[C3 CHARAEXPO’16] INTERVIEW WITH Emi Nitta, Junya Enoki and Mark Ishii [J-EXPERIENCE]
Following up the Soramaru Interview last year, we bring you now not one, not two but three voice actors – Emi Nitta, Junya Enoki and Mark Ishii!
Emi Nitta is a Japanese voice actress and a singer. Her first major role was Ricca Morizono in Da Capo III. Her biggest role to date is undeniably Honoka from Love Live. In 2014, she debuted as a singer with her first single – "Egao to egao de hajimaru yo!" and currently has five singles under her belt. Not just a talented voice actress, she also plays the piano.
Junya Enoki is a Japanese voice actor whose main roles include Shion Kiba in Cardfight!! Vanguard G and Takeru Takaishi in Digimon Adventure tri 1.
Mark Ishii is a Japanese voice actor and a graduate of Tokyo Announce Gakuin, a college cultivating aspiring voice actors. Of Filipino and Japanese decent, his main role to date includes Bellri Zenam in Gundam: G no Reconguista and Chrono Shindou in Cardfight!! Vanguard G.
The three were in Singapore as invited guests of the C3 Chara Expo 2016. We managed to catch them for a brief moment to learn more about them! Please enjoy!
Emi Nitta + Junya Enoki + Mark Ishii INTERVIEW:
ON SINGAPORE:
Q: What are your impressions of Singapore?
Mark: I originally come from the Philippines, so I find some similarities between the Philippines and Singapore, such as having large screens on buildings, the humidity and the weather. Food-wise, I find it similar to the Philippines as well! So, I feel very comfortable and at ease here at Singapore.
Junya: I had dinner at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) last night. There was a lot of greenery around the area! In other parts of the city, there are also skyscrapers and the shapes of the buildings are quite unique which we don’t see in Japan. At night, I got to see a laser beam performance at MBS, which was quite entertaining.
Emi Nitta: The last time I came to Singapore was a couple of years ago. I really, really enjoyed myself the last time I was here. I was taken to restaurant after restaurant. So for this time, I wanted to do something else. So I decided to pay myself and do what I want. It feels like I am having a holiday here!
Q: What kind of food do you want to eat in Singapore?
Mark: This is my first time visiting Singapore. So I would like to experience a lot of things. I heard that Singapore is a very multicultural and multinational country, so I would want to try some of the local food.
Emi Nitta: Actually, this is my second time visiting Singapore! The last time I was here, I tried the chili crab and the chicken rice. So this time round, I want to try Laksa!
Junya: I don’t know what kind of food is famous in Singapore, so if you don’t mind, please give me suggestions on what to try.
Emi Nitta & Interviewers: Chicken rice! You should try it!
On Voice Acting & Singing:
Q: What are the requirements of being a good voice actor/actress?
Junya: There isn’t any particular requirement to become a voice actor from what I understand. Once you set your goals and work hard for it, you can become a voice actor.
Emi Nitta: The script that you read during voice acting only describes a certain point. You would need the ability to read between the lines and draw out what the producer is trying to make. To me, that’s actually the hardest yet most interesting part of being a voice actress.
Mark: I think the most important thing is to not give up. If you want to become somebody, you will have to stick to it and make an effort to do it. When you meet a wall, you need to overcome it. Try hard and you can achieve it. It’s helpful if you can be good friends with the staff as well!
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring voice actors or singers?
Mark: If you are really keen on becoming a voice actor or a singer, I don’t want you to give up in the middle. There may be objections from your parents. You wouldn’t know until you start. Even so, you should not give up.
Mark: From my experience, my parents said no for me to become a voice actor. However, I pushed through and went to a special voice acting school and became a voice actor.
Junya: I think that you would have to be an ordinary person and not a celebrity. The reason why I am saying this is because in voice acting, you would need to communicate with a lot of people. You would need to understand that there are worries of people on both sides. When delivering the story or singing the song, you need to make your audience sympathise with it and then find it interesting. In order for that, you need to have the feeling of an ordinary person and not of an extravagant person. When people feel sad, you would have to feel sad. You would have to be a grounded person.
Emi Nitta: I feel that you would need to experience a lot of things, and then watch lots of anime and movies. You have to be able to feel the emotions throughout your life – be it sadness or delight. By doing that, you will have a lot of emotions reserved inside you, so that you can take it out when you do the voice acting. Inside the feelings, similar to what Junya-san said, is the ordinariness or sometimes, it’s the extraordinariness. If you have all these, you can utilize them when you do the voice acting!
Q: Which do you like more – being a singer or a voice actor?
Junya: I feel that you cannot compare voice acting and singing on the same level. I wanted to become an actor, so voice acting is very important. I wanted to make my voice acting solid. Along the way, singing is also required as a voice actor. I want to do it good as well and to deliver the enjoyment to the audience.
Junya: In terms of voice acting, voice acting is part of, and like acting. To make one episode, you will need a lot of things, like sounds and animations. You’re a fraction of the whole process. That’s the fun part. It’s not up to you. You’re part of the unit.
Junya: As for singing, i don’t sing so much. When i do sing, I sing and act as a character. So it is fun to express the character through the songs, that’s the fun part!
Mark: For voice acting, it’s fun because you can meet a lot of different kinds of people. These days, there are many new voice actors coming into the industry more frequently. You can mix with all these people, and that’s fun. At the end, when the work is completed, you can also see the work objectively as an audience, which is also part of the fun!
Mark: In terms of singing, it is similar in a sense that there is a lot of stuff – writing the lyrics, making the songs, etc. However, primarily, when you sing, you are the main focus on the stage. If i sing on the stage, I want to make quite comfortable environment for the audience.
Emi Nitta: I like both singing and voice acting very much. In terms of voice acting and singing, the way to deliver either is different. However, whenever i sing or do the voice, i would still put my 100% effort in it. The way to deliver either is so different. But what i want to deliver to the audience is my thoughts, feelings and also the enjoyment. It’s the same for both, so I want to do my best!
Q: How do you feel about performing as a group and solo? Is there any difference?
Emi Nitta: One thing similar about singing as a group or solo is to try and deliver the enjoyment to the audience with the help of the staff. Depending on which role you’re singing as, it is different – the kind of atmosphere that I need to deliver. On the stage, I just try to deliver enjoyment to the audience.
Emi Nitta: Actually, the three of us have a song but we have never performed it on stage. So i don’t know what it’s like to perform it live.
Junya: Actually, I don’t sing solo. I always sing in a group. When i sing in a group, I cannot just think about myself. I need to think about my teammates as a whole. Sometimes, my teammates may forget their lines or the lyrics. In that case, I should remember the entire song, so that I can follow up. When performing in a group, you have to time with your singing partners, so you need to check their every movement and go in at the correct timing. .
Mark: I don’t have so many singing sessions. I used to sing as a unit. At that time, it was important to think about the balance of the entire group. You cannot just come forward on your own, as it would become off balance. It is important to talk to your singing partners first to be on the same page so that you can deliver the tune as a unit.
Mark: On singing solo, I attended one of my karaoke events. I picked my favourite song. When i sang it, I try to deliver what I have – myself to that song. That is what i think.
Q: Your voice is obviously very important. What do you think is the unique about your own voice and how do you take care of your voice?
Emi Nitta: I want to point out that sometimes, people make the mistake that you need to have a certain voice to become a voice actor. This is not true. What is really important is that you need to play the role. You need to act out the role using your voice. The expression that you deliver is more important than the voice itself.
Junya: Your voice is like a fingerprint; everyone has a different voice. Through the microphone, your voice will sound very unique. The most important thing is whether you can deliver the story with your voice and express the feelings of the characters through the voice. That’s the important part.
Mark: When you think about voice actors, you will automatically think of their cute voice, their smart voice, or their funny voice. However, these characteristics are actually just an image. It’s not particularly important. Everybody has a different voice. Any voice can be used to voice another character, so it actually depends on the expression.
Mark: In terms of the quality of the voice, it’s not particularly important what kind of voice you have. The important part, to be a voice actor, is to take good care of your throat.
Interviewer: Any personal tips?
Mark: Try not to catch a cold or flu. Try to also avoid your throat being too dry. Whenever you feel any discomfort in your throat, go and see a doctor immediately!
Interviewer: In Singapore, there are lots of spicy foods.
Mark: Ah! I’ll try and avoid any spicy food then, just before my work!
That’s all folks! We hope that you have learned a thing or two about your favourite artistes. Please do continue to support all three of them in their endeavours!
Fun Fact:
Emi Nitta’s hobbies include visiting cafes, singing karaoke and studying on dinosaurs.
[AFASG’16] [J-EXPERIENCE] [INTERVIEW] Wake Up, Girls！― We can overcome anything together!
The up-and-coming idol group – that is Wake Up, Girls! (WUG) – recently graced our shores to perform during the Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2016’s I Love Anisong Concert! The seiyuu unit is made up of seven cute and bubbly members, namely – Mayu Yoshioka, Airi Eino, Minami Tanaka, Yoshino Aoyama, Nanami Yamashita, Kaya Okuno and Miyu Takagi. Having already an Anime series and 3 movies under their belt, the group recently performed “Bokura no Frontier” – an ending theme – for Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume! The group is no stranger to performing on the big stage – with performances at the Animelo Summer Live as well as in the United States! We sat down with them to find out more about their music, the anime and who is the best at Table Tennis.
ON THEIR MUSIC
Q: Please tell us more about your latest single – “Bokura no Frontier".
Mayu Yoshioka: I feel that this is the perfect song to be an ending song for an Anime. During the recording, we had some difficulties for the first part before the chorus. The good thing about the song is that as you approach the chorus, it’s almost as though there’s an explosion – you could feel a burst of fresh air and see a clear blue sky. That part is something that we really enjoyed about the song.
Bokura no Frontier
Q: What is your favourite WUG song?
Nanami Yamashita: “Beyond the Bottom” is my favourite song as I am voicing the character, Nanami Hisami. In the first part of the movie, you can see that Nanami is starting to show growth and you can see her grow as a person, which transited beautifully into the second part. Her growth is something I feel very close to. That is why “Beyond the Bottom” is my favourite song.
Beyond the Bottom
Note: Beyond the Bottom is also the name of the 2nd movie.
Miyu Takagi: “Shojo Kokyokyoku” is my favourite song; I really like it! Not only is this song beautiful, it is a great song too! The lyrics are really touching. When I first heard it, I actually started crying. It is my favourite song as it really touched me.
Shojo Kokyokyoku
Minami Tanaka: “Tachiagare!” is my favourite song! It is our first song, which is like our “roots”. Every time we perform the song in lives, a fiery passion will kind of burn inside of me. When I am singing it now, it makes me feel so calm, as it is something close to my heart. I also really love how responsive the fans get when we sing this song!
Mayu Yoshioka: I also like “Tachiagare!” too! It is not just because the song is our roots, but it is like our signature song – you can always relate “Tachiagare!!” to Wake Up, Girls!. This is something that is really important to us. Every time, when we hear the recording (of Tachiagare!), we can see how much we have grown as a group, which is something amazing. Whenever we perform this song at our live performances, you can notice how much we have developed. This feeling is something I really hold dear to me.
Tachiagare!
Airi Eino: “16-Sai no Agape” is my favourite song! This song is not related to the Anime, but is used more for performing. Thus, I think not many Anime fans might know about this. However, this song is very cute and is based on a high school setting. It is a very bubbly song and is sung by my character - Airi Hayashida. I really recommend this song! So if you do not know about this song, do listen to it!
16-Sai no Agape
Kaya Okuno: I also like “Beyond the Bottom!” You can tell from this song that despite all the hardship, WUG can carry through. You can also feel the power within the song. It is a really encouraging song.
Yoshino Aoyama: I recommend all the songs the other members have mentioned before! However, since it is a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about Wake Up, Girls!, I will choose a different song – I would recommend “Gokujo Smile”. When you listen to the music, you realised that has a very upbeat and pop-like music. However, when you read the lyrics, you actually realise that it is rather dark and negative, with lyrics like – "It's really very hard" and "I want to cry". The fact that we were singing it so positively, it is almost like an encouragement. This song is very reflective of us as a group, despite all of us having hardships to carry through. Thus, I really recommend this song!
Gokujo Smile
Q: Why did WUG decide to sing for an Anime – Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume – instead of choosing to use that song – “Bokura no Frontier” – for themselves?
Mayu Yoshioka: It is very difficult for us to answer why we did the song for Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume instead of releasing it under WUG, as we were a group that was brought together. We were just informed by the producer that we would be doing a theme song for Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume and we were really excited about it!
Anime – Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume
Q: Who is the best in Table Tennis among the WUG members? (Note: Some of the WUG Members voiced in the TV Anime Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume, and have also participated in various Table Tennis related events.) Everyone: Minami Tanaka! After the recordings, she would always continue practising Table Tennis. Thus, Minami is able to serve better and rally more.
Minami Tanaka: So, at this point, I guessed I am the best, right? Everyone: Okay, we got it, alright.
ON THEIR LIVE PERFORMANCES
Q: This is your second time going overseas and your first performance as a group. How do you all feel about performing overseas?
Mayu Yoshioka: Our first performance overseas was in Chicago two years ago, where we had a small live. However, the live occurred right after the screening of the Wake Up, Girls! Anime, therefore, we did not have many songs that we could sing. Now, after both the anime series and movies have finished, we feel that we are more complete and have much more to offer to our fans.
Q: Do you have any interesting behind-the-scenes stories to share during the WUG 3rd Live Tour?
Mayu Yoshioka: This was before our Okinawa performance. Just two minutes before going on to the stage, Miyu started to eat her bento. That was really interesting!
Mayu Yoshioka: Another one happened on the stage. The song, “Higawari Princess”, means that the princess will change every day. Likewise, we did that on stage, where the centre was changed each week, which felt like there was a different princess for each of the live. This concept is something new and interesting, so we hope that our fans were able to enjoy something different.
Q: Do you have anything special prepared for the Festa. 2016 SUPER LIVE concert in December?
Mayu Yoshioka: For this concert, not only will Wake Up, Girls! be performing, our rivals will also be performing too! The fact that we are able to have a concert in Makuhari Messe with the entire cast is almost like a dream come true. It also kind of relates to the Anime, which is a huge turning point for us.
ON THEIR ANIME SERIES
Q: How does WUG relate to their respective character in the Anime?
Airi Eino: I am actually from Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, where the anime is based on. I was living in Sendai when I did the recording for the anime. I realised that the city and everything (in the Anime) looks exactly like Sendai. When people, who after watching the Anime, goes to Sendai, they would probably notice a lot of similarities, like – “this is where they were” or “this is where they walked”.
Besides the landscapes, the fact is that we are idols too. Even in the anime, the characters are also going through the same hardships as us; they are still trying to work towards their dream. This is something that we felt which is similar between the Anime and us.
Q: Can you please share with us your opinions on your own WUG character?
Yoshino Aoyama: My character, Yoshino Nanase, started off as a cool beauty, then because it's like a “hyperlink”, the characters will start to reflect us in real life as well. She started changing from a cool beauty to someone who isn’t really a cool beauty.
Yoshino Nanase (C.V: Yoshino Aoyama)
Kaya Okuno: You might be a little scared about Kaya Kikuma because she might come off as a little bit scary. However, in fact, she is actually really passionate person and you will actually realise that she is a great woman.
Kaya Kikuma (C.V: Kaya Okuno)
Airi Eino: The Airi Hayashida that I have portrayed might come off as a very normal person, almost as somebody you can relate to. She cannot really sing nor dance. Sometimes, she starts questioning whether she should continue doing this or not. However, in the recent Anime, you can see how much she has grown. Therefore, she is someone I believe the viewers can easily relate to.
Airi Hayashida (C.V: Airi Eino)
Mayu Yoshioka: My character, Mayu Shimada, came off as a little mysterious and people can't really wrap their heads around her. As you keep watching the Anime, you will start to see that she is actually quite feminine and start to grow closer and closer to the group. For myself, as a personal fan, when I see her grow and become more open with everybody, I feel really happy for her.
Mayu Shimada (C.V: Mayu Yoshioka)
Minami Tanaka: Minami Katayama is almost too good to be true! She is almost like an angel, and she is kind of like the “imouto” (younger sister) character in the group. She is very well-taken care by everybody else. But little did you know, she is also watching out for everyone else too. She is a really sweet person!
Minami Katayama (C.V: Minami Tanaka)
Nanami Tamashita: As Nanami Hisami is the shortest and youngest in the group, you would kind of expect her to have the "imouto" type of personality. However, she is slightly snobbish and is like a lone wolf type of girl. However, as the story progresses, you would realise that she has a lot of love to offer. She is like a "Tsundere" type of character.
Nanami Hisami (C.V: Nanami Tamashita)
Miyu Takagi: Miyu Okamoto is more of the mood maker and is the funny character in the group. Sometimes, her humour might be quite questionable. She has a very good comedic relationship with Kaya. I feel that Miyu does a very good job being the "boke". (Usually in Japanese comedy, a boke is the person that is acting a little not too smart, which would lead to another person hitting on that and asking out loud "what is he/she saying?")
Miyu Okamoto (C.V: Miyu Takagi)
Q: Is there any difference between being idols in the Anime and in real life?
Mayu Yoshioka: We are still in the process of becoming an idol. This is something that we are still working on together as a group. We actually had to do intensive training such as singing, vocal and dancing lessons. Sometimes, we were so surprised that we also had to do abs workout, that we would ask, “We need to do these much!?”
