Today's shikishi is from Atsushi's VA, Nishiyama. Follow the official X account and repost this tweet by 23:59 on 22nd Jan. 2025 (JST), but remember shikishi will only be sent to those within Japan. (The writing on the bottom says "I'm happy! Look forward to it.")
Here's an illustration from Wakana Imura to celebrate 2 days until the movie.
Today, Eikyuu Fuhen Love is Life goes on sale. You can find it on Spotify, along with an instrumental version, here under the English name "Everlasting Love is Life".
The campaign where you guess what parts of Eikyuu Fuhen Love is Life are sung by which voice actors, which is actually called something to the effect of "If You Have Love, Bring On the Song Line Distribution!", is also happening.
YouTube short time: "Super Wood Chopper Attack-!" from LOVE! LOVE! ep. 10.
Quiz time: "Shuzenji gives unique nicknames to everyone in the Defence Club. Which of the below does he only use -san with?" (options from top to bottom: Ryoma Kirishima, Nanao Wakura, Taishi Manza, Ichiro Dougo)
Here's an interview Umehara and Nishiyama had with Animate Times reminiscing over their time with Boueibu.
Interviewing Nakazawa Masatomo-san, Eguchi Takuya-san and Asanuma Shintarou-san | What is this “being in love with someone irreplaceable” thing that the three of them talk about?
“I used to think that love was something softer, sweeter, gentler.”
“I like him so, so much that I can’t help myself – I want to stay close to him... but it’s painful.”
There is no mistaking that such bitter and heated love will make your chest tighten in “Given the Movie”, which was finally released on August 22nd (Saturday). The TV anime that aired from July to September 2019 was about the romance of the high school members of the band, Uemoyama Ritsuka and Satou Mafuyu, but this time, the one being depicted is the heartrending love between the adult members, Nakayama Haruki and Kaji Akihiko, plus Murata Ugetsu.
Thus, we have carried out an interview with the voice of Nakayama Haruki, Nakazawa Masatomo-san, the voice of Kaji Akihiko, Eguchi Takuya-san, and the voice of Murata Ugetsu, Asanuma Shintarou-san. What did these three people from the casting feel in regards to this “adult romance” of falling in love with someone irreplaceable...?
The character named Ugetsu, whom he made sure not to play too theatrically.
——Firstly, tell us your impressions when you read the script and the new appeal of the characters.
Voice of Murata Ugetsu, Asanuma Shintarou (henceforth “Asanuma”): Ugetsu didn’t show up much in the TV series, but despite having few appearances, there were key scenes where one could get a glimpse at what kind of person he is.
It’s because Ugetsu is a genius that he’s indifferent to anything other than music and people presume upon him, like, “If this person says so, then I guess it can’t be helped”. Sometimes, although he says harsh things aloud, he actually really appreciates the other person deep down.
The TV anime portrayed him as feeling sympathy towards Mafuyu and having interest in him, but when I read the script of this movie, I sensed that Ugetsu was pulled in even further by Mafuyu’s charm. As Ugetsu met Mafuyu, I feel that, during the parts where he had a frank talk with Mafuyu and spilled onto him the honest feelings that he absolutely could never tell Akihiko, the two geniuses took one more step forward at being drawn to each other.
It’s exactly because they’re similar that a side of Ugetsu that he doesn’t show to other people incidentally ends up coming to light. I felt once again that Mafuyu has a mysterious power, which enables others to be sincere.
——This one is about a painful romance between three people, including Ugetsu, but what was your impression of this work in regards to “Given”?
Asanuma: Ever since the TV series, I felt it was a show that portrayed the most detailed parts of human emotions very sensibly. There’s also the fact that it’s my first time taking part in a BL work, so I thought a lot about how to perform.
——Ugetsu in particular has a delicate heart and spirit unique of a genius, so I believe you must have had to be very cautious in terms of acting.
Asanuma: That’s right. I was very careful not to be too theatrical. It’s exactly because he’s portrayed so sensibly that, if I wound up being too theatrical, this meticulousness might have turned out purposeful.
——Next, Nakazawa-san, please.
Voice of Nakayama Haruki, Nakazawa Masatomo-san (henceforth, “Nakazawa”): In the TV series, the character I played, Haruki, had been thinking, together with Akihiko as the supporters of the high school duo, about what to do for the band to succeed, from a point of view that was different from Akihiko’s. It felt like Akihiko would cause the action to happen by using a detonator and make good things out of it, but in Haruki’s case, he would conduct himself calmly, making sure that everyone would be able to do things as freely as possible.
