Interview with Shintaro Asanuma (Leo), Masami Itou (Izumi), and Reiou Tsuchida (Tsukasa) before the Nico Nico Douga live broadcast on July 27th. Ryou Kitamura (Arashi) also joined midway through!
Q: I’d like to ask Asanuma-san first. What do you think of last month’s broadcast?
Asanuma: …The broadcast went for quite a while, but I don’t really remember much from it (laugh). The guest was Hatano-kun (Adonis), someone whom I’m close with, so I had fun playing with him around, which is the only impression I have left. While I had fun, my memory of what happened is blurry… I do remember playing the ocarina, though… (laugh)
Q: This time, all members of Knights are lined up. Asanuma-san, please give a message to the members.
Asanuma: In the real world, I and Masami are part of an entertainer unit, bpm. While I write scripts and produce stage plays, he would be my right hand, taking up the role as the assistant producer. In that aspect, I suppose that is somewhat similar to the relationship between Leo and Izumi Sena. I look forward to work with you today!
Itou: That sounds ominous! (laugh)
Asanuma: I’m counting on you! (laugh) It’s common knowledge to restrict the leader, right? But I’m thinking of breaking the rule. Because I’m the unpredictable king! (Note from B’s-Log: Leo’s catchphrase.)
Itou: What kind of wise idea is that?! (laugh)
Asanuma: I was thinking of maybe getting Masami Itou-kun to do a bit of hard work today!
Q: Well then, next, a message for Tsuchida-san, please.
Asanuma: I think Reiou-kun is the only good person in the unit.
Tsuchida: I suppose (laugh).
Asanuma: When I’m running wild, the chances are the other three would end up joining me in the process (laugh). I hope you would grab us by the collars and drag us along when that happens! It may be horrible to assign that task to the youngest, though (laugh). Well… I’m sure it’s something that everyone goes through!
Itou: Is it?! (laugh)
Asanuma: Well, they say you’ve got to overcome hardships when you’re young (laugh).
Q: What about Yamashita-san (Ritsu)?
Asanuma: He seems to be the one who considers balance the most before acting. I may be setting up an image of his on my own, but I think he’s a person who thinks through about what he should do at a particular moment. Other than that… I’d appreciate it if he doesn’t sleep (laugh).
Itou: That’s what his character is like, though (laugh).
Asanuma: Then again, it’s quite late in the hour and I bet he’s really busy… So I thought of letting him rest too (laugh).
Itou: Like, “I’ll keep talking until you fall asleep.” (laugh)
Asanuma: Usually, that’s a line that would melt girls’ hearts, but it has quite the different meaning now (laugh).
Q: What about Kitamura-san?
Asanuma: He is the only one who is also part of Ensemble Stars! On Stage, so I hope he would talk to me about it too. Recently, I and Masami appeared in his DVD as well. Thanks to that, we became close to Kitamu, so I’m looking forward to today’s live broadcast. Also, he has a lot of modes. For example, fluffy and warm mode and initiative mode. I’m a bit worried wondering about what mode he will be in for today (laugh). But his femininity level should be super high, so I hope he can be the admiration and guidepost to the transfer students as their big sister!
Q: Well then, Ito-san and Tsuchida-san, please give a message to Asanuma-san!
Itou: I do nothing but depend on him!
Asanuma: Things like scripts you all are holding right now are useless, you hear that?!
(Everyone laughs)
Itou: You see what I mean?! (laugh) Not only the character he acts, but the actor himself is also unpredictable! The first thing you should do is to rip the script apart!
Asanuma: You can compare it to Robi* Williams from Dead Poets Society (laugh).
Itou: So “live” from “Nico Live” actually refers to that kind of live performance? [1] (laugh) But while he’s being depended on, he does have a lot of things under his sleeves, and he can guide us to many different directions. In that sense, we would be “daikoukai” (laugh).
Asanuma: Which “daikoukai” do you mean? Is it “going to uncharted territory” like what the straw hat guy and co. are doing, or “regretting it so much”? [2] (laugh) The meaning can change a lot, eh?
Itou: The latter is a bit scary! Although, the former is also worth questioning (laugh).
Tsuchida: It’s scary either way (laugh).
Q: Well then, from Tsuchida-san, please.
Tsuchida: First of all, this is my first time appearing in a live broadcast…
Asanuma and Ito: What, really!?
Tsuchida: I hope you’ll watch over me so that I won’t say any strange things!
Asanuma: So you mean there’s a probability that you would?! (laugh) That’s really unexpected!
Tsuchida: I probably would, without realizing. (laugh)
Asanuma: You carry quite the time bomb, to my surprise!
Tsuchida: That is why I’d like to try my best today, while also being the sole good person in Knights!
(Kitamura-san suddenly joins here!)
Asanuma: (To Kitamura-san) Kitamuuu! Tell me what you’re expecting from me!
Kitamura: Is it okay if I join in so suddenly? (laugh) Uuh, what I’m expecting… Well, I mean, you’re the king! I hope you’ll make the show interesting (laugh).
Asanuma: Let’s see, will it go so smoothly like that…?
Itou: Why do you say that?! (laugh) Let’s make it interesting!
Q: Lastly, please give a message to the fans.
Kitamura: I’m sure that this piece of work will evolve from now on too. Not only the game, it also had a stage play, and it will be adapted to an anime. So it would make me happy if you’ll have fun with it from here on too.
Itou: I love Izumi Sena, the character I act as. I also love Knights members and their actors. With the actors’ friendly atmosphere and our power of unity, I hope we can expose Knights that I love to different kinds of realms. Please take care of us from now on as well.
Tsuchida: Just like Tsukasa Suou, I am the youngest in the unit, and I’m surrounded by such great people… I love Knights members and I also love the actors… Aaah, what should I do!? I can’t wrap it up well!!
Asanuma: Jeez… (He hugs Tsuchida-san) I love that part of you too!
Ito and Kitamura: (They follow and hug Tsuchida-san) I love it too!
(Everyone laughs.)
Tsuchida: I’m the same with Tsukasa-kun. I’ll work hard to improve myself so that I can catch up to these wonderful seniors, so I hope you’ll watch over me and my character, and the other Knights members as well!
Asanuma: I’m such an unreliable and irresponsible leader. Moreover, I joined in late, yet everyone thinks of me so dearly like this… You are all a bit weird!
(Everyone laughs)
Asanuma: They’re weird, but I think they’re all really good people. Putting Leo aside, I’d appreciate it if you could come to like the other four, above all. Leo comes after—you can just remember him sometimes (laugh). So it’ll make me happy if you support these four, who are just the best. If you would please!
(t/n)
1. This is my take but by “live performance”, one can interpret it as something like, “improvise (which is what Robin Williams was famous for) live/in real time”. But another catch is that the movie he starred in, Dead Poets Society, is called “いまを生きる” in Japanese. It refers to the notable quote from the movie, “Carpe diem/Seize the day”, and the kanji 生 (to live) is also used in Nico Live, ニコ生.
2. I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything with the pun. 大航海 (uncharted territory/waters) and 大後悔 (big regret) are monophonic, “daikoukai”. [edit] Itou was saying “uncharted territory/waters” at first.