However, as we were together as a group, the trainings were something we could overcome together.
LASTLY, A MESSAGE FOR THEIR FANS
Q: A Message to the fans, done in English!
Miyu Takagi: Hello… Hello… We are Wake Up, Girls! Thank you for everything. We love you!
We hope this short interview session will allow you to get to know your idols better. In 2017, Wake Up, Girls! will be having their 2nd season for their Anime series, so please do continue to support them! We can’t wait to see what else they have to offer in the future!
From top left to right: Takagi Miyu, Yamashita Minami, Aoyama Yoshino, Eino Airi
Bottom left to right: Tanaka Minami, Yoshioka Mayu, Okuno Kaya
[AFASG’16][J-EXPERIENCE][INTERVIEW] Aimer: The Beginning of a New Chapter
If there is a year that can be described as Aimer’s year, 2016 would be it. This year, she pulled off one stunning collaboration after the other, culminating in her collaboration album – her fourth – daydream! Having collaborated with the likes of chelly, tk, taka and RADWIMPS, the incredibly powerful and intellectual songstress indeed has had a spectacular and successful year!
Having stepped out of her comfort zone this year and into the spotlight, she recently completed her first solo overseas live in Taipei’s ATT Showbox as well as selling out on her national hall tour. Aimer has also grown from strength to strength, challenging herself to do better each time.
We, at J-Experience, managed to sat down with the demure artiste to find out more about her music, collaborations and what she has in stored for 2017!
AN INTRODUCTION
Q: How did you get the name Aimer and what does it mean?
Aimer: It’s a mix between a nickname that I had and the French word for love – je t’aime. When I chose the name Aimer, I realised that it’s not exactly like je t’aime, not exactly like love; you can sense a little bit of sadness behind the name, and I was drawn to that, hence the name – Aimer.
Q: You had to take a break from singing when you were 15. Can you describe your emotions at that time, how and what gave you the inspiration and strength to overcome this difficulty?
Aimer: Back then, I actually lost my voice. The fact that I couldn’t sing felt pretty much like a wall that appeared in front of me suddenly. It made me want to sing even more and made me realised how much I love music.
I told myself then, if I could just sing one more time…
… as there might have been a possibility that I might be unable to sing anymore. However, being able to overcome it and sing again made me realised that maybe it was not too difficult as I was able to overcome it and realised my love and passion towards singing.
CREATING MASTERPIECES THROUGH COLLABORATIONS
Cover Art for insane dream/us (Source)
Taka from ONE OK ROCK
Q: This year, your music career is defined by the many collaborations with famous artistes. What were some fun moments and challenges when doing these collaborations?
Aimer: There’s a lot of great memories that I have when doing collaborations, as each artiste that I collaborate with will each have a different vocal direction. Taka-san – from ONE OK ROCK – has great English pronunciation and he gave me a lot of directions on how to pronounce the English words in the song. It was a really fun and interesting experience for me.
Note: Aimer and taka collaborated on the song, “insane dream”, which has quite a few English words in the lyrics. They also collaborated on: “Higher Ground”, “closer”, “Falling alone” and “Stars in the rain”.
chelly from EGOiST
Q: Last year, you mentioned that you really wanted to collaborate with Egoist because you loved her vocals. Can you please share with us more about this collaboration experience?
Aimer: Before the collaboration, I really wanted to collaborate with EGOiST’s chelly because I really like her voice. I work with Sawano Hiroyuki-san a lot and when I realised that he had a new song for me to sing, I thought of how great it would be if all three of us could do the song together. My dream actually came true! In the recording, the fact that I got to hear chelly-san sing was a really good and stimulating experience for me.
Note: Aimer and chelly collaborated on the song, “ninelie”, together.
tk from Ling Tosite Sigure and Yojiro Noda from RADWIMPS
Q: Can you tell us more about your creative process when collaborating with other artistes, and how do you and they manage to weave distinct music styles together?
Aimer: I managed to meet Yojiro Noda through Taka from ONE OK ROCK, who said that Yojiro Noda had a song that he would love for me to sing together with him. The song was already prepared and he wanted me to be a part of it. It was really relaxing and enjoyable time! I was also happy that I could join in the instrument recording session, be part of the creation process and be able to sing together with the instruments playing behind. When Yojiro Noda joined in to sing the last chorus of the song, I had a great time; I felt that it was a really good collaboration!
Cover Art for Chouchou Musubi (Source)
For tk, I have always been a big fan of his work. When we did this collaboration, the song was also sort of prepared already, but maybe not as complete as the one with RADWIMPS. We did the recording sessions together, and we sat down to discuss on how to edit the music – making a few changes and tweaks to it – and started to work together towards making the song. If you listen to “us”, there is a part where we sang in a very strong and passionate way. It came about because I loved his voice and the way he sings during such parts. I also challenged myself to sing more strongly, passionately and with more power.
As you can see, it’s very hard to give a template for collaborations as each artiste is different.
Note: Aimer and Yojiro Noda-san collaborated on the song, “Chouchou Musubi”, “Natsukusa ni Kimi wo Omou” and a cover of “September” – a song by RADWIMPS.
Aimer and tk collaborated on the songs, “us” and “Kowairo”.
A GLIMPSE INTO HER MUSIC
Q: Many of your songs employ recurring celestial themes and imagery, such as day and night, the sun, moon and stars. Where did you get the idea to use them from?
Aimer: I love to stargaze and evening is my favourite time of the day. At night, I spend a lot of time thinking and while thinking, I would look up at the skies. Even my debut song, “Rokutosei no Yoru”, is based on the celestial themes – the night, stars and the moon.
A lot of people also tend to say they could sense a little bit of loneliness and sadness in my voice and singing, which is unique for me. With this feedback, whenever I create songs, I would incorporate everything and create a story in my songs, albums and singles. In my albums, Sleepless Nights and Midnight Sun, there is a strong celestial theme because it started with what I enjoy and love to do.
Q: You have an AM series of songs – “2:00AM”, “3:00AM” and “4:00AM”. Are there any plans to continue this theme?
Aimer: At “4:00AM”, the series kind of ended and I have no exact plans to continue the theme of songs. However, if there is any request or big response to have a continuation, something might come along… Note: Please tweet at her, https://twitter.com/aimer_and_staff, to let Aimer know that we want a new song for the series! ☺
Q: Regarding your latest single, Akane sasu/everlasting snow, are there any things you took as an inspiration for what you want to tell your listener?
Aimer: As it was an ending song for the anime – Natsume Yuujinchou Go, I took into consideration the storyline and the landscape of the anime, hence, a nostalgic vibe can be felt from the song. Instead of being in a busy, bustling city area, it’s a song closer to nature. I’m hoping that through this song, you can feel a scenery or that you are in the anime itself.
Cover Art for Akane Sasu/everlasting snow (Source)
Q: You have done covers of English songs before, as well as creating and singing your own original songs. What would you say are the challenges of singing covers as compared to original songs?
Aimer: One difficulty that I had was having to make sure that nobody is tied down to their own song – as each of the songs is distinct and have their own lyrics and music; they would be easily recognizable to fans who hear it.
So, when I released my cover album, I put a jazz twist to a lot of the original music that are by themselves more dance-related, to make the listeners feel that it’s a new song where I had put my taste, my colour and my essence into it.
Q: You have sung both English and Japanese songs. Do you plan to sing in other languages?
Aimer: For my Taiwan live, I thought that maybe I could sing in Chinese as a bit of a challenge. However, I realised that it was a really difficult language! So, I thought I could maybe do a cover of a popular Chinese song instead, which I could put my own twist into it, to challenge myself to sing in a new language.
Q: Do you have any role model in the music industry or someone you admire?
Aimer: It’s a bit of a difficult question as there are so many artistes to choose from. In terms of lyrics, I try to find and create contrasts, so, even if the song is a happy one, I will try to add both happy and sad elements. A role model would be Spitz – a Japanese band – with their unique lyrics. Their songs may sound happy but you can find essences of sadness or different edges in their songs.
Ever since daydream, it is as though another episode in my life has ended, and I’m starting a new episode or chapter in my life, and that was something I incorporated in the song too.
Q: Would you one day like to perform a theme song for an animated movie?
Aimer: Movie, huh, movie. Gundam Unicorn was an OVA, right? Does the upcoming Koutetsujou no Kabaneri movie counts as a movie? Technically, it does, right? I am a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films, so maybe in the future, I hope to sing for one of their works.
If there’s a song that I can express to the world through my way, hopefully I can let everybody listen to my voice in the theatres one day.
BEING ON CENTRE STAGE
Q: You have just concluded your first solo overseas concert in Taiwan and your sold-out national hall tour. Do you have any plans to have more solo concert overseas and move to bigger venues, such as arenas, in Japan?
Aimer: Next year, I will be performing in both Hong Kong and Singapore, so I’m hoping that in 2017, there would be more opportunities for me to do more local and overseas tours and lives.
Aimer at her Taipei Live (Source)
Q: You have performed in Taipei and Singapore before. How do you feel about performing overseas?
Aimer: When I went to Taiwan for my first one-man live, I noticed that the audience that came for the live all possessed a strong, passionate energy. I’m hoping that through all my performances, I would be able to reciprocate the same amount of energy that the fans have given to me.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017
Q: Any plans you have for 2017? Any hints, maybe like last year?
Aimer: This year, I was more “into the light”, performing and singing more. In 2017, I will be going overseas for performances as well as having an acoustic tour around Japan. Before 2016, a lot of my fans told me that I was more in the darkness and by their side. However, in 2016, they noticed that I was more in the spotlight and it inspired and encouraged them to be in the light too. That really touched me. I’m hoping that in 2017, maybe I could challenge myself more, so that together with my fans, we can work together and become stronger together.
Aimer's photo from Singapore! (Source)
After a stellar 2016, Aimer has set her sights on new goals for 2017! With more focus on performing lives and solo tours, she will be embarking on an acoustic tour around Japan, as well as partaking in the COUNTDOWN LIVE 2016/2017 on December 29!
Looking to challenge herself more for the upcoming year, Aimer will also be participating in two more overseas lives – the Anisong Fantasy Live, both in Hong Kong and Singapore, next year! We at J-Experience cannot wait to see what Aimer has to offer for 2017!
Anisong Fantasy Live Vol.1: Anisong’s Music Extravaganza!
At the Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2016 event, SOZO had a big surprise installed for us – the upcoming Anisong Fantasy Live Vol. 1 2017! Organised by Sozo, Zepp Live and SME Records, the Anisong Fantasy Live brings together a star-studded line-up for two nights of musical extravaganza!
With a line-up consisting of Aimer, Alisa Takigawa, ELISA, GARNiDELiA, Kalafina and Luna Haruna, the acts all definitely fit into the fantasy theme of the concerts, having perform numerous works for fantasy-related Anime as well as having out-of-this world musical styles and vocals.
It’s definitely like a fantasy to see all six participating on the same stage, so without further ado, here are your artistes!
LINE-UP
Aimer
Aimer has had a spectacular 2016, having collaborated with well-known industry names such as RADWIMPS, taka from ONE OK ROCK and EGOiST’s chelly! She has also written numerous themes for Anime series since her major debut with “Rokutousei no Yoru” in 2011. Her most recent contributions include “ninelie” – ending theme of Koutetsujou no Kabaneri as well as “Akane Sasu” – ending theme of Natsume Yuujinchou Go.
Having also just completed her first solo live, like a daydream, in Taipei, she also mesmerised the hearts of fans who attended AFA’s I Love Anisong Concert with a poignant, acoustical performance. The rising songstress – with new goals in 2017 – will be once again gracing our shores – and Hong Kong’s – for a night of powerful and soul-stirring performances!
Alisa Takigawa
Composer, Songwriter, Musician, Winner of the 30th Japan Golden Disc Award Newcomer Prize. These are just some of the words that can be used to describe the emerging but, incredibly talented singer – Alisa Takigawa!
Having just debuted last year, the singer-songwriter is already making waves in the industry – with 5 singles and an album already under her belt. She has also successfully completed her first solo live tour, with a fully sold out stop at the famed Ebisu LIQUIDROOM.
With a distinctive deep yet gentle tone, she not only wants to try a wide range of genres, she wants to create a genre of her own – Alisa Takigawa’s. This is one artiste you definitely want to keep an eye on!
*Her sixth single, Northside, will be released on 22nd February 2017!
ELISA
Hailing from Kanagawa, ELISA’s vocal talent can be described as nothing short of amazing – with a singing ability rooted in opera music as well as having a clear, transparent voice. Since her debut in 2007, her works – which can be described as within the genres of pop and progressive rock – have been featuring in many anime series, such as Hayate no Gotoku 2, Kakumeiki Valvrave and Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei!
Completing her first headlined tour in August, she became more active in overseas events – starting off with Sakura-Con in Seattle and then moving on to Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong and most recently, the Philippines!
For 2017, she will be performing in Osaka and Tokyo on January 8 and 15, respectively, before coming over to our sunny island!
GARNiDELiA
Once an indie group, the dynamic duo, GARNiDELiA, has evolved over the years to become the group known for their powerful songs and especially, their stunning, futuristic visuals! Consisting of the duo MARiA and toku, MARiA not only provides the vocals; she’s also the one in charge of designing the artwork and the costumes! Meanwhile, toku – who has composed music for many famous artistes – oversees the production.
Having debuted in 2014 and already with 5 singles and 3 albums, the duo is definitely not slowing down anytime soon! The group recently performed a unique two-man show with Sako Tomohisa in Hong Kong, as well as collaborated with Claris for the song “clever”.
With their songs featuring in various anime series such as Kill la Kill, Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei and Qualidea Code, be prepared to witness their exciting performance come next March!
KALAFINA
Kalafina’s iconic trio – Hikaru, Wakana and Keiko – will grace our shores once again with their dark timbre and harmonious melodies! The group was initially created and produced by composer Yuki Kajiura and went on to provide their vocals for Kara no Kyoukai, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Aldnoah.Zero.
Having been in the music scene for 8 years, the vocalist group has released over 20 singles and 5 studio albums – with Kalafina with Strings, their first acoustical album, being released last month! No strangers to live performances, the trio have done countless performances and tours across Japan and are now near the finale of their Kalafina with Strings Christmas Premium Live Tour 2016.
Internationally, the group have been well-received in USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Germany! The trio is definitely ready to take the world by storm!
LUNA HARUNA
After finishing as a finalist in the 4th edition of the Anisong Grand Prix, Luna Haruna – singer and lolita fashion model, mostly for KERA – made her debut with “Sora wa Takaku Kaze wa Utau” for the second season of Fate/Zero. She then proceeded to sing for various Anime series – such as High School Fleet, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata and most notably of all – the Sword Art Online franchise!
Her cute look and strong vocals has definitely helped to propel her onto the international stage, with performances around the world, in Asia, America and Europe. Earlier this year, she was here in Singapore for a small, intimate two-day performance at the Funan Anime Matsuri, which was warmly greeted by her fans and we can’t wait till she’s here next year!
With the Anisong Fantasy Live Vol.1 being as promising as this, it’s up in the air for who’s going to perform for volume 2! For those interested in the concert, you can purchase your tickets HERE. We, at J-Experience, are extremely excited for the line-up and cannot wait for the performance!
CONCERT DETAILS
Anisong Fantasy Live Vol.1 – Hong Kong Edition
Date: 10 March 2017, Friday
Time: 6:00pm (Doors open)/7:00pm (Concert Starts)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Website: http://anisongfantasy.com/
* Tickets will be available at URBTIX from 11 January 2017. Purchaser privileges will be announced at a separate date.
Anisong Fantasy Live Vol.1 – Singapore Edition
Date: 18 March 2017, Saturday
Time: 6:00pm (Doors open)/7:00pm (Concert Starts)
Venue: Megabox Event Hall @ Big Box, 1 Venture Avenue, Singapore 608521
Website: http://anisongfantasy.com/
Purchase tickets at: www.apactix.com
Ticket Prices: VIP: SGD188 with free poster and group photo lucky draw GA: SGD118
Information on the mechanics of the group photo session and collection of the poster will be made available at a later date.
ORGANISERS
About SOZO
Tapping on Japan's diverse wealth of entertainment content, SOZO has positioned itself to be the 'bridge', connecting Japan to SE Asia - by showcasing quality concerts, engaging retail experiences and creating meaningful online engagement to audiences and businesses across South East Asia.
Established in 2009, SOZO entertainment platforms include Anime Festival Asia, I Love Anisong, J-LIVE ASIA, Japan Music Festival and many more. Previous projects by SOZO includes solo concerts for J-Pop artistes such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, May’n, Moshi Moshi Nippon 2015 in Singapore, Miku Expo in Jakarta, Funan Anime Matsuri, Penang Anime Matsuri and many more. In 2014, SOZO moved forward with a capital alliance with one of Japan’s largest talent management company Horipro. In 2015, SOZO also formed a capital alliance with Sony Music Entertainment (Japan).
For more information about SOZO, visit: www.sozo.sg.
About Zepp Live
Zepp Live engages in concert promotion as well as events planning and production. The company is engaged as an organizer or co-organizer in shows at concert halls as well as large music festivals both in Japan and overseas.
For more information about Zepp Live, visit: www.zepp.co.jp.
Pile Asia Tour Singapore [Love Live!][J-EXPERIENCE]
Pile’s first Asia Tour - with earlier stops at Taipei, Beijing and Guangzhou - has finally arrived in Singapore!
The pretty singer and voice actress made her fourth stop on our sunny island and wow the crowds with her own original songs, as well as a few numbers from her biggest project to date - Love Live!