The dealing methods and ways of thinking unique of these two were present in the TV anime, but I think that after experiencing the live concert of “Fuyu no Hanashi”, everyone in the adult group was influenced by it and a change happened, as Haruki began to feel his own loneliness very keenly. Moreover, he watched Mafuyu, who at first had no idea how to play a guitar at all, blossoming his musical talent and steadily learning the ropes, so he started having a complex about being an extremely ordinary and average person.
The things that were under the surface until then began to appear on his face, and there was a part where one can get a glimpse that Haruki also feels these kinds of things. Until now, Haruki had been doing his best to conceal his feelings for Akihiko so that they wouldn’t show... still, they were clear as day (laughs).
All: (Laugh).
Nakazawa: In that sense, there are also feelings that end up being conveyed without words, and I think this can be said not just for Haruki and Akihiko’s relationship but also Akihiko and Ugetsu’s.
There are things that get conveyed even if you don’t put them into words, and also things that are conveyed for the very first time when you use words. I felt this part of it a lot in the script when I read it.
——Eguchi-san, what did you think when you read the script?
Voice of Kaji Akihiko, Eguchi Takuya (henceforth, “Eguchi”): This is a part of the story where the feelings of the adult members speed up and their hearts start moving, so I myself was looking forward to it as well. When I read the script, of course, I found that there was a big number of lines for each of us.
In Akihiko’s case, you can see parts of himself that weren’t shown in the TV series, so I began from destroying the sculpture of him that the TV anime had cemented. There were the usual monologues and narrations in the script, and at the recordings, I discussed with the direction the balance of up to what point they would be monologues and what point they would be narrations. In that sense, I was able to have all sorts of fun and do all sorts of tricks, so it felt worth it.
——About the point of breaking the sculpture of Akihiko in order to show a new side of him, was there any “fear” in that?
Eguchi: In the end, when I was told that I shouldn’t throw in the things I had thought out, I could only accept it with a “yes” (laughs).
Nakazawa & Asanuma: (Laugh).
Eguchi: But this team drew out the wish to give it a try and made me want to create good things together with them, so I trusted the people around me and managed to take on challenge with a “guess I’ll tackle that one”.
——Was there anything about Akihiko’s appeal that you were able to feel anew?
Eguchi: There were parts where I thought, “He was that compassionate!?”. Akihiko gives off quite the cool vibes, so I was wondering, “Where would the things that move his heart be?”. I thought he just couldn’t take a step forward because he was scared of changing the “now”.
But the movie did the work of making him properly face many things and rethink over something that seems to be his true intentions, so in a way, it put an end to them. A realistic part of him came to light. Until now, we were able to get glimpses of childishness in his adult side, but in the movie, this childishness appears in a realistic manner.
The romance of the adult trio, in which countless types of “like” are mixed up in complicated ways.
——The TV anime portrayed the light romance of the high schoolers, but this movie is about the painful love of the adult trio. Regarding the point of “falling for someone that can’t be replaced”, what did you feel that the adult trio’s romance was?
Eguchi: I think “falling for someone irreplaceable” is the same for any kind of romantic love.
Asanuma: Indeed.
Eguchi: I believe it’s exactly because no one can be replaced that there are things we won’t understand unless we try to face them. I think, if your love was requited and you became lovers, dating each other isn’t the goal and that life is about discussing it with each other so that it will become something certain.
I feel like the adult trio took this decision too. They muster out their true feelings after they start facing each other, but in contrast, it’s exactly because those are their true feelings that they didn’t come out before. There were things about this conflict that I felt empathy for.
Asanuma: There are things you end up realizing through your accumulated experiences precisely because you’re an adult. This is linked, for example, to inferiority complexes and to the feeling of not wanting to get in the other person’s way.
Nakazawa: It’s also something slightly different from kindness.
Asanuma: You might just be scared of what you’ve come to know, but things such as withdrawing yourself due to loving the other person too much aren’t something that you’d even think about when you were a grade schooler (laughs).
Nakazawa: True (laughs).
Asanuma: There are many sorts of “like” out there, which surge in complicated ways.
