Umeda Shuichiro Tobitama article from Seiyuu Grand Prix July 2022 Translation
Below the cut is my translation for a magazine article about Umeda Shuichiro’s early career fan club livestream program called Tobitate! Game no Tamago (aka Sky-high! Game Egg)!
The article was in the July 2022 issue of Seiyuu Grand Prix, which you can still get at the publisher’s site here. Also they did two promo videos for the article on their youtube page that showed off some footage from Tobitama's episodes. They have officially made English CC-style subs (that's where I got the translation for the program name from), and you can see them here and here. Aside from the very brief clips on the Tobitama twitter page here, these two videos are the only surviving footage of this program as far as I know, so I’m really grateful this magazine posted them.
They also have a web interview here. At first glance I thought it was a direct web reprint of this magazine article, but comparing the Japanese text of the web and magazine versions, there’s actually a lot of differences both in the questions asked and the answers given, as well as the pictures. So that’s why I felt it was still worth posting my translation, even though some of the questions and answers are identical.
General disclaimer: My intention is educational aka I’m translating these articles so that the English-speaking fandom can learn more about my beloved #1 seiyuu oshi Umeda Shuichiro via translations that are done by a human and huge fan who knows more context than a machine translation would. I encourage everyone who can to support the magazine this came from and Umeda’s projects! ^_^
Umeda Shuichiro
The start of a program where we progress through games together!
Profile
Umeda Shuichiro. Born October 11th. Affiliated with Ken Production. Main works appeared in: Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie anime (Izumi-kun), The Dawn of the Witch anime (Sable), Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 Cross Boost (Ebihara Chikage), Final Fantasy VII Remake game (Chadley), and others.
Umeda Shuichiro’s
Sky-high!
Game Egg
Sky-high! Game Egg (abbreviated as SkyEgg) [In Japanese: Tobitate! Game no Tamago (abbreviated as Tobitama)] is a once-a-month livestream game variety program where Umeda Shuichiro-san interacts with his fans via playing various games. We bring you this interview with Umeda-san right after the first live broadcast of SkyEgg that aired on May 18th!
During this gaming livestream, it’s not just single-player gameplay, but also online multiplayer gameplay with the viewers!
Umeda loves ramen, so there’s a segment where he taste-tests noodles recommended by everyone. Pay close attention to this live, unedited food review!
A program wouldn’t be complete without a letter corner. People whose letters are read will get a special program sticker that has an illustration Umeda drew on it!
Umeda: I want everyone to get excited about playing online together!
Interviewer: I heard that the program’s title Sky-high! Game Egg was given by you, Umeda-san.
Umeda: It came about because I love birds in general, especially those like pigeons and white cockatoos, so I thought, “It’d be fun if we set it up like a game where with each subsequent livestream episode more of my beloved birds gather.” Thus, we made an interesting setting where in each episode one of our eggs hatches and the new friends steadily increase, and I gave it the name Game Egg.
Interviewer: Can you please tell us about your favorite games or genres you prefer?
Umeda: If pressed to say, I don’t really spend much time on RPGs. I’m not very good at grinding my way through the levels. [laughs] This is probably why I love action games where your skills and experience are easily applied. The game I played the most extensively is the fighter plane shooting game called Ace Combat, and lately I’ve been obsessed with an indie game called Outer Wilds where you journey through space. I’m so incredibly happy that I discovered this game, to the point that I want to lose my memory and play it all over again from the beginning.
Interviewer: Do you like individual-player games?
Umeda: I’m the kind of person who does things at his own pace, so if I have to pick between the two, I think I prefer games where I can progress slowly on my own. However, I really look forward to getting to do online multiplayer mode with my viewers during the program!
Interviewer: Your program has a corner where you taste-test noodles such as ramen. Do you really love ramen that much?