Pile, whose real name is Eriko Hori, shot to fame with her portrayal of Maki Nishikino in Love Live!, where she was ushered into the spotlight after a rough start to her career.
The anime project not only just kickstarted her music career; it gave her quite a following too, with many supporting her solo debut!
The Asia Tour consisted of a concert as well as a meet and greet session with the fans, where fans can interact with Pile through mini games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors!
For the meet and greet sessions, there will be lucky draws and game segments for the fans to win exclusive items or a photograph polaroid chance with Pile herself!
She also held an on-stage interview with her fans and below is a snippet of it:
Q: This being your first time in Singapore, what is your impression of it?
Pile: The first thing that comes to mind is definitely the Merlion! It is also very clean and has really nice scenery!
Q: Have you met any Singaporean fans in Japan before?
Pile: Actually, I did meet one Singaporean fan during one of my events!
Q: Having came from an anime background, what do you think of cosplaying?
Pile: Speaking of cosplay, I really like Halloween themes! Last year, I cosplayed as a character before. (She was thinking really hard for the anime title, and was assisted by a fan)
Fan: Anohana! (I'm the fan. Teehee!)
Pile: Yes! Anohana! (Still trying her best to recall the full name) I guess the full name is "Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai".
I really like Menma from the series! (The character which she cosplayed)
Q: Among your songs, which one is your favourite?
Pile: “angel song”! “Next World” is also my favourite because most of my fans knew about this song.
Q: Why did you attend the audition for Love Live?
Pile: I was kind of persuaded to go for the audition. During that time, I was still a university student and had planned to retire for good if I did not manage to pass the audition.
The biggest turning point was being chosen for the audition, and this has opened up my world!
Q: Any message for your Singaporean fans?
Pile: Most of my fans know me through Love Live, through my character - Maki Nishikino.
However, most of them are also supporting me on my solo career! I am really grateful!
Singapore is the final Asia Tour for the year 2016. I am really very excited about coming here.
If I have another tour, I would hopefully like to come back here to perform!
Pile also mentioned about her food recipes, hobbies, relaxation tips, her favourite type/style of girls, fashion talks, Animelo Summer Live experiences, various singers she is hoping to collaborate with as well as her ideal type of girl to marry if she is a boy.
At the end of the day, four winners walked away with an exclusively designed or autographed T-shirt by Pile! There were also a total of twenty fans who had a photograph opportunity with Pile!
Currently at the halfway mark of her tour, Pile will still visit the cities of Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok! If you stay there or plan to visit there during her tour, please do support her concert!
Pile will be also be releasing her fifth single, “Subarashiki SEKAI” - the opening theme for the TV anime “Duel Masters VSRF” - on December 28, to end of the year on a high!
Our Review:
One of us at J-Experience actually attended Pile’s concert at Kallang Theatre! The excerpt below is a short description of his experience:
It felt really great to be able to see Pile again, after attending her live a few months back in Japan. As usual, she looked lively & dazzling, and her performance of her melodious & lovely songs was incredibly breathtaking. In the hall, I noticed that fans from all over the world - from Taiwan to Japan, and Malaysia to even the United States - had came to support her live in Singapore!
Now on to her performance! She was impressive throughout her concert, often singing the songs one after another; as well as interacting with fans to keep them hyped. However, halfway through her performance, there were some issues with the audio, but Pile continued singing. The audio was eventually fixed and afterwards, Pile - almost with a desire and determination to bring her best performance - sang till her voice became hoarse.
Just before the start for the song “P.S.ありがとう…”, Pile expressed her gratitude to Maki (Her character from Love Live!) and summarised her heartfelt feelings. She then proceeded to teach the crowd on how & when to change the lightstick colours during her performance.
At the end of her live, she surprised the crowd not once but twice, when she came out to perform a double encore. Those that attended her live went hysterical - me included!
I had so much fun I didn’t even realised it was almost reaching the end of the concert. Pile continued to surprise us even at the end - where she wrapped up the concert with her unreleased song from her 5th single - “Subarashiki SEKAI”.
For her concerts in Japan, Pile hardly performed any of her Love Live! Songs. However, she performed it exclusively for her stops in Asia! As a fellow Love Live! Fan as well as a Pile fan, it was definitely a dream come true to have such a rare opportunity!
It was definitely an amazing concert and it’s kind of shame that the hall wasn’t sold out. However, for those that missed it due to other commitments, don’t worry, not all good things have to come to an end, yet. You can still catch Pile at Bangkok on the 14th of January next year, or at Kuala Lumpur on the 21st! We will be attending the Kuala Lumpur leg of the tour so please do join us for an exciting night!
[Song list - To be confirmed]
チェックメイト
Dream of Princess
ヒカリフライト
Black Butterfly
EGOIST
angel song
Furuwasete
ヴァンパイア革命
伝説のFLARE
ドリームトリガー
空色デイズ
花と翼
キミがくれたKISEKI
一歩先へ
NEXT WORLD
HANABI!!
P.S.ありがとう…
Melody
Encore
Snow halation
Darling!!
soldier game
それは僕たちの奇跡
Double encore
いつかキミに届ける世界
素晴らしきSekai
Links
Pile Official Site
Pile's Twitter
Twitter
Event: PILE ASIA TOUR - SINGAPORE organised by: IME Singapore
Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2016 I Love Anisong Concert
Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2016 I Love Anisong Concert AFASG2016 I LOVE ANISONG – AN INTRODUCTION
It’s that time of the year again, where we head to AFASG2016 for its annual highlight event – the I Love Anisong Concert!
The line-up for the first day of the AFASG 2016 I Love Anisong Concert is sure to incite plenty of excitement and nostalgia! With established names such as Home Made Kazoku, KOTOKO and T.M.Revolution, this year’s concert will definitely open with a bang!
HOME MADE KAZOKU
Home Made Kazoku is a Hip hop trio consisting of Micro, Kuro and DJ U-Ichi. The trio – who met during college in Aichi – formed the group in 1996, but only settled on their current name in 2001. After touring Japan in 2004 and gaining most of their Japanese fan base, they made their debut with Ki/oon Records.
After signing on, they released their debut album, Home Sweet Home, which contained what may be arguably their signature song – Home Sweet Home. The group then made their foray into anisongs, where several of their songs were used as music themes for anime series. Songs such as – “Thank You!!” the second ending theme for Bleach and “Shonen Heart”, the second opening for Eureka Seven – became instant hits and helped the band to reach more fans.
In 2009, they achieved their dream of having a successful tour of Japan – including a sold-out show at the prestigious Budokan! The group then proceeded to bring their music and upbeat performances overseas – with successful shows at Otakon 2010 and 2013 (USA) and Taiwan. This year, the 6th edition of KAZOKU FES – their version of a large outdoor music festival – was held successfully!
Having celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2014, the group, unfortunately, announced an indefinite hiatus from December this year. However, the group will be releasing their final compilation – LAST FOREVER BEST ~Mirai e to Tsunagu FAMILY SELECTION~’ – a fan-selected compilation of their best songs, which will be out on November 30! In addition, they will be having one last tour of Japan, covering Aichi, Tokyo and Osaka on December 21, 27 and 29, respectively.
This will be their first time performing in Singapore – finally fulfilling their wish to do so! They believe that even if they and the fans are not related by blood, we can all become a family through music! For their live here, they really hope to accomplish that!
This could also be their last live overseas, so if you would like to catch them for the last time, head down to AFA and become a part of their family!
Official Website
Facebook
Twitter
KOTOKO
KOTOKO, a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter, started out her career as a vocalist of “I’ve” – a music production team from Hokkaido in 2000. She debuted in 2004, and her first album “-hane-” peaked at 7th on the Oricon charts. In 2014, KOTOKO celebrated her 10th year anniversary since debuting with a nationwide tour.
She’s no stranger to the anime scene, having sung many songs for various series – notably “Hayate no Gotoku!” for the Hayate no Gotoku series, “being” for the Shakugan no Shana series and “–>unfinished–>” for the Accel World series. Not only that, she has also lent her voice to both games and movies – such as the BlazBlue video game series and Real Onigokko – respectively. Her latest single, “Plasmic Fire”, is in collaboration with the band, Altima.
A talented songwriter, she wrote lyrics for many songs, both with I’ve and solo. She has written lyrics for several songs which she did not perform, such as “SHOOT!” – the opening theme for Ro-Kyu-Bu!, and “sign” – the opening theme for Ano Natsu De Matteru.
This will be her first time visiting and performing in Singapore and she will be bringing her usual band members to perform with her! With strong vocals and fast-paced songs, you can definitely expect the usual rocking and aggressive performances from the one and only, KOTOKO!
Official Website
Twitter
T. M. REVOLUTION
Takanori Nishikawa, born in Shiga Prefecture in 1970, debuted with the name, T. M. Revolution in 1996 with the release of his first single – “Dokusai –monopolize-“. Since his debut, he has established a reputation with catchy tunes and captivating live performances.
With so many albums and singles under his belt, the singer has also contributed songs for animations – mostly for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed but more recently, Kakumeiki Valvrave as well as a theme song performance in ReLIFE.
A global fan base as well as a strong reputation with fans of Japan-animation meant that T. M. Revolution was often invited to perform overseas, and has done so in the United States, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia. That’s not all; his albums have been released worldwide, which is quite an achievement!
Popular as well in Japan, he has been appointed the Cultural Ambassador of Shiga and has been hosting the Inazuma Rock Festival, its first outdoor annual music festival. Furthermore, he has participated in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, a popular annual music show, for 5 times already, cementing his status as a popular artiste in Japan.
In 2013, his collaboration with Nana Mizuki resulted in much interest and hype in the community, as it was seen as one of the most powerful collaboration in the industry.
Currently, T. M. Revolution is celebrating his 20th anniversary with a nationwide tour and will be stopping off at Singapore for the I Love Anisong Concert! He has also released a compilation album to celebrate his second decade – the -T.M.Revolution All Time Best- compilation album! This will be his third time performing in Singapore and he is very excited to meet his fans in this region - as he doesn’t get to meet often!
Official Website
Facebook
AFASG2016 I LOVE ANISONG – THE NEXT ACT
Day 1 is all about the classic acts. Day 2, on the other hand, offers the best of both worlds – a mixture of the old and the new! Partnering established names with relatively newer stars, the second day of the concert is sure to be both exciting and intriguing! With a line-up consisting of JAM Project, Minori Chihara, Konomi Suzuki and Wake Up, Girls!, there’s certainly something for everyone!
JAM PROJECT
JAM Project is an Anisong super group founded in 2000 with the aim of representing the Anisong industry. The group consists of well-known and powerful singers from the industry – Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endoh, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui and Yoshiki Fukuyama. Back then, the group came together as they wanted to create theme songs fitting of the quality of the advancing Japanese animation.
Currently, whenever the group does a theme song, they would be both the producer and the performer. Each member of the group would be involved in the entire process – firstly, by meeting with the animation producers and directors. Uniquely, all of the group members are also active on their own, which allow the group to stimulate and draw ideas from one another. They believe that when their members have so many different characteristics, they are able to produce one-of-a-kind theme songs.
JAM Project has over 15 years of experience and have released over 200 songs – with many songs for Super Robot Wars, Garo and of course “THE HERO !! ~Okoreru Kobushi ni Hi wo Tsukero~”, the opening theme for One Punch Man!
In 2008, they had their first world tour, “No Border”, held across 10 cities in 8 countries (Taiwan, Brazil, USA, China, Mexico, Hong Kong, France and Spain). Their popularity worldwide skyrocketed after the tour, where they were invited to perform in countries such as Thailand, San Marino and Germany! In 2012, they held a South American tour across Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile, bringing their own exclusive band to perform at all 4 shows!
They are also extremely popular back home in Japan, where they had a sold-out show at the Nippon Budokan in 2009. A nationwide tour was then held, where they performed at prestigious venues – such as Osaka-Jo Hall, Yokohama Arena and once again, the Budokan.
JAM Project has been to Singapore a couple of times – the first being at AFAX, where they had a lot of fun performing karaoke-style on stage, sans band. They were also here to perform last year for the Lantis Festival! They have been touring worldwide this year, under the tour title “Area Z”, where they will soon stop of at Singapore for the AFASG2016 concert – with their entire band! So if you are looking for a real concert experience, please look forward to their performances on stage!
Official Website
Twitter
KONOMI SUZUKI
Just 20 this year, Konomi Suzuki burst into the music industry after winning the Animax Anisong Grand Prix competition at just 14 years of age! She then made her debut with her first single – “Choir Jail”, a song which lyrics were produced by Aki Hata.
She already has 11 singles and counting, with the more popular ones being “Days of Dash” – the first ending for TV Anime, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo and “This Game” – the opening theme of No Game No Life, which achieved 2nd place on the Billboard Japan Hot Animation charts!
For her 8th single, she actually collaborated with Masami Okui, whom many consider a legend in the Anisong industry! Her latest single, “Redo”, was used as the opening theme for popular anime, Re: Zero!
An extremely talented performer, since her debut in 2012, she has been invited each year – a total of 5 times – to perform at the largest Anisong event, the Animelo Summer Live! Currently, she is in the midst of her second tour, culminating with her birthday live!
Did you know that the first overseas performance she attended – as a fan – was AFA2010?! Now she’s back to perform on stage at AFA2016! At just 20, Konomi Suzuki definitely has the potential and the talent to continue producing chart-topping songs!
Official Website
Line Blog
Nico Video
Twitter
MINORI CHIHARA
Minori Chihara, a bubbly and cheerful Japanese voice actress and singer, made her voice acting debut in 2014 with the role of Aya Natsume in the anime, Tenjho Tenge. That same year, she also made her singing debut by releasing her first album, Heroine!
Her voice acting career took off with the role of Yuki Nagato – in the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – where she gained the reputation of voicing emotionless characters as well as gained plenty of interest and support. Since then, she has voiced plenty of characters in numerous TV animations, with notable roles being Chiaki Minami from Minami-ke, Mitsuki Nase from Kyoukai no Kanata and Izayoi Miku from Date a Live II. She also pushed her singing career to new heights by signing with Lantis, a powerhouse in the music industry. She has released over 20 singles, 20 character singles and 7 albums, the latest one being Innocent Age, which was released this year.
Uniquely, she has made it a point to update her blog on a daily basis to connect with her fans, since the inception of her blog way back in 2004. Her personality often shines through her posts, allowing her fans to get to know her better!
She is also no stranger to live performances – having performed in multiples venues throughout her career. She has performed for 7 years (2006-2012) in a row at the Animelo Summer Live, firstly at the Nippon Budokan, then at the Saitama Super Arena! Furthermore, she has performed numerous times overseas – in the United States, Taiwan and even here in Singapore last year, for the Anisong World Tour ~ LANTIS Festival.
For those that did not manage to catch her last year, please do go down to give her your support – she’s really looking forward to it!
WAKE UP, GIRLS!
Wake Up, Girls!, the idol project that begun with a movie as well as its own TV Anime in 2014, is also a voice actress unit. The unit consists of 7 members, namely – Mayu Yoshioka, Airi Eino, Minami Tanaka, Yoshino Aoyama, Nanami Yamashita, Kaya Okuno and Miyu Takagi.
On the year of their debut, the group actually managed to perform at Animelo Summer Live – the biggest Anisong festival in the world!
Continuing of their success, two movies were produced and aired in 2015. Having their third anniversary this year, they held their 3rd live tour, performing in 7 cities across Japan! This will be their first time performing in Singapore, so please do support them!
AFASG2016 I LOVE ANISONG – THE CLIMAX
Not to be looked down upon by Day 1 and 2’s outstanding line-up, the last day promises exciting performances by relatively up-and-coming stars, anchored by the one-and-only May’n! With a line-up consisting of Aimer, Alisa Takigawa, Ami Wajima, Honeyworks with Chico and May’n, day 3 offers a glimpse of what is to come for the Anisong industry!
AIMER
Aimer – which means love in French – is a talented singer, songwriter and musician. Exposed to music when she was young, she is accomplished at playing the piano and has learnt how to play the classical guitar. She first partnered the Agehasprings group and in 2011, released her first cover album, Your Favourite Things. It contained many popular works of various genres, such as “Poker Face” and “Viva la Vida”, as well as showcased the versatility of Aimer’s voice to sing numerous genres.
In 2011, she made her major debut with Defstar Records, with the single, "Rokutosei no Yoru”, which was selected to be the ending theme for the anime series, No.6. She then proceeded to write and sing several singles for various anime such as Bleach, Natsuyuki Rendezvous and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
Her first album, Sleepless Night, peaked at No.5 on the Oricon charts. In 2014, Aimer released her second album, Midnight Sun, as well as UnChild – a collaboration album with the acclaimed Sawano Hiroyuki! Both albums breached the Top 10 rankings of the Oricon charts. Hot off a successful collaboration, she again collaborated with another musical powerhouse, Kanno Yoko, to create the mini album, Dare ka, Umi wo. Her third album, DAWN, made it to 4th position on the Oricon charts.
She continued to write and sing songs for animations and games, such as, “broKen NIGHT” and “holLow wORlD” – which were both used as theme songs for the game Fate/hollow ataraxia – as well as “Brave Shine” – her 8th single, for the anime Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season.
2016 is proving to be an incredibly successful collaboration year for Aimer, where she has collaborated with artistes such as Taka (ONE OK ROCK), Yojiro Noda (RADWIMPS), TK (Ling toshite Shigure), chelly (EGOiST) and Sawano Hiroyuki! She has already released 3 collaboration singles this year, with a mix of the songs being collated in her special 4th studio album – daydream.
