The TV anime "Kore Kaite Shine), based on the manga by Minoru Toyoda, which has been making headlines for winning the Manga Taisho 2023 Grand Prize and the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award, will begin airing on Nippon Television's Flaani block from July 3rd. Serialized in "Gessan" (Shogakukan), this "manga x high school girl coming-of-age story" is set on Izu-Ojima, an island off the coast of Tokyo, where high school girls captivated by manga form a manga research club with their friends and struggle to find what they want to draw. Voice actors Akira Sekine plays the protagonist, first-year high school student Yasmin, and Noriko Hidaka plays Pokota, a robot from Yasmin's bible manga "Robota and Pokota," and Yasmin's imaginary friend. We spoke with Sekine and Hidaka about the charm of the work, the relationship between Yasmin and Robota, and behind-the-scenes stories from the recording.
◇A work that makes you feel "Dreams are wonderful" - You get to experience the feeling of being watched over by Pokota
--What are your impressions of the work "Kore Kaite Shine" and what do you find appealing about it?
I think what's appealing about Sekine-san is that she makes you think, "Dreams are wonderful." After the recording was finished, when I reread the original work, I was reminded that whether you have dreams now or not, or even if you've given up on them, "Dreams don't end there; they're something you use to move forward." Also, after graduating from high school, I decided to go to a vocational school to study voice acting, and I feel that the "I'm going to do it!" feeling I had at that time overlaps with Ai-chan's.
Each of Hidaka's characters is truly distinctive, and they all feel so real and relatable. Also, the art style isn't just one thing; there are incredibly beautiful background illustrations, and I felt that Toyoda-sensei's depictions are so engaging that I wondered how many techniques she has at her disposal. Furthermore, the setting is Izu Oshima, and you see laid-back high school students nurtured in nature, happily pursuing their passions, with adults watching over them with both strictness and warmth. I felt that the tranquility of a non-urban setting, the warmth of the people, and Yasmin's easygoing nature were all beautifully portrayed. Some readers might feel inspired to find something they love and work hard at it, others might seek solace in this story, and some might even discover a burning passion dormant within themselves. I think this manga will resonate with many different people.
--What were your initial thoughts when you found out you were cast?
Sekine-san's initial reaction was "Yay!", and then, because Ai-chan is a girl who shines brightly, she remembers feeling motivated, thinking, "I have to make sure this shine doesn't fade, but increases. I have to do my best!" However, she is also a shy and reserved girl, so we also considered how to adjust to that.
--Pokota, the character you play, is an adorable character with the appearance of a raccoon dog, and you commented that "it's been a long time since I've played such a cute role."
Hidaka-san, that's right. That's true, and also, it's been a while since I've done a boy's voice. I've done young adult roles, but it's been a while since I've done a cute boy's voice, so I started the audition by adjusting my voice, and I felt a bit nostalgic thinking, "How long has it been?" Above all, Pokota is so cute, and he's a character that encourages people, so it feels really good. That's why I auditioned with the strong desire to do it. There was some time until the decision was made, so when I got the part, the joy gradually came over me.
--Pokota is an imaginary friend born from Yasmin, who encourages and supports the shy Yasmin, giving her a push forward. How do you perceive the relationship between Yasmin and Pokota?
I think Sekine-san is everything. He's like a brother, sometimes like a younger brother, sometimes like an older brother. He's a best friend, a friend, and also like family; I feel like Pokota is involved in every aspect of Ai-chan's relationships. There are times when you can only do your best because there's someone who's always watching over you. He doesn't just affirm you, but also gives you advice and encourages you. He cheers you on by saying, "What if you were the main character of a manga in a situation like this?" Even though he's an imaginary friend, you can really feel that Pokota is there. That's why, on days when Hidaka-san isn't in for recording, Saori Hayami san (who plays Tejima Rei) and I talk about how lonely we are because we can't see Pokota today, and he's such a warm presence that it makes everyone, including me, feel lonely.
