallel universes tend to be, but…?! The rest of that sentence is the biggest highlight. It’s also got a lot of content, so I think it’s definitely worth the listen!

Namikawa: Sasazuka has a hard time in this one. He talks more than usual. More than when he’s talking about donuts.

Kimura: It makes good use of the character settings from the original story, so people who played the original game will enjoy it more.

Nagase: My personal highlight is the battle scene! I recorded it while covered in blood, and I hope the listeners will be able to tell! Also, there’s a historical moment for Yoshinari-kun that involves Shiraishi-san! It’s a must-listen!

Ono: The “multiple Saekis.” I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but it starts off in a parallel world, so you think it’s going to be a comedy, but then…

Enoki: Kimura-san’s well-enunciated lines as Shiraishi! Listening to them feels nice.

Q3: Lastly, please give us a comment for the fans eagerly awaiting the drama CD’s release.

Morita: *Aiji voice* The fact that you’re looking forward to this CD has already been investigated. We also found one more thing during the investigation. That would be… that your smiles as you look forward to the CD are what we were looking forward to the most.

Kaji: Thanks to you, I had another opportunity to voice Kei! Thank you so much. We’ll bring you another very Collar x Malice experience. Look forward to it!

Saito: Thanks to you, we were able to bring you another drama CD! Before I knew it, I’d already been with Mineo for so long. I hope we’ll be able to bring more of Collar x Malice’s world to you again sometime! Thank you for your continued support!

Namikawa: It’s a very cool story! It’s also very Collar x Malice, so look forward to it!

Kimura: Since the series was able to keep going, it’s even expanded to alternate world stories like this. Thank you! Please look forward to a slightly different side of the guys!

Nagase: Thank you for all of your support! I’m so happy to be able to voice Yoshinari again! Please keep supporting Collar x Malice!

Ono: I’m happy that everyone will be able to experience another Collar x Malice work after so long, and that I was able to participate. Please look forward to the release!

Enoki: I’m happy that Kurose got to appear in a drama CD. I hope there’ll be a third one, and that Kurose will appear in that one too… I’m counting on you, everyone *laughs*

[Stream] Uchitama?! 3rd Street Correspondence in Aniplex 48-Hour TV

Broadcast: 2020/3/22 @ 5:30pm JST
Original URL: https://abema.tv/channels/abema-anime-3/slots/FC3YCRdmRGDYbZ (no longer available)
Original Name: うちタマ?! 3丁目通信 in アニプレックス48時間テレビ
Guests: Saito Soma (MC), Ono Kensho, Uchida Yuma

※This was a half-hour segment of Aniplex’s 48-hour stream that replaced their planned stage event at AnimeJapan 2020 (which was cancelled due to COVID-19).

Choice Quotes

Q: What’s your nostalgic “taste of home”?

Soma: The fried chicken in lunch boxes, like the family-size ones we’d bring to school sports events. Specifically the way it’s already gotten cold, so it isn’t crunchy anymore–that’s the best. There’s this karaage flour I always use, and whenever I eat it I immediately get transported back to that time.

Q: What is your weakness?

Yuma: Do you even have any weaknesses?
Soma: I have nothing but weaknesses
Kensho: Mornings.
*everyone lamenting about mornings*
Soma: Are you the type that’ll keep sleeping for a long time if you fall back asleep?
Kensho: Yep
Soma: Saaame…
Soma: I used to wake up early, but as the years passed I got worse
Yuma: I wake up super early… like, at 3am
Kensho: Huh?
Soma: What lolol
Soma: Doesn’t that mean you haven’t gone to sleep yet?
Yuma: I used to have a habit of going to sleep at 8pm, and then waking up at 2-3am to play games
Kensho: What kind of lifestyle is that?!
Yuma: I’d get yelled at if I played at night, so I’d go to sleep early so that I could wake up early and play
Soma: What a clever kid

(More weakness talk)
Soma: I’m bad with heights… as well as holding thin objects *picks up pen* because my hands naturally shake, same with when I’m holding up scripts. What else… I feel like I have nothing but weaknesses… maybe I was born on the wrong planet lol
Soma: Oh and ALLERGIES, it’s so bad right now… I seriously wanna cry

[Stream] Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro – Full Cast Assemble!? SP

Broadcast: 2020/3/21 @ 6pm
Original URL: Unavailable (exclusive to Fami-geki Neo subscribers)
Original Name: TVアニメ「啄木鳥探偵處」放送記念・全員集合!?SP
Guests: Asanuma Shintaro, Sakurai Takahiro, Tsuda Kenjiro, Ono Kensho, Saito Soma, Umehara Yuuichirou, Furukawa Makoto, Hayashi Yukiya

This stream was later uploaded officially to YouTube:

  • The stream began with a screening of the first half of Episode 1, then cast introductions. They then took turns pulling questions for everyone to answer. (For the sake of my free time, this summary will be centered around Soma.)