A strong performer with strong vocals, her unique husky tone and immense stage presence, Aimer received great feedback during her performance as a supporting role in the ONE OK ROCK 2015 “35xxxv” concert! After the release of daydream, Aimer then proceeded with a nationwide tour, where she performed at 10 locations across Japan!
Having already performed in Singapore last year during AFASG2015, we cannot wait to see what kind of performance Aimer will present this year!
Official Website
Youtube
Twitter
ALISA TAKIGAWA
Alisa Takigawa was born in 1991 and is a singer-songwriter from Tokyo. Her career began back way before her debut, where she joined a light music club in junior high and created a band, providing the vocals and playing the guitar. The band did covers at first but slowly progressed to singing their original songs. Even though they disbanded in 2012, Alisa was determined to connect people through music and thus, continued on as a solo artist.
In March 2015, Alisa Takigawa debuted with “Season”, the ending theme for the anime series, Nanatsu no Taizai! She followed it up by releasing two more singles – “Natsu no Hana” and “Sayonara no Yukue” – with the latter being used as the ending theme in Owarimonogatari.
She ended her 2015 by having her first one-man live at TSUTAYA O-nest in November, where tickets were sold out on the same day it was released! Her successful debutant year eventually led to her winning the ‘30th Japan Golden Disc Award’ Newcomer Prize!
In February 2016, she held her second one-man live at the Harajuku Astro Hall, which sold out on the first day as well! Not afraid to experiment, she released her fourth single in April, which was her first time singing a ballad. Her latest single, Iroasenai Hitomi, was used as the ending theme for Nanatsu no Taizai: Seisen no Shirushi.
She recently held her first one-man live tour, where she had successful shows at Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and notably, at the famed Ebisu LIQUIDROOM! Her highly anticipated first album, at film, has been released on the 2nd of November, just before her performance at AFASG2016 – her first in Singapore!
Also, if you are going to attend her concert, she would really like it if you listen to her songs beforehand!
Official Website
Line Blog
Youtube
Twitter
AMI WAJIMA
Ami Wajima is an up-and-coming singer from Hokkaido. Since young, she has always had a complex about her distinctive and unique voice, which gradually resulted in her having a strong desire to become a singer. After graduation from middle school, she moved to Sapporo, where she did both her studies as well as vocal training.
At the HoriPro × PONY CANYON Jisedai Anisong Singer Audition 2016, she managed to win the grand prix out of 10,041 applicants! She then made her major debut with Pony Canyon, with the single, “Gensou Drive” – the opening theme for Mayoiga. Her second single, “Eien Loop”, was released in August this year and was used as the ending theme for the anime series, Kuromukuro.
Even though she just started her debut this year, she has already attended various events in Japan as well as overseas. This will be her first time performing in Singapore at the AFASG2016 concert!
Official Website
Line Blog
Twitter
HONEYWORKS WITH CHICO
HoneyWorks is a creator unit that has garnered over 200 million views on websites such as Nico Nico Douga and Youtube. The group comprises of composers Gom and shito, illustrator Yamako, and supporting members – guitarist Oji, pianist cake, drummer Atsuyuk!, illustrators Rokoru and Mogelatte, and Video Producer ziro.
Their music style centres on positive rock music, where their music is mostly love-related and brimming with youthful energies. Songs that represents the group include – “SukiKirai”, “Hatsukoi no E Hon” and “Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu”.
On 29th January 2014, they made their major debut with the release of their Vocaloid Best Album Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita, which reached 4th spot on the Oricon Weekly Charts! In May that year, HoneyWorks partnered with CHiCO to form “CHiCO with HoneyWorks”. Their second album – Boku Jya Dame Desuka? – was released in November 2014, and reached 2nd place on the Oricon Daily Charts.
During the first half of 2015, they were awarded the first prize for the Amazon Rankings Award 2015 (Animation Music)! Their long-awaited third album, Suki Ni Naru Sono Shunkan wo, was released in July 2015, which featured guest vocals by sana.
In April 2016, their songs were used in the original anime movie – Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita.: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai – which was shown in theatres all over Japan. Its first week premiere received 8th place in the Movie Box Office Rankings and the sequel is scheduled for release in December.
Official Website
Line Blog
Youtube
CHiCO is the winner of the Vocaloid and Anisong audition Utakatsu!, which was organised by Sony Music. Shortly after, CHiCO collaborated with HoneyWorks to form the group, CHiCO with HoneyWorks.
The group debuted with the single, “Sekai wa Koi ni Ochiteiru”, which was used as the opening theme for the anime series, Ao Haru Ride. Their next single, "Ai no Scenario”, was used as the second opening theme for Magic Kaito 1412 and their third, "Pride Kakumei”, was used as the second opening theme for Gintama°.
With over 100 million views on their videos across multiple websites, the group released their first album, Sekai wa i ni Michiteiru, in November 2015. The album was well-received by their fans and became extremely popular!
Their 4th single, “Koiiro ni Sake”, was released simultaneously with the movie Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita.: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai, and was also used as the movie’s opening theme. Their fifth single, “Canele and Wolf”, was released on 14th September 2016.
In June 2016, they had their first hall one-man live at the Nakano Sun Plaza, where tickets were sold out in a day! Shortly after, they successfully toured several live houses in Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo. They also made their first appearance in the music festival, Summer Sonic 2016!
Having performed in so many places as well as at AFASG2015 last year, we warmly welcome them back to Singapore!
MAY’N
Although the name “May’n” was derived from her real name, its meaning is really more about her heart’s desire to sing songs that can become everybody’s main theme. With that goal, she has continued mesmerising audiences from around the world as well as released 4 studio albums and 13 singles!
A veteran in the Anisong industry, she has contributed numerous pieces to various anime series – notably “Diamond Crevasse” for Macross Frontier, “Scarlet Ballet” for Hidan no Aria, “Chase the world” for Accel World and more recently, “Belief” for Taboo Tattoo.
With countless live tours in Japan and currently 4 successful overseas tours, May’n is definitely one hell of a performer! Her first acoustic tour was held in May 2013, whereas her largest tour yet started on February 2014 – she had 70 performances across 47 prefectures in Japan as well as venues overseas!
Last year, May’n celebrated her 10th anniversary by holding a special 10th anniversary live at the prestigious and famous Budokan – her fourth. Simultaneously, she also released her first best album, Powers of Voice, which peaked at No.6 on the Oricon charts!
May’n made her international debut here in Singapore at AFAX and found herself in a unique position – being the only artiste to perform in each and every single AFA since 2008! This will be her 9th year performing in Singapore, where she has picked up a little Singlish after all these years and calls Singapore her second home!
One year into her second decade, May’n isn’t stopping anytime soon! Her 14th single, “Hikari Aru Basho e”, will be released on 23 November 2016! She will also kick off 2017 with her 5th overseas tour – May’n ASIA TOUR 2017 「OVER∞EASY」in January!
Official Website
Facebook
Twitter
Ameblo Blog
Instagram
Youtube
With sure a stellar line-up of artistes across all 3 days, we can’t help but feel excited for the I Love Anisong Concert! Please do look out for more updates on the Official AFA Facebook as well as their website – Official AFA Website
For those looking to purchase tickets, you can head here – AFA ticketing information
[C3 CharaExpo’16] Interview with Sora Tokui [J-Experience]
Sora Tokui, a Japanese voice actress and singer, was recently in Singapore for the C3 Chara Expo 2016! Soramaru – as she is more commonly known – debuted in 2009 as Himemiya in Weiß Survive R. She is also a member of the singing group, Milky Holmes and a part of µ’s, a group of nine school idols in Love Live!
The talented and bubbly Soramaru is also a manga artist, where her 4koma – Mahou Shoujo Jitaku-chan was serialised in Otapoke magazine!
Between rushing for fan meets and stage shows, the ever busy Soramaru managed to sit down with us for a short while for a quick interview!
Soramaru Interview:
ON SINGAPORE & GOING OVERSEAS:
Q: Having been to Singapore a few times, what do you like about it?
Tokui: The environment is really very clean and the weather is very warm and pleasant! I feel safe when i go out too.
Q: What is your favourite thing to do whenever you come to Singapore?
Tokui: I find that I always having fun whenever I am on stage performing live.
Q: Any places you want to visit in Singapore this time?
Tokui: I haven’t done a lot this time yet, but I hope that we would be able to do something as a team together.
Q: Do you have any messages for your fans in Singapore?
Tokui: When I had an autograph session today, some of the fans were able to converse in Japanese and show their emotions to me, so I was very touched and happy.
Q: You have visited so many countries, so which country do you want to visit next?
Tokui: I would like to visit Europe as I have not been there.
Q: Any of the European countries?
Tokui: Actually, I overheard that there were a lot of anime fans in France, so that’s probably where I want to visit first.
Q: Do you want to have a photoshoot over there, then?
Tokui: Yes, I would love to try!
Q: You have met many fans from various countries, are there any differences between the fans?
Tokui: Wherever you go, when you meet anime fans, they will be wearing shirts of their favourite characters or have anime goods with them. I feel that it’s very similar to the people in Japan.
On Voice Acting:
Q: Why did you choose to be a voice actress?
Tokui: Ever since childhood, I have always liked animation. That’s why I wanted to be a voice actress.
Q: How did the voice actress, Yuko Miyamura (Voice actress of Asuka in Evangelion), inspire you to become a voice actress as well?
Tokui: I once went to one of Miyamura-san’s event as a fan. I told her that I wanted to become a voice actress. Miyamura-san then encouraged me to go for it, which made me more determined to become a voice actress.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration for voice acting?
Tokui: I just want to make the characters that I voice more interesting and entertaining and I would ponder on how to do so. That’s my inspiration for voice acting.
Q: As a voice actress, what are the most unforgettable moments that you have experienced?
Tokui: My dream was always to be a voice actress. So when I heard the character that I voiced being broadcasted on television for the first time, it was quite memorable and I was really happy!
Q: Of all the characters that you voiced, which was the most memorable and why?
Tokui: Nero from Milky Holmes! Nero was the first character that I voiced as a seiyuu and it’s also the character that I have been voicing for a long time. I feel very strongly and am very attached to her.
Source
Q: How do you overcome your difficulties for voice acting?
Tokui: It’s a very difficult question! (laughs) I would just take one step at a time, give my best all the way and move on after each challenge!
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring artistes or voice actresses?
Tokui: I think it is very important to take that first step, for example, going for that first audition. You need to keep moving ahead and try.
Q: What career would you pursue if you are not a voice actress or a singer?
Tokui: I would most probably be an artist or a painter.
On Her Manga:
Q: You like to draw manga and you even draw your own LINE stickers. Which manga artist do you like?
Tokui: Osamu Akimoto-san – the mangaka for Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo.
Q: Is it very difficult to make the character designs for your manga?
Tokui: The question itself is very difficult to answer! When I am introducing a new character for my manga, I would usually think and prepare for a couple of months before doing so.
Q: Do you get any inspirations from your friends when you design a character?
Tokui: I get a lot of images from my experiences, which I would consolidate inside my head before creating the character design.
ON HER SINGING CAREER AND PERFORMING LIVES:
Q: What can you tell us about your latest single, “Waku Doki Shooter”?
Tokui: “Waku Doki Shooter” is the new ending song for TV Anime Future Card Buddyfight Triple D. The song is cooler than the previous two songs.
Q: Could you please share with us any interesting occurrence during your voice acting or past performances?
Tokui: It’s quite surprising that I am now able to have a live event outside of Japan. I didn’t think that anybody would know who I was outside of Japan. It’s quite an amazing feeling!
Q: How do you feel about performing as a group and solo? Is there any difference?
Tokui: As a group, I feel more comfortable and secure. When I perform alone, I feel a little bit lonely on stage.
Q: Which do you like more – dancing or singing?
Tokui: I actually really like them both!
Q: What do you want to do at your live shows?
Tokui: I want to sing along with the audience!
Q: What do you usually do to prepare for a live show?
Tokui: I would eat a proper meal beforehand.
Which live performance attire do you like the most?
Tokui: The gym attire from Milky Holmes! It is very cooling and easy to move and dance in, that’s why I like it very much!
Is there a food you always eat before a live?
Tokui: I actually don’t have a special food I always eat! I just eat any meal that’s available at the time.
ON HER VARIOUS ANIME SERIES:
Q: What do you like about Paruko Nanana from Future Card Buddyfight?
Tokui: In the anime, she is the character who explains and broadcasts the card fight; it’s actually quite exciting to play that role!
Q: Since the Milky Holmes project begun in 2010, what has kept the 4 of you together?
Tokui: We actually all just like similar kinds of food! So we would bond and eat at the same time!
Q: If you could voice any character in Neon Genesis Evangelion, who would you like to voice?
Tokui: I would like to voice the NERV staff that can communicate with Asuka Soryu as I want to talk to her.
Q: What do you like about Asuka from Evangelion that made you once cosplay her?
Tokui: She is a very interesting and cool character! She also has a mysterious feeling to her.
Q: Among all of the songs in Love Live, which song represents Nico the best?
Tokui: It is definitely Niko puri ♥ Joshi dou (にこぷり♥女子道)!
Q: What do you think about the relationship between Nico and Maki?
Tokui: I think that their relationship is very good!
ON HER LIKES AND ASPIRATIONS:
Q: What do you do in your free time?
Tokui: I would probably be taking a nap!
Q: How do you relieve stress?
Tokui: I actually sleep a lot! (laughs)
Q: What are your goals and ambitions for the next few years?
Tokui: I would like to try my best as a voice actress but I would also like to do my best as a manga artist as well!
Q: Are there any plans to release a second photobook?
Tokui: If people want a second photobook, I wouldn’t mind doing it! (laughs)
Q: For the second photobook, what type of costume would you like to try?
Tokui: I will think about it!
We hope that this interview brought you a little closer to Soramaru! Please do continue to support her and her projects! We look forward to many more visits from you, Soramaru!
[AFASG’15][INTERVIEW] MIKA KOBAYASHI:"I TRY TO IMAGINE MYSELF AS A TITAN”
The last of our AFA2015 interviews, we bring to you Mika Kobayashi, featuring Tetsuro Shimaguchi!
Mika Kobayashi is a talented singer and songwriter, as well as a pianist. She started singing for the anime industry in 2010, providing her strong vocals for many theme and insert songs – such as “βios” for Guilty Crown and “Before my body dry” for Kill la Kill. Her latest work is “Through my Blood” – a collaboration with Aimer in the Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Original Soundtrack.
Relatively unknown is her own original compositions – songs outside of her anime works. She writes and composes her own songs, which are usually melancholic in nature and thought-provoking. She is acclaimed for her powerful live performances, having performed in Japan and parts of Europe. She likes to collaborate with people outside of the industry – her latest partner being Tetsuro Shimaguchi, or KAMUI-san.
KAMUI-san is known as the Samurai Sword Artist, where he mixes beauty of form, acting, music and martial arts. He graduated from Nihon University College of Arts and has plenty of experiences in theatre and choreography – most notably having choreographed the fighting scenes in Kill Bill Vol.1.
Interview [Mika Kobayashi and Tetsuro Shimaguchi (KAMUI)]:
On working with Sawano Hiroyuki-san:
Q: How do you feel about working together with Sawano Hiroyuki (composer)? Can you share your experiences working with him?
Mika: To me, Sawano-sensei is a very interesting person! So the recordings sessions that I do with him are always energetic and fun! His songs are also pretty cool. I really enjoy looking at the many different sides of Sawano-san.
Q: You are well-known for your music with Sawano-san. Do you think this music style will affect everyone’s impression of the kind of music that you are capable of singing?
Mika: As a vocalist, my horizons have really been broadened by having been able to collaborate with Sawano-sensei. The collaboration has changed how I approach and express my music positively. However, I find that the two are mutually exclusive.
Visiting the Merlion! (Source)
On her music in general:
Q: How did you develop your style of singing?
Mika: For the songs that I compose myself, I will just sing it as it is. I would think about how and what I want to express through the songs. I would then digest all these information and then proceed to sing the songs.
Mika: As for those anime songs, I actually got suggestions from Sawano-san saying that he wanted the song to be sung in a certain way. For example, for the song “βios”, he wanted it to have a German traditional feeling. Whenever I record songs that are upbeat and of the rock genre, I would imagine myself fighting on the battlefield.
Q: What kind of image do you think your songs convey?
Mika: My songs usually convey the deepest feelings of how is it like being a female. I also try to bring out the beautiful sceneries of Japan and how I, myself, have grown up being Japanese. That’s what I try to inculcate into my songs.
On her experiences in singing for various Anime series:
Q: You have sung quite a few songs for a number of anime series – such as Aldnoah.Zero, Guilty Crown, Shingeki no Kyojin, Kill la Kill and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. Which is your favourite series?
Mika: (laughs) that’s really difficult! I really like all the songs so it is really hard for me to choose! But, let’s see… For the song for Shingeki no Kyojin, when the titans appear onscreen, I was told to sing out the feeling one feels when they emerge out. That doesn’t really happen in real life so I remembered having a lot of fun trying to imagine how that feeling is actually like. Not only that, when I perform lives, I try to imagine myself as a titan when I am singing the song. (laughs)
Source
Q: Given a choice, would you like to sing for an opening, insert or ending song for an anime series?