Umeda: I love ramen a ton, and while I can’t make anything too complicated, one of my hobbies is making my own ramen from scratch by making the broth by doing things like extracting the dashi from the bones using a pressure cooker, and making seafood or pork broth dipping noodles. However, where I’m living now has an induction cooktop with only a single burner, so it’s a struggle. It ends up taking half a day to make. [laughs]
Interviewer: Aside from games and good food, is there anything else that you’d want to try doing?
Umeda: I’d like to invite the people I’m close to. I think it’d be nice to introduce everyone to the people I love and have a personal relationship with. It’d make me so happy to invite the senpai that I respect, such as Tsubasa Yonaga-san, Sato Takuya-san, and Yashiro Taku-san, to be guests and get to do a program together with them.
Interviewer: Is there anything your senpai said that left an impression on you?
Umeda: When I was on set acting as the main character in The Dawn of the Witch, there was a time when I passed by Sato Takuya-san, who was playing the role of the villain, and he called out to me and said, “I heard your voice in the test footage.” I asked him, “H-how was it?” and he replied, “I thought it was a perfect fit, and that your acting was interesting.” I wasn’t able to ask him in what way he thought my acting was “interesting,” but it gave me confidence.
Interviewer: What was it that sparked your desire to become a voice actor?
Umeda: It started in my second year of college when I was invited to join the drama club. I’d always loved anime, so to me the world of voice actors was like something sparkling that I admired. When I joined the drama club and was in the position to act in something myself, I was shocked, but in a good way, at just how interesting acting could be. In that drama club, there were a surprising amount of people who were aiming to become voice actors. This changed my mind from thinking that even aiming to become a voice actor would be too difficult, to thinking that it was a viable option that I could possibly aim for too. For the first time in my life, I wanted to really put forth the time and effort to try doing something. Of course, my anxieties were massive, but I thought, “I won’t know unless I try!” and before I knew it, I had applied to a training school and was aiming to become a voice actor.
Interviewer: In the future are there any roles you want to try playing?
Umeda: I want to try playing twisted and perverse characters. [laughs] Also, I think it’d be cool if I could play adversaries, or rather, excessively strong-willed characters.
Interviewer: At last, SkyEgg has started. I’m looking forward to seeing how it grows from here.
Umeda: Because of this wonderful opportunity to spend a relaxing time playing games with the users, I think that even though it’s through a screen, by doing things together like having a drink or eating at the same time, everyone can feel closer to each other.
"Taking Pride In" Idolish7 S1 DVD Vol 7 Drama CD Translation
Below the cut is my translation for the drama CD that came with the Idolish7 Season 1 vol 7 DVD! I hadn't seen this translated yet and one of my friends was curious what the story was about, so I decided to translate it for her. ^_^ There were a few lines where I couldn't understand one word no matter how many times I listened to it, so I translated it based on all the words I could understand + what made sense in context (this is why I prefer to translate text-based things T_T). But I did my best throughout to be as accurate as possible! Enjoy! ^_^
Taking Pride In
Interviewer: So then, you’re preparing for the Black or White Music Fantasia Male Idol Category, Trigger’s Center Kujo Tenn-san and Idolish7’s Center Nanase Riku-san. Thank you for talking with me today.
Tenn: Thanks for having me.
Riku: Thanks for having me.
Interviewer: You two are the same age and have the same birthday, that’s quite the coincidence!
Riku: Ah…
Tenn: It sure is.
Interviewer: It kind of feels like a fateful meeting. What’s your impression of each other?
Tenn: He’s a wonderful singer and a worthy rival.
Riku: I feel the same way! He’s cool and perfect but kind, Tenn—
Tenn: Heh—
Riku: Trigger is someone I’ve always admired. Standing on the same stage, getting to battle them, it makes me really happy.
Tenn: Thank you, Nanase-san.
Riku: Ah hah.
Interviewer: Thank you two for today. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.
Tenn: Thanks for your hard work.
Riku: Thanks for your hard work! Um, wait! If you have time, would you want to get food or something with me?
Tenn: Sorry, but I have plans.
Riku: I see.
Tenn: I’m looking forward to Black or White.