Nakazawa: I also think that being able to break up properly is one of the final forms of adult love. That not clashing each other’s opinions by going, “I can’t deal with you anymore” and breaking up, but instead putting each other’s circumstances side-by-side and concluding that “it might be better for us not to be together anymore” is a form of love.
I believe that if you arrive to a different answer, such as, “Then, how about we live together this way?” after learning about each other’s situation, that in itself is also adult love. Unlike the kind of romance where you simply convey the feeling of liking someone, the things you have to rethink about in order to realize the thought that “we can’t live together”, which lies beyond being in love with each other, are what adult love is.
Asanuma: Haruki, Akihiko and Ugetsu are called the “adult trio” but they’re not adults at all.
Nakazawa: That’s right. There’s a part of them that finally grows up after the movie.
Asanuma: Additionally, there’s the “unconditional love”, which you don’t learn unless you grow up. Even I, who am in my 40’s, haven’t found my way to an unconditional love yet.
Eguchi: Unconditional love is difficult...
Asanuma: It might be a form of love that won’t happen unless it’s between parent and children or towards pets.
Eguchi: We actually have no idea what our pets are thinking, but we’re like, “I’m taking care of them so I guess that’s okay”.
Nakazawa: We might get really sad if we knew what pets truly think (laughs). Maybe they wouldn’t say anything other than “Food! Food!” (laughs).
Asanuma: If it were just that, it’d still be okay! They might think it would’ve been better if a different family had bought them (laughs).
Eguchi: Ahahahaha.
Nakazawa: That would be so painful~ (laughs). In Akihiko and Ugetsu’s case, supposing there was nothing left undone between them, both of them had music, which might have become the reason why things turned sour, I think. Even when you take the other person’s wellbeing into consideration, you can’t bring yourself to step back at all.
Asanuma: We often hear that “rather than thinking, ‘This person is my inspiration!’, the feeling of being able to respect the person’s essence is more important”, but Akihiko and Ugetsu weren’t doing well at all even though they respect each other.
Eguchi: That’s the difficult part. There might be something like... “the more you respect each other, the worse it gets”.
Asanuma: There’s that too, which is why I think no one can give the correct answer regarding the right way to begin a romantic relationship.
Eguchi: At the end of the day, there are things we can’t say exactly because we are close to the other person, even though we like them. There are also words that people don’t or can’t say when there’s distance between them.
Maybe it would have turned into a different relationship if said words had been conveyed, but... I guess the real deal is when there are words that don’t come out exactly because of that. Thinking this way, I believe that human beings are truly complicated.
Asanuma: We’re indeed complicated, so I’ve decided that I’ll definitely be a dog if I ever reincarnate (laughs).
All: (Laugh).
Asanuma-san, who clads himself in the air of a genius, Nakazawa-san, who is tolerance incarnate, and Eguchi-san, who gives off a sense of security.
——Please tell us what each of you felt through this movie, in terms of acting and whatnot, as part of the cast.
Nakazawa: (Looking at Asanuma-san) He has a silent intensity.
Asanuma: Eh!? I don’t~!
Nakazawa: When he’s playing Ugetsu, he has a sense of presence and I feel a quiet pressure from him.
Eguchi: Asanuma-san is far too skilled at putting on the air of a genius.
Asanuma: It’s just “putting on”, though, right? I can quickly take it off (laughs).
All: (Laugh).
Eguchi: That’s what being a pro is. “The way he clads himself in the air of a genius is genius!” is what I thought. Your splendid push-and-pull acting is just wonderful.
Asanuma: Really!? I have this thing where I try to explain everything with my voice no matter what. Before, in a different recording, the sound director told me, “The animation is already doing the explanations, so you don’t have to try to explain it with your voice so much”.
That’s exactly why I make sure not to be too theatrical with characters such as Ugetsu, for the subtleties of their emotions are extremely detailed, and was all the more conscious of not trying to make it seem special, since this is a love pattern that can be found anywhere.
——In your eyes, Asanuma-san, what is Nakazawa-san’s appeal?
Asanuma: Nakazawa-san is tolerance incarnate.
Nakazawa: Thank you very much (laughs).
Asanuma: This tolerance of his is Haruki entirely.
Eguchi: He gives of a superb mom vibe. Same in the recordings.
——Even in the short time span of this interview, Nakazawa-san has been transmitting an air of calmness.
Eguchi: Nakazawa-san himself is soft, like, you can feel the tolerance from him.
Asanuma: Nakazawa-san might disagree with this, but “looking troubled” suits him.
