Liella! Magazine - CAST LONG INTERVIEW with Sakakura Sakura as Onitsuka Tomari, and her message to Tomari.
[This was part of Liella Magazine - Onitsuka Tomari Edition]
There was this feeling like being in a slightly surreal space,
and I think we were able to capture all kinds of expressions.
I really hope you'll see it.
Pouring every bit of Onitsuka Tomari's appeal into the gravure shoot and the comic concept ideas
―You proposed a lot of ideas for expressing Onitsuka Tomari, Sakakura-san. Could you tell us why you went with these in particular?
Sakura: First off, when I think of Tomari, jellyfish come to mind right away. She thinks jellyfish are the cutest creatures in the world, and loves them enough to keep some at home, so I was even thinking jellyfish should basically be the main motif. Then, since Tomari is from Ibaraki Prefecture and big sweet potato fan, I brought that up too, and puzzle games as well, because she has that brainy side. I think the shoot ended up pretty packed with Tomari's favorite things.
―How did the shoot itself go? Could you give us a quick rundown?
Sakura: First, we shot outdoors with this really cute jellyfish-shaped umbrella. It had been raining since morning, but thankfully, it stopped right when we were shooting. After that, we moved to the indoor studio, shot scenes of me playing with puzzle toys and eating sweet potato sweets, and finally, we used a projector for the shoot.
―What kind of sweet potato sweets did you have?
Sakura: They weren't cakes with sweet potato in them or anything, more like straight-up "THE Sweet Potato" itself, no frills, and every single one was so good. There was some left, so I ended up finishing it all off during the break (laughs).
―Do you like sweet potatoes?
Sakura: I love them! I already liked it to begin with, but after I learned Tomari likes it, I came to like it even more. The Liella! members all love them too, and when fall came, we happily went for sweet potato sweets together.
―How was the shoot using the projector actually done?
Sakura: When they said we'd be shooting jellyfish, I'd assumed we were going to some aquarium, but they actually projected jellyfish onto the studio wall with a projector, and we shot it there. It had this atmosphere like I was swimming underwater with the jellyfish, which felt really fresh, and I was just plain amazed that you could express it like that. There was also this feeling like being in a slightly surreal space, and I think we were able to capture all kinds of expressions. I really hope you'll see it.
―What's your own impression of jellyfish, Sakakura-san?
Sakura: I do like them. In Episode 7 of the TV anime's third season, Tomari says, "There's no other creature this cute and this healing," and I feel exactly the same (laughs). Honestly, for animals in general, I think cats are the cutest in the world, but among sea creatures, jellyfish are my favorite. I thought I'd try keeping some myself, so I looked into it a bit, but you have to carefully manage things like the water temperature and the salt concentration. Keeping them seems pretty difficult, and I thought, Tomari really pulls it off properly, that's so her.
―For the comic, you suggested the idea "I want to see Tomari researching 'cute'!" Could you tell us how you came up with that?
Sakura: When I think about what's great about Tomari, like how she's cool but has her sweet moments, sometimes she shows a blushy face, and she's the responsible type but has this airheaded side too. I think those parts of her are cute, and I wanted to see more of them, so I put in that request, plus a scene where she's thinking about and researching "cute" itself. When I thought about who she'd consult about something like that, I figured the one she could really rely on would be her big sister (Onitsuka Natsumi), so I also asked for scenes that show the closeness only sisters have, their back-and-forth at home, that kind of everyday picture of the two of them.
―In the comic, she goes to see jellyfish at an aquarium to look for an answer. Have you been to an aquarium yourself, Sakakura-san?
Sakura: I haven't just gone on a whim like Tomari does, but I did go from time to time for fun, and recently I went out to Ikebukuro with Yuina, and made the trip with my mom all the way out to the aquarium in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Since taking on Tomari's role, I've been going more often, and I've started thinking, "I want to check out this aquarium too," getting more interested. What I look forward to most is, of course, the jellyfish exhibit. Each aquarium has a different way of displaying them, and Sunshine Aquarium does this dynamic display, where you can see jellyfish across one big tank, and it was just breathtaking.
Taking that first step toward her dream of joining the Love Live! cast
I wore a Keke-chan T-shirt,
carried Keke-chan merch as a good-luck charm,
and above all, I gave it everything I had so I wouldn't leave any regrets.
―Could you start by telling us what made you want to try out for the audition?
Sakura: Back in elementary school, I watched the TV anime "Love Live!", fell in love with μ's, and ever since then, I've been holding onto this dream of "someday I want to be a Love Live! cast member too!" I've been following "Love Live! Superstar!!" too, ever since Season 1 of the anime, and when I saw the announcement about the 3rd gen audition being held after Season 2 wrapped up, I made up my mind to apply right away. I'd passed on the 1st gen audition, and I'd been telling myself that the next time a chance came around, I'd absolutely apply, so there was no hesitation. Only, after I've applied, I suddenly got nervous, like "…am I gonna be okay?" (laughs).
―What was your mindset going into the audition?
Sakura: I was honestly just a completely ordinary high schooler with no experience in dance, singing, or acting whatsoever, so I didn't have a single thing I could be proud of on the technical side. And while I was hearing things like how other auditionees already had a track record at that stage, the only thing I could really sell about myself was that I loved Liella! more than anyone and had loved the Love Live! series ever since elementary school. So, determined to go all out and hit them with all that love, I wore a Keke-chan T-shirt, brought Keke-chan merch as a good-luck charm, and above all, gave it my all so I wouldn't leave any regrets.
―How did you receive the notification that you'd passed the audition?
Sakura: Quite a bit of time passed between the final round and getting the acceptance notification, actually. And I remembered reading somewhere that when Sayurin (Date Sayuri) passed, her notification came really quickly, so I figured I'd been rejected and started preparing for university. And right then, an email saying "You passed" arrived, and in that moment, I wanted to shout for joy at the top of my lungs, but I happened to be on a train. There were people around me, so I remember savoring the joy quietly all the way home (laughs).
―Tell us your impression of Onitsuka Tomari's character design when you first saw her.
Sakura: I first saw her after I had been told I passed, but not right away. It was when I first met Yuina and everyone else for the introduction meeting that they showed us Tomari's design. She was ridiculously cute, and I was so happy that I would be voicing such a cute girl, and when I thought about all the different expressions and outfits I got to see from here on, I was just brimming with excitement.
Sakura: At the same time, my hair was short back then, about bob length, and I've been thinking twin tails didn't really suit me, which had become a bit of a hang-up for me, so I also got worried like, "am I really gonna be okay [in this role]?" But once my hair grew out and I started being able to pull off Tomari-style hairstyles, the fans cheering me on would tell me "It really suits you, you're so cute!", and after that the feeling that 'it didn't suit me' started to fade.
―When did you find out about the name "Onitsuka Tomari"?
Sakura: That was before I saw the design. At that point they didn't tell me she was Natsumi-chan's little sister, but I went, "Onitsuka? …Oh, so that's how it is!" (laughs). Aqours does have the Kurosawa sisters, but Liella! didn't have a sister pair yet, I realized. And honestly, the idea that Natsumi-chan, who gives off more of a little-sister vibe herself, was getting a younger sister!? That part shocked me just as much.
―What was going through your mind when you first met the Liella! 1st and 2nd gen members?
Sakura: I remember that day so clearly. Yuina and I walked into the room where the 1st and 2nd gen members were waiting, but emotionally, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that the 9 people that I saw on stage and me from the audience were suddenly in the same room, to the point where I could barely even look them in the face (laughs). Everyone was just shining so brightly, I started getting anxious like, "can I really fit in among them?" But from that very first day they were all so kind, telling me "let us know if anything comes up," and before I knew it the anxiety was gone.
―You've been co-hosting "What a Wonderful Radio!! ☆☆☆" together for about half a year now, and as fellow 3rd gen members, I imagine you and Yuina-san spend a lot of time together. What kind of presence is she for you?
Sakura: With those gorgeous looks of hers, my first impression was, "She must be the sharp, no-nonsense type with a strong personality, doesn't she?" But she wasn't like that at all. She's kind and funny, and from the very first time we met, she's been the one to come up and talk to me. I'm the type who's happier when the other person reaches out first, so Yuina's go-getter energy and her bright, pun-loving cheer have helped me out so many times.
Wrestling with my first voice recording while finding her character by feel
―Tell us your impressions of reading her lines for the first time.
Sakura: The first time I read lines in front of a mic was for Tomari's self-introduction video. She mixes in English words like "commit" and "synergy," her sentence endings are pretty crisp, and she uses words I'd never said in my entire life, so I really had to work at it before I got a handle on her way of speaking and her intonation.
―And then came Episode 1 of TV anime Season 3. What was your mindset going into that performance?
Sakura: She only appears briefly at the very end, says "I understand," and that's it, but it came out so awkward (laughs). Voice recording itself was already a first for me, I'd just joined my beloved Liella!, and on top of that I had everyone watching me as I voiced the lines, so I got way too nervous and my delivery came out really stiff. I'm so embarrassed I still can't bring myself to rewatch that scene.
―There was about a year and a half between the audition and the start of TV anime Season 3, and during that time you had chances to perform as Tomari at lives and so on. How did you build up her character?
Sakura: The Episode 1 recording came pretty early on, but after that there were gaps, so it felt like I was gradually deepening my understanding of Tomari by reading the scripts I'd been given. Of course, the script is just text, so I didn't actually know what expressions she'd talk, dance, or sing with, which made performing her at lives difficult, and I was always struggling with it.
―Has anything inside you changed between before and after meeting Onitsuka Tomari?
Sakura: Back in middle school and high school I loved lazing around, totally in the "how do I take the easy way out" mindset, putting off things I needed to do, and whenever I had free time I'd just be lounging around, *all floppy and limp. But now, if I have time I think about doing something that builds my skills, and since I'm not great at dance, I work hard at lessons and rewatch my own videos to study what I'm missing. I hadn't really thought about it before, but I think I'm growing little by little.
TL Note: Saku use the ふにゃふにゃ (funya-funya), Japanese mimetic word for going completely soft and limp. The classic image is a cat going boneless when picked up.
―Walking step-by-step alongside Onitsuka Tomari, have there been any turning points or realizations along the way?
Sakura: Definitely understanding the events of her past was the big one. She loves her big sister so much, but I'd always been wondering, "Why is she so cold to her?", and when I learned, "Oh, there's this past, and it's because she loves her that she takes that attitude!", all these different feelings about Tomari started coming up. I realized that even a perfectionist like her has her vulnerable spots. So you could call Episode 8 of Season 3, when she reconciled with her big sister, the turning point, and it was also the moment I came to find Tomari even more dear to me.
―Did you and Emori Aya-san have any discussions about the performance before recording Episode 8?