Riku: Yeah! I’m also looking forward to it! With the members of Idolish7, we’ll beat Trigger! I’ll show you I can reach your level, Kujo-san!
Tenn: We won’t lose. See you.
Riku: Then I’ll see you at Black or White.
*knock knock*
Tsumugi: Riku-san? Good job with the interview!
Riku: Thanks for all your hard work, Manager.
Tsumugi: Ah. Are you okay?
Riku: Yeah. I was a little nervous about having an interview with Tenn-nii since I didn’t know what to say or not say. But as Idolish7’s Center, I feel like I was able to talk with Trigger’s Center Kujo Tenn. Having to talk with him as if he’s someone I don’t know is a bit lonely, but I’ve made my resolve. We will beat Trigger! I want Tenn-nii, ah, that person to recognize me.
Tsumugi: Riku-san.
Riku: Ah but up it’s not like up until now I wasn’t determined. Now I REALLY am fired up!
Tsumugi: I know! Good luck with your goal of winning Black or White!
-----
Takanashi: It’s finally Black or White.
Banri: Yeah. A lot of things happened but they did their best and made it this far in such a short amount of time!
Kinako: Myu myuu!
Takanashi: Ha ha, that’s right, Banri-kun. Those boys are amazing idols.
Banri: They’re an idol group that’s the pride of Takanashi Productions. They’re no longer the simple lunches, they’ve reached the gourmet status.
Takanashi: Yeah, all over Japan they’ve made people happy. On this last night of the year, they’ll give everyone the best seven-colored rainbow, and we’ll continue to watch over them with all our might.
Banri: Yes, President!
Kinako: Myu myuu myuu!
Banri: Ha ha, of course with Kinako!
Kinako: Myuu!
--------
Mitsuki: (singing) We want more and more of this excitement to reach you…
Yamato: Mitsu, you’re still out here singing in the yard even though it’s cold?
Mitsuki: Ah, Yamato-san. I got kinda lost in thought. A year ago I didn’t know if I could become an idol, and now here I am appearing in the Black or White on the last day of the year.
Yamato: Doesn’t feel real, huh?
Mitsuki: I think… that it feels real. But it’s like, scary and I want to cry, it’s a strange feeling. It’s too early to pat myself on the back since we haven’t won yet, but it’s different compared to other times. Ah, what about you, Yamato-san?
Yamato: I’m not sure about myself. I feel like I want to tell you guys to work your hardest and win, but I also want to tell you guys to relax.
Mitsuki: Ha ha ha. What a big shot. Telling us to relax before our first Black or White is kinda impossible, isn’t it?
Yamato: Ha ha ha. On the day of we’ll all be frozen stiff with nerves.
Nagi: Hello~
Yamato: Ah, another nervous guy appeared.
Nagi: Hm? What are you talking about?
Mitsuki: Nagi, are you nervous? When we face Black or White, will your heart be pounding?
Nagi: Of course it will be!
Yamato: Really? Even you?
Nagi: Ladies all over Japan will be paying attention to our singing. My heart will be all a-flutter!
Yamato: Ah, that’s what you meant.
Nagi: There’s no day more amazing than that! Black or White is a promise to bring happiness! The seven of us have finally reached that treasure island! Like a shining treasure, even if we’re sleepy, even if our bodies are weary, we’ll keep adventuring so that we can take pride in ourselves and become the best in the world. Don’t you think?
Mitsuki: Yeah, I agree. We went through a lot, like rain and storms.
Yamato: That’s true. That concert in the storm was really hard. Riku even collapsed.
Nagi: We deepened our bonds in those moments.
(singing) Let our Joker flag
Yamato: (singing) fly high
That’s right. Riku’s secret connection to Trigger gives this kind of a fateful feeling.
Mitsuki: Speaking of the fateful connection to Trigger, when we went to their concert, that was one of the first times we really felt that bond, wasn’t it?
Nagi: Oh, when we danced at the entrance of the venue, right?
Tamaki: You guys! What are you doing out there?
