In the newest YuiKaori Live Tour pamphlet, Yui-chan and Carrie-san answered the same questionnaire for each other. We have decided to translate it and release the content of this short and sweet questionnaire to all. Please note that we encourage everyone to get their own copy of the Pamphlet to find the original questions as to we will only be posting the translations.

The questionnaire will be divided into two, Ogura Yui Q&A and Ishihara Kaori Q&A. Answers will be color coded like usual, so don’t worry about getting lost!

Don’t forget to click read more!

Yui Ogura Q? & A! questions and answers

Q: What are you addicted to lately?

A: Chikuwa¹?

Q: Are there any interesting movie, book, comics etc to you lately?

A: “your Name.”

Q: What is the thing you’re doing your best at right now?

A: My work and daily life. Balancing between my work and school.

Q: What is a recent big happening in your life?

A: I’m able to eat shrimp now!! (ﾟДﾟ)

Q: What do you usually do after you wake up in the morning?

A: Washing my face.

Q: What are the things you usually have in your bag?

A: Wallet, memo pad, pouch (cosmetics), poach (cough drops, medicines), folding umbrella.

Q: What do you usually do as a refreshment? Or rather, to relieve stress?

A: Shopping, taking a walk, cleaning.

Q: What kind of temptation would you definitely lose at?

A: My pet dog, Conan’s plead.

Q: Have you ever seen a UFO?

A: I have!!! It’s true!!! (ﾟДﾟ)

Q: Do you collect something?

A: Cosmetics and beauty goods, accessories and room wears, otter goods, stuffed toys.

Q: What’s your own beauty regimen?

A: Not to do beauty care more than I need to! (For example, if I wash my face in the morning, I make sure to wash it using lukewarm water so it won’t be a burden to my skin…)

Q: What is your weakness?

A: …My bangs? laughs

Q: How do you decide things when you are in doubt?

A: To cherish the very first thing I feel!

Q: If you were to represent yourself in one kanji, what would it be?

A: 唯 (Yui)

Q: Is there anything you want to challenge in 2017?

A: I want to take some qualification tests and get my driver’s license…! (I only want to though… laughs)

Q: Are you the type to believe in fortune-telling or not?

A: I’m the type who believes it.

Q: Hot and cold, which one do you think you can stand?

A: Cold! I’m weak against heat…

Q: Do you rely on intuition or theory?

A: If I had to say then maybe I’m more to intuitive~

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: Otter, dog, cat, meerkat, red panda, hamster, sugar glider.

Q: What is your favorite number?

A: 7! (My seat number has always been no. 7 ( ´ω` ))

Q: What is your favorite side dish of a lunch box?

A: fried egg, karaage, plum♪

Q: What was your childhood dream? Or the occupation you wanted to be?

A: To be an actress, own a cake shop, Kitty-chan, hair and make-up artist.

Q: What subject/s are you good at?

A: I’m good at Japanese and subjects that requires memorization! I was also good at P.E. and Home Economics!

Q: What subject/s are you bad at?

A: I didn’t really like Math and English~ But I wanted to go to University, so I always did my best to earn the points! (laughs)

Q: Is there something you wanted to try at least once in your life?

A: Sky diving. (｀・ω・´）

Q: If you can use a magic, what kind of magic ability do you want?

A: A recovery magic that can make the tiredness and lack of sleep disappear in an instant! (laughs)

Q: If there is a time machine, would you go to the past? Or to the future?

A: Hmmm…Future…? It’s difficult……

Q: If you were to start learning an instrument now, what would you want to learn?

A: Violin

Q: You got two tickets for a trip to anywhere in the world! Where would you go with Kaori-chan?

A: Somewhere in Europe also, Hawaii.

Q: If you were to swap bodies with Kaori-chan for a day, what will you do?

A: Eh~!! I wonder… Maybe take some selfies~ laughs

Q: Do you have any habits that you caught from Kaori-chan?

A: I do! Her way of laughing ( ´ω` ) laughs

Q: Is there any part of Kaori-chan that you want her to fix?

A: Nothing in particular~

Q: Which of Kaori-chan’s solo songs do you want to sing?

A: “Telephone Call”

Q: What is the hottest topic between the two of you?

A: It’s about how Carrie-san’s hair grows so fast! laughs

Q: Do you have any episodes where you think that “I linked!” with Kaori-chan?

A: During a photoshoot, we often have the same exact poses or angles!

Q: From all of YuiKaori songs, which song do you think is the most difficult to dance?

A: It might be unusual, but it’s “Jumpin’ Bunny Flash!!”

Q: Do you have any tricks in remembering a dance?

A: Hmm~ looking at the dance intently, and trying to copy it! Also counting!!

Q: What do you think is the good thing about being a unit?

A: We share the painful things and enjoyable things together.

Q: What do you always do right before a live? (Something like a jinx.)

A: Vocalization! (Such as dog breathe or humming). Also, making a promise that we will go to eat delicious food when it’s over!

Q: What is the moment when you feel that you “Linked” with the fans?

A: When we are charging up together during the live ( ´ω` )

Kaori Ishihara Q? & A! questions and answers

Q: What are you addicted to lately?

A: e-books, movies, lipstick (lip balm)

Q: Are there any interesting movie, book, comics etc to you lately?

A: “Oboreru Knife”

Q: What is the thing you’re doing your best at right now?

A: Self-discovery.

Q: What is a recent big happening in your life?

A: Mm? I can’t come up with one even if I thought about it  I’m sorry~!!

Q: What do you usually do after you wake up in the morning?

A: Put on music.

Q: What are the things you usually have in your bag?

A: Lip balm, wallet, commuter pass.

Q: What do you usually do as a refreshment? Or rather, to relieve stress?

A: Travel, go see a live, go see a movie, shopping.

Q: What kind of temptation would you definitely lose at?

A: If I can immediately go for a trip… I guess? And I always eat the orange that’s right in-front of me.

Q: Have you ever seen a UFO?

A: Nope!

Q: Do you collect something?

A: Lipstick (lip balm), LINEFRIENDS

Q: What’s your own beauty regimen?

A: A moisturizer with no artificial ingredients, and also don’t rub my face.

Q: What is your weakness?

A: Being too into things I’m recently addicted to, and when I stop thinking because I’m sleepy.

Q: How do you decide things when you are in doubt?

A: Think of a similar situation and see if I would regret this decision or not.

Q: If you were to represent yourself in one kanji, what would it be?

A: 感 (Kan) [Feeling, Sensation, Emotion]

Q: Is there anything you want to challenge in 2017?

A: Although it’s not a challenge… I want to go to a place I’ve never been to and get some inspiration from there.

Q: Are you the type to believe in fortune-telling or not?

A: I believe in it recently!

Q: Heat and cold, which one do you think you can stand?

A: Definitely the heat! Summer will be sparkling and my heart will be dancing!

Q: Do you rely on intuition or theory?

A: Intuition! Then I’ll think about it a lot later!

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: Dog and small pig

Q: What is your favorite number?

A: 8 and 6, my birthday… but it’s rather because it’s round. It’s cute!!

Q: What is your favorite side dish of a lunch box?

A: A sautéed and simmered vegetables rolled in meat²!! I love it so much I would definitely eat it last

Q: What was your childhood dream? Or the occupation you wanted to be?

A: A tax accountant.

Q: What subject/s are you good at?

A: Music

Q: What subject/s are you bad at?

A: I’m bad at Art, and also Calligraphy.

Q: Is there something you wanted to try at least once in your life?

A: Live abroad.

Q: If you can use a magic, what kind of magic ability do you want?

A: The power to turn back time.

Q: If there is a time machine, would you go to the past? Or to the future?

A: The past.

Q: If you were to start learning an instrument now, what would you want to learn?

A: Piano

Q: You got two tickets for a trip to anywhere in the world! Where would you go with Yui-chan?

A: Norway. I want to at least see the midnight sun with Yui-chan, once in this lifetime.

Q: If you were to swap bodies with Yui-chan for a day, what will you do?

A: Enjoy the college student life☆

Q: Do you have any habits that you caught from Yui-chan?

A: Instead of a habit, I’ve learned to eat potato chips.

Q: Is there any part of Yui-chan that you want her to fix?

A: Can’t think of any!

Q: Which of Yui-chan’s solo songs do you want to sing?

A: “Happy Strawberry”

Q: What is the hottest topic between the two of you?

A: Dramas… I think?

Q: Do you have any episodes where you think that “I linked!” with Yui-chan?

A: When we don’t need words and just know what each other is thinking.

Q: From all of YuiKaori songