Notes:
Not gonna translate the entire book. Not gonna scan the entire book either.
This book was released when Rainbow Live was still airing, 21st December 2013, the day episode 39 aired.
Q: Naru is an unusual type of main character, how did you feel about voicing her?
When I took the audition, I thought she’s a girl that stand out because of her airheadness. After hearing more, I understood she’s a girl that leads to happiness. The difficulty is how to express that happiness. Even when bad things happen, Naru tries her best to make the people around her happy using her own happiness, so I was anxious about if I will be able to make the others seiyuus around me feel like how Naru would make them feel.
Q:The happy naru phrase was something there from the start ?
Yes. But it didn’t have any specifications set in stone. They told me “please say it the way you see fit”. When I asked them “What does happy naru means?” They said “It’s a catchphrase, so it would be good if it leaves an impression”. They’re the words that come out naturally when Naru feels happy, so they have to not feel weird and fit in with the lines said before and after. I also had to say it while thinking it. The sensation of believing the words you’re acting genuinely come from your consciousness. Doing this made me close to Naru I think. I’m actually the type of person that live by “nantoka na~ru” just like Naru. I live trying to be positive. I do feel depressed when bad things happen but at those times I try to get back on my feet as much as possible, and try my best to remain positive. My friends as well often tell me I get back up on my feet amazingly fast, so much that they want me to teach them how I do it. Learning from Naru, I’ve also been trying to be even more positive, both with work and private matters.
Q:Did you receive any particular instructions in addition to your acting ?
Most of the time I was told my acting alone is fine. But for gag scenes there were indications on the script telling me to go “fugya!” and I was told to do it exactly like that. For crying scenes too it was written to not do a normal crying sound but a “fueeen” like crying sound. There were a lot of times when I was asked to do momentarily reactions like these exactly as it said on the script.
Q:Speaking of crying scenes…
You mean the scene where she gets rejected by Kouji kun right. I had to redo the “fueen” crying of that scene countless times. I’d cry normally instead of the “fueen” sound Naru does. Also, conveying how “She doesn’t know why she’s crying, so it’s different from how she’d cry normally” was the most difficult part. I had to draw from within myself the sensation of being rejected, while not being fully aware of your own feelings.
Q :It was a very painful scene to watch.
Naru chan didn’t have the self awareness of getting rejected then. Even now. The fact that she could speak normally with Kouji kun and Ito chan right after was impressive. Kouji kun isn’t the type of boy to show his emotions. Was he interested in Naru chan? Is he interested in Ito chan? Areee? Suddenly Ito Chan? I was surprised by the sudden development. Certainly he wasn’t thinking of Naru in a romantic way, but more like a little sister, wanting to save her, do something for her… Kouji kun also has a timid side to him, so he needs someone strong to push him.
Q:How do you think the romance element will go from now on?
I don’t want Naru chan to get hurt, so I think it’d be best she doesn’t get involved in love for a bit. Couples are appearing one after another, but I think Naru chan and Otoha chan aren’t suited for love struggles like that. I’d like it if they lived their lives peacefully until they naturally find someone.
Q:Is there any line of dialogue or scene that left you a big impression?
The scene where Kouji sings to save Naru. How Naru trying her best to do her Prism Live feels the taste of failure for the first time. She’s usually so happy, but couldn’t bear it anymore, and started crying. It was the first time in the show she brought forth that sort of negative emotion. It was very surprising to see her like that compared to her usual self, I was wondering if she could overcome it. She couldn’t and started crying, that sort of thing is very girly and cute, but I wanted to comfort and help her.
Q:After that point in the show Naru definitely started growing. Is that change reflected in your acting?
The way I say the jumps’ names during Prism Live changes a bit. The most noticeable thing are the songs though. Naru’s my song was made before her development, but Happy Rain’s was made after and reflects how she settled her feelings, and tries to have fun with Prism Lives and make everyone enjoy it. The duo song too, as Naru evolved even more then. Being able to do a show with the person she admires Bell sama, I thought it surely must have been fun for Naru but also a challenge.
Q:Besides your own, which one is your favorite character ?
I think everyone likes Hiro sama. His lines are always super funny, and his gestures always makes you go “Why is he doing this?” lol. For example how he always bite his glasses, or how he was spying on Kouji during the Ito x Kouji kiss scene. Or his Prism Show with how he was on a bed and his ‘good morning” and “I belong to everyone” lines. That one was definitely the most intense. In a lot of ways, I went “Hiro sama kyaaaaaaa” lol. As for the girls, it’s difficult to choose, Wakana is fine, but I like Otoha the most. I think she’s girly, loves everyone in Bell Rose, and she’s genuinely thoughtful of the people around her. It feels like she can heal you with her overflowing love. She’s nice, but will scold you if there’s the need to. I really like her. After that, I’m interested if Hiro sama and Bell sama will end up together or not. Hiro sama likes Kouji but he likes Bell too, which will he pick. Bell also shows signs of caring about HIro, and gets worried about him, will they end up together, or will it stay like this.
(I like Otoha but clearly Wakana >Otoha)
Q:How do you think the story will go from now on?
Right now Rinne’s chan emotions are coming back bit by bit, how she will have to return to the Prism World is what piques my interest. When Rinne chan goes back to the Prism World, what will happen to the Pair Tomos? Naru and the others won’t be able to do Prism Lives anymore lol. Just like Hijiri san, I’m thinking a lot about the future of the Prism Show scene lol.
Q: A word to the readers to wrap things up ?
Contrary to the expectations you can have of a show aimed at children, there’s a lot of details adults can greatly enjoy too. Like dealing with frustration, discouragement, relationships between fiends, gloomy family environments… each character’s drama is expended upon, yet there’s not a character overshadowed by another, I think this is one of the nice things about this series.
I don’t know myself either how things will go from now on, so I look forward to discovering it together with everyone.
Nekketsu Nikki 