Mika: For the songs that I have sung until now, fighting theme songs are the bulk of what I sing. It would be great if I got the chance to sing for something more fantasy-themed but I am a little worried whether my voice would actually fit that kind of theme. If I do get to try it, it would be a great way to know if I am able do that kind of style as well.
Q: Do you have difficulty singing English or German songs, for example, in Kill la Kill or in Shingeki no Kyojin?
Mika: It is indeed really difficult to sing in other languages beside Japanese! Especially for the small differences in the nuances and pronunciations, the way the breath is being used, and the shape of the mouth when singing. I try my best but sometimes, I do get frustrated when I can’t get close to the native pronunciations.
Q: You have sung a German song –Bauklötze – for Shingeki no Kyojin. Can you speak German or did you just learn German to sing the song?
Mika: No, I can’t actually speak German before singing this song! Sawano-san actually told me that he wanted the song to be something like a chant, something that sounds very monotonous. He felt that in Japan, people can’t really speak the German language; it’s not that widely learned. Therefore, he felt that if he had chosen to use German, it would bring out a stronger chanting rhythm.
Mika: When I record the songs, I actually just look at the katakana that was printed below the German language. So if you actually give me a German passage or a phrase in romanji and ask me to read it, I’m sorry but I am unable to do so! (laughs)
Source
On her collaboration with KAMUI-san:
Q: You are known to be the Samurai Sword Artist in Asia and you pursue the mixing of styles with samurai swords. Can you tell us more about this concept?
Tetsuro: At the very beginning, samurai styles were only brought out in movies and stage performances. It is usually part of a big story and doesn’t really get the limelight. By mixing it with different kinds of music and mixing all the different styles together, I feel that I am able to put more life into it and I can put the focus more on the samurai style itself. That’s how I decided to mix it together with different music and create my own style.
Tetsuro: The mixing of samurai style together with music is also something similar to what Kobayashi-san said. It is about what l feel each time when deciding the concept to go with. I try to bring out the beauty of the whole culture, so I thought mixing it with music would make the samurai style more wholesome and full.
Q: How did the collaboration (between Kobayashi-san and Tetsuro-san) start?
Mika: At the very beginning, our first contact with each other was when we were shooting for a television programme, and that was the first time we got to see each other. That was where I thought of collaborating with KAMUI-san and I approached him first. The songs that I make, sometimes, even the Japanese do not get the songs’ expressions and feelings really well – such as how a boy and girl relationship can sometimes get really sad and bitter or about the deeper feelings of living on this world. Therefore, I felt that if I actually get to collaborate with KAMUI-san, maybe I can get my music to reach out to more people.
Tetsuro: Since 6 years ago, we started to perform together in countries, like Italy and France. Every time I do the performances with Kobayashi-san, I really like the unique world view that she brings out in her performances. I sort of get poisoned by her performances, in a good way, (laughs) and that is how we have been continuing our collaboration.
Source
Q: If you were given a chance, which other composers would you like to work with?
Mika: Just like how I am currently collaborating with KAMUI-san, I want to collaborate with people from outside the music industry – something different and out of the box. As such, I feel that I can broaden my perspective of how music can be done.
Although she won’t be joining us at AFA2016 this year, we certainly hope that she will continue to lend her strong vocals to more anime songs! We can’t wait for what exciting collaboration she has for us in the future. Please do continue to support her!
[AFASG’15][INTERVIEW] Celebrity Cosplayers: Passion for the Characters drives us to Cosplay them!
Cosplaying is an integral part of any anime conventions, where droves of people turn out in the costumes of their favourite characters. It’s just under 2 months to AFA2016, and we thought we might introduce a few cosplayers who might be attending the event again this year! Last year’s lineup included plenty of amazing celebrity cosplayers – including Ely, Tomia, Sansin and Liui!
ELY, the sweet and charming cosplayer from Taiwan, was here in AFA for the first time as an invited guest of AFA2015. She first rose to fame in the cosplaying scene with her accurate and beautiful portrayal of characters – notably Sakuya from Touhou. Not stopping with one good cosplay, Ely continued to dazzle fans with a variety of anime characters – such as Asuna from Sword Art Online (SAO) and Nozomi from Love Live!
However, the one character that truly defines her cosplay is none other than Sinon. Her dedication and love to the character can be seen by how many version of Sinon/Shino she has cosplayed over the years, we each one looking amazing! Furthermore, Ely also does plenty of cosplaying of her own original characters!
TOMIA, one of Korea’s most popular cosplayers was in Singapore for her first time as a celebrity guest cosplayer! The sweet-looking cosplayer has cosplayed a variety of characters – from Asuna of SAO, to Kotori of Love Live! The cute and sometimes playful cosplayer certainly popular with fans, with her Facebook page already surpassing the 230k mark!
SANSIN, a rising cosplayer from Korea, is known for doing something really unique, and being really good at it. She cosplays only male characters! She has cosplayed Gintoki from Gintama and Levi from Attack on Titan!
LIUI, a rising cosplayer from the Philippines, is very talented and diverse. He mainly cosplays Disney and DreamWorks characters but also does a few anime cosplays! He is able to pull off many realistic cosplays of Disney characters, with the most notable being Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. Also wildly popular, the Filipino has a backing on Facebook of over 230k fans!
We at J-Experience managed to sit down with them for a quick interview – to find out the difficulties of cosplaying as well as their memorable experiences. Without further ado, here is the interview!
Interview [Ely, Tomia, Sansin, and Liui]
Q: How is the cosplay culture – in the Philippines and South Korea – different from that in Japan? Are there any local elements that are added into the culture?
Liui: In the Philippines, cosplay is becoming trendier for children, teenagers and even adults to try it, who think it is cool and fun. My friends and I are also promoting it as a fun activity for everyone, which have resulted in more people trying it and I think that is a good thing. Sometimes, cosplayers even get to earn money out of cosplaying and it is almost the same as other countries.
Liui:However, there are many events in the Philippines where there are no suitable locations for cosplaying. I hope someday it can get as fabulous as Anime Festival Asia, an event which has a nice location and is easy to access.
Tomia: In Korea, there are a lot of specialty shops catered for cosplaying, and cosplayers can prepare their costumes very quickly. It is very unlike in Japan where the cosplayer takes a lot of time to prepare each costume one at a time.
Q: When you first started cosplaying, what is the hardest thing you encountered and how did you overcome it in subsequent cosplays?
Ely: I think the hardest thing would be making the seams of the costume and to make the costumes as slim as possible to the character. It’s also very difficult to make the 3D costumes look like the 2D designs.
Liui: So true.
Tomia: It’s the costumes that are the most difficult to learn. I actually look up the internet to find out how I could make the costumes myself. However, it was very difficult following the instructions on the internet so I attended fashion school instead. So I am now able to make any costumes that I want! (laughs)
Liui: As a male cosplayer, there are many difficulties that I have experienced. It’s not the costumes, nor the cosplay; it’s about showing others that even males can do good cosplay. However, the hardest part is making my parents believe that cosplay, is a good hobby. That it is something that they can accept and appreciate. That is very valuable to me as a cosplayer.
Liui: It is not about how difficult the costume is to make, but rather how passionate one is when he is creating his costumes and how passionate he is when showing everyone how much he loves the character that he portrays. That is the most difficult part; it is something inside your core.
Q: Were there any criticisms when you started this hobby and how did you overcome it? How would you inspire others to overcome such criticisms to continue cosplaying?
Liui: I don’t think we have the same experiences but we don’t really care. (laughs) We don’t really care about what people say about us but for our families, especially for people older than us; they think it is immature and childish. They don’t think it is something that professional people should do. I think the saddest part is that how people would say that cosplaying is immature and it’s not a good hobby suitable for our age. But we don’t really care about what people say.
Liui: For me, I do a lot of Disney and DreamWorks cosplays. There are a lot of other people doing it as well but people would say that I am Asian and I shouldn’t do such western characters. That is kind of painful even though I am just doing it for fun but I don’t care.
Ely: I love cosplay so no matter what they talk about, I wouldn’t really mind. Without cosplay as a hobby, I would be like a normal person doing normal things and normal work. But, cosplaying is something I wish to enjoy and I think I can separate and enjoy the best of both worlds. (laughs)
Liui: Yeah, true.
Sansin: I started to cosplay when I was young but I stopped for a while. Two years later, I started to cosplay again at 18. Everyone tells me that it is a very old age to start cosplay. I currently only cosplay male characters and there are a lot of limitations to it. I just love doing cosplays and overcame it (the criticisms). My advice to those that just started cosplay is to not be afraid and just go with it. Just do it!
Q: Meeting with the fans, having autograph sessions, standing on the Akiba stage and being a part of the cosplay panel. What do you feel when you are participating in all of these?
Liui: We all have our fanboys and fangirls. I think the fans just like the characters that we are cosplaying.
Ely: I always appreciate them.
Liui: Yeah, it is because of them that we are here. We are very happy to see people surrounding us, the feeling is sometimes scary but you know, they appreciate our presence and it means a lot to us.
Q: As we know, all of you are very passionate about cosplay. Has it in any way impact your lives?
Tomia: I changed my major in my studies. I am not sure what else to say (laughs) but it has surely changed my career choices.
Sansin: For positive changes, I am actually someone with low confidence. So when I cosplay a male character, I gain a lot of confidence through it. As for the negative part, my wallet is always empty. (laughs)
Liui: As for how it has changed me, before cosplay, I was already confident in meeting new people and goofing around. I think the positive things that cosplay have given me is that I have learnt to appreciate the things I want to do more, my family when I travel overseas and people in general. You should not judge people from the way they look and appreciate them for what they are able to cosplay.
Liui: I have also learnt to appreciate the children; I used to dislike children as they were noisy. Now one of my goals is to make children happy, even those young-at-heart.
Liui: The negative side is that I am losing time with my family and friends at home, but they are happy for me as they know I am enjoying myself.
Q: Is cosplaying your main job? If no, how do you manage between cosplaying and working?
Ely: Cosplay is not my main job but because of it, my main job changed. I was working as an office lady in a Japanese company but, after doing so many cosplays and being invited overseas, I became an illustrator to accommodate my hobby.
Liui: To be honest with you guys, I work as manager in the Philippines. After managing in a few companies, I started to not enjoy my job so I decided to change career – to human resources. In the new company, I had a good position. However, I felt that I was looking for something that made me happy and one of it was cosplay. My mom then asked me, “Why are you doing this (cosplay)?” I told her it makes me happy and it makes me feel more beautiful and younger.
Liui: After college, I started working and I had no time to have fun. However, I did made an investment for my career so whenever I want to go back to my original profession, I would be able to. But for now, not many people have the opportunity to travel to so many places and to meet new people all over the world. For now, I am just taking my chances. If I am not happy later, I still am able to go back to my career.
Tomia: When I was attending school, I made costumes while working part-time. I was able to plan my schedule as I was doing part-time jobs. I did web design and I helped to fit models as a part time job. I also helped people to make costumes. I directed photo shoots too. I have received a lot of help from the people around me so I am able to enjoy cosplay. I think there is no problem trying to balance between work and cosplay.
Sansin: My major is art so I do a lot of commissions for otaku fan arts and drawings. In that sense, there are not many obstacles between managing my job and cosplay as it is closely related.
Q: What is the most memorable experience you guys had while doing cosplay photo shoots?
Sansin: We rented a hotel room to do a team photo shoot. In ‘Hunter X Hunter’, there was a scene where the characters gather in the hotel room and we tried to recreate that scene in the photo shoot. That is a very special photo shoot to me.
Tomia: There are some negative memories that I have. While I was shooting as Elsa, the weather was very cold. We were shooting at a rural area, and the driver didn’t know the way to town. We drove around for five hours and I caught a cold. After that, I couldn’t stand even twenty minutes for the photo shoot so we went straight back. (laughs)
Liui: Memorable? I think everyone knows my Hiccup photo. The real story of that is my father took that photo at our house rooftop. I was wearing the costume on top while just wearing my boxers at the bottom. (laughs)
Liui: It is basically about expectations versus reality. I didn’t expect the photo to go viral and on so many websites. Now, when I look at the photo, I feel very proud. People ask me where the bottom half of the photo and in my mind I am thinking, “Nope, boxers”.
Ely: I was doing a photo shoot for my photo book in Japan. The mountain was Mount Tengu and my character was a Tengu character. While cosplaying there, I met a little girl; she said “Aww, it is a Tengu.” I was thinking when the little girl went back home, she probably told her mum “I met a Tengu at the Tengu mountain”. It is an interesting story for the girl.
Liui: Yeah, you made the girl happy.
Ely: Yeah, yeah, she’s so cute.
Q: What do you do with old costumes?
Liui: I don’t sell or recycle it. It is like a novelty item for me and you cannot give something like this. For now, I don’t want to give it away or sell it. It is like a part of me.
Tomia: Aside from costumes, I make a lot of dresses and traditional costumes and I still am able to wear them. I make some of the costumes as presents for weddings and I give a lot of them as presents as well. For the cosplays that I have done before, I never really keep the costumes.
Sansin: I have three of the same costumes. One costume for event, one used for photo shoots and the last one as a spare and I keep all of them. The spare costume is in case blood needs to be used in some photo shoots.
Ely: If I make the costumes, I won’t sell them as there are many ‘trade secrets’ that are used in making the clothes. However, if I buy the costume and fix it, maybe sometimes I will sell the costumes to earn money for the next one. I do not usually sell them as all of them are very memorable.
We hope that the cosplayers will continue to bedazzle us with many more exciting and beautiful cosplays! Please do continue to support them at events and conventions so that they will continue to participate and interact with you guys! We hope to see them at Anime Festival Asia 2016 again this year!
[AFASG’15][Interview] Lia: “I am the voice behind IA!”
Lia, a veteran singer, whose career spans over 15 years, have participated in a variety of genres – European songs, techno, trance and of course, anime songs!
The singer, who graduated from the prestigious school of Berklee College of Music, is also fluent in English! Lia is known for her strong vocals in songs such as “Tori no Uta” – opening theme song of Air, and “My Soul, Your Beats” – opening theme song of the famous Angel Beats.
Lia was here in Singapore for the first time to perform at AFA 2015! We sat down with her to ask her more about her thoughts on her family, working with Jun Maeda, and of course, lending her voice to IA, the Vocaloid.
We at J-Experience got a chance to sit down with the star for an interview, so here you go!
Interview
May'n: Good Morning, everyone, just… any questions? (laughs)
Q: You have been active for quite a long time (15 years!). How do you feel about having come this far in your career and could you share any future plans you may have?
Well, it is my pleasure to be able to sing for such a long time. I really appreciate the support of all of my fans. This is my first visit to Singapore and I am really happy to be here, being able to sing overseas.
In the future – as AFA2015 is the first animation music festival I am performing in overseas – I really hope to have more opportunities to sing in other countries.
Please invite me to many more!
Q: You used to sing European songs in the past, but now, you mostly sing for KEY (VN Studio). Is there any difference between the genres?
Both are totally different from one another! Compared to animation songs, it is a really big challenge to sing other genres as well, since I think my voice suits animation songs better. I like singing anime songs but I think it would be really fun to try as many new genres as possible in life.
Q: You have worked a lot with Jun Maeda (Key Composer) in the past, what are some of your experiences working with him?
The first time I met him was in Osaka, in their Visual Art's studio. He had long black hair that hid his eyes. He is so tall, like a shadow, so quiet.
When I recorded the first single, “Natsukage / Nostalgia” with him, I asked him,
“How do you want me to sing these songs?”
He responded with, “Maybe the boy Soprano kind, kind of like a little boy singing.”
This resulted in their communication thereafter to be quite awkward and difficult as he was quite a shy guy.
Nowadays, he has become more outgoing which I think is pretty amazing that he has changed a lot. He is in the media, talking, playing the guitar and singing lives. I think it has been a really big change for me that he is talking. He has learned to express himself to the world and I think that’s a really good change. He’s a really nice guy.
Touring in Singapore (Source)
Q: Will you consider working with Jun Maeda on a new project in the future?
Well, it’s up to him! There is nothing I can say but hopefully he has another song for me.
For ‘Charlotte’, he asked me to sing the opening theme song – “Bravely you”. I was really surprised and honoured to be able to sing again on his project. I hope that he will ask me again in the future.
Q: How did you feel when you were invited to participate in the animation ‘Charlotte’?
I was surprised and honoured. As I said earlier, there are so many new artists coming out in Japan and I am one of the older artists now. When Maeda-san asked me to sing the song, I was really happy and surprised!
Q: You have sang a few songs for KEY, which song left the deepest impression or which one did you feel most attached to?
It really is difficult. The first song I sang was “Tori no Uta” and it was really difficult to record it. I was living at Los Angeles, California, when I got a call asking if I would like to sing for KEY. At that time, I did not know anything about KEY but I agreed to it.
I sang three songs in two days! For “Tori no Uta”, it has so many chords, the harmony and everything so I had to sing it so many times! At the end, I almost cried because I was not sure if I could do it anymore. However, the staff really helped me a lot, I managed to finish it.
I had no idea that it would be this popular and now, people in the world would think of “Tori no Uta” and Lia together. I am really glad that I took that recording, as if I had not said ‘Yes’ then, I would not have been here right now.
The most difficult recording for the animation – Clannad: After Story – was probably “Toki o Kizamu Uta”. It was really hard for me as I could not count so I asked Maeda-san to write me the music score. When I looked at it, I was like “5, 4, 3, 5” so it was really hard to get into the music. Now that I have sung it and performed it many times, it has become my piece so it really is easy for me. I am glad that everyone liked that song too.