Sakura: We didn't really sit down and work out the fine details, but I think we were able to perform off each other's feelings. Aya-chan (Emori) and I have been close all along, and we'd been saying, "I really want Natsumi and Tomari to reconcile already," so I remember after the Episode 8 recording wrapped, the two of us celebrated, going, "Finally! Now we're close in the story too!"
―Tomari's vibe changed between before and after Episode 8. Was there anything you consciously shifted or kept in mind in your performance?
Sakura: My natural voice is on the higher side, so before she reconciled with her big sister, I tried to keep my voice as low as I could, and I performed her flatly and coolly, doing my best to keep any big emotions out of it. After the reconciliation, her playful scenes started increasing too, so to let the warmth come through, I gradually softened how I expressed her.
―What episodes or scenes from TV anime Season 3 stand out most in your mind?
Sakura: Episode 8 is one I can't leave out. Reconciling with her big sister, singing "Dazzling Game"… it's packed with so much, and it really stands out. Then there's Episode 11, the scene where Tomari is the one inviting Margarete-chan with "Won't you stay in Liella!?", and Episode 12 where she gets a ribbon from Kanon-chan. Lots come to mind (laughs).
―Episode 4 also had a lot of highlights, with the Onitsuka sisters as young children appearing and their past being revealed, and finding out their family home is in Ushiku City.
Sakura: I tend to find acting as younger kids easier, and the kind of cheerful, innocent performance with a slightly higher voice, so the Episode 4 recording was so much fun. I watched the TV broadcast while following everyone's reactions on social media, and when it came out that the family home was in Ushiku, there were people posting things like "Ushiku!?" and "That's my hometown!", and all the responses made me really happy.
―What was your mindset when playing the scene where she tells Shibuya Kanon to give her the ribbon?
Sakura: Finding out she has that proactive side made me so happy, and since I'm such a sucker for the moments when Tomari blushes, I was thinking, "Show me more of that side!" (laughs). I was happy she showed a pretty big blushing face right at the very end. Honestly, Sayurin has always been someone I look up to, so what Tomari feels for Kanon-senpai and what I feel for Sayurin felt linked in that moment, and it felt less like acting and more like I was just saying my own honest feelings out loud.
―I imagine you watched Seasons 1 and 2 of the TV anime as a viewer. From a viewer's perspective, do you have any favorite scenes?
Sakura: Whoa, there are so many it's hard to pick (laughs). But if I had to pick one, it'd be Keke-chan's "Is there really an 'end' to working hard at what you love!?" scene. That line and that scene are among my top favorites in the whole show. Everything for Kanon-chan started from that moment, and that's when Liella! started moving forward. If Keke-chan hadn't given Kanon-chan that push, I don't think the future where Liella! grows into 11 members would have happened. I myself have been pushed and supported by those words so many times, and they've helped me keep going.
―Looking back at the TV anime overall, what kind of girl is Tomari?
Sakura: I should know her best since I've been playing her this whole time, but even so, unpredictable lines still pop out of her, she's a mysterious girl. Even now, I still pretty often find myself thinking, "Oh, so that's how she thinks about it." Cute, stylish, cool; she's got it all packed in, and the thought of a high schooler like her existing in real life is honestly almost too much (laughs). But within all that responsibility she carries, there's this cute little-sister side too, and while she's not the type to push forward herself, it's not like she dislikes connecting with people either, I find those parts of her cute as well.
First recording, first live: bringing out Tomari's signature self
―Tell us any memories from your first (song) recording.
Sakura: My first one was the 4th Live's theme song "Jump Into the New World," and it's one of the most difficult songs I've recorded to this day. On top of that, going into the booth, putting on headphones in front of the mic, and singing in Tomari's voice were all firsts for me, so it was really hard, and I remember struggling with it a lot.
―Is there anything you keep in mind during recording, or any routine you do every time?
Sakura: My vocal ability isn't high yet, I still don't have the technique, and I have less experience than anyone, but I can't lean on that as an excuse, so I make sure to prepare properly. I write everything down in my lyric sheet: breath positions, accents, the parts I need to sing with extra attention, and I go in fully prepped. But getting Tomari's energy level when she sings is something I always struggle with.
Sakura: Too high and it becomes me instead of Tomari; too low and it drifts away from the song's image, especially with an upbeat number. Bringing my vocal ability to where I picture it should be is still hard, and I'm still struggling with it, but I'm trying to get used to it bit by bit, challenging myself each time I sing.
―Tell us your impressions and memories from your first appearance in front of everyone as Onitsuka Tomari.
Sakura: My first time stepping onto the stage was at the 4th Live Tour's Chiba show, the <KALEIDOSCORE edition>, and I was incredibly nervous. But looking back now, the fact that, in a venue that big with that many people there, me, someone who've been a regular high schooler not that long before, managed to get up on that stage with such short preparation, I have to admit that's pretty incredible (laughs). People often tell me I have nerves of steel, but really, I want to give my past self a pat on the back for that one.
Sakura: Of the songs we performed, "Watashi no Symphony" is one I absolutely love, so getting to sing it with all 11 of us moved me deeply. And "UNIVERSE!!" has a part where we all gather in a circle and sing, and the audience sang along too, the space turned into something so wonderful I'll probably never forget it for the rest of my life.
―Is there anything you keep in mind or have set rules about for lives?
Sakura: If I let my guard down, I space out, become boneless Sakakura Sakura--all floppy and limp, and drift toward the easy way out, so I tell myself, "Right now, I'm Tomari!" and try to stay conscious of that crisp, sharp bearing that is so Tomari.
―For solos, you sing "dolce" and "Wild Card." Is there anything you pay attention to when singing alone?
Sakura: Songs sung with multiple people have part assignments, so there's that mindset of completing it together, but with a solo you're building the whole thing yourself, so the level of nerves is just different. On the flip side, there's also freedom in it, so I try to enjoy that nervous feeling too while I perform.
―You're also active in the group 5yncri5e! How do you approach that one?
Sakura: 5yncri5e! is a unit where one of its appeals is dance, so I go into it with a "got to work even harder!" mindset. I'm not great at dance myself, but Tomari is a girl who can do it, so I always have this feeling of wanting to get even a little closer to her.
―Could you tell us your favorite songs, or any that you especially love?
Sakura: "Dazzling Game" is genuinely cool, and it's also the song that sparked Liella!'s growth into 11 members, so I love it. "Bubble Rise" is another one that really stands out for me, because it was the song Tomari first sang on stage as part of the unit TomaKanoTe. And "11th moon," which I sang as a duo with Margarete-chan, is also a song I love. Lately, I'm absolutely obsessed with the 7th Live theme song (OPEN THE G☆TE!!!). It let me reaffirm my feeling that "I love Love Live! so much," and I think it'll be an important song for me going forward too.
A song where everyone in the venue can sing along,
the kind that gets the whole crowd hyped up,
And I'd be happy if there were
special cute outfits to go with it.
Feeling Tomari's presence within her, running toward new dreams!
―How are you facing Onitsuka Tomari now?
Sakura: At first I had this anxiety like, "Can someone as opposite as me really play someone as reliable as Tomari? Are the fans supporting us going to actually accept it?" But, gratefully, everyone welcomed me so warmly, I came to love Tomari deeply, and bit by bit I've been able to gain confidence in myself too. Now I feel Tomari's presence inside me to the point that it's like we're two people becoming one.
―Going forward, what would you like to challenge as Onitsuka Tomari?
Sakura: I've always had this dream of Tomari getting to stand at center for a Liella! (group) song. It's not that I want to be at center myself; it's that I want everyone to see Tomari standing there. I want to keep working hard so I can make that goal come true.
―As Onitsuka Sisters, you were appointed as the first Ushiku Promotional Ambassadors. How do you feel about it?
Sakura: I feel really honored, and I'm so incredibly happy! I'm from Saitama Prefecture, but it's a region with a similar atmosphere to Ushiku City, so it really gives me a sense of comfort, like being back at my family home. I want to help make it a place where the people living in Ushiku and the people who come to visit can always feel at ease, so I hope to liven things up together with the city and keep this connection going for a long time.
―It seems like you and Emori-san are putting together some kind of plan as part of your Ushiku Promotional Ambassador activities…?
Sakura: Aya-chan and I have been saying things like, "It would be fun if we could help out on the production side. And if a sisters' song got made, we'd love to perform it at a Ushiku live or the summer festival!" We're aiming to make it happen as one of our challenges to take on.
―Is there anything you'd like to try with Liella! going forward?
Sakura: I really wish Liella! had a song like AiScReam's "Ai♡Scream!" or Nijigasaki High School Idol Club's "Ryouran! Victory Road," the kind with spoken lines in the lyrics, where the whole venue can sing along and get hyped up together. I'd also be happy if there were special cute outfits to go with it.
―Lastly, please give a message to everyone who loves Onitsuka Tomari and supports her.
Sakura: Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for always supporting Onitsuka Tomari-chan. Back when I debuted, I was carrying these huge anxieties: "Will I really be able to deliver Tomari's appeal? Stepping into a Liella! where the other 10 members are already so full of personality, will I even get the chance to be liked?" But now I could tell that past self, "You don't need to worry!", because everyone has been sending me love almost every day through social media and letters, and my heart is just full of gratitude. I want to keep working toward my goals together with Tomari from here on out, so it would make me really happy if you could keep cheering me on warmly. Thank you so much!
To Tomari-chan,
Meeting you changed my life, Tomari.
Thanks to you, I get to have so many wonderful experiences.
I can give my best even at things I'm not good at.
And I've gotten to meet all these kind, beloved people who cheer you on.
Thank you so much for always giving me more happiness than I can hold.
I love love loveee~ everything about you!!
Let's keep making all kinds of dreams come true together, just the two of us 🥰❤️
From the one who loves you most in the whole world,
Sakakura Sakura
Liella! Magazine - CAST LONG INTERVIEW with Yuina as Wien Margarete, and her message to Margarete.
[This was part of Liella Magazine - Wien Margarete Edition]
The thing Margarete-chan and I have most in common is being big eaters, so in the Salzburger Nockerl shots, I think you'll see a lot of my natural expressions.
Tasting the Salzburger Nockerl that Margarete also made by hand!
―We hear you got to eat the "Salzburger Nockerl" that Margarete also made in this shoot.
Yuina: Yes, it was super delicious! Actually, the restaurant where we shot, I'd been there before. When I passed the audition for "Love Live! Superstar!!", my agency took me there to celebrate. We were looking for a place tied to Margarete-chan, somewhere with Viennese food, and this restaurant came up. But back then, I had no idea what Salzburger Nockerl even was, so this was actually my first time eating it. It was so good, it blew me away〜! The aroma was like pancakes. It's a dessert made from meringue, and I had it fresh out of the oven, all fluffy, so I polished it off in no time.