Nakazawa: I disagree~! (Laughs).
Eguchi: Ahahahaha.
Asanuma: So it feels like there are people around him who want to try and give him trouble (laughs).
Nakazawa: This rings a bell with one person. Someone named Tamaru Atsushi (laughs).
All: (Laugh).
——Then, Haruki is the perfect role for Nakazawa-san!
Nakazawa: That’s right. I myself basically accept any one and any kind of comment.
Asanuma: But you have to let it out every now and then, y’know?
Nakazawa: Yes. I vent every so often.
——From Nakazawa-san’s viewpoint, what is Eguchi-san’s appeal as the voice of Akihiko?
Nakazawa: (Looking at Eguchi-san) He has a fine sharpness.
Asanuma: That’s like the appeal of a beer (laugh).
All: (Laugh).
Nakazawa: His low-pitched voice gives off an imposing impression, but his acting is extremely sharp. There’s a decisive fineness to him as he gives birth to a detonator within Given and tries to set a little fire to anything that seems inflammable. He also firmly takes ahold of the essential points while performing as-is, so it draws out our motivation and gives off a sense of trust.
——Asanuma-san, what about you?
Asanuma: He (Eguchi-san) gives me a sense of security. Ah, not because his body is big, okay?
Eguchi: (Laughs).
Asanuma: He feels like a spiritual bodyguard. “Given” was my first participation in a BL series, but when I was told that “the other party is Eguchi-kun”, I thought, “Ah, it’s going to be okay.”
——Ooh!
Nakazawa: In contrast, I thought, “Is it really okay to be me?” (laughs).
Eguchi: Ahahahaha.
Asanuma: To me, Nakazawa-san is tolerance and Eguchi-kun is security.
アニメイトタイムズ公式@animatetimes·(2020.12.30)
人気声優がプロデュース&オリジナル音声が聞ける『TOoKA BASE ワイヤレスイヤホン』 #島﨑信長 さんインタビュー｜島﨑さんモデルのポイントは「ターコイズブルー」と「自分が欲しいもの」
An interview with the producer and original voice of the “TOoKA BASE Wireless Earphones” - popular voice actor, Shimazaki Nobunaga | Shimazaki’s major points to look out for of the model are that it is “turquoise blue” and would be “something I want myself”
“Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow” Guilty Kiss Interviews #2: Kobayashi Aika (Part 3)
combining pages 3 and 4 together since they’re both really short
“Guilty Kiss’ highlight at the Subunit National Battle Tour was definitely…?”
--The special edition [of the Over the Rainbow Blu-ray] has a recording of the “Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours Club Activities LIVE & FAN MEETING 2018 Subunit Battle National Tour in Tokyo”, right?
Kobayashi: You’ll be able to watch Guilty Kiss tumble down from first place...
--Any scenes you want people to pay attention to?
Kobayashi: Probably the part where we lose. (laughs) The talk portion was recorded, so you can watch us fall in the rankings in all of its glory!
In that portion, the first place team gets to sit on the highest platform, with the other platforms’ height matching the rankings. And Guilty Kiss got to experience all three of those heights, starting from the top. (laughs) The view was pretty nice from up there. But I guess that’s just how Guilty Kiss is, so I hope you watch every last bit of it (laughs).
--How would you describe Guilty Kiss in one phrase?
Kobayashi: I think of us as the “final boss”. We always come last in a lot of the orderings; the CD releases go CyaRon! -> AZALEA -> Guilty Kiss. Everyone’s thinking, “Where’s Guilty Kiss?” and we hit them with a bang.
So we’re kind of like the final boss that comes at you from behind. Like, “We won’t let you down!” and “We’ll definitely be cool!”. Recently, the ordering hasn’t really mattered, but even so, I want to continue giving off those vibes!
--Do you have any messages for the other two?
Kobayashi: I love the way that Guilty Kiss is, so please keep going with me through the good and bad times (laughs). Let’s keep being the final bosses. Love you ♡
“I want to keep being an Aqours that can love and be loved by the fans”
--So many people love Love Live! Sunshine!! and Aqours, but do you think there’s a reason that they love them this much?
Kobayashi: It’s because we love Love Live! and Love Live! Sunshine!! ourselves. And the fans who love Love Live! and Love Live! Sunshine!! just as we do match the love that we have... that’s definitely a reason for it.
I want us to keep being an Aqours that can love and be loved by the fans. We’ll keep sending out our love to everyone, and I hope that we can receiving love as Aqours from many more people.
--To love and be loved as Aqours by the fans... they certainly must feel the same way, which explains the sights that you can see at the lives.
Kobayashi: Yeah... I hope that’s the case. (laughs) It’s not every day that you have so many people who feel the same way coming together for a live, so if that’s the case, I’d be really happy!
--Please give a word to the fans who are looking forward to the Blu-ray.
Kobayashi: You’ve probably already seen it a bunch in theaters, but at home, you’ll be able to focus on it to enjoy it even more. Please watch it a bunch, make lots of discoveries, and let us know about them! I think when you see everyone in motion, you’ll once again think “This song is really nice”. And once again, I’d be really happy if you love it a lot.
And Aqours is still running forward on our path! 5th Live’s title was “Next SPARKLING!!”... “Next” means “what’s to come”, so please keep believing in Aqours from now on!
--And last, please give a message to Yoshiko, who’s been with you all this time.
Kobayashi: There’s only one thing I need to say to Yohane.
“Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow” Guilty Kiss Interviews #1: Aida Rikako
"From now on, I want to walk with Riko-chan together at my own pace."
The seven turbulent months since last year has been a time for many new people to be introduced to the series.
The time since last autumn has been quite a ride, with your 4th Live at Tokyo Dome and then the special performance at the 69th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. Looking back, what do you feel about it now?
Rikako Aida (henceforth Aida): Ever since the start of Love Live! Sunshine!!, I've experienced many challenges. Especially the latter half of last year, where performing in 69th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen would allow many more people to be introduced to Aqours as well as the production as a whole.
I didn't realize that it would be such a big chance, until I saw on Twitter that many people replied to me saying that they became fans thanks to the movie.
So there were people who became fans thanks to the movie.
Aida: I was also surprised! I guess it would've been possible if they had been brought along to watch by another fan. Even if they had no knowledge about the series prior to it, I'm sure they would enter the fandom just by watching it once (laughs).
In the time leading up to the movie premiere, the 4th Live was held in Tokyo Dome on November 17th and 18th.
Aida: Eh?! It was 7 months ago? It still feels like it was only 3 months... (laughs). Thinking about it, there really have been many important events for Aqours from the end of last year until now.
Was there anything from 4th Live that you are particularly emotionally attached to?
Aida: 4th Live was something especially important to all of Aqours, so I'm emotionally attached to all of it. In particular, the first time we sang Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare as 9 stands out, which I had been dreaming about for so long.
Around a month after 4th Live, you performed at the 69th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. How was the sight from the stage at the NHK Hall?
Aida: Every year, I end the year by watching the Kouhaku Uta Gassen. Never would I have thought that I'd be performing there... Of course, it wasn't that I didn't feel anything, but instead, the sights were so different on TV and in real life that it was a big learning experience.
In addition, you also had the National Subunit Battle Tour, as well as the Asia Tour.
Aida: Thinking about it, we really did a lot of lives and events in these 7 months (laughs). This time, it was called the National Subunit Battle Tour, so we went around as the three members of Guilty Kiss, and had fun with our fans in the various locations around the country without thinking too much about the difficulties.
As for the Asia Tour, the setlist was very reminiscent of 1st Live, so it was a live where we had a chance to show our growth since then.
In local and international performances, did you see different things from on stage?
Aida: We could feel the different atmospheres of fans from different locations. Of course, fans always welcomed us warmly no matter where, but they differed in how they enjoyed themselves and hyped up everyone else.
For example, in Seoul, the audience sang Thank you, FRIENDS!! as their encore call. Their unity really surprised us, and it felt like a present for us instead. It was a tour that was filled with everyone's kindness and love.
Did you feel like you yourself grew after these activities in the last 7 months?
Aida: Having performed so many lives, I feel like my stamina improved, but I can't say that it's an improvement just yet. If you ask me, I think it's a feeling that slowly started to appear. But the more I performed, the more I realized that I could do even more things on stage.
By the way, after 4th Live, we started worrying over where our direction would be.
How is that worry right now?
Aida: The recent 5th Live was a live tied closely to the movie, and our performance reflected the current state of Aqours in the anime. Now that 5th Live is over, I feel more lonely than worried. I really want to meet the anime Aqours again in the future.
Next page: Seeing Aqours' future from Ruby's growth
