Utsumi’s letter from the Premium Party
Here is the English translation of director Utsumi Hiroko’s letter which was read out during the Banana Fish Premium Party on December 23, 2018.
A million thanks go to @iamtrashforash who proofread my translation and suffered through my endless explanations about the reasoning behind certain word choices. Thank you so very much for bearing with me and taking the time to go through this not so short nor simple letter.
The Premium Party was an event attended by Uchida Yuuma (Ash’s VA), Nojima Kenji (Eiji’s VA), Morikawa Toshiyuki (Blanca’s VA) and the series’ producer, Uryuu Kyouko. VAs of Shorter, Yut-Lung and Sing also participated via short video clips. The event took place three days after the final episode of the anime aired and featured brief interviews with the staff and interactive games for the audience. The 90-minute-long footage is included in the blu-ray disc box volume 3.
For me, one of the highlights of the event is the part where Morikawa Toshiyuki reads out Utsumi’s letter. Although Utsumi did not participate in the event herself, she sent a very heartfelt letter to share her experiences with the production of the series and thank the VAs present in the event for their hard work. It resonated with my feelings towards Banana Fish as a story and anime series, so I wanted to share it with you.
I’m not putting up the original Japanese text here for copyright reasons but feel free to drop me a line if you want to take a look at it. The sentences are not always to-the-point, so I might have misinterpreted the meaning in certain passages. Please share your thoughts with me if you disagree with my interpretation. Okay, here we go…
“Thank you for coming to the Premium Party. Have you all watched Banana Fish until the last episode?
Personally, my thoughts about the series revolved around things like “Why do we have to work on such a sad story?!” or like “Lao, go talk to Sing properly!” or like “Ash, you really should think more about Eiji’s feelings!” But ultimately, I said to myself, “Well, that’s just how Banana Fish is,” and worked on the adaptation with that thought in mind.
It had become a regular occurrence to finish the production of each episode just in time for broadcasting. But the last episode simply wouldn’t fit into our usual running time, no matter what we did. So, after direct talks with Fuji TV, we got to extend the last episode for 10 whole minutes! Yay! And while that was all well and good, I still can’t forget how, during the pre-meeting on the production, every single production department said, “The ending didn’t really feel like an ending,” and then there was complete silence.
I’m genuinely glad that the series is over.
Speaking of things I still can’t forget, in the “You have until 12, Cinderella” scene in episode 23, the clock was supposed to show 11:55. But during the screen check it showed 22:55, so it appeared as if Ash stood there for a whole hour watching Eiji and then left with a tear-streaked face. And although that was very charming, naturally we ended up reanimating the scene.
Through this and that, we on the production side were also rushing from one place to another along with Ash and the gang. It was very tough, but also very fulfilling. Thank you so much for sticking around until the very end.
To Uchida-san… (Ash’s VA)
You managed to portray Ash—an incredibly difficult and nuanced character—until the very end, to the amazement of the staff. It made the staff think: “The video animation can’t lose [to the voice acting]!” No one was quite sure about how Candy Bar should be sung but you sang it in the best possible way. That will certainly open new doors for you(*).
There is also the reason why we entrusted [the role of] Ash to you: In the scenes with Eiji, your voice and tone softened, and your tenderness really shone through. “Ah… So this was the happiness that Ash was feeling.” The feeling of warmth was transmitted to me.
I’m so glad it was you who got the role of Ash. Thank you for portraying him until the very end.
To Nojima-san (Eiji’s VA)
I hardly ever gave you any directions, but even now I have fond memories of you struggling to make some of the strange sounds Eiji made from time to time. Like in episode 1, when they pulled a knife on him, or like when he fell after pole-vaulting over that wall, or like that time when that mouse appeared out of nowhere(**).
Words cannot express how well your warmth and kindness, two qualities that are characteristic of Eiji, fit the image of him we had in mind. Thanks to you, when Ash felt happy, we also felt happy.
When we were recording the final letter scene, you said on your own “I want to do it again!” even before knowing whether a retake would be required or not. And when you were asked where do you want to take it from, you said in a very cute way “From when I fumbled my lines~” and continued playing your role until the end.
Thank you so much for saving and protecting Ash’s soul till the very end.
To Morikawa-san (Blanca’s VA)
From the first recording session, you exuded an overwhelmingly calm and steady aura that had all staff members nodding in silent appreciation. Your seductive voice and that strangely atmospheric track, “Blanca’s Theme”, fit together marvellously and brought out Blanca’s adult appeal.
In episode 20, in the scene where Yut-Lung and Blanca were waiting by the car and they were attacked, Blanca pushes him back, yelling “Watch out!” But I still can’t forget how you missed your cue and yelled “Uhh, w-watch out!” instead. If Blanca were indeed as late as you were, Yut-Lung would be dead, right?
While he possesses invincible strength, Blanca captivates women with that handsome face of his and at times shows his charming side. Thank you so much for portraying such an extraordinary character so splendidly.
That’s all. My soul is with you all and with them as well.
(*) There is lots of laughter from the audience as this part is read out. Utsumi’s obviously saying this sarcastically.
(**) This part is so silly! As Morikawa describes each scene, he extends the microphone to Nojima goes “Kyaaa~!” and “Ugyaaaa~!” just like in the anime.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
vaporwave
areudirty
dailybridgerton
gummygunk
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
kianamaiart
titsay