Yuina: I really love the scene in the TV anime where the Salzburger Nockerl shows up. Around that time, Margarete-chan still hadn't quite found her place in Liella!, but in her exchanges with Aria-chan (Shibuya Aria), you get to see the real Margarete-chan. She couldn't talk easily with the Liella! members yet, but she was chatting normally with Aria-chan, probably precisely because there's no group or rivalry dynamic between them.
Yuina: Oh, and I also got to play with butterflies (laughs). Lately, in real life too, I feel like I've been getting chased by butterflies more often. Ever since meeting Margarete-chan, I've been buying more butterfly trinkets and accessories, but even around town, real butterflies come after me sometimes. And I've been spotting more black-and-blue butterflies, too, so maybe it's Margarete's power.
―Maybe you've got her aura on you now (laughs). You also did a shoot holding a violin, right?
Yuina: I'd never played or even touched a violin before, so I was super nervous. Instruments are delicate, so I kept thinking maybe there were parts I shouldn't touch, and I was completely stiff. But they taught me carefully, and I somehow made it through the shoot. Holding the bow was especially hard. You hold it in a "fox hand" shape, supporting it without applying force, but just holding it was something I couldn't do at all, and my fingers almost cramped (laughs).
Yuina: When I first picked it up, it felt lighter than I expected, but holding it for a while, my arm started hurting to the point I could feel muscle soreness coming on. People who play the violin are amazing! This is Margarete-chan's special skill. It's so cool, and it kind of made me want to try it too! Now I can clearly picture her doing it ever since she was little. She must have grown up in a wonderful family, always surrounded by music.
―Out of all of them, which is your favorite photo?
Yuina: The violin shot I struggled with is one, but I'd say it's the Salzburger Nockerl shot, because big-eater Margarete-chan's smile in TV anime Season 3 was so memorable. Meringue deflates quickly, so it was like "we have to shoot within a minute!" I was sitting at the table about four minutes early, running simulations in my head while I waited. But what showed up in front of me was even bigger and more delicious-looking than I'd imagined, so I was barely paying attention to the camera at that point (laughs). The thing Margarete-chan and I have most in common is being big eaters, so I think you'll see a lot of my natural expressions in there. Margarete-chan is always cool, but when food's in front of her, even when she's with the other members, she breaks into this really innocent smile. Please pay attention to that side of her!
―There's a comic in this issue featuring Margarete as the main character, with a theme that you came up with, Yuina. Could you tell us why you went with this content?
Yuina: Margarete-chan has long hair, so I wanted to see her in lots of different hair arrangements. In the TV anime and on merchandise, she's basically always got long hair, so there aren't many hairstyle changes. I wanted to meet a Margarete-chan with new hairstyles, so I went with a hair change challenge. Plus, if they're drawing her hairstyles, her face will be drawn bigger too! I love all the different expressions Margarete-chan shows, like when she's angry, crying, or laughing, so I thought I could see those at the same time. I feel like we'll get to see a new Margarete-chan, so I can't wait for the finished version!
I never had the confidence to say "I'm absolutely number one," so being able to say that is really cool.
I just had to play this girl! The audition she went into with conviction
―Let's go back to the very beginning, when Margarete and you, Yuina, meet for the first time. Do you remember when you got the call that you'd passed the audition?
Yuina: I remember! I was home alone when I got the call with the result. The thing is, in moments like that, even though I'm super happy inside, I ended up swallowing the joy of being chosen and answering the phone calmly, going "yes, thank you so much…" After I hung up, that's when it all really hit me. I wanted to tell someone how happy I was, but there was no one home, so I was just jumping around by myself. But the news hadn't been officially announced yet, so I was also trying to stay as calm as possible, going "calm down, calm down…!" (laughs).
―What was your first impression of Margarete?
Yuina: Honestly~ I was just like "wow, her visuals are amazing…" (laughs). When they first showed me an illustration with her lined up alongside the Liella! members, she caught my eye instantly. I was thinking "this girl is so cute," and then they told me "this is the role you're auditioning for." The moment I heard that, this feeling came welling up: "There's no way I'm not winning this role! I absolutely have to be the one to play her!" She's that much my type!! And then when I got the lines, I thought "oh, she really doesn't hold back" (laughs). But she had a cool look visually too, so my impression didn't really change. I felt like she gave off the kind of cool I felt the Love Live! series hadn't had before.
Yuina: The thing is, the line near the end of the audition was "fluffy pancakes are delicious!" They told me to "try doing it really cutely." I didn't even know how to project my voice as a voice actor yet, but I figured I'd just use my natural voice and try to make it cute, so I gave it a shot. So because I knew she had this side to her, I never thought from the start that she was cold inside or genuinely harsh at heart. I was sure she had a kind side, and that her sharp words came from how strong her feelings were. That's the mindset I approached her with in the beginning.
―Are there any ways you feel you and Margarete are alike?
Yuina: There are times when I think our ways of thinking might actually be pretty similar. Like, the core underneath is the same, but how it comes out on the surface is different. Somehow it feels like I'm looking at my past self. I had that "wanting to act cool, wanting to be the cool version of myself in front of others, wanting to seem dignified" feeling too. The part where I want to take things innocently, where I want to be honest about feelings like "I love this! This is fun!", but there's also a part that suppresses emotion precisely because I want to be a grown-up. I feel like that's something we share.
Yuina: Another similarity is hating to lose. I never want to lose at anything either, no matter what. Even at trivial little games. I feel like Margarete-chan and I are competing right now over which of us hates losing more (laughs). On the flip side, there's one place where we differ that I really envy her for: even when there's a result I refuse to accept, I can't say so out loud. I never had the confidence to say "I'm absolutely number one," so being able to say that is really cool. Saying "I won't accept it" is about more than just being unable to come to terms with the result. It comes from everything she's built up, everything she's done, and that lets her give herself credit for her own efforts. That's where those words come from. That kind of "I've done so much" confidence is something I never had myself, so I'm always thinking how enviable, how cool that is.
Yuina: Even in conversations with the other members, she can hold her own opinion and state it clearly, saying things like "I think we should do this" or "I don't think I should be the one to do this." I really respect that too. Her words being backed by effort gives her this strong center as a person, and that's really cool.
―Did you feel any pressure or hurdles in becoming a Love Live! voice actor, and in playing Margarete, who's also a rival standing in the protagonist's way?
Yuina: Of course, there was, but the "I want to pass" feeling was so much stronger. It was a "no time to mope, just practice!" kind of mood, and that's how I was working through the audition's set pieces. At the time, I also had stage performances going on, so I didn't have much time to spare, and I had to finish things in the gaps and late at night. Rather than worrying like "Will I be OK?" I was going at it with the spirit of "I just have to do this!"
Yuina: I'd touched on dance a little when I was younger, done some acting, sung in a band, nothing major in any of them, but I had at least dipped into each one. And I thought the Love Live! series was the place where you could do all of those at once. "What a dream-filled world this is. I absolutely want to do this, so for now, let me just hold on to that 'just gotta do it' mindset." That's what I kept in mind as I worked. If anything, the practice that came after I passed, when it was time to actually stand on stage, was harder.
―In the beginning, you were performing solo, right?
Yuina: Once I was cast as Margarete, I started watching the Love Live! series more than ever. I also got to go see a live with the 1st gen members, and when I saw everyone there cheering for Liella!, I started feeling anxious, thinking "standing alone in front of this many people, what's going to happen to me…" Margarete-chan is a third-year middle schooler and a genius, while I'd only done dance as a hobby back in elementary school. In my lessons at the time, lots of things I couldn't do started showing up, and I couldn't dance with the full confidence I had during the audition. I got stuck in my own head. But after I shifted my thinking back to "just gotta do it," I just kept singing and dancing to "Butterfly Wing" and "Edelstein" over and over.
Yuina: I think Margarete-chan is also a "just gets on with it" kind of girl, so I figured it'd be faster to move my body and connect the singing and dancing than to overthink things. I went to the studio every day, did self-practice, and built up my confidence. I wanted to absorb how Margarete-chan builds confidence, so while borrowing that quality from her, I just kept practicing, believing that composure comes from however much you put in. Actually, I get so nervous that I start shaking the moment I begin dancing. At the time of TV anime Season 2, Margarete-chan as a character hadn't been deeply explored yet, so she was a mystery to everyone, and to me. So I tried to find hints about her in the song lyrics, and I think a big part of how I approached her was the time I spent reading "What kind of girl is she?" But when you look at the lyrics, it's actually pretty clear.
Yuina: Like in "Butterfly Wing," there's that line, "the more you have someone to fight, the more your heart is gently polished and starts to shine." Exactly! I really resonated with those lyrics. If I say "enemy," Kanon-chan will get mad at me (laughs), but having someone to face off against makes you stronger. I feel like through friendly competition, I can shine too. So there was a part that really linked up. When I stood on stage for my solo, I was alone, too. Compared to now, there was an overwhelming distance between the Liella! members and me, so I shared Margarete-chan's feelings. I couldn't really go to Liella! for advice, and the Liella! members each had their own feelings to work through about Margarete-chan, so I figured I absolutely had to handle this on my own. Back then, I really felt like I was "spending every day with Margarete-chan."
―It's already been 3 years since you took on the Margarete role. Have you noticed any changes within yourself, Yuina, in things like your expression style?
Yuina: When I was doing it alone, I was desperate. I had inner conflicts like "how am I being seen?" and "I have to look dignified." But once we became 11, mistakes turned into collective responsibility, so maybe that kind of pressure has shifted now. With solo songs, the song itself has its own personality, and I think there's a color that naturally comes with it. Precisely because Liella!'s 11 members have such rich personalities, I really struggle with how to bring out Margarete-chan's good qualities.
Yuina: The songs suddenly got bright, so with songs like "Killer Kyun☆," I really wonder, "how do I do this?!" (laughs). When I was thinking things like "I want to bring out a cool side that doesn't tilt too far into fun," in the beginning, I'd get lost in "which is the right answer? Which is best?" But now, on the contrary, I've come to think "whatever I do is the right answer!" I found what I wanted to do, and after thinking about how to present it, I realized that what comes out on stage is the right answer I can give right now.
Yuina: So I've started telling myself not to overthink things in the actual performance. On regular days, I think when it's time to think. On stage, I just go with what I feel. If I'm happy, I laugh; if I want to do something, I do it. That's how I'm doing it. Songs completely different from Margarete-chan's solo songs broaden the possibilities for me, and I love both so much I couldn't pick just one!
How self-conscious, easily nervous Yuina found her own confidence.
―Do you remember your first recording session for the TV anime?
