Features: Saito Soma (Kazuomi in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare) Shimazaki Nobunaga (Rio in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
※Deliveries are a pain right now because of the pandemic, so I did this while squinting hardcore at the digital version. I will just say that an acceptable resolution for manga is painful for small interview text…
Q: In what ways are you similar and different?
Nobunaga: We’re similar in how we tend to think with our heads, right?
Soma: Yeah. Although I get the feeling that Nobunaga-san is capable of taking daring actions in the end.
Nobunaga:I’m probably the stupider one *laughs*
Soma:No no, that’s not true!
Nobunaga:I do think first, but I end up going “Well, whatever!” Meanwhile, Soma-kun can control his feelings up until the very end, so I think that’s what’s different between us.
Soma:But you know, I’ve been learning how it feels to act on emotion.
Nobunaga:What, you understand what it means to move based on passion now?!
Soma: Yes. Lately, it’s been like “Oh, ‘thinking’ was only a hobby of mine.” *laughs*
Nobunaga: Ahaha, I know what you mean~!
Q: Which scenes made your heart flutter?
Nobunaga: I like the scene where Rio squeezes Yuna-chan’s cheeks and goes “I’m over here!” when she’s being shy.
Soma: When Kazuomi says “Fall in love with me” to Akari…
Nobunaga: Ah~! That was unfair of him *laughs*
Soma: It was! Rio and Yuna-chan’s honest romance also made my heart flutter.
Nobunaga: It’s great how direct they were. But I get the feeling that this work does more than make your heart flutter; it has many scenes where you can relate to the characters as people. Like how Rio suddenly becomes pretentious when attention is drawn to him. *laughs*
Soma: Yeah. Personally, I’m rooting for Rio’s friend, Agatsuma-kun! He’s really a good kid, and I love all of his scenes!
Q: What do you like about each other’s voice?
Nobunaga: Our voices have a similar quality, right? *laughs* Sometimes when someone asks me, “You voiced this character right?” it turns out that it was Soma-kun.
Soma: Yeah *laughs*. I really love Nobunaga-san’s natural acting. In works like Kimi no Na wa., his voice fits so well into the setting.
Nobunaga: Thank you! I love how Soma-kun captures the “sharp” aspects of characters. Like when they’re really coquettish or feisty…
Soma: I play a lot of peculiar roles. *laughs*
Nobunaga: Ahaha! But it’s your way of expressing them that I love!
Q: What kind of adolescence do you want to experience?
Soma: I want to go to the rooftop that I couldn’t go to during my actual high school years. That’s why I became a voice actor *laughs*. I admire the situations you often see in fictional worlds, like skipping class on the school roof and meeting a cool senpai there… I long for that.
Nobunaga: That’s nice. My high school was a boys school, so I’d want to start by going to a co-ed school. Showing off in front of girls, putting my all into playing sports with the guys, eavesdropping on a friend’s confession… I want to experience those!
Small thumbnail from the cover that I unfortunately can’t get a clearer version of:
Soma’s Recommendation Comment: “When you like a restaurant, it’s not necessarily for a logical reason—something just clicks with you. This manga is the same! Once I got a taste, I was already hooked, and both my page-flipping hand and sake-drinking hand were constantly in motion! Matsuko-san, let’s have a toast with cup sake!”
Q: Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Shikarubeki depicts Matsuko’s heart swaying between Imaizumi and Date. As a man, are you able to understand this woman’s heart?
Imaizumi-kun and Date-san are both the types that’ll sway a woman’s heart, right? Matsuko-san goes through mood swings at the whims of the two men, but at the end of the day she’ll enjoy blissful alone time with her sake, and I thought those wildly changing emotions of hers were very charming.
Q: Between Imaizumi and Date, which do you have more in common with?
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?
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*.
Mimori-chan is younger than me, but she’s strong-willed in a good way. So, she’d be the most likely to have me in the palm of her hand *laughs*. Shiraishi-san also says, “I think it’s impressive that she has so much confidence in herself at the age of 24.” She has her life clearly planned out, and shows it off in a way where I can’t tell whether she’s trying to discourage Matsuko-san or actually has good intentions *laughs*. She seems like she’d guide the person she’s going out with, so I think she’s reliable despite being younger.
Features: Saito Soma (Ray Starling in Infinite Dendrogram) Ono Yuko (Nemesis in Infinite Dendrogram)
※The pose they’re doing is the Dendrogram pose that Hikasa Yoko came up with.