  • When it’s Soma’s turn to draw a question, Sakurai asks him to show them his “somami” (Soma taste) and Tsudaken asks if somami is green (sure enough, it’s a green gachapon capsule). Soma makes a show out of picking it up and Ume-chan goes “It’s not that heavy” and everyone laughs. Soma finally picks up the capsule and starts rolling it in his hands (“He’s doting on it!”) and after some laughs and snarky comments, Soma says “I don’t know what my direction is anymore!”

  • The question itself was “Is there another character besides your own that you’d like to play?” and Soma’s answer was Akutagawa (and everyone ends up making a chuuni pose for the camera).

  • Another question is “If you were going to have another profession in addition to being a voice actor, what would it be?” and Soma of course mentions that before he went into voice acting, he wanted to be an author. Everyone encourages him and says he can pull it off now. As for the genre, he says he wants to write a traveler’s journal, where he writes about a place he visits (and of course the alcohol there). He wants to go somewhere lush with nature, and Tsudaken suggests Alaska, which Soma laughingly agrees would have a lot to write about.

  • When talking about the voice direction, Sakurai comments that sometimes the sound director uses examples that he doesn’t understand but Soma does (because he reads a lot of books), and Sakurai thinks “Dammit, this guy” when that happens. Soma says that the sound director (who he calls Shimizu-sensei) often goes “You know what this means, right Saito-kun?” for other series too, so every time when Soma’s checking the script, it feels like preparing for a question and answer session, because he expects to be asked about certain things. He also says he gets to learn about a lot of things through Kitsutsuki.

  • When asked if they think they have anything in common with their characters, Soma says yes, because of the way Isamu looks at things with a cynical attitude. When everyone’s interested in something, Isamu thinks “It’s no big deal”, and Soma says he used to be similar in the past, back when he was really interested in pursuing literature. So, when he voices Isamu, he gets a complicated feeling in his chest as if he’s looking at his past self.

  • The next question is “If you were to become a poet, what would your pen name be?” and everyone turns to Soma who wants to become a novelist. The question says poet, but they say a novelist pen name is fine too. Soma says he admires cool names like the author Mushanokoji, but would also like something like “kuchinashi” (no mouth). Using words, but without a mouth. Everyone latches onto it and Soma goes “This is embarrassing, hurry up and move on to the next person!”

  • “If you were a detective and had to pick someone from the guests here to be your partner in solving in a case, who would it be?” Ume-chan names Soma because of his vast knowledge, (Tsudaken calls him kuchinashi again) but Soma says he’s bad at solving mysteries and is terrible at mystery-solving board games. It’s like everything he knows is coagulated inside him, so he needs to be able to think flexibly. His answer to the question is Takahiro-san, but apparently he’s no good at mystery-solving either.

  • Tsudaken continues to call Soma kuchinashi, much to his embarrassment, wanting it to become an established name (#kuchinashi). Soma says that would be way too painful, and says to the camera “Don’t you dare put it on Wikipedia!”

  • For the giveaway at the end, they have to come up with a keyword and Ume-chan suggests “kuchinashi,” much to Soma’s chagrin. Soma’s given the marker and Asanuma says he can write his latest song’s title as the keyword (“They’re not going to allow that!”) and that he can name his next song “kuchinashi.” Tsudaken tells him to write his own fetish, and Asanuma says to write something he’d be happy to see trending on Twitter. They try to come up with something that would benefit the series, but whenever they try to think of what was exciting during the stream, they can only remember kuchinashi, so Soma gives up and writes kuchinashi. Tsudaken remarks on how this is Soma’s first time signing with his pen name, and everyone applauds (Soma is dying of embarrassment at this point and hides behind the sign).

  • At the very end, the sound director Shimizu comes in with sake for everyone, and when he’s pouring Soma’s cup, he points at him and says “You’re a drinker, right?” and Soma laughs it off and asks for just a little.