Yuina: It was my first time doing a voice recording, and I was so nervous my throat went dry. Things weren't going the way I wanted, and I was just like "oh no!" When you act on stage, you memorize the script, but with voice recording, you act while holding the script, so it took time for my body to get used to putting emotion in while reading. I didn't have many lines either. At first, I was only saying "Shibuya Kanon!", so acting cold and showing no emotional ups and downs was hard too. I'm pretty much the type whose emotions just come out on my face… And on top of that, I simply had zero confidence in my acting, and I was just thinking, "What do I do?"
―Were there things about the acting that worried you?
Yuina: When I was a kid, the lessons I went to had this exercise where kids who raised their hand and got called on would go up to the front and speak. But I was the only one who couldn't raise my hand even once in that whole year. I'd always think "next time, I'll definitely raise it," but I just couldn't. That's how much, from the start, I was the kind of person who'd shut down in front of others. Since I'm the type who really minds what others think, I end up thinking about things I don't need to be thinking about, like "what if I do this and they think I'm weird?" So I got nervous during the recording, too. On top of that, all the 1st-gen members were there together for my first recording session. I can say this now, but at the time, I still hadn't really talked with them, so having them watching me quietly was scary, so scary…!
Yuina: Looking back now, being quietly watched during a recording is just normal. But I was panicking, and since it was my first time, I had to redo things multiple times. I was making them wait, and I was so anxious I wanted to say, "Please put me last (crying)." I gradually got used to it, but I was nervous for a long time after. Starting with TV anime Season 3, my dialogue increased compared to Season 2, and I could put more emotion in, but I'd start overthinking again, like "I want to go all out, but Margarete-chan would be more held back than that…" There were still plenty of moments where I was nervous. By the way, there's a behind-the-scenes story about this…!
―Please do tell us (laughs).
Yuina: Margarete-chan was often looking down at people from high places, like on top of stairs or on top of a slide. So I wore the tallest platform shoes I owned that didn't make sound when I walked, and I did the recording from a slightly higher spot than everyone else. In TV anime Season 2, I was wearing them the whole time! I figured I'd get into character through the look (laughs).
When I first joined Liella!, there was a time when I was off on this "journey to find the right answer." But now, on the contrary, I've come to think "whatever I do is the right answer!"
―So you were building up the feeling from the look. We'd also like to ask about the (song) recording. How was it for you?
Yuina: Recording started with "Butterfly Wing"… but all I keep saying is "whoa〜 I'm so nervous!", so right now I'm trying to find other words to use (laughs). But really, the nerves were intense. I had sung at the audition too, but performing a song that had been given to me for an audience was a first for me. And precisely because I have this love for Margarete-chan, I ended up thinking again, "what if they're thinking 'this isn't good enough'?" Since recording is the kind of thing where you build up the song with direction in the moment, I didn't really need to be overthinking before it even started. But back then, I might have been convinced that "everything gets decided in recording." My singing was going to lock in what Margarete-chan's voice sounded like, and it would become an audio recording many people would listen to, so I had to do it right…
Yuina: But the lyrics resonated with me in so many ways, so getting my feelings into the song was never an issue. If anything, the emotional connection was the one thing I had completely internalized, so I just put those feelings straight into the song as they were. And since it's "Butterfly Wing," I could sing it like I was already flying. That first recording was just the beginning. These days, I've come to really enjoy recording. Through my time in Liella!, I realized that "fun" isn't something you can make happen by thinking about it. So I think if I just trust in everything I've built up so far and sing, the fun will come across. The emotions in a singing voice can only come from me, so I want to throw everything I'm feeling right now into the microphone with all my might, and let it reach everyone who's listening. That's why now, it feels so refreshing when I do it.
Margarete-chan… do you love her? How much do you love her? I'm absolutely confident my love for Margarete is just as strong as any of yours!!
―What does Margarete feel like to you now, Yuina?
Yuina: It's like we're "back to back." There's a wish to be like that too, but instead of one pulling and the other being pulled, I want us to move forward together. Because we're "the same." It's not that we're competing, but there are parts of me that grow from watching Margarete-chan and resolving to push harder, so I want her to feel that way when she looks at me too. I want us to keep going like that, two rivals who hate to lose. In the beginning, I was often the one being pulled along, but now I want to think "we're together!"
―So going forward, are there any challenges or ambitions you have as Margarete?
Yuina: Skydiving. I've been saying for ages that I want to fly through the sky. That's because I have to prove that "you can fly even without wings"…! So I'd love to do the scene from the opening dance of "Butterfly Wing," the one where she leaps off a swing and lands, from up in the sky! I want to make my song echo across the big sky, and I want to feel the earth as Margarete (laughs).
Yuina: I'm also the type who wants to climb up whenever there's a high spot somewhere, so loving high places is another thing we have in common. Aside from that, I just want to fly during live performances too! At first, I was thinking, "how do they handle the entrance for 'Butterfly Wing'? Should I practice front-flips?" By the way, I figured back-flips might be a lower hurdle than front-flips, so I actually went to a back-flip class twice. With a spotter, I can actually do one now. I really do want to fly during a live performance. Talking about it now is making me really want to do it!
―We'd love to see that someday. Is there anything you'd like to do as Liella!?
Yuina: What I've been talking about for a long time is a school festival. Everyone putting on performances together, having exhibits for each member, setting up booths showcasing each person's special skills. For Margarete-chan, it'd be sweet-making. We've got Yuigao too, and we could sing in the gym, do unit performances… I think it would absolutely be a blast! My high school festival actually got cancelled by typhoons twice, so I really have this feeling of wanting to do one again.
―And finally, could you give a message to everyone who's been supporting Margarete?
Yuina: Everyone, thank you so much for reading this far!
Margarete-chan… do you love her? How much do you love her? I'm absolutely confident my love for Margarete is just as strong as any of yours!! Because all of you are supporting Margarete-chan, I'm able to think deeply about things like "what kind of Margarete-chan I want to see, how I want to express her." Truly, every day I feel that it's all thanks to you. When you all say things like "I love Margarete-chan" or "I'm so happy to see her having fun!", it's something I couldn't have imagined back in the early days. So it makes me so happy I could actually cry.
Yuina: I watch her thinking I want her to be even happier, and I want people to know more of the kind sides of her that still aren't widely known, and the cute, bashful sides too. I want to keep giving everything I have so I can help with that going forward. Thank you so much, always! Please keep showering Margarete-chan with lots of love from here on too! I'm sure you all know this already, but even though Margarete-chan plays it cool, I think she's actually getting all shy and happy about it~!
To Margarete-chan,
Meeting you, Margarete-chan, turned my life around a full 180.
Every day being this fun, and me smiling so much more, it's all thanks to you, Margarete-chan.
Your angry faces, your cute faces, even when you're being selfish, you're so precious I just want to hug you tight!!
Ugh, I just love every bit of you!!
Sorry for loving you too much… (laughs). But this is the only time I really get to tell you properly.
Thank you so much, always.
Whatever walls we face, let's climb over them and make your dream come true together, Margarete-chan!
Let's keep going from here too!!
Liella! Magazine - CAST LONG INTERVIEW with Emori Aya as Onitsuka Natsumi, and her message to Natsumi.
[This was part of Liella Magazine - Onitsuka Natsumi Edition]
"I wanted you to see the natural Natsumi, the side she only shows to people close to her, not the "OniNatsu" Onitsuka Natsumi we usually see."
Trying out the LTuber life! Watch for those "Oni Natsu" expressions too
―This gravure has so many different settings, indoor and outdoor, and it's packed with shots that feel so Natsumi!
Emorin: We shot in two setups, a Western-style room and a Japanese-style room based on Natsumi's family home! When I heard a Natsumi book was coming out, I told them right away that we absolutely had to include scenes of her doing video streams. I wanted to see her relaxing somewhere that felt like home, but I also wanted to see her in a *yume-kawaii kind of setting, and I couldn't pick…! While I was going back and forth, it just kept piling up (laughs).
T/N: yume-kawaii (夢かわいい, "dream cute"): a Japanese aesthetic featuring pastel palettes, soft dreamy atmospheres, and whimsical/fairy-tale motifs. Often used to describe fashion, illustrations, or photo settings with that hazy, magical quality.
Emorin: In the Western-style room, the setup was her actually rolling cameras and recording video as an LTuber. There are shots of her making her favorite smoothie, and her working on thumbnail edits too. I've never done video editing myself, but it was so much fun getting a real feel for what Natsumi actually does! And the park shots weren't even in the original plan, but the staff hunted down a spot for us, so at the last minute we got to shoot at a park with the giraffe playground equipment Natsumi loves. You can really picture her playing outside without a care, so I think they turned out to be great shots!
―There's also a comic featured in the magazine with Natsumi as the lead. We hear you suggested the content yourself.
Emorin: Since this is a book that people who love Natsumi are buying, I wanted them to see the natural Natsumi, the side she only shows to people close to her, not the "Oni Natsu" Onitsuka Natsumi we usually see. I requested something like child Natsumi, the original Natsumi without "desu no" tagged onto the end of her sentences. I also wanted to see the 2nd years having a pajama party, so the comic ended up packed with everything I could've asked for!
―So the pajama party was your idea too!
Emorin: Matching pajamas, eating snacks, watching movies, playing games… I saw social media posts of girls all having a lively party like that and went, "So cute! I want to see this with the 2nd years!"…! There've been pictures of them in loose loungewear-ish clothes, but I hadn't really seen them in actual pajamas, so I'm so happy! I almost want to go there myself and take the photos! I also love the part at the end where Tomari-chan is smiling in the room saying, "I'm glad."
Emorin: I think the Natsumi we see in this scene is the side she normally shows around Tomari-chan. So having Tomari watch her big sister letting her real self show in front of her friends, and feeling "I'm glad" about it, that part really makes me happy. On top of the 2nd years' bond, the sisters' relationship comes through really clearly. I think it turned out to be a lovely piece.
Turning frustration into fuel for the 2nd gen audition
―This time, we'd love to go all the way back to when you first met Natsumi. To start, how does it feel looking back on your work up to now?
Emorin: It's went by too fast! There've been so many experiences and just getting to have days this fulfilling is itself something I feel really lucky about. The "Love Live! Superstar!!" project was announced at "LoveLive! Series 9th Anniversary Love Live! Fes," and at the time, I was a 1st year in high school. I'd already been a Love Live! series fan, and it seems my manager at the time remembered that. So I got to audition for the 1st gen.
Emorin: Back then, I was full of hope, like, "This looks fun! I want to do it!" Pure feelings, nothing like frustration. It was all positive emotions, but everything changed in a big way when I failed the 1st gen audition. The flip side of loving it that much was that the frustration hit me really hard, and I ended up all pouty, like, 'Love Live!? I don't even know what that is anymore!' (laughs).