Sougo: Aren’t you cold? Please don’t catch a cold.
Mitsuki: Tamaki! Sougo!
Tamaki: Are you lookin’ at the stars? I know that the three-star constellation is Orion.
Mitsuki: Stars? Ohh there are a lot of stars! You can see the stars so clearly in the winter!
Sougo: If I recall correctly, Orion is a person. People in the past saw this as a person?
Tamaki: Sou-chan’s aesthetic sense is kinda off.
Sougo: And just what do you mean by that?
Nagi: Tamaki, do you know if there’s a constellation that’s even more like us than Orion?
Tamaki: A constellation like us?
Yamato: I know! I learned about it in school a long time ago. Uhh, it was like Hishaku [dipper] or something…
[Translator note: this whole section below doesn’t translate well into English because Yamato is thinking about the Big Dipper, which in Japanese is Hokuto Shichisei and the shichisei part means seven stars, but says it as the word hishyaku aka dipper/ladle, and Tamaki is saying it’s the same thing as the Japanese monster Hishaku except Tamaki is also confused by thinking Hishaku is the sea monster who sinks ships uses a ladle-like motion when Hishaku is actually a cell-sized monster that people thought was the cause of illness before modern medicine taught them about germs, all while Nagi keeps seeing the ladle motion as if it’s a cat paw motion]
Mitsuki: Oh, yeah! Uhh what was it called again? Arggh uhh I’m drawing a blank…
Nagi: What? Hishaku?
Tamaki: It’s like… a sea monster that sinks ships, using this motion.
Nagi: Oh! Meow!
Tamaki: Ah, no, no, not a cat’s paw type of movement, it’s like a hishaku [ladle] kind of movement.
Nagi: What? Hishaku?
Tamaki: Like I said, it’s a sea monster that makes a motion like this.
Nagi: Okay! Meow~!
Tamaki: No, no, nooo!
Sougo: Wow, their conversation is going in a loop.
Mitsuki: Hm? What are you looking up on your phone, Old Man?
Yamato: Well, I thought I’d research on the internet about the Hishaku constellation.
Mitsuki: Try to remember it on your own! They say that if you give up trying to remember things your brain cells will die!
Yamato: No way. If that’s true, I think a lot of them have already died.
Riku: We’re back! It’s cold, so why is everyone out here in the yard?
Iori: I heard a cat mewing. Is there a cat? Or a kitten? What color?
Sougo: There’s not a kitten, but why does the color matter?
Iori: Well, it’s just… Easier to imagine it if you know the color, you know?
Sougo: Is that so?
Tamaki: Even though we were talking about Hishaku, Nagicchi kept going “Meow.”
Iori: So it was your mewing. Don’t do such misleading things. How did a conversation about Hishaku lead to him making cat meow sounds?
Sougo: At first we were talking about stars. There’s a hishyaku (ladle)-shaped constellation, but when we were explaining it to Nagi-kun, Tamki-kun’s gesture made Nagi-kun go “Meow!” and they got stuck in a loop. On the other side of things, Mitsuki-san and Yamato-san couldn’t remember the name of the constellation and started to worry about memory decline.
Iori: Osaka-san, thank you for that detailed explanation.
Yamato: Sou, do you remember the name of the constellation?
Sougo: I do, we learned about it in school.
Riku: I know too! It’s got seven stars, right? Can I say the answer?
Mitsuki: Wait, Riku! Give us a hint first!
Riku: Sure thing! Umm, the first part is “ho” and the last part is “i”!
Mitsuki and Yamato: I got it! Pick me, pick me!
Riku: Okay, the two of you say it on three! One, two, three!
Mitsuki and Yamato: Hokuto Shichisei! [The Big Dipper]
Riku: Ding ding ding! That’s correct!
Yamato and Mitsuki: Yay!
Nagi: Bingo! A seven-starred constellation! It’s like our Patron Saint!
Riku: Is it?
Nagi: I have just declared it as such!
Yamato: You can make decisions about the Milky Way? Wow.
Riku: It’s amazing the Big Dipper will be looking out for us! I bet we can beat Trigger at Black or White!
Mitsuki: Ah, that’s right, we were talking about Trigger and the day that we first went to their live.
Sougo: It sure brings back memories, huh? Trigger was so cool.
(singing) Let’s go, wake me up…
Riku: (singing) From this unending dream, together…
Today I got to talk with Tenn-nii for the first time in a while.
Yamato: What did Kujo say?
Riku: He said, “We won’t lose.”
Iori: We’re not going to lose. We’ll beat Trigger. With the way we are now, we can transform this era.
Mitsuki: Yeah, you’re right!
Sougo: Yes, everyone let’s do our best! Uh, Tamaki-kun?
Tamaki: The conversation from before…
Sougo: From before? About the Big Dipper?
Tamaki: I thought it was my lucky star. Like it was my mom watching over me.
Riku: Tamaki…
Tamaki: That’s why, we’re gonna win Black or White. And when we win, it’d be nice if my mom and Aya can see it.
Sougo: I’m sure they’ll see it and that Aya-chan wants to find you too.
Tamaki: Eh heh. Yeah.
Riku: It’d be nice if everyone’s wishes came true. A lot happened, but it’s because of everyone here that I made it this far. I have friends who acknowledge me and put their hope in me. And it’s not just us. It’s our fans, Manager and other staff, as well as Trigger. It’d be nice if we can repay everyone’s feelings on the stage at Black or White.
Iori: Let’s make that wish come true. Even if the stars are covered by clouds, we will be those shining stars. Let’s make Idolish7’s name resound all throughout Japan.
Nagi: Yes! Let’s make a miracle happen!
Mitsuki: Yeah, let’s do it!
Tamaki: Let’s become #1 in Japan!
Yamato: Yeah, this is our moment in the spotlight! With a flash and a bang, we’ll go all out to make it the best New Year’s Eve!
Sougo: Let’s sing in a way that’s worthy of our opponent Trigger! Let’s sing with everything we’ve got!
Riku: Yeah! We won’t lose, Tenn-nii, Trigger!
-----
Tenn: It’s finally Black or White.
Gaku: Tenn, how did your talk with Nanase go?
Ryuu: Were you okay? The weekly magazines have been talking about the rumors that Tenn and Riku are twins, after all.
Tenn: Don’t worry, it was just about the centers of rival groups.
Gaku: Are you good with that?
Tenn: You got a problem? I am Trigger’s Kujo Tenn. You acknowledge me as the center, don’t you?
Ryuu: We do. As Trigger, let’s give a performance at Black or White that we won’t regret! For the sake of the fans that have been cheering us on, as well as for Idolish7, the group that’s been challenging us with all their might.
Gaku: Yeah!
Tenn: Of course!
Anesagi: Everyone, your new song for Black or White is done.
Gaku: New song?
Anesagi: A new composer has prepared it for you. I explained it to you before, didn’t I? It wasn’t the President’s order for Idolish7’s song to be stolen. I reflected on it as well and realized it was too much pressure to ask you all to keep pretending you didn’t know.
Ryuu: Anesagi-san…
Anesagi: The President surely thought the same. That’s why you need to please stop doing things like cutting the President’s phone line.
Tenn: Ryuu scared him with his threats, huh?
Gaku: That was really impressive…
Ryuu: W-was it?
Tenn: So then, what’s our new song’s name?
President Yaotome: Leopard Eyes.
Gaku: Dad…
President Yaotome: It’s the perfect song for Trigger that I’d been searching for. Show me how serious you all are!
Gaku: Heh. Like you have to tell us. We’re never anything but serious!
Ryuu: Leopard Eyes… On the last night of this year, we’ll go out there and sing the best song just like we always do!
Tenn: That’s right. We’re Trigger. We’ll take on this challenge and go up against Idolish7 fair and square! This is how we’ll settle it, Riku.