Hidaka-san, really? I'm so happy!
-- Ms. Sekine, how did you feel when you found out that Ms. Hidaka would be playing the role of Pokota?
Ms. Sekine was surprised. She said, "No way? I get to work with you!?" During the recording of the first episode, I was nervous, but during the test recording, when I was unsure which microphone to use, she gently placed her hand on my back and said, "Let's go in together." I remember feeling very relieved. I felt Ms. Hidaka's warmth and kindness, and I thought that this might be what it feels like for Pokota to always be watching over you. Thank you so much.
Ms. Hidaka , not at all (laughs). There are quite a few younger people who become hesitant when I'm on the microphone. In that sense, Yasmin is a character that I should be welcoming.
Thank you , Sekine-san !
--What are your impressions of Pokota and Yasmin, Ms. Hidaka?
Hidaka-san's Pokota is always positive. Rather than comforting Yasmin when she's feeling down, he's the kind of character who brightens things up by saying, "What's wrong, what's wrong!" I think that's because Pokota was born from Yasmin's heart, which isn't negative. There are also scenes where Yasmin and Pokota synchronize and rejoice, grieve, or are surprised at the same time, which makes you realize again, "Ah, he was born from this person." I'm also really happy that Yasmin immediately responds to Pokota's words with a positive "I'll give it a try!", and I think it's the kind of relationship that makes everyone think, "If only I had Pokota, I'd be encouraged and able to move forward too."
◇ Enjoy expressing Yasmin's innocent and carefree nature, making Pokota a character loved by everyone.
--What did you keep in mind while acting?
Sekine-san gave me very careful direction, and we created the character while consulting with each other, so when the recording actually started, I thought I should forget all of that for a moment. Ai-chan's expressions change so quickly, so I felt that if I thought about it too much, I wouldn't be able to keep up with the tempo. I thought that I wouldn't be able to bring out this innocent and carefree nature unless I forgot about it for a moment and enjoyed listening to everyone's acting, so I tried not to overthink it.
Hidaka-san, I wanted to make Pokota a cute character that everyone would love, and also a funny character, so I tried to be creative with ad-libs and aim for an expression that was unique to Pokota. There are also scenes where he encourages Yasmin in the same pattern, so I was wondering how to say it, and it felt like I was building it up episode by episode. I once told the sound director, "I want to make Pokota cute," and he took that to heart, but there were times when he would say, "Let's do it again. Make him a little cuter," when he wasn't cute enough during recording (laughs). Everyone cooperated with me in the direction I wanted to go.
--What was the most memorable thing about the recording?
Hidaka-san was initially surprised by Akira-chan's high-pitched cough. Sometimes we clear our throats to adjust our voices before recording, but I'd never heard such a high-pitched cough before. She was adjusting her throat to make a high-pitched bird chirp. I thought it was interesting and thought, "I've never heard anything like that before!"
Sekine-san: When I was a student, Akira Kamiya-san taught me that if I remember the highest notes I can hit, I can tell if my throat is in good or bad condition, and it's become a routine for me ever since.
Oh, I see, Hidaka- san. But I understand. You can make pretty good adjustments with a really quiet sound. At first, I didn't realize it was the sound of adjustments, and I wondered what was making that noise. Then I realized it wasn't a sound, but Akira-chan was making it.
--What are your impressions of recording with Hidaka-san, Sekine-san?
Since I often heard Pokota's voice coming from the microphone next to Sekine-san's , the strongest feeling I had was one of reassurance. Pokota's voice has a boyish quality, but there are also times when I feel a sense of maternal warmth. I absolutely love how you can feel the love in every scene. When I'm acting, I try to restrain myself from squirming, but in scenes where only Pokota speaks, I always held back from letting out a "cute" sound.
Continued in Interview (2).
*The "Taka" in Noriko Hidaka's name is the "ladder-shaped" version.