Q: Now that we’ve reached the final episode, were there any scenes or lines that stand out in your memory?
Soma: The scene in Episode 1, when they’re fighting the Demi-Drag Worms and Ray shouts “If you have the potential, then show me!” right before Nemesis awakens was particularly memorable for me. I was already conscious of it being a crucial line for him during the audition, the outcome of which I thought would be determined by who could embody Ray when they said it.
Yuko: I liked Episode 2. Up until then, Nemesis was confident in her strength and boasted about it, but then she loses her confidence when she’s unable to protect Ray. Ray reassures her, and when I read the original light novel, I thought this was a very important scene for her. So, I put my all into voicing it.
Soma: In Episode 2, when I watched the scene in the Tomb Labyrinth where Nemesis goes “I hate zombies~! I’m going into maintenance~!”, I felt bad from Ray’s perspective.
Yuko: After the battles, he gave her a kindhearted polishing. *laughs*
Soma: Also, the battle with Franklin in the last episode personally stood out to me. That was because Franklin had more lines than Ray. *laughs*
Q: Please give us a message for the fans.
Soma: Once again, thank you for watching Infinite Dendrogram! It’s ending on the battle with Franklin, but the story continues on in the light novels, where completely different plot developments await. I hope that with your help, the anime can continue, and we can enjoy going through the novels’ story again. Thank you for everything up until now! Please continue to support Infinite Dendrogram.
Yuko: Thank you for watching all 13 episodes! The anime is ending for now, but the world of Dendrogram isn’t going anywhere. The story goes on in the original light novels. Personally, I feel like their journey really is unfolding somewhere out there. I hope that we’ll be able to bring you more of that world in anime form, so please continue to show your support!
(Since this is still a very recent release, I won’t be posting full scans until more time has passed.)
Released: 2020/4/16
Features: Saito Soma (Inui Kazuomi in Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Intentionally performed ambiguously
Q: All four main characters of this work, including Kazuomi who you voice, are very kind and good-natured, which is why their unrequited feelings are so dramatic. What did you think when you read the original manga, Saito-san?
When I heard about the audition, it was right when I had to travel a long distance, so I figured I’d read Vol.1 on the way. I started reading, and I just couldn’t stop *laughs*. There are some manga that make me want to marathon them all in one go, and this was definitely one of them.
Q: The original manga is 12 volumes in total. How many days did it take you?
I marathoned it in about two days! But when I first read it, I got pretty jealous of Kazuomi. I thought he was really attractive at the start, and it was like I was perceiving the story from the perspective of Akari-chan, who’s captivated by him. I found my emotions being swayed by his words and actions the same way as her… *laughs*
Q: How did you grasp Kazuomi’s character?
I auditioned for both Kazuomi and Rio, but I was surprised when I was selected for Kazuomi. After that, I read the original work again, and saw that he valued the balance between him and the people around him, very much wanting harmony. Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn’t, so people will have quite different views of him, making me think that he seems like a vague, elusive character.
There’s a scene where he says to Akari-chan, “Fall in love with me, then.” “See? You can’t fall in love with someone just like that.” It makes Akari-chan’s heart skip a beat, but for Kazuomi, he really meant what he said. He was simply saying, “Falling in love isn’t that easy, right?” Kazuomi’s words end up having different meanings depending on the views and state of mind of the receiver. So, I tried not to restrict the implication too much, so that the viewer wouldn’t see it as “He definitely thinks this way.” That way, the audience can experience it in different ways.
For example, one approach is to simplify it, making the emotions clear like “this part is spoken with anger,” “here he says he accepts it, but on the inside he really doesn’t.” But in Kazuomi’s case, I thought it was important to keep his statements ambiguous in a good way. He probably doesn’t have a clear-cut idea of what he feels either. So perhaps that aforementioned scene also made his heart beat faster, or perhaps he thought nothing of it. Starting partway through the recording, I deliberately tried to blend those feelings and thoughts together.
Q: So, since he was ambiguous, you intentionally kept it that way in your acting.
Yes, it’s a style of acting I’ve never done before. Kazuomi is a type of character I haven’t voiced much to begin with, so there were a lot of challenges in it for me. Thanks to this, I feel like I understand now that sometimes it can be fine to keep things ambiguous, and sometimes it’s okay to accept that.
It’s definitely important to convey things in a proper, easy-to-understand way, but sometimes there are lines that are complicated and difficult to convey. After all, sometimes I don’t even know what my own feelings are. I used to think that acting was about thoroughly analyzing that, but I was able to discover a different approach. This work taught me that there are probably many other feelings like this too.
Since they try so hard, it gets complicated
Q: It seems that Kazuomi gradually develops an interest in Akari as well. What do you think he found attractive in her?
Akari-chan is shown falling in love with Kazuomi, but Kazuomi’s side isn’t really shown directly. He also has less monologues than the other three characters. I think that ties into his elusiveness too… So, when I first read the script, I knew how he felt because I read the original manga, but many people would be finding out about FuriFura for the first time through this movie. I wondered how I could make it easy for those viewers to understand. But actually, there are scenes scattered around that make you think “Was he conscious of Akari-chan just now?” without using voiced lines. It really shows in his glances and slight changes in breathing. When I saw the completed version, I thought, “Kazuomi liked Akari-chan from the start, huh?”
Q: Indeed, when I watched it, his tone of voice would be blunt but his mouth would be slightly smiling. I felt that Kazuomi’s character was expressed through both the animated acting and the vocal acting.
Even in the real world, there are people that exude a certain warmth, because their words and tone are blunt, but you can tell that they’re speaking from their heart. I hope I was able to express that feeling well.
Q: Did Director Kuroyanagi Toshimasa or the sound director discuss anything with you at the recording?
At first, I imagined Kazuomi as having a low voice, but I was told not to make it that low. They said to go back to the cheerful childhood friend Kazuomi at the beginning of the story, and build up from there. But after that, there weren’t any other major trajectory changes, and my interpretations were respected. Beyond that, I got a feel for it as the four of us did our dialogues with each other.
Q: The four characters don’t just think of one way someone might feel, but even consider a second and third possibility. They reflect on their actions, and I was surprised at how mature they were. What did you think, Saito-san?
I think these four are at a very delicate age, where there are some things they already understand, but other things they don’t understand at all yet.
Yuna and Rio are the straightforward type, I’d say. Their narrow field of view might be childish, but the way they love someone deeply and honestly could be considered an adult’s sense.
On the flip side, Kazuomi and Akari are the considerate type, thinking about all sorts of things and wanting to make everyone happy somehow. This seems mature at first glance, but the way they aren’t honest with their own dreams and desires could be considered childish. They haven’t realized yet that their own feelings are making the situation more complicated. That’s what that age is like, and that’s what those relationships are like, and I think it’s wonderful.
This story goes back and forth between complication and simplicity. A lot of issues would’ve been resolved more quickly if someone hadn’t acted based on a wrong assumption, and there are a lot of instances of someone placing too much meaning on something that was just bad timing. There’s a lot of realism in that. Since they’re all trying their best in their own way, wanting to be kind to one another but also wanting to do what they want, living with those strong feelings, the story becomes complicated. Because they’re living earnestly, it can’t be a simple story. That’s what’s admirable about it, and it made me remember the same frustration I felt at that age.
I want you to watch it from each of their perspectives
Q: Hearing this has made me more excited for the premiere! Please go over the highlights of the film once more.
When I read the original manga, I felt that it was extremely proficient at depicting “things not going well.” As a reader, there were parts that were painful to watch, but it was great seeing their own conclusions come into view. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows—there’re a lot of feelings of selfishness and “Why won’t they understand how much I care about them?” that make you think “Yeah, these are feelings you go through in life.” It makes me remember that I was like that in the past too, and I probably still am like that now.
I feel that the title of this work summarizes everything. Getting depressed over a wrong assumption, cheering up from a single casual comment, suddenly being able to do something you couldn’t do before, or vice versa… I think our daily lives are made up of these little “back and forths.” There aren’t many works that resonate with as many people as this one has.
The animated version depicts this manga’s essence in a way that only anime can, so please look forward to the premiere. I want you to watch it from each of the four characters’ perspectives, so if you could watch it at least four times, that’d be great *laughs*. That’s how well this work teaches you that the world we see is very subjective, and happiness comes in different forms depending on the person. So, I hope that you’ll enjoy the film from each character’s perspective and that FuriFura’s world will have a large effect on you.
Q: Since everyone sees it from a different perspective, if you go with friends or a significant other, the conversation afterwards is bound to be enthusiastic.
Yes, please debate it out! “Was that scene right or wrong?” “Would you want that line said to you?” I think this film is great for spurring debate *laughs* so please go to see it with others, and enjoy the post-discussion and lingering thoughts as well.
※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.”
※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.
(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!
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?
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!
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.
※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.