Emorin: But the 1st gen cast announcement and all that news kept showing up on social media. I'd see it, but the frustration still wouldn't lift… What turned my feelings around was when I saw the video of "Hajimari wa Kimi no Sora" being performed at the debut single release event. Even though I didn't want to see it back then, every time a new video went up, it'd show up in my recommendations! (laughs) Even though the frustration had me staying away from watching the Love Live! series, my love for it had never really gone, so I caught myself watching anyway. And I just honestly thought, "There's no way I would've been picked," and accepted it. The 1st gen's performance really was lovely, sparkling.
Emorin: From there on, I was watching the TV anime in real time as a fan, buying merch, all of it. While I was cheering them on like that, the 2nd gen audition came up, and I thought, if I'm getting another shot, this time I don't want to feel that frustrated again! So I auditioned. But there was quite a gap after I submitted the paperwork, so I'd convinced myself I'd failed.
Emorin: I was a 3rd year in high school then, with my career path and entrance exam prep on my mind, so I figured if my application didn't get through, I'd give up on entertainment work, and I was already moving toward leaving my agency. But the day after I had that conversation, my manager got in touch and said, "You actually passed the document screening… are you really going to quit the agency…?" (laughs). Timing-wise it was right down to the wire, but I talked to my mom about it, and she pushed me forward, saying, "You won't know whether you'll pass or fail unless you try, and so you don't end up leaving the entertainment world with regrets, go in carrying the mindset that this is the last one." So I told myself, alright, no regrets!
But I'd been thinking Natsumi was the only role I could play without forcing it. That Natsumi was the only one I could do.
―Timing-wise, were you doing this alongside your exam prep?
Emorin: Since I'd be going to university if I failed, I was studying too. I'd be at cram school until 10 PM, then go home and practice dance and lines until around 12:30 AM, sending my manager videos of me dancing and acting so they could point out what I needed to fix. I'm not usually the type to ask for advice on my own, so back then I was really desperate.
Emorin: From there, I made it through to the final round, but actually, the role I was first assigned in the final audition was Kinako. And (Suzuhara) Nozomi was assigned the role of Natsumi. But I'd been thinking Natsumi was the only role I could play without forcing it. That Natsumi was the only one I could do. So I was surprised, like, "Wait, Kinako-chan!?" but partway through, they told me, "Please switch roles with Suzuhara," and the audition went on from there, which is how it got finalized.
Emorin: Maybe that's what made all four roles (of 2nd gen) fit just right. I can't forget that "Yes!" feeling I had when they said "Please play Natsumi," and when I actually played her it just clicked, so I thought maybe my instincts hadn't been wrong after all.
―As you started your activities, did you have any anxieties?
Emorin: The moment I heard I'd passed, I was overjoyed, but as the day of the member and cast announcement actually got closer, the nerves started setting in. Before the announcement, all of us 2nd gens, plus Yuina, got to go see the 2nd Live. We were watching from the audience, and seeing the unity between the five Liella! members and everyone in the venue, I thought, "Isn't the responsibility of joining this group going to be unbelievably huge?"
―Even now, there are still plenty of moments when you feel the 2nd gen bond, right?
Emorin: When we sing as just the 2nd gens at lives, it brings me back to when the four of us were practicing together before the cast announcement. Our 2nd-gen-only songs are "Blooming Dance! Dance!" and "Summer Escape!!," and the moments when we get to perform as just the four of us really feel precious, and even more fun. There've barely been any chances to do something as just the four of us in our activities so far, so even though it's only brief moments at lives, getting to do something with these specific members is so much fun!
From mirror image/two sides of the same coin, to older-sister figure
―Next, let's talk about voice recording. I believe the first thing you did was record the self-introduction videos. Can you remember what that was like?
Emorin: Oh wow, I remember! I went in thinking, "I'll do my acting like this," and they told me, "More punchable! Like, give us a voice that makes you want to punch the person," and I was so confused, like, "Hold on, what?" (laughs). Looking back now, maybe that direction was about her "Oni Natsu" persona. As a video streamer, you need some kind of hook for people to remember you, right? I think now they wanted me to bring out that side of her, but at the time I had no acting experience at all, so I was just thinking, "What do I do…"
Emorin: But surprising even to myself, when I actually tried doing it the way they directed, it just clicked somehow. Listening to my acting from back then now, it's pretty rough, but there are traces of my current performance scattered through it here and there, and I guess that's maybe why even I could feel convinced by it. After that, through the TV anime Season 2 and the live interlude video recordings, I gradually built up Natsumi.
Emorin: (Ookuma) Wakana and (Yabushima) Akane both came from voice acting training schools, so I learned things like how to hold the script and how to stand in front of the mic just by watching the two of them. Since it was during COVID, the members we could record with at the same time were limited, so at the start, I was honestly took every single thing I could learn from those two. I didn't want to be the one dragging down the quality of the work, so I remember just trying desperately to absorb everything.
―With all that going on, what was your impression of Natsumi? And were there any changes in your feelings as you continued playing her?
Emorin: The very first line I saw was "Oni Natsu!," so my first impression was that she's the catchphrase-type character. Personality-wise, she's pure-hearted, bright, and a fresh kind of girl, and I was struck by how straightforward she is about the things she wants to do. Once I got into the TV anime recordings, her inner conflicts gradually started coming into view, but surprisingly, in the Season 2 stage, what specifically she'd struggled with wasn't actually depicted. Because something had happened in her past, lines like "If you're going to give up on your dreams, then please don't talk about them" would come out.
Emorin: But she'd overcome that in her own way, and the impression I had was that she'd often show this bright side of herself. Then came TV anime Season 3, and her younger sister Tomari-chan appeared. As my interpretation of Natsumi deepened, there were times my own feelings couldn't quite keep up. At the Season 2 stage, I didn't know she had a younger sister, so I'd been building her with a younger-sister-type personality. But sometimes you get a younger sister who's the responsible one, with that role-reversal happening between siblings, so I figured maybe it'd be like that, and that they'd get along well, but when I opened the script I was shocked, like, "Wait?! These two don't reconcile until episode 8?!"
Emorin: Saku-chan (Sakakura Sakura) and I would talk about what we should do. Since Natsumi was now being depicted from the perspective of being an older sister, she was more grounded than in Season 2, and I felt this strong anxiety of being left behind by her. In Season 3, Natsumi's past gets revealed, but just being able to find something you want to do in this day and age is itself amazing, right? In Season 2, Natsumi was thinking, "Since I can't find what I want to do, I'll just study, get my qualifications, and have a stable income," and that overlapped with my own thinking. But in Season 3, there's a scene where she actually has so many things she seriously wants to aim for that she could fill an entire dream notebook.
Emorin: I thought it was so cool watching her stand back up over and over, and I think it's amazing that she made it this far without becoming self-destructive after going through those setbacks. I realized, maybe this girl is actually really mature on the inside, and from there my way of seeing her shifted into something closer to respect. In episode 9, Margarete-chan points things out to her, and she actually listens to her own shortcomings. She properly acknowledges the abilities of someone younger and her junior, and works to improve her own performance because of it. Watching that, I came to think Natsumi is the kind of presence who clears the path ahead of me. She makes me feel like I have to do more myself. In a way, I now think of her as something like an older sister.
Listening to my acting from back then now, it's pretty rough, but there are traces of my current performance scattered through it here and there, and I guess that's maybe why even I could feel convinced by it.
―So between Season 2 and Season 3 of the TV anime, your relationship with her changed quite a lot.
Emorin: Up until now, Natsumi and I felt like similar beings, almost two sides of the same coin, but during the 6th Live Tour, the stronger feeling was wanting to somehow catch up with her standing in front of me, and to portray her as fully as I could through my own ability.
Emorin: If I hadn't passed the audition, I think I would've taken university entrance exams, gotten qualifications, and worked a normal job. That probably would've been a happy life too, but it would've still been different from what I really wanted to do. That's why I'm so truly grateful that I got to meet Natsumi. I wouldn't have been able to spend such exciting days like these and getting to meet so many people who say they love both Natsumi and Emori, I really feel blessed. I'm so glad I took on the 2nd gen audition back then, betting my life on it as my last shot!
―Along with the relationship change, how did your singing and performances change?
Emorin: Natsumi's voice tone is quite a bit higher than my natural voice, so at first, singing as Natsumi was pretty hard. At my first recording, I hadn't really established my Natsumi voice yet. Honestly, I only really got hold of it in the last six months or so. Up until recently, it was a cycle of moving forward then back, overthinking and ending up unable to sing because of it, so it was around the 6th Live Tour that I finally got a real feel for it. The trigger was definitely my deeper understanding of Natsumi through TV anime Season 3, I think. And Saku-chan's presence is also a huge factor.
Emorin: Saku-chan herself says, "I have to make sure I don't hold everyone back," but her performances are so amazing I think she's way more on top of it than I am! Both as her senior and as her older-sister figure, I can't fall behind. Tomari-chan is such a capable character, so I think Saku-chan is being fired up by her, and watching Saku-chan and Tomari, plus Natsumi running on ahead of me, makes me think, "I'd better step up!" (laughs). That became the trigger for me to reconsider my own performance. I want to catch up to the senpais too, but once I actually had younger sisters and kouhais, I realized, "Oh, so this is what being sandwiched from above and below feels like! I'd better step up."
―Your first performance in front of an audience was at the "WE WILL!!" release event, right?
Emorin: Of course there was anxiety about the fans' reactions, but back then, more than that, getting to be involved in the Love Live! series I loved, being able to dance carrying the character on my back, seeing this many people waving their blades for us, all of it together was so happy and so fun. I was completely filled with this feeling of "right now, in this moment, is fun!" I actually used to be less nervous back then.
Watching the 3rd gens, they're struggling with the same walls I was hitting a year ago. So in the same way, I wonder if I'll end up running into the kind of anxieties the 1st gens have now.
―Really! When were you most nervous recently?
Emorin: …All of it! (laughs)
After all the different experiences, I can look at my performances objectively now, and it's stopped being purely just fun (wry laugh).
It's the kind of feeling that only comes with accumulating years. Even watching old livestreams and lives, it's only been three years and I'm already thinking, "Emori Aya, what a fearless one you were!"
Emorin: These days I sometimes overthink and my expressions stiffen up, so finding the right balance with having fun is also something I'm working on. But there's still so much ahead, right! There are probably walls I haven't even hit yet. Watching the 3rd gens, they're struggling with the same walls I was hitting a year ago. So in the same way, I wonder if I'll end up running into the kind of anxieties the 1st gens have now. I noticed that recently, and now I've started being able to go to the 1st gens for advice. Having members with different lengths of experience means there's a lot we can consult each other about, so I feel really grateful for that.