Preparing autographed posters for fans (Source)
Q: What are some of the memorable moments you have living in the US?
I went to the Berklee College of Music, a music college in Boston and I graduated majoring in performance and professional music. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles as I still had one-year visa, so I wanted to try something while I was there.
I was recording my demo and writing my songs in a home studio, owned by my friend of the same school. We were recording there and that was when I got a call from KEY saying they would like to use the studio, not me. I was translating as the owner did not understand Japanese and the KEY staff did not speak English.
They were going to bring a singer from Japan and record at the studio but the singer cancelled for some reason and they asked me, ‘Can I sing for them?’ However, I told them, ‘You are asking me, even before hearing me sing?’ So in my mind, I was thinking maybe these people aren’t professional.
I told them I would send them a recording I had in hand and they loved it, so that was how I got the job. It was a coincidence that I picked up the phone, answered and translated for my friend, so that’s why I am here. I never thought it will lead me to be invited to an overseas concert and “Tori no Uta” would be that big of a hit. I only knew later on that “Tori no Uta” was a big hit until my cousin listened and was like “Oh my god! My cousin is Lia?” (Laughs)
That was when I thought maybe I am pretty famous. That incident in LA was a big surprise.
Q: Now that you have a family, how do you manage to balance between family and work?
It is really difficult as I have two children now – a five year old daughter and a two year old son, who is like crazy (laughs). He is like a little monster!
It is really hard to manage both at the same time so I am trying to concentrate on one task at a time. At work, I would concentrate on my singing – I’m Lia, but when I am at home, I’m become ‘Mummy’ and concentrate on my kids.
I think of it as if I am a different person right here. I am sorry to my kids but I try to forget being a mum when working. If not it would be really crazy, doing both at the same time, so I try to switch my mind.
Q: What attributes drive you as an artist?
Meeting my fans always inspires me! There are people out there that want to listen to my music. If there was no one, then I will be just singing for fun. However, there are people that are saying ‘Oh, I love your song. I love your singing.’ So that is what really drives me. The fans are what keep my heart going so I am really grateful to them.
Lia performing at the 'I Love Anisong' concert AFA'15 (Source)
Q: What do you think is the most important aspect of a theme song?
Animations have really nice stories behind them so when I sing for an anime, I try not to push my character into the music. I would listen to what the producers and writers have to say about the music. Then, I would try to suit the music and put all my voice into it – of course making it ‘Lia-like’ – and put more effort to get into and emulate the world of what the producer wants the song to be. For example, for Maeda-san’s work, I would create a Maeda’s world.
Imagine that he has his own world –that is black and white. So when I sing, I try to add colours to his world, like a painting. I put the most effort in doing so, so that the song (painting) would be more colourful and unique.
Q: You have lent your voice to the popular Vocaloid, ‘IA’. What inspired you to do so and what are your thoughts about it?
The president of my management company, my first manager, asked me after I had my first child, whether I wanted to make a Vocaloid using my voice. I rejected her as I did not want anything to sound like me because I am still singing!
However, she was like “You know you currently have a child now and you probably want to rest”. I immediately replied “Yes!” So she suggested that maybe Vocaloid could be the one to help me work when I am not working. It sounded like it was a decent idea and that was how it started.
Now, IA is really working out in the world while I am like back at home, cooking. However, many people still don’t know it’s my voice behind IA, so I would have to tell them so. (laughs)
It was scary at first for me to have my own Vocaloid, as I was afraid that it would become more popular than me or people would forget about me. However as of now, I think it is in a good balance and the president of my management even mentioned ‘Nothing can beat Lia performing live!’ (Laughs) I trust her words so that’s why I made the Vocaloid, IA. So hopefully people will like me as much as they like her.
Q: Do you have any favourite songs of IA?
My favourite song would be her new song, “Diamond Days”. IA sang it this year during a concert in Japan. When I listened to it, I thought it was a really nice song and maybe, I would want to cover her song.
Lia performing at the 'I Love Anisong' concert AFA'15 (Source)
Just in time for her upcoming performance at AFAID2016, we present to you this short interview of Lia! If you haven’t read it yet, please go ahead! We at J-Experience really hope that she comes back to AFASG2016 to perform for us once again! Please continue to support her!
[C3 CharaExpo’16] Interview with Aqours [LoveLive! Sunshine!!] [J-Experience]
Aqours (pronounce as ‘aqua’ or ‘a-ku- a’) is a school idol group that was formed in last year. It consists of 9 members:
Chika Takami (CV.: Anju Inami)
Riko Sakurauchi (CV.: Rikako Aida)
Kanan Matsuura (CV.: Nanaka Suwa)
Dia Kurosawa (CV.: Arisa Komiya)
You Watanabe (CV.: Shuka Saito)
Yoshiko Tsushima (CV.: Aika Kobayashi)
Hanamaru Kunikida (CV.: Kanako Takatsuki)
Mari Ohara (CV.: Aina Suzuki)
Ruby Kurosawa (CV.: Ai Furihata)
The new project was announced on February 2015, with the planning details being announced subsequently. The group name, Aqours, was announced in June 28th, with the 3 units – CYaRon, AZALEA and Guilty Kiss, and their group placings – being formed via public voting. Following that, the airing of the TV animation started in Japan from July.
The venue of the project takes place at Uranohoshi Girls’ High, which is located at Numazu, Shizuoka, in the idyllic town of Uchiura.
The second years from Aqours, which includes Anju Inami (voice of Chika Takami), Rikako Aida (voice of Riko Sakurauchi) and Shuka Saito (voice of You Watanabe) were here in sunny Singapore to promote their new anime, Love Live! Sunshine!! , as well as attending as guests in C3 CharaExpo 2016. We got a chance to talk with them, to get to know more about them! Let’s dive right in!
Interview
Self-introduction
Aqours: Pleased to meet you! We are the second year members from Love Live! Sunshine!!
Inami: I am Anju Inami, and I play the role of Chika Takami!
Aida: I am Rikako Aida, and I play the role of Riko Sakurauchi!
Saito: I am Shuka Saito, and I play the role of You Watanabe.
Aqours: Please take care of us!
Q1: What do you think about this event so far? (C3 Chara Expo 2016)
Inami: Today, during our stage event, it was really heart-warming to see so many people attending our event; it was filled all the way out of the hall! I was really excited over it, and I feel really motivated to work even harder in the future.
Saito: This is actually my first time travelling overseas. I was worried whether if there would be people coming to support us. When I saw the reactions from the crowd, I felt really, really happy. For this event, only the 3 of us got to participate. If there is a chance in the near future, I hope that all 9 of Aqours would be able to come together!
Q2: Is there any food that you would like to try in Singapore?
Inami: There is! Which should we try? I would like to try all sorts of food! Kaya toast maybe! What else is there?
Saito: Hainanese Chicken Rice!
All: Yea, chicken rice!
Q3: What is your most memorable scene in the TV Animation aired so far?
Inami: In the first episode, in the scene just before the opening, Chika was narrating and knew that she wanted to shine brightly. I was deeply moved by this scene, and this was definitely the most memorable.
Q4: Is there any similarities with the member you play?
Inami: For me, Chika-chan is a very out-going and cheerful person, yet I am her opposite. In the past, I was a little negative and pessimistic. However, after getting to meet and know Chika, I started thinking more positively and behaving more cheerfully. Instead of thinking about how similar we are, it is more like I started to change and become more like Chika.
Aida: Both Riko-chan and I have a serious nature. Riko has strong beliefs and is very determined. Once Riko has decided on something, she will always do her best to complete it till the end. However, both of us also tend to be a little bit stubborn. These are our similar aspects.
Saito: You-chan is a sporty girl, and she is also very out-going and active person. I think we are very similar on these aspects. Furthermore, we both have a clear-cut behaviour, and are slightly boyish. These are our similarities.
Q5: Do you play School Idol Festival? Who is the best in playing School Idol Festival among the members of Aqours?
Saito: Yes, We do play School Idol Festival. The game is interesting and fun to play! Nanaka Suwa, the voice actress of Kanan Matsuura, is the best player among us. (laughs)
Q6: Among the various activities – such as live streaming, radio, singing or going to event – as Aqours, what left the deepest impression on you?
Inami: Earlier this year on the 11th of January, there was an event in Tokyo, Japan where we first performed together.
Inami: During the event, we performed our first single as a whole team. This is what we found to be the most memorable activity among all our tours that we have done so far.
*Note: The event is called “ラブライブ！サンシャイン!! Aqours スペシャル課外活動 みんな準備はできてるかい？～せーのでSUNSHINE!!～”.
(Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours Special Extra-curricular activities. Is everyone ready? Ready set go SUNSHINE!!)
Q7: Please elaborate on the good points of Love Live! Sunshine!! .
Inami: Firstly, “Love Live! Sunshine!!” is a story about 9 girls, centred on Chika Takami, trying to chase after their common dreams as school idols. In this story, the location is not set in Tokyo but in the countryside of Numazu, Shizuoka prefecture. I find the story – where Aqours try their best to work together towards a common dream, and strive to shine brightly and sparkle as school idols – to be very exciting. Basically, it is a youth story where 9 girls chase after a common dream. However, I feel that this is not the only charming point of the whole show, and I hope that everyone can try to understand the story and to watch Love Live! Sunshine!! .
Message for Singapore fans
Inami: I am really happy that everyone appreciates the event . I will continue to do my best to make it a memorable show and to leave a deep impression in everyone’s mind! I will continue to work hard. So everyone, please continue to support Aqours!
Aida: I will continue to try my very best to make Love Live! Sunshine!! an even better show. I will also continue to work hard so that I will have a chance to come back here again with all the other members of Aqours.
Saito: This is barely our first step for Aqours to appear in public together. I will continue to work hard in all aspects – making Aqours even greater, to deliver better performances and to give everyone a more pleasant experience. Of course, I also hope to have a chance in the future to come back as a group, with all 9 of us together.
Aqours are looking set for a bright start with their 2 singles as well as their sub-unit singles and the opening and ending songs!! The Opening – Aozora Jumping Heart – had been will be released on 20th July while the ending – Yume Kataru yori Yume Utaou – will be released on 24th August! We hope that you guys will continue to support them as they try their best to reach their dreams! Don’t forget: Because School Idols make you smile!
*Update: Aqours has already released 8 singles. The Episode 6 & 9 insert songs (9th single) – Yume de Yozora o Terashitai/ Mijuku DREAMER – will be releasing on this coming 14th September!!!
Aqours 1st single – Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayai Teru Kai? / Aqours
Aqours 2nd single – Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM/ Aqours
[C3 CHARA EXPO’16][INTERVIEW] わーすた WASUTA: “STRIVING TO BE A WORLD STANDARD!”
Ushering in the new age of technology comes a very unique idol group from Japan that embraces technological trends. They pride themselves as idols of a digital native generation and takes on a global approach to their activities! Who knows? They may even take over the entertainment world by storm someday!
Introducing, わーすた [WA-SUTA]! Wa-suta, comes from the abbreviation of “The World Standard”. Wa-suta allows, and even encourages fans to capture memories of their performances in the form of photos and videos, and spread them on social media! Through Social Networking Sites (SNS) and their various idol activities, Wa-suta strives to raise awareness about the KAWAII Japanese idol culture to the world!
Wa-suta is consists of five members, each with their own pastel colour!
Named as “The World Standard”, it would be no surprise to find that each member is learning a different language! Nanase and Ririka are learning English, Hazuki is learning French, , Miri is learning Chinese, and Ruka is learning Korean. Wa-suta has already had two overseas events – In Shanghai and Singapore! They will be performing at Comic Exhibition in Taiwan on 11th August! Don’t forget to drop by if you’re in Taiwan!
Officially announced last March, Wa-suta has reached impressive milestones and achievements! They were ranked first on Idol Gakkyoku Taisho’2015 in the Indie category and released their single “いぬねこ。青春真っ盛り / Dogs & Cats, In the Bloom of Youth ” in October that year!
This year, Wa-suta had their major debut with the release of their first album “the World Standard”! That’s not all! This year, on September 28th they will release their first major label single, “完全なるアイドル / Perfect Idol”. The single release will also include a second song “ぱわわわわん!!! パワーパフ ガールズ /Pawawawawan!!! Powerpuff Girls”. A little surprise is that “Pawawawawan!!! Powerpuff Girls” will be the opening song for the Japanese Powerpuff Girls series!
We recently had the opportunity to meet up with Wa-suta during their visit to Singapore! Here is the full interview we had! Enjoy!
Interview
Welcome to Singapore! Please give us a group introduction.
We are Wa-suta, an idol group that is active in Japan.
We introduce Kawaii Japanese culture to the world through our activities and social media!
Please give us a self-introduction.
Hi, my name is Miri Matsuda. Please call me Miriteko.
Hi, my name is Ruka Mishina. Please call me Ru.
Hi everyone, my name is Nanase Hirokawa. Please call me Natchun.
Hi, my name is Ririka Kodama. Please call me Riri. Nice to meet you.
Hi, my name is Hazuki Sakamoto. Please call me Haa-chin. Nice to meet you.
Q: This your first time here in Singapore, how do you find Singapore so far?
Singapore is the best! We saw Singapore’s nightscape yesterday, and also ate a lot of delicious food. We’ve had two amazing live stage performances! The light and water show at the Singapore River was very beautiful. Before I realised it, tears were coming out of my eyes!
Q: Is there any food that you would like to try?
There are plenty of food that we would like to try. We have not tried Chicken Rice yet, but we really wish to try it so much.
We always wanted to try it, but our schedule could not make it, so definitely we would like to try Chicken Rice when we are here again!
Q: It seems everyone is learning a foreign language here! Why did this start?
We are known as The World Standard, as such, it would we would like to do performances around the world. Even speaking little words of another country, as such, even just one word, we would like to go to many countries to do various performances. We want to be able to connect with our overseas fans better, and show them that we are trying our best!
Q: What are the happiest memories you have since you joined Wa-suta?
It definitely has to be our first one-man live! It left me with a deep impression. 28th February, our first solo performance! At that time, many people who specially came to see Wa-suta showed up, seeing those seated fans sparkling/glittering under the lights coming to watch, enlivening the atmosphere! It was such an enchanted feeling! To me, that moment was very touching.
Within the year that Wa-suta was announced, we gathered a lot of fans. On our first anniversary, there was a live show! The fans all congratulated us on our one year anniversary, and that really surprised us. The staff also said the same thing to us. It was really an enjoyable event where a lot of fans came to support.
In actual fact, there have been many instances of fun and happy moments for me! One of the most memorable has to be during Wa-suta’s first music video. After it was completed, I watched the final video there was a satisfaction and pride knowing that I am an idol. A music video has always been my dream, to complete the music video is happiness to me.
I also experienced many instances of happiness, the one that left a deep impression on me was our first time at the huge NHK hall, a hall in japan that is humongous! It was my first time standing on stage as a member of Wa-suta! It was such a huge location with endless rows of people in front of me! It made me both very nervous and ecstatic! Standing on stage and looking at looking at all our fans, that is what happiness is!
On May 4th, on the day of major debut, Wa-suta did an event, during that time, fans congratulated us on our major debut. Last month, we were in Shanghai, and now we are in Singapore! After a very major debut, we participated in a lot of events in other countries. Being able to meet people from around the world and trying to speak to them in their own native language is a very nice feeling! I hope we more chances to show the world that each of us are trying hard to learn a different language!
Q: What is it like to spend time with the other members?
Well, Wa-suta members get along very well! The five of us watch a movies together, go out shopping together, and talk about school all the time! We also have sleepover parties! Even on rest days, we also spend time together. It seems we are almost together every day!
Q: What are your goals/dreams for the future of the Wa-suta?
Staying true to the name “The World Standard”, we are striving hard to be a world standard group. Eventually, we would like to go on our very own Wa-suta solo world tour.
You can catch the other interview questions here.
An aspiring idol group that wants to reach out to fans beyond their shores. You just cant resist not to support them! Hopefully, you would not have forgotten their performances at Chara Expo 2016.
[AFASG’15][INTERVIEW] May’n: “The Song I Always Held Dear!”
Now, this is one artiste that needs no introduction! Anisong star May’n is definitely having a stellar year, having celebrated her 10th anniversary in 2015! Still, on her celebratory decade, she has released 2 singles for the anime series, Aquarion Logos, as well as her compilation album – POWERS OF VOICE.
Her journey as an artiste started in 2005, but she first succeeded with her most memorable song – Diamond Crevasse – the ending theme for Macross Frontier. She then gone on to release songs such as “Scarlet Ballet” – opening theme song for Hidan no Aria, “Chase the world” – 1st opening theme song for Accel World and “Kyou ni Koiiro” – opening theme song for Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha, to name a few.
Her unique sound and amazing showmanship has allowed her to stay at the top of the game, despite having already performed for a decade. Her countless entries in the Oricon Weekly Chart have proven that, together with her many sold out concerts and shows!
We at J-Experience got a chance to sit down with the star for an interview, so here you go!
Interview
May'n: Hello! It’s nice to meet you. I’m May’n, thank you for coming!
Q: Would you tell us a little bit about your 10th anniversary concert, and your personal feelings when you performed for your fans, whom were there with you to celebrate at the Nippon Budokan (indoor arena)?
In 2015, I celebrated my 10th anniversary (since my debut). From 2014 to 2015, I actually had my World Tour, and Singapore was one of the stops for it. I am really happy and grateful for the chance to meet many of my fans during the world tour and to be in Singapore to perform a one-man live.
The 10th anniversary concert is something worth celebrating so we decided to hold it at the Budokan to make it feel grander. The 10th anniversary concert is also a completion of my works until now. It also helped me to gauge what I should be presenting to my fans from now on, the things I want to express, my goals and aims as a musician after a decade of performing.
May'n 10th Anniversary Concert, 「dots and lines」! (Source)
Q: Currently, you are a really popular artist and an inspiration to a lot of people. When you were starting out, whom and what were your inspirations to start a career in singing?
Amuro Namie –a very famous singer in Japan – was, and still is, my inspiration to start singing. When I was young, I would see Amuro-san performing. At that time, I felt that it would be really great if I could sing and perform like her. That really inspired me to try and achieve my dream as a singer.
Q: Your song “Yoake no Logos” – the second opening theme song for the anime, Aquarion Logos – is coming out really soon, can you share with us more about the single?
This song, Dawn of Logos, is a really expressive song. I put in a lot of feelings when I delivered the song; it illustrates and brings out the lives of the anime characters. I also feel that I can really relate to this song through my own daily life experiences.
Moving on into my second decade, this song also represents how I want my style of music to head as well as how I want to aim for further heights.
Q: You have been a regular Anisong artist at Anime Festival Asia since 2008. Which ‘I Love Anisong’ concert did you find the most interesting and why?
It is really difficult to choose one single year. I feel that each year is a different presentation of the anime industry. However, last year, there was this main call where they chanted, “May’N! May’N! May’N!” until I came on stage. That was something that I felt to be really touching and I hope to be able to emulate the fans and give better performances.
What motivates you to sing more Anisongs (anime songs)?
The number one reason that I get to meet so many overseas fans is all thanks to Anisongs. From now on, I want to work even harder and produce better songs so that I would be able to meet more overseas fans.
The first time that I got the chance to perform overseas was in Anime Festival Asia 2008, and it was my first time going overseas as well. I also heard that the Japanese culture is really popular overseas and in Japan as well, the subculture is becoming stronger with each passing year. I feel that it is also all thanks to how the overseas fans are giving their support for the anime industry. The support for both me and the industry really motivates me to give my all in singing and performing more Anisongs.
Special autographs for fans (Source)
What challenges do you face as a singer?
I don’t really face a lot of difficulties as a singer. For this year, the challenge would definitely be preparing for the 10th anniversary. However, during spring, I was actually hospitalized as I had some throat problems, but I managed to recover just in time for the Budokan Live. After that, I was able to come for Anime Festival Asia 2015 in Singapore. I regretted not taking care of myself and getting hospitalised because of my throat problem. It really made me think about how I want to move on in my career and present a better self to all my fans.
Q: How do you think your music style has changed over the years?
Ahhh, how has it changed?
The May’n that you guys see right now is very real to how I am like offstage. When I first started off, I was the singing voice for Sheryl Nome in Macross Frontier. The character is a very sexy and feminine character so I would think of ways to bring out the sexiness in my singing, as well as how to close the gap between myself and Sheryl.
Now, I feel like I have made many new comrades who I can share a bit of my real side in my music. I feel that now I am able to perform really comfortably as May’n and present a real side of me to my fans.
Q: This year, you have performed at many universities in Japan. What memorable moments do you have performing on campuses?
As I was performing at a school festival, even people that have not heard of the name “May’n” before would be able to become more excited and happier about my performance coming up on stage. I feel that this increase in excitement and anticipation led to me becoming more confident in being able to perform in front of them.
The people that were helping out at the festival were actually students from the campus. While they were actually working and helping out, they were also on the side-lines, listening to my performances as well. I feel really happy that they are also able to enjoy my performance while working.
Q: We know you love anime so do you have a favourite character? Is your love for anime why you continue your music career in the anime industry?
There are definitely anime shows that I like. For example, I will take the time to really watch all the anime series that I have helped produced – such as Macross Frontier, and Aquarion Logos. However, personally, I tend to like animes such as IdolM@ster. (laughs)
I feel that the May’n you see now is all thanks to the chance of being able to get involved in so many productions of animes. Therefore, I feel that, from now on, I want to like anime even more and more, and hope that more and more people would be able to like anime together with me.
Q: You said that you like IdolM@ster; can you talk more about the reason why you like the anime?
(May’n laughs)
For IdolM@ster, I really like the Cinderella Girls series very much. I feel that they are really similar to how my life is like. When I stand on stage, I feel really happy and touched when my fans support and cheer for me. No matter how many times I step on to the stage, I always get excited each time. Likewise, there were definitely times where I have shed some tears and become a little stressed over how some of my performances were like. The realism of the series is why I like it.
A selfie with IdolM@ster Cinderella Girls characters (Source)
Q: What was most memorable song you sang and where was it?
This answer probably won’t change. It will probably still be the same answer – the song “Diamond Crevasse”. It was during the period when I changed my stage name to May’n so at that point in time, I did felt a lot of insecurities but it also meant that I would be having a new start from then on. That’s why “Diamond Crevasse” will always be the most memorable to me.
Since then, I have gotten many opportunities to have world tours and participated in many events. It also led to my participation in AFA SG 2008 – my first overseas performance. I feel that the moment when my fans actually sang with me in Japanese was really touching. From then, I have felt the real love that fans have for the anime as well as her songs. It is something that I want to keep close to my heart and in my performances from now on.
Q: For your birthday, your staff did a special event for you. Can you tell us more about it?
It’s not really an event the staff planned out for me but it was more of a private affair with my very good friend. During my birthday, when I finished work and went over to my friend’s house, there was already a taiyaki board made up in the house. Since I really like taiyaki very much, I actually snapped that and posted it on my Twitter.
Thanks for the interview, May'n!
With already 12 singles, 4 albums and countless of other productions under her belt, May’n just cannot stop creating wonderful music for us. Her 13th single, Belief, the opening theme for the now airing anime Taboo Tattoo, will be released on the 24th of August. Please do continue to support her as she moves on to her second decade!
Fun Facts
May’n has attended every edition of Anime Festival Asia Singapore since her first time in 2008.
She has also attended every edition of Animelo Summer Live since 2008.
The artist “May’n” is derived from her real name, and it demonstrates her hope to always “sing songs that will be everyone’s main theme.”
Her first concert at Nippon Budokan was sold out in just a day.
[AFASG’15][INTERVIEW] GARNiDELiA: “Forever on alert to get inspiration!”
To countdown till the next AFA, we will be releasing an article each month from the past AFA! To kick everything off, let’s begin with the up and coming GARNiDELiA!
GARNiDELiA – a music unit comprising of vocalist, MARiA and composer, toku – was formed in 2010 and debuted in 2014 with Kill la Kill’s 2nd opening, Ambiguous.
They have since written songs for popular anime such as Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei and Gundam Reconqusta in G, and released 2 studio albums – Linkage Ring and BiRTHiA.
MARiA visiting the Merlion! (Source)
toku had a humble start, writing songs for Vocaloid, with SPiCa being his most famous masterpiece. With a background of Italian classical music and the ability to piece together numerous instruments in his songs, he has worked with and arranged numerous songs, such as oath sign with LiSA. Now, he brings his talent through GARNiDELiA.
The other half, MARiA, is also incredibly talented, cheerful and energetic. She started singing and dancing at 13 years old. Before GARNiDELiA, she collaborated with Vocaloid composer Jin and was part of a vocal and dance group before it disbanded. Now, she uses her powerful and deep vocals to bring GARNiDELiA to life.
We sat down with the dynamic duo for a quick interview!
Interview
Q: How has the current GARNiDELiA changed as compared to the one from the indie days?
Toku: For the BiRTHiA album, MARiA-san actually re-sings all the songs.
MARiA: At that time, I was only 18 years old when I sang the song “ARIA”. Now that I’m 23 years old, I feel that my voice would have changed to become more mature. Since our debut, we also have met many more new fans and became more popular, which eventually lead to us gaining confidence. I would definitely say that we would have already grown up to become a newer GARNiDELiA.
Q: How does GARNiDELiA feel about appearing on the cover art as opposed to, having a character/mascot on it instead during your indie days?
Toku: During our indie days, we were under the doujinshi category and went to sell our CDs at Comiket and M3 (Music and Mixed Media). We realised that before our major debut, it is more popular for the artistes to use mascots instead to have higher sales. We decided that is how we want our style to be.
MARiA: However, when we had our major debut, we decided to change our approach as it would be easier for us to gain popularity and let our fans know more about us by showing our real faces. Therefore, we revealed who we actually are.
MARiA autographing posters for a give-away. (Source)
Q: How much input do both members have over the GARNiDELiA’s cover art designs and costumes?
MARiA: When we decide on how the designs and the cover art should be like, I am actually the one to produce the whole thing. I would discuss it with the whole crew – the producers and the stylists. For example, we would discuss what it expresses, what colours should be used and how should the song be delivered to our fans. Afterwards, we would also decide on what clothes we would don during the performance.
MARiA: Upon finalizing with the crew members, I would then do up a small proposal and hand it in to the management. Our management will go through it, re-discuss the points, and we will come to a consensus on how the final product will be like.
Q: MARiA-san’s fashion style always looks so cute and beautiful. Where do you get your inspiration?
MARiA: Thank you very much! (laughs)
MARiA: There is actually no one whom I look to for my fashion inspiration. I usually gain inspiration from observing other people when I go out on the streets. I also get my inspiration from anime characters and the different trends that occur for the different seasons in Japan. Sometimes, I would refer a little to Paris Collection.
MARiA: When I actually come to a final decision, how I want the style to be, I would then discuss with my stylists to make my ideas into real design jackets and costumes.
GARNiDELiA giving out their autographed poster to a fan. (Source)
Q: When GARNiDELiA were setting out in the early stages, what are some of the main challenges you guys faced? Were there any other challenges after debuting?
MARiA: During our indie period, we were mainly focused on increasing the views of our videos on NicoNicoDouga (NND) and YouTube (YT). With those videos easily available online, there will definitely be all sorts of comments that come with it, both good and bad ones. We would read through the comments and try not to get too hurt by the unpleasant ones. We would also try to improve ourselves from reading the feedback.
MARiA: We were mainly more active on the internet so when we did live performances back then, we didn’t really have as much audience as compared to now. Once, for one of our live performances, we only had 10 attendees.
MARiA: That’s why we are really thankful for the recent one-man live, as we had 1,300 people were watching us. We are really happy that more people have learnt about us and are also really thankful for having more chances to perform overseas. On the other hand, as we are more popular now, we have to be stricter with ourselves. We cannot fall sick easily, and have to take good care of ourselves. We also have to put up good performances and not fail so as to not let our fans down.
Q: What would you describe as your happiest moment as a performing group?
Toku: I’m always happy!
MARiA: (laughs) My most enjoyable time would be when we’re doing our one man lives. As a result, we got the chance to meet so many new fans! For us though, the day when we found out that we were going to have our major debut will always be a very special and memorable day.
GARNiDELiA performing at 'I Love Anisong:REBOOT' in Singapore! (Source)
Q: What relaxing activities do GARNiDELiA do in your free time?
MARiA & toku: We really, really love music, so being able to do something that we love for our career is something really fulfilling. We actually don’t really have much time to rest. When we have the chance to rest, we usually spend it on sleeping. (laughs)
MARiA & toku: When we’re awake, we usually spend every single moment linked up with our music. For every sound that we hear, we would ponder over whether we could use it for our next song. We would pick up the little hints around us, so it’s actually quite difficult to tell when we’re actually resting. We’re forever on alert to get inspiration for our music. That’s why we usually only get to rest when we are sleeping.
Toku: And also eating. Yea, eating and sleeping.
Q: What kind of advice do you have for aspiring independent artistes on Nico Nico Douga or Youtube?
MARiA & toku: Now, there is an increasing pool of aspiring artistes out there. As compared to our earlier days, it’s easier to be in this field right now. We don’t really get very bad comments like what we gotten back then; people are more polite now.
MARiA & toku: On the other hand, the industry is more competitive with more people aspiring to become a musician. We feel that the most important part is for the person to find their own style and strengths and further research on how they’re able to further improve their strengths , to make it into something that is irreplaceable which represents them, making them unique . The person should also have firm beliefs and not be easily swayed by others.
MARiA & toku: We, too, will continue to work hard as well! Thank you for your support!
Thanks for the interview, GARNiDELiA!
That’s the end of the interview! But that’s not all! GARNiDELiA will be releasing their 5th single – Yakusoku –Promise Code-, the ending theme for Qualidea Code – on the 17th of August, so please do continue to support them! Thank you very much!
Fun Facts
For the BiRTHiA album, MARiA-san actually re-sings all her songs. “BiRTHiA” consists of 15 track songs. 14 tracks when they were indie during the past 5 years, and 1 new track added.
The name GARNiDELiA is an anagram of Le Palais Garnier de MARiA, which means “MARiA’s Opera House, her place to sing” and Cordelia, which is the name of the asteroid discovered in toku’s birth year.
J-Experience is back! After a long hiatus starting from AFA, we will be covering various Japanese and anime related events across Singapore. First up, would be “C3 CharaExpo 2016”!
Sora Tokui Signing Event
To kick off the event, Bushiroad has brought over Sora Tokui-san to Singapore for the 17th and 18th of May! Just for you guys who don’t know, Sora Tokui, or Soramaru, as she is more commonly known, is a voice actress for popular Anime series such as Milky Holmes, Love Live! and Luck and Logic! She has also dabbed in singing and is also a manga artist! A self-proclaimed otaku, she really likes the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The ever-cheerful Tokui-san was here to promote “C3 CharaExpo 2016”, as well as to sign postcards for her fans! On 17th May, Tokui-san travelled across Singapore, starting off with Battle Bunker at Bugis+, before heading to Active Games at Serangoon, Project EXT at Ang Mo Kio and ending her sign event at The Card Geeks at Farrer Road.
Even after all that, Tokui-san was still her usual jovial self at her final signing event of the day – at Kinokuniya Books Singapore’s main outlet. She continued to sign postcards or her fan books for her fans and even took a few group photos with them. We at J-Experience would just like to take this opportunity to thank her for coming down to Singapore and, “Otsukaresama-deshita!”
On the 18th May, Tokui-san once again appear on stage, this time to promote her new single, “Waku Doki Shooter”, the ending song for Anime series, “Future Card BuddyFight DDD”. She was also there to answer several interview questions, so let’s dive right in!
Interview
Soramaru: Hello! I am Sora Tokui, the voice actress from Milky Holmes, Love Live! and Luck and Logic! Nice to meet you all! This is the first time that I will be participating in C3 CharaExpo. It’s nice to see all of you here! I did not expect that many fans to turn up today.
Q: What do you think about this year’s line-up at “C3 CharaExpo 2016”?
Soramaru: It is a great line-up; there are many gorgeous and great people in it! In fact, I am really excited for this event and I might perform as part of the Milky Holmes group!
Q: Yesterday, you visited quite a number of card shops around Singapore. What do you think about it?
Soramaru: There were a lot of fans who came to meet me yesterday! I got to meet a lot of them so, thank you for all the support!
Q: Tell us more about the new single.
Soramaru: Yes! My new single, Waku Doki Shooter, is the ending song for Future Card BuddyFight DDD. I hope that I would be able to perform this song for you guys at “C3 CharaExpo 2016”!
Q: Lastly, do you have any shout outs to your fans?
Soramaru: I am really happy that I am able to meet so many fans today. I am really looking forward to the event. I will be coming with my Milky Holmes and Love Live! team! Hope to see you there! Thank you!
C3 CharaExpo 2016 Updates
After a successful first year, CharaExpo has returned this year bigger and better! For this event, Bushiroad is working with 3 new partners: ASATSU-DK Inc., SOTSU Co. Ltd. and Amuse Entertainment Singapore. It will be held on 9 and 10 July 2016 at Singapore Expo Hall 7.
The CEO of Bushiroad, Takaaki Kidani, was also onstage to give us more updates on the event. He said, “This is the 2nd CharaExpo in Singapore. It will be better and bigger. There will be bigger line-ups, bigger activities and bigger venues.”
Following the trend of upsizing, there will also be 2 premium lives held during “C3 CharaExpo 2016” on both 9th and 10th July by Suzuko Mimori and Emi Nitta, respectively. There will also be more exhibitors and artistes at the event, as well as movie screenings. On top of all that, a cosplay competition will be held, with the grand prize being a sponsored trip to Tokyo as well as an invitation to the Cosplay Collection Night @ Tokyo Game Show 2016. Not only that, New Japan Pro-Wrestling will be making a return after well-received feedback! For full list of updates, please scroll down!
Other Highlights of C3 CharaExpo include:
Cos☆Stage: The highly anticipated stage returns this year and cosplay fans can compete to win an exclusive, all-expenses paid, invitation to the Cosplay Collection Night at Tokyo Game Show this year. Look out for more information on the C3 CharaExpo website soon.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW): This year, Fans will be able to catch 12 superstars: Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Yoshi-Hashi, Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, Hiroshi Tanahasi, Togi Makabe, Tetsuya Naito, Bushi and EVIL in six matches that will be held over the two days.
Card Game Tournament: Bushiroad’s annual tournament series, the Bushiroad Spring Fest, will feature a 600-seat card game area for both new and veteran players.
Tickets for C3 CharaExpo 2016 can be purchased now for $8 from SISTIC, Sony Stores and various card and hobby shops around Singapore. Those intending to attend the concert have to get their tickets from SISTIC at $43 (exclusive of booking surcharge). For full list of shops, visit here.
Don’t forget to like their Facebook page and their official C3 Chara Expo, for more details!
Exhibitors:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Bandai Tokyo MX Daisuki Anime Consortium Japan Bandai Namco Entertainment TV Tokyo Tokyo Game Show 2016 Banpresto WakuWaku Japan Nippon Animation Hobby Japan Rainy Cocoa DOGA KOBO Tsuburaya Nelke Planning Bandai Visual Genco Sony Digital Entertainment Visual Arts JP
Studio Pierrot
SONY
Front Wing
Sankyo
Pony Canyon
Yuhodo
Arclight
AKB48
Chara ON!
Hobby Station
Top Insight
azumaker
Japanime Games
Shogakukan Asia
Good Smile Company
ODEX
Chainlinks Games
Contents Seed
Animax
Amuse Singapore
COSPA
Latendo
ASATSU-DK
dentsu
Otakutachi
Animation International
Kadokawa
Toy Coin
CoCo
Aniplex
tv asahi
Nihon Ad Systems
Sotsu Bushiroad Music
Movies to be screened at C3:
The Disappearance of Conan Edogawa: The Worst Two Days in History
Love Live! The School Idol Movie
Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack!
Special Guests:
Mark Ishii – Voice Actor
Emi Nitta – Voice Actress
Junya Enoki – Voice Actor
Syuta Morishima – Voice Actor
Suzuko Mimori – Voice Actress
Sora Tokui – Voice Actress
Mikoi Sasaki – Voice Actress
Izumi Kitta – Voice Actress
Aimi – Voice Actress
Ayasa Ito – Voice Actress
Rimi Nishimoto – Voice Actress
Yuka Ozaki – Voice Actress
Satoshi Nakamura – Game Designer
Asuka Nishi – Illustrator
Bunkei Tanaka – TCG Producer
Naoki Yoshino – TCG Producer
Takashi Akiyama – TCG Producer
Na-Ga – Illustrator/ Character Designer
marina – Vocalist/ Singer (Girls Dead Monster/ZHIEND from Charlotte)
The World Standard – Idol Group
STARMARIE – Idol Group
Yui Makino – Voice Actress/ Singer
New Japan Pro-Wrestlers:
Juice Robinson
David Finlay
Toru Yano
Hirooki Goto
Yoshi-hashi
Kazuchika Okada
Gedo
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Togi Makabe
Bushi
Tetsuya Naito
Evil
About C3 CharaExpo 2016
C3 CharaExpo 2016 is a Japanese manga, anime, games and cosplay event that will be held on 9 and 10 July 2016 in Singapore EXPO Hall 7. This is the first major Japanese content-related event to be held in Singapore. C3 CharaExpo 2016 aims to shine the spotlight on the people and team behind the scenes of these Japanese-related contents. The event will feature prominent producers, manga artists, illustrators, cosplayers and more. Fans can look forward to meeting these special guests and learn more about their passion and work. Major Japanese anime, manga and game companies will also be participating in the event to showcase and offer event-exclusive exhibits and merchandise. For more information, visit http://www.chara-expo.com/.
About Bushiroad
Bushiroad Inc. is an entertainment company known for developing Cardfight!! Vanguard, Future Card Buddyfight, Weiss Schwarz, Luck & Logic and other card games, promotional items, smartphone applications around the world. For more information about C3 CharaExpo 2016, please contact Bushiroad Inc. at [email protected].
[AFASG’15][INTERVIEW] Aimer: Her Vocal Chord Injury - A Trauma or Blessing?
Musically talented and incredibly intellectual, we present to you, the rising star that is Aimer!
Aimer (エメ), pronounced eh-meh, first debuted with Sony Music Japan in 2011 with the song “Rokutousei no Yoru”, the ending theme for the anime, No.6. She continued to gain traction as she released more singles for various anime, notably “Re: pray” – the 29th ending theme for Bleach – and “Brave Shine” – the 2nd opening theme for Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.
In 2014, she released her 2nd mini album, Dare ka, Umi wo – her first collaboration with the music powerhouse, Yoko Kanno. This year, Aimer released her highly anticipated 3rd album, DAWN, which claimed the 4th position on the ORICON charts.
Fans gifted Aimer a flower stand at Anime Festival Asia Singapore (Source)
Aimer was here in Singapore to perform for the I LOVE ANISONG: Reboot concert. We sat down with the demure, soft spoken musician, who shared with us about her music, her dreams and the accident that resulted in the husky voice we all love so much.
Interview
Q: How are you feeling for your first live tonight in Singapore?
It’s an honour to be here to sing in Singapore but I am a bit nervous. I am really looking forward to it though!
Q: You first shot to fame with your song “Rokutousei no Yoru” from anime series No.6. Looking back, how do you think your music career has evolved since then?
Although I started my music career with gentle, relaxed songs, ever since I started working with Sawano Hiroyuki-san, I gradually started to work on strong, rock songs. Now, I have learnt to master both types of songs, not just gentle or relaxed songs.
Q: Are there any connections between the songs, “AM02:00”, “AM03:00” and “AM04:00”?
Yes, all the songs are connected and they all have the theme – a midnight walk – in the lyrics. “AM02:00” was actually the first song that I wrote and it was my first try at the R&B genre. It was very well received by fans so when I created an album, I decided to continue the series of songs.
"AM02:00" started from her album, 'Sleepless Nights'
Q: Your live tour, Dawn, just ended last month. How do you feel about this tour and what have you taken back from the various performances?
Dawn represents the end of the night. I was able to match my songs to the feelings of my fans much more closely than before through this tour.
Q: Can you tell us more about your “Live at Anywhere” project?
I have been participating in the “Live at Anywhere” project since my debut, even right until now. This project allows me to sing at any place I want and any song that I like. For example, I have sung at both an aquarium and a planetarium before. I plan to continue this in the future as well.
Q: What are the dreams or goals that you would like to achieve in your singing career?
The most important thing to me now is to continue singing in the future, for as long as I can. I also want to be able to respond to the different feelings of my fans, be it happiness or sadness, through my songs.
"あなたに出会わなければ ～夏雪冬花～" - Natsuyuki Rendezvous ED
Q: Having grown up in a musical environment, has singing always been your dream? Who was the first person to inspire you to sing?
I have always loved singing since I was a child. It was my dream. “Tomorrow” – the theme song from the movie, Annie, was one of my favourite and beloved songs; I really admired the clear vocals from the song.
I really love the Japanese band Spitz, even now. They have really helped to influence my music.
Q: Who do you want to collaborate with the most?
I really respect many artistes so it really is difficult to narrow it down. For example, I love the vocals from One Ok Rock and EGOiST. I would really like to collaborate with them if I get the chance.
Q: You have incorporated English words into your lyrics and you used to live overseas, so where have you lived before and how has it influence you today?
I lived in Bristol, UK, for a while and that was where I experienced different kinds of music. I really liked listening to English songs, which is how I learnt the various tones and the pronunciations for the words. From there, I was able to incorporate the English words into J-pop.
"Noir! Noir!", "Re:far", "AM04:00" are some examples from her latest album, 'Dawn'.
Q: You have picked up multiple musical instruments since young. Do you feel that learning one instrument will help you to pick up another skill, such as singing, another instrument or composing?
Yes, I feel that it is related. I started learning the piano and classical guitar since I was young. While playing the piano, I would often play and sing at the same time. I even did that in public recitals, so I feel that this has really helped me become who I am today.
Q: Are there any other music genres that you would like to try? What are your favourite genres?
I don’t really restrict myself by the genre for the songs that I want to sing. As long as the song conveys sadness or happiness – the two main themes I mentioned earlier – and is sentimental, I would like to sing songs from those genres.
For the music that I listen to, I generally listen to rock, country and Electronic Dance Music.
Q: What are your expectations and ambitions for your upcoming Billboard Live Tour?
My album, Dawn, is the final chapter of the story that I have started since my debut. Through this end, I want to start on a new story, with the “Billboard Live Tour” being the introduction. Through this tour, I want to get closer and deepen the relationship with my fans. Given that it is a “Billboard Live Tour”, I feel that there is a very special and chic feeling (about the tour). Since it is a new style of live performance, I see it as a way to challenge myself.
Q: What was it like to work with Sawano Hiroyuki-san?
Through working with Sawano-san, I have worked on and released many songs, including Gundam Unicorn, and even a collaboration album. These songs are mostly strong and powerful rock songs, some of which only having English lyrics. Through this experience, I feel that I had acquired a new singing style.
"S-AVE" - Performed by Aimer, Composed by Sawano Hiroyuki
Q: What are some of the challenges that you have faced during your singing career? What advice will you give to aspiring singers?
As a singer, I have performed on many stages and sang many different genres of songs. I feel that as a singer, it is important to understand your own songs and have a unique style of expression. So I would advise all aspiring singers to forge out their own style.
Q: What was the idea behind the name of your official fan group, Blanc et Noir?
In French, it actually means black and white, which is similar to my songs, which are about the light and the dark. I want to share this meaning with my fans.
It is also in French because my stage name ‘Aimer’ is also a French word.
Q: At the age of 15, you injured your vocal cords, resulting in your husky voice. Have you ever resented getting the injury or do you see it as a gift in disguise due to your fans loving your current voice?
At that time, it was a tough experience for me as I had lost my voice and was traumatized by it. But now, because of the incident, it has helped made singing an even greater part of my life and it’s the reason for my singing style right now. So it is actually a blessing in disguise.
Q: With that in mind, have you ever thought of fully repairing your vocal cords?
My vocal cords, at the moment, are still a little injured. If it gets worse, I will not be able to sing anymore. On the other hand, if it gets better, my voice will be completely different from now. This made me opt not to take up surgery as I feel that my voice is perfectly balanced at the moment.
Q: During LisAni, you performed with Kalafina. How do you feel about the collaboration?
While working with Kalafina, I realised that each one of them have their own unique voice and by singing with them, I realised the strengths and uniqueness of my own voice. This helped me to re-evaluate how I thought about my voice.
Kalafina X Aimer (Source)
Aimer Billboard Live Tour to be held in March this year!
That comes to the end of our interview with the talented Aimer! Having been a really successful 2015 for her with the release of her 8th single and her 3rd album, as well as multiple live events, we hope that she can continue to shine like the light and release more awesome songs! Please do continue to support her!
Fun Facts
Her stage name, Aimer, means to love or to enjoy in French.
She knows how to play the piano and the classical guitar.
She actually has a really good command of the English Language, having lived in the United Kingdom for a while.
Aimer actually spends time to plan out and understands her songs. A prime example would be the AM2:00, AM3:00 and AM4:00 story of songs.
[AFASG’15] [INTERVIEW] Maaya Uchida: "Kero Kero", I Want to Try Voicing a Frog!
Having voiced many chuunibyou characters, Maaya Uchida, already in her mid-twenties, wants to graduate from it!
Maaya Uchida first made her voice actress debut in 2010. In 2014, she won the Best New Actress Award at the 8th Seiyuu Awards. The talented voice actress is most famous for her role in Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai! as Takanashi Rikka and more recently, as Kanzaki Ranko in IdolM@ster: Cinderella Girls!
At Suntec Fountain of Wealth (Source)
Here in Singapore to perform in her first overseas concert, we sat down with the voice actress to talk about her career, her future plans and even, shhh, her secret IdolM@ster crush.
Interview
Q: Are you currently focusing more on your singing or voice actress career?
To me, both are equally important – being a singer and a voice actress. However, I am currently focusing more on being a voice actress, as if I stop being one, I feel that I might not have the opportunity to sing as well.
Also, I want to continue to do my best in passing as many auditions from now on, so please continue to give me lots of support!
Q: You have had success through many media genres like gravure, TV, radio and anime. Which do you think has contributed the most to your success?
Hmm..., this is quite hard to decide! I feel that being a voice actress made me who I am today. I heard people in Singapore watch a lot of anime and as a result, I find that more people recognise me for the anime characters that I play as a voice actress. Being a voice actress has allowed me to receive many opportunities to do live performances, gravure and even radios.
With Suzuko Mimori for P's Live (Source)
Q: Last year you won the ‘Best New Actress’ Award at the 8th annual Seiyuu Awards. What character that you’ve voiced are you most proud of?
Maaya: Hmm, I feel that the character that I am most proud of is Takanashi Rikka from ‘Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai!’ It was an anime which I got to work on during the early stages of my career as a voice actress. Through working on the anime, I got to experience many different things, both happy and sad. It’s thanks to that anime series that made the Maaya Uchida that you see today.
Q: You have voiced some ‘chuunibyou’ (eighth grade syndrome) characters like Ranko, from The IdolM@ster: Cinderella Girls, and Rikka. How do you feel when you voice such a character and do you have such a personality?
*Laughs*. I want to graduate from doing chuunibyou characters as I am already in my mid-twenties! However, I am really happy to be able to play those characters because I can relate well to them and I think I am somewhat similar!
I have a good friend, Uesaka Sumire, who is currently in the ‘chuunibyou’ phase. The characters she voiced, such as Anastasia, from the IdolM@ster: Cinderella Girls, and Dekomori, from Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai! , are chuunibyou as well! Every time I do recordings with her, I would feel relieved as she would encourage and tell me it’s alright to act in such a way. I actually get a lot of support from what she says, so it would be great if I could continue to voice such characters!
Maaya Uchida's good friend, Uesaka Sumire (Source)
Q: What do you look out for when you voice act? Do you take a lot of time to study the characters?
When I get the chance to play various characters, I don’t really look at what they are thinking about but more of how people see those characters.
For example, a chuunibyou character will think that they are correct and that they are not doing anything wrong, but people around her will be like “Ah, this person is delusional”.
I will try to bring out this difference in opinions and perceptions out in the characters that I play when playing such roles.
Q: If you want to challenge yourself, what kind of personality would you like to voice act as?
I find that the charming point of being a VA is the chance to act as different characters from different genres. It is quite a rare case (in the industry) but I would like to play a male character in the future.
Q: Do you have any characters that you would like to voice but haven’t done so before?
Hmm… maybe a youkai? (A ghost; or a traditional Japanese old folktales character) Or a frog? Or maybe a small living creature like Totoro? I would definitely like to try to voice non-human roles though!
Q: Most of your voice acting roles for video games from 2013 to 2015 were for Role Playing Games (RPGs), are there other video game genres do you take a strong interest for?
Puzzle games! I actually like to play a lot of puzzle games such as Puyo Puyo (a puzzle game developed by Sega). Therefore, I would like to try voicing such games as I think it will be really fun if I get to play the voice for when people get a lot of combos. So when they combo, my voice will appear and it will be great! (Laughs)
世界が形失くしても MV short ver.
Q: You have played as Hiroyo Hakase in Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger, so how does it feel like to act in front of camera in addition to using your voice?
Before I got and played the Akibaranger role, I had to practise my voice projection for the role. Let’s say if I was speaking to someone at the back of a room, I would be speaking in a loud volume. On the other hand, when I do voice actress recordings, the microphone is just in front of me, so I will tend to just talk into it. The distance between two people when they talk, the volume and the tone of voice that I should use is something that I really learnt from playing a live action role. I also learnt that I have to act using my whole body to bring out the character in a show.
Q: Currently, IdolM@ster has become a really popular anime, and since you voiced Kanzaki Ranko, which one is your favourite idol besides Ranko and how does it feel like performing with other voice actresses?
The whole atmosphere of the recording studio is like a girl’s school because there are many girls around. We get to go into the studio and we can even walk bare footed. It is a very relaxing atmosphere and there would be delicious food to eat frequently. We will just sit around and chat, and munch on the food.
During the Christmas period, there was a recording as well, so we actually had cakes and chicken! (A Japanese tradition) We were just chatting about the show, the recordings and how we should all work hard together for the upcoming episodes as well. It had an after school activity kind of feeling in the recording studio!
As for the characters that I like, they are Momoboshi Kirari and Sachiko Koshimizu (she wore similar clothes to the character on that day), but I didn’t tell their voice actresses that I like them so it is a secret!
Q: In IdolM@ster Cinderella Girls, the character you voiced, Kanzaki Ranko, was initially assigned a debut song which was about gothic and horror. However, it was discovered that she was bad with horror so they change the song to be about a fallen angel instead. As a recording artist, do you know if this sort of thing actually happens in the industry and has it happened to you before?
I feel that what happened to Ranko could possibly happen in the industry. For IdolM@ster itself, both the producer and director – the creators of the anime – and the voice actresses have very strong opinions. So whenever one side thinks that, “Why not this line if we were to change it, it will bring out character better”, we will actually discuss how we can make the anime better and the lines do get changed. For the songs, the same process happens again.
It is quite an open discussion where we get to give our thoughts of the roles and stuff and that’s how we try to make IdolM@ster better. Hence, I feel that it is quite possible for it to happen in other anime as well.
Q: As this is your first performance overseas, what are you looking forward to?
Maaya: Basically, for my first time overseas, I would like to buy some souvenirs back for my friends and family. I’m actually looking for suggestions on what to buy for my grandfather! Maybe someone from the crowd can recommend me something that is not too sweet? (Laughs)
Crowd: Bak Kwa! (A type of pork jerky)
Maaya: Ehh! I’ll definitely buy it!
Together with other Pony Canyon Artistes for P's Live (Source)
Hello, future contact! MV short ver.
That comes to the end of our short interview with the one and only Maaya Uchida! She has just released her very first album, PENKI, earlier this month on 2nd of December, which is a collection of her progress since 2014, when the project started. So please, do continue to show your support to her!
Fun Facts
She has a strong interest in gaming, hence her many roles in RPG Games!