I want to keep going as the 11 of us for as long as possible. There are views only Liella! lets me see and experiences only Liella! lets me have, and the chance to meet everyone who cheers for us. I want to cherish each and every one of those things.
Solo concerts, sister lives… what's the heartfelt wish bigger than any dream?
―Speaking of the Onitsuka sisters, you were appointed as Ushiku PR Ambassadors for Ushiku City in Ibaraki Prefecture, a first for the Love Live! series.
Emorin: When I heard, "You're becoming Ushiku PR Ambassadors," I was so surprised, like, "Huh, not Liella!, just the sisters?!" It's not the setting of the work, it's a member's hometown, so it's different from Aqours, you know? And on top of that, they really love us. I was amazed by everyone's open heartedness, in a way no word like 'grateful' could capture. I've gotten to visit Ushiku many times since then, and everyone there is so kind and warm. I was moved, thinking, "Natsumi and her sister grew up in such a wonderful city…"
Emorin: Something Saku-chan and I often talk about is wanting to release a sister song between the two of us, as Ushiku PR Ambassadors! And if that ever comes true, I'd be greedy and ask for even more, we'd want to do a live just the two of us in Ushiku. They hold events like summer festivals, so we want to go as often as we can, just the two of us, and help liven things up! It's such a wonderful place, I really love it.
―I think that's a wonderful dream! Are there other dreams you'd like to try with Natsumi?
Emorin: I've talked about a lot of things, but at the end of the day, the moments I get to stand on stage with Natsumi are what I love most. So, dreaming big, how about a solo concert?! I want to see solo concerts for all 11 of us! And someday, I'd love to try creating a solo song together with everyone who supports us. I think the cast are the biggest fans of their characters, so it'd be fun to also bring in ideas from all of you who watch over us every day, and create the song together. It'd be amazing if we could create the song's atmosphere, the costumes, and the lyrics all together!
―Then, are there things you'd like to take on or dream about as Liella!?
Emorin: Live tour through the hometowns of both the characters and the cast! And for an even bigger dream, I want to keep going as the 11 of us for as long as possible. There are views only Liella! lets me see and experiences only Liella! lets me have, and the chance to meet everyone who cheers for us. I want to cherish each and every one of those things. After live tours wrap up, there are members I don't get to see for a while. And when all 11 of us finally get together again after a long time, we always end up saying how lonely the time apart was.
Emorin: Liella! is a treasure of my life, a presence so big nothing else could ever replace it. So I just hope we can stay as the 11 of us for as long as possible. It's a dream, or rather, a wish.
―Lastly, please give a message to everyone who supports you!
Emorin: Thank you so much for supporting Liella!. Going forward in our activities, I think there'll be plenty of things you'll feel positive about, and plenty you'll feel negative about. But I want to work hard so that all of it becomes something you can look back on as good memories! And to everyone supporting Natsumi, thank you so much for finding her! Because you send words like "I love this side of Natsumi," or "she's cute," or "that was great!," I can think, "Okay, next time I'll show you this side of Natsumi!"
Emorin: A girl who'd been working alone, head-down, with everything she had, getting to meet Liella! and getting to meet all of you, I think that's become a treasure of her life for Natsumi too. The girl who used to sing "eyeをちょうだい" was able to realize "ずっとアイくれていたの" (you've been giving me ai/love this whole time), and that's thanks to all of you. I'd be so happy if you keep delivering lots of love to Natsumi from here on out too!
To Natsumi,
This is our 4th year since we met and started walking together.
There've been all kinds of things along the way, but every day I spend with you, Natsumi, has been nothing but happy memories.
If I hadn't met you, Natsumi, I wouldn't be here, and I don't think my days would have been this fulfilling.
From here on, forever and ever, let's keep walking together, the two of us hand in hand, laughing, and even if there are times we cry, let's keep walking, okay?
The greatest treasure of my life is being found by you, Natsumi.
A little peek into the Liella! members' private lives ♪ You can get a sense of their fun daily lives from the photos and comments!
Kanon: Sumire-chan told me “Take my picture” so I aimed my phone at her, and then she started striking pose after pose. I was totally surprised! This is one of the shots.
Keke: Kanon is way too nice to Sumire! Sumire is always saying that taking selfies is her specialty, so she should have had her take them with her own phone!
Sumire: Just like I said, you made sure to get the stairs and my feet in the shot. Well done, Kanon♪ And you can clearly see the design of the bag I just bought too.
Chisato: A signature pose that uses the steps’ height differences… I feel like this could be used in dance choreography! Your posture is really stable too, just what I’d expect from you, Sumire-chan.
Ren: Sumire-san’s bag is such a beautiful shade of green. And looking closer, it seems like you can see what’s inside. How very unusual…
For Kanon's Birthday, here is a photo taken by Chisato!
A little peek into the Liella! members' private lives ♪ You can get a sense of their fun daily lives from the photos and comments!
Chisato: Kanon-chan's umbrella was so sparkly and beautiful! If you can take pictures like this, rainy days aren't so bad once in a while♪
Ren: I could tell right away that Kanon-san's smile was directed at Chisato-san. It's a very heartwarming photo that conveys the closeness between the two of you!
Sumire: The view through the umbrella must be like a galaxy! I'll have to borrow it from Kanon next time ♪
Keke: Just as Keke suspected all along, these kinds of bright accessories really suit Kanon ♡ I've got inspiration for a new costume!
Kanon: I'm happy you complimented me, but it's a little embarrassing, Chiichaaan! Jeez, I'll release some photos of Chiichan someday too!
Liella! Interview - YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 with Liyuu and Sakakura Sakura
[Original Interview here]
Liella!, the beloved group from the Love Live! series, takes over the entire Golden Week combined special issue! And YJ Full Bloom is delivering a packed roundtable!!
YJ Full Bloom Vol.4
Liella! (Liyuu ・ Sakakura Sakura)
YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 Weekly Young Jump Combined Issues 22-23. On sale April 30, 2026 Featured on the cover, opening pages, center spread, and closing gravure
It's "YJ Full Bloom" Vol. 4, the interview series that goes behind the scenes with the talents on our opening gravure! This time, the spotlight's on Liella!, who took over the Weekly Young Jump combined 22-23 special issue from front cover to closing gravure, all in a single sweep. We're bringing you a roundtable with these school idols straight out of "Love Live! Superstar!!" split into four pairings! These groupings are actually a YJ exclusive, so you might just catch a side of the cast you don't usually get to see!?
――We tried out an unusual pairing for this shoot with you two. What do you each find appealing about the other?
Sakakura: Rii-chan (Liyuu) is cute by anyone's standards, her figure's amazing, she's basically beauty personified. She works so hard on it, always figuring out new ways to get even cuter, and honestly, that's something I want to learn from too. I joined the group partway in, so even back when I was just a fan cheering Liella! on, I already knew how hard she worked, and now being right next to her, there's still so much I'm picking up. Performance-wise, she used to say dance wasn't her strong suit, but watching her up close, her dancing is so good, and her movements are so clean; there's a lot that I want to copy. I'm sure all of that is exactly because she's never let up, and the way she keeps pushing herself even with that much talent... It's just so cool!
Liyuu: Saku-chan (Sakakura Sakura)'s charm point is just how lovable she is. The way she is around everyone, she's super endearing and just adorable. And she pulls it off so naturally, which is exactly why she really feels like our youngest. At lives, I could tell how deeply she studies Tomari-chan. If it were just Saku-chan being herself, I think her performance would come out way cuter, but in Liella! she's performing as Tomari, so you can really feel how much she loves Tomari and how she's putting thought into every part of it. And I think that's exactly what makes her so appealing.
Sakakura: It really makes me happy that she sees me that way. I'm pretty much the complete opposite of Tomari, so yeah, I do study her a lot.
――Tell us what makes a Liella! live special.
Sakakura: We've got more and more songs where everyone can shout along together and get hyped up, so you really get to feel that unity in the venue. There are cool songs, songs you can get hyped to, songs that wow you with the choreography, so the range of genres you can enjoy is what makes it special.
Liyuu: The performance goes without saying, but every show has a story to it as well, with audio dramas playing during the intermissions. Even if it's your first time coming, I think there's plenty to enjoy just from following along with the story.
――How was the 7th Live?
Liyuu: This time, all of us got to perform a solo song, plus there were songs split between the first-years, second-years, and third-years, and a few we hadn't done in a while. So I think it ended up being a live that longtime fans and first-timers alike could really enjoy. The solo song "Fundamental" really fits Keke-chan now that she's a third-year, and it felt like a song wrapping up her high school days, so there was this lonely, bittersweet feeling tied to it.
Sakakura: So much of the staging was built around us all enjoying it together, and that made me really happy. Honestly, I just had so much fun. Getting close to everyone and seeing their smiles up close gave us so much energy, too. And it was Tomari's first solo performance, so I had a lot of nerves, but in the end it became a really great stage. All of you said many kind things after, so I hope to perform it again someday.
――Last one: what's something you'd like to try with Liella! going forward?
Sakakura: I'd love to do things like a sleepover!
Liyuu: A training camp would be nice too!
Sakakura: And while we're there, no secrets, just everyone really opening up and talking from the heart. That's the kind of thing I'd want to try. Plus, this YJ shoot showed us we can actually rent out a school building, so we could pull off a school festival, or even a sleepover at school. A school festival would be so much fun if we could invite all of you to come, too!
*TL note: Sakura uses the word 本音 (honne) means your real, unfiltered feeling, the stuff you actually think under the polite social surface. Its counterpart is 建前 (tatemae), the public face you put on for work, strangers, or any situation where you need to keep things smooth. English doesn't have a clean one-word equivalent; "real talk" comes closest in vibe, "heart-to-heart" gets the warmth but loses the weight.
Liella! Interview - YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 with Aoyama Nagisa, Yabushima Akane, Yuina
[Original Interview here]
Liella!, the beloved group from the Love Live! series, takes over the entire Golden Week combined special issue! And YJ Full Bloom is delivering a packed roundtable!!
YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 Weekly Young Jump Combined Issues 22-23. On sale April 30, 2026 Featured on the cover, opening pages, center spread, and closing gravure
It's "YJ Full Bloom" Vol. 4, the interview series that goes behind the scenes with the talents on our opening gravure! This time, the spotlight's on Liella!, who took over the Weekly Young Jump combined 22-23 special issue from front cover to closing gravure, all in a single sweep. We're bringing you a roundtable with these school idols straight out of "Love Live! Superstar!!" split into four pairings! These groupings are actually a YJ exclusive, so you might just catch a side of the cast you don't usually get to see!?
――First up, tell us what you each find charming about the others!
Yuina: Nagi-chan (Aoyama) just knows so much. Whenever there's a word I don't get the meaning of, I'll ask her, and she'll explains it way clearer than a dictionary would. She's seriously smart, but she also rolls with anything, so I love that she's got both of those things going for her.
Yabushima: She's so well put together, and I really love the way she sounds when she talks and the way she picks her words. Like Yuina said, when she's goofing around, she's full-on goofing around, so she's really easy to talk to. But personally, I'd love for everyone to get to see more of her flustered, cute side.
Yuina: Yeah, what would even happen if she actually got flustered for real? When you get embarrassed, you just start goofing off, right?
Aoyama: Well, that's also just like you, Yuina! Look who's talking (laughs).
Yuina: Fair enough (laughs). And her performance side too, she IS Hazuki Ren-chan through and through. She can do choreo with ballet elements mixed in, she even comes up with her own moves, so it really feels like Ren-chan stepped right out exactly as she is, like they're one and the same body and soul. Even when I watch the performance footage later, every single expression is just pure Ren-chan to me.
Yabushima: Liella!'s songs cover a really wide range, from cute ones to cool ones, but during performances every expression is different from the next while still being Ren-chan. That's something she can only pull off because she really has Ren-chan in her heart.
――Next, tell us what's charming about Yabushima-san.
Aoyama: She's so calm and has this real reassuring presence.
Yuina: And the way she just takes everyone in.
Aoyama: She just gives off this huge sense of comfort, and just being near her feels warm. Whenever something's worrying me, I'll head over to her and I just settle down.
Yuina: She accepts every part of you and is always kind, but she also says what she actually thinks, so you can tell she really cares about you. That kind of kindness is what makes her so charming.
Aoyama: Her singing is amazing too. I think she has the best mic presence in all of Liella!, and that's something I really look up to. The moment she opens her mouth, every word comes through clearly. That's something I've struggled with, so when I first heard Yabu's voice I thought, "Wow, this girl is incredible!"
Yuina: Her expressions during lives don't feel rehearsed at all, and the natural expressions that just come out of her are pure Mei-chan. The emotions Yabushima Akane carries deep in her heart come right out on stage, and the way they connect with Mei-chan is something I really love.
――Last, tell us what's charming about Yuina-san.
Aoyama: She's just so bright, so she's always lifting up the mood of everyone around her.
Yabushima: When Yuina's around, the whole vibe just gets better. I'm not really the "Yey~!" type who hypes everyone up myself, so I'm so grateful for her.
――Is she really that chatty?
Yabushima: It's not so much that, it's more that her reactions are huge.
Aoyama: Right, right. When anyone brings something up, she actually reacts to it properly, so it really feels good talking to her, and I think she's a really good listener.
Yuina: (with big gestures) Wait, what?! That makes me so happy! But yeah, it's true, I'm really into people, so I love listening to them. I want to know how they live their lives, what they love.
――And how about her performance side?
Aoyama: The character she plays, Margarete-chan, has this bewitching quality, and the appeal is in dance that's smooth but with real sharpness to it. The fact that Yuina actually pulls all of that off live on stage is what makes her so captivating.
Yabushima: It's true, her performances have this allure and elegance to them. You end up just transfixed, you know? There's such a contrast with how she usually is, and that's a really fascinating side of her.
――Tell us what makes a Liella! live special.
Aoyama: Something that's always been central to the Love Live! series is syncing up with the anime, but with the TV anime Season 3 broadcast wrapping up and reaching a turning point, we've been doing lives with the spirit of "let's open up new doors for Liella!" Up until now, we'd often get split up by 1st gen, 2nd gen, and 3rd gen, but the chances to sing all mixed in together have been growing too, so compared to back in our 1st Live Tour days, the range of songs and the ways we present them have really opened up.
Yabushima: With 11 of us now, we can do all kinds of formation dances, and the song range has widened too. There's bound to be a song that hits home for each and every one of you, so I'd be happy if more people start loving us from here on.
Yuina: It's a live that's just full of love. All the cast love the Love Live! series and we're doing this on top of that, so people speak up with feelings like, "this is how I want Liella! to be!" That's why I think we put on such great lives. The fans cheering us on are so warm and kind too, and the way the venue turns into a space full of pure happiness is, I think, our biggest charm.
――You wrapped up the 7th Live in March. What kind of live was it for each of you?
All Three: It was so much fun!
Yabushima: Precisely because it was a live coming after the TV anime Season 3 wrapped up, we really wanted everyone to feel the charm and growth of the anime members. So I think every cast member was conscious of performing as if the members themselves were the ones up on stage.
Aoyama: At the Yokohama Arena shows especially, we were so close to all of our fans, and I feel that let us discover a new way to enjoy a live. The five of us in 1st gen started out with a no-audience live, so because we know how that felt, it really came through how much everyone was now enjoying themselves, and that made me so happy.
Yuina: We were genuinely up close, and it gave me a new dream of doing another live at Yokohama Arena. Seeing everyone's reactions and smiles really does make me happy. From the stage, sometimes I'll be looking at the audience but the fans aren't looking back, but this time we were really right up close, so we got to share moments where the love truly went both ways, and I was so happy.
――And finally, is there anything you'd like to try doing with Liella! going forward?
Yuina: The thing I keep bringing up is a school festival. I want to take over a whole school, set it up so the fans can come too, and have us think up what booths and acts to put on. I'd love to sing in the gym at lunchtime, too. We've got a sports festival as Liella! coming up, so I'm thinking maybe a school festival could happen one day too, you know?
Aoyama: My goal is to take Liella! all across the country. First off, I want us to tour all 47 prefectures of Japan and tell every fan who's been cheering us on how grateful we are.
Yabushima: I want to go on a school trip! I want some downtime where we can just have fun and take it easy together.
Liella! Interview - YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 with Misaki Nako, Naomi Payton, and Suzuhara Nozomi
[Original Interview here]
Liella!, the beloved group from the Love Live! series, takes over the entire Golden Week combined special issue! And YJ Full Bloom is delivering a packed roundtable!!
YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 Weekly Young Jump Combined Issues 22-23. On sale April 30, 2026 Featured on the cover, opening pages, center spread, and closing gravure
It's "YJ Full Bloom" Vol. 4, the interview series that goes behind the scenes with the talents on our opening gravure! This time, the spotlight's on Liella!, who took over the Weekly Young Jump combined 22-23 special issue from front cover to closing gravure, all in a single sweep. We're bringing you a roundtable with these school idols straight out of "Love Live! Superstar!!" split into four pairings! These groupings are actually a YJ exclusive, so you might just catch a side of the cast you don't usually get to see!?
――We'd love to hear what each of you finds charming about the others. Let's start with what makes Misaki Nako-san shine!
Payton: We've been together as fellow 1st-gen members for a long time now, and her dedication to her role and how she approaches it is so disciplined. Even seeing her up close, she's just so cool to me, the kind of person you can't help but look up to. The character she plays, Arashi Chisato-chan, is the group's captain and an amazing dancer, and our lives have some really tough choreo, so I bet Nako-chan was wrestling with this "I have to step up" kind of feeling. But it's exactly because she's that kind of person that I wanted to follow her.
Suzuhara: Nako-chan really watches out for everyone. If she sees someone looking a little down, she'll just slip in something that brightens their mood. She's always thinking about Liella! as a whole group, and I'm so grateful for that. She's quick with the tsukkomi, too, and at the moments that really count, she's the first to charge in and lock it in. I love that about her. Which is exactly why I want to work harder so she can lean on me more, too.
Misaki: I lean on you guys plenty already, you know.
Payton: But Nako-chan really comes across more as the one everyone leans on, though.
――What about her appeal as a performer?
Payton: Like Non (Suzuhara) said, at the moments that really count, she snaps her gaze and expression sharply into place, and pulls off a perfect 100. She's a performer to the core, and you can feel how much fun she's having right now, which makes it fun for everyone watching too. She's flawless as a school idol!
Suzuhara: Everyone already knows her dancing is super cool, but for me, what makes her shine is how she pulls off both cute and cool at such a high level, and both suit her so well. Every time, watching her through the screen, it just hits me right in the heart.
Misaki: Ahh, this is so embarrassing... but thank you.
――Next up, please tell us what makes Payton Naomi-san shine.
Suzuhara: Pei-chan will sometimes say things like "I'm so negative…" about herself, but she's so disciplined that she never actually lets it show, and there's something really beautiful about who she is on the inside. Her love for Heanna Sumire-chan, the character she plays, runs deep, and you can feel how seriously she takes everything we do, which makes me want to give it my all too. She's the kind of person who lifts everyone around her up.
Misaki: She's been humble from the moment we first met. I think of her as Liella!'s songstress, and she absolutely loves to sing. She's the kind of girl who shows what she's feeling through her words and actions, just a really good person. That comes across to all our fans too, which is why I think so many of them give her these warm, gentle smiles.
Suzuhara: At the 7th Live, Pei-chan tried out the moonwalk for the first time during her solo song "Just woo!!", and every time I saw her in practice, she'd gotten better. The way she landed it so coolly during the actual show was just incredible. The confidence and aura she has when she's standing on stage as Sumire is on a whole other level, and watching the live from backstage, the corners of my mouth just turn up on their own. I love how her performance just lets you breathe easy, the kind that makes you want to keep watching!
Misaki: Back then she was busting out moonwalks literally everywhere (laughs). I've seen her trip up plenty in practice, but what's amazing is how she always clears the bar she sets for herself. The way she steps onto the stage as Heanna Sumire, the two of them as one, and beats her own best every single show is just so cool.
――Last but not least, please tell us what makes Suzuhara-san shine.
Payton: Non's pure feeling of "I love this" is what shapes who she is. Whether she's being a school idol or just being Non herself, she goes straight for what she loves, and what she loves never changes, and once she decides on something she'll never give up until the very end. Her whole way of life is just idol, through and through.
Misaki: When I first laid eyes on her, I literally thought, "What is this fragile little creature..." She's so delicate, you just want to protect her. Pei and Non are alike in some ways, in that I'll catch them looking really anxious during practice, but on stage you can't see any of that at all. That's just incredible!
Payton: At rehearsal, she'll spend forever in front of the mirror studying her expressions and angles as Kinako. She pushes herself right up to the very last minute, and watching her do that, you couldn't push yourself this far without that "I love this" feeling. I'd really love for all the fans to get to see that side of her too. I have this wish I'll probably never get to fulfill, of watching a Liella! live from the audience, but if I ever did and saw Non perform from out there, I'm sure she'd grab my heart in an instant and I'd just want to cheer her on. She's that cute, but she's also that cool.
Misaki: She has this real drive to dig deep into anything that catches her interest or anything she loves. She's always watching the people around her, and at rehearsal, if someone's dancing, she'll be behind them copying the moves and practicing. She thinks nobody's caught her, but the mirror gives it all away (laughs).
Payton: Yeah, we totally see you. And it's just so, so cute.
Misaki: But that's her drive to keep getting better and better showing through, so I'd say she's probably one of the top one or two most competitive members in the whole group.
Suzuhara: Everyone's performance is so amazing, so to step on stage with even a little more confidence as Kinako, I figure I'll soak up whatever I can from everyone, and I just end up dancing along (blushes).
Misaki: So when I notice Non-chan doing the same moves as me, I'll slow mine down a bit to match her (laughs).
Suzuhara: Wait, really? (laughs) That's the first I'm hearing of it, so it's going to feel weird to do it from now on!
Misaki: No, no, it's totally fine!
Payton: You can just stay the way you are.
Suzuhara: Okay then, I'll keep dancing along (laughs).
――How did the 7th Live turn out for you?
Payton: I've kept asking myself "Who is Heanna Sumire..." all this time, and at this live, I feel like I finally found one answer inside myself. That was a really big step for me, so I was happy and I had so much fun!
――Was that because, with the solo song this time, you were able to face your character more directly?
Payton: Yes, exactly. Not just the solo song, but in the group songs and the MC sections too, this was a live where I really studied what makes Sumire-chan herself. I feel like I brought out her essence more than ever before, and I really got to face her as a character.
Suzuhara: I focused on what makes Kinako-chan herself, too. This live had the concept of "Let's all go to the Music World together!", so I got to perform along with the story and deliver the songs on top of that. I think it was a live where I could really push my singing even further.
Misaki: With Season 3 of the TV anime having wrapped up, I feel like for us and for everyone, this was a live carrying that big, anxious feeling of "where are we running toward from here?" But I think through our performance and the words we shared, we were able to point toward a new path. So I think it was a live where we got to stand at a brand new starting line.
――Last question, is there anything you'd like to try doing as Liella! going forward?
Suzuhara: Today's shoot was at a school, so I'd love to do a school festival! We've actually got a sports festival coming up as a Liella! event, but I have a feeling I'd shine more at a school festival!
T/N: Non use 文化祭 (bunkasai) and 体育祭 (taiikusai) here. Those are the school cultural festival and sports festival, classic Japanese high-school events.
――You could even put on a play.
Payton: I want to!
Misaki: Making the costumes ourselves and everything. Back in high school, I actually wrote a script and was in charge of the characters' costumes and accessories, but it was so much work that... I'm not sure I could pull that off again now...
――There are food stalls too, you know.
Suzuhara: I want to do food stalls too!
Misaki: I want to do takoyakiii!
Payton: Takoyaki sounds good.
Suzuhara: I'd like to do grilled corn.
Misaki: So the school festival's a done deal then (laughs). I want to do a food tour. With cameras off, or even a self-shot one would be fine. Where's the good food at, though?
Suzuhara: Like Kyoto?
Payton: Around Arashiyama, yeah.
Misaki: Let's go to Kyoto! Let's eat cucumbers. Those whole pickled ones are so good.
T/N: Nako use 一本漬け (ippon-zuke). It's whole pickled cucumber on a stick, popular Kyoto street snack.
Payton: There's mitarashi dango, too.
T/N: Pay use みたらし団子 (mitarashi dango). It's sweet soy-glazed rice dumplings, also a Kyoto/Arashiyama specialty.
Suzuhara: Oh, and one more thing. I've been pitching this forever and it never gets picked up, but I really want to have a game tournament! Video games, board games, anything works as long as it's a game, so please make it happen!
Liella! Interview - YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4 with Date Sayuri, Ookuma Wakana, and Emori Aya
[Original Interview here]
Liella!, the beloved group from the Love Live! series,
takes over the entire Golden Week combined special issue!
And YJ Full Bloom is delivering a packed roundtable!!
(Date Sayuri, Ookuma Wakana, Emori Aya)
YJ Full Bloom Vol. 4
Weekly Young Jump Combined Issues 22-23.
On sale April 30, 2026
Featured on the cover, opening pages, center spread, and closing gravure
It's "YJ Full Bloom" Vol. 4, the interview series that goes behind the scenes with the talents on our opening gravure! This time, the spotlight's on Liella!, who took over the Weekly Young Jump combined 22-23 special issue from front cover to closing gravure, all in a single sweep. We're bringing you a roundtable with these school idols straight out of "Love Live! Superstar!!" split into four pairings! These groupings are actually a YJ exclusive, so you might just catch a side of the cast you don't usually get to see!?
――This time we shot with a slightly unusual lineup. We'd love to hear what you each find appealing about the others. Let's start with Date-san!
Emori: For about the past year now, Sayuri's been the one coming over to cuddle up to me, and that just makes me happy. We've known each other for around five years, and I'm sitting here going, "Wait, you've got a side that wants to be doted on too!? I love it!" (laughs) On stage, Sayuri's got nothing but passion, and her performances are amazing. Her ability to pull the whole crowd into the moment and hype everyone up is on a completely different level, and that's what makes her so charming. When I try to throw in crowd calls during a song, my breath control falls apart, but Sayuri's always doing the calls and performing at the same time. It honestly amazes me.
Ookuma: The way Sayuri's energy suddenly spikes the moment her makeup is finished is just the cutest thing. I really wish everyone could see it (laughs). She's all low-key when she's off, but the second the makeup is done, she just blooms. That on-switch is so easy to spot.
Date: So apparently I'm always low-energy (laughs).
Emori: It's especially obvious on live days, but everyone in Liella! is like that. The makeup goes on and our energy shoots right up (laughs).
Ookuma: At our lives, Sayuri's almost always the one keeping everything tied together. The MC bits, all the little glue-the-group-together duties, she ends up handling them. She has her own performance to worry about, and she also has to think about everyone around her, which has to be tough. I'm always in awe of her, and so grateful.
Date: (to the two of them) Thanks ♡
――Next up, please tell us about Ookuma-san.
Date: She's just stunning. She's so cool and mature, but one time we found out we were both obsessed with the exact same video out of this comedy YouTuber's huge catalog, and I was floored. I was like, "We click over THAT of all things!?" (laughs) She's gorgeous, and her character Wakana Shiki is also cool, so I never would have pictured her watching that kind of stuff. She's actually a really one-of-a-kind, hilarious girl.
Ookuma: I love anything funny, so I actually watch all kinds of videos (laughs).
Date: At lives she performs as Shiki-chan, but Shiki-chan is the type who doesn't really wear her feelings on her sleeve, so to me it always seemed like such a tough character to play. If it were me, I'd just get caught up in the fun and start grinning, so I'm always wondering how she keeps her emotions under such tight control. The way she flips that switch is just so cool, and that's where her charm is.
Emori: We're both 2nd-gens, and I've loved her singing voice ever since we were doing voice training together way back at the start. She moves between her chest voice and falsetto so smoothly, and when she takes the high notes up in falsetto, the sound is clear and just gorgeous. The thing I keep saying about Wakana herself is that her face is totally my type my type. She looks amazing with makeup on, and I love her without it just as much. I'll catch her in the mirror and think, "She's so cute again today," and I'm planning to keep doing that for the rest of my life!
――Lastly, please tell us about Emori-san.
Ookuma: Emori plays Onitsuka Natsumi, who's a really high-energy character, but Emori herself is usually super calm. Especially since Saku-chan (Sakakura) joined us as Natsumi's younger sister, I feel like Emori went from being this cheerful, bubbly presence to a composed, beautiful woman. At lives, she completely becomes Natsumi, and after really getting a handle on where Natsumi sits within the group, she turned that into one of her own defining traits. The 7th Live was incredible too. She was shining.
Date: I was watching the 7th Live from backstage, and I kept thinking, "Yeah, this is exactly how Natsumi would sing it." Our changing spots ended up next to each other at one point, and right up until the moment she stepped onstage, she was studying how Natsumi would sing. Natsumi has this really distinctive way of singing, and watching Emori dig into that sweet, sparkly feel of hers was just incredible.
Emori: Thanks ♡
――And how is she as a fellow cast member?
Date: Ever since Emori joined, the thing I've loved about her this whole time is how good she smells. Now, please don't get weirded out by this (laughs), but everyone has their own scent from fabric softener or perfume, and them all smelling nice is kind of a given, but Emori-chan was the one whose scent really hit me. She always smells amazing, so I just end up cuddling up to her (laughs).
Emori: I barely wear any perfume, so it's probably the fabric softener…
Date: One time I came across a fabric softener and thought, "Maybe this is the one?" and tried it out, but turns out it wasn't (laughs).
――Tell us what makes a Liella! live so special.
Ookuma: Looking at it objectively, I genuinely think we're putting on really high-level lives. Our singing and dance skills keep climbing, and I really feel like our performance and professionalism can hold their own against the artists you see on TV. That's the part I want people to come watch.
Date: The TV anime is up to three seasons now, so finishing all of it before coming to a live can feel like a tall order. But we also play festivals, and there are people who first hear about us outside the anime and then come to one of our lives, so I'd say one of our charms is that there are tons of ways to get pulled in. And once you do start watching the anime after that, it gets a hundred times more fun, so we're a really deep rabbit hole of a group.
Emori: I love the Liella! outfits too. The base shape is the same across everyone, but they pull out each member's individuality, and I think that's a huge part of the appeal.
――The 7th Live ran through March. What kind of live was it for each of you?
Emori: It was the longest stretch of time I'd ever spent really doing it together with Natsumi, so it was a live where my understanding of her got a lot deeper. This time around, every cast member got a solo song, so I think everyone got to spend more time with their character too.
Ookuma: I also got to spend a ton of time with Shiki-chan. After season 3 of the anime had ended and there was no new TV anime in motion, there were times when I wasn't sure how to carry myself as Shiki. But through my solo song "LiLiA," I felt the gap between me and Shiki really shrink, and seeing how happy that made the fans cheering us on was just the best.
Date: Up to now, our lives had always been built for the TV anime, but this time there was a "we're taking everyone to the MUSIC WORLD" storyline running through it, so the fantasy element was really strong. Because of that, there was tons of call-and-response with the fans, and it was a live with so much communication. We got to try a kind of live we'd never attempted before, and we worked through it together, struggling, figuring things out, showing each other our weak spots. The bond between the cast got even deeper, and we got to see each other's real smiles. It was a wonderful live.
――Finally, is there anything you'd like to do with Liella! going forward?
Ookuma: A mochi-pounding event! I still remember doing one back in elementary school.
Emori: Mine's more on the anime side, but I'd love to see a full-length MV with all eleven of us. We actually don't have a standalone MV with all eleven members yet.
Date: I'd love to do a sleepover, even just for one night. Lay out the futons and chat with everyone way into the night. Everyone better come well-rested though!
romaincrisis
dededos
discoholicmusic
tangentwithtanner
jbbartram-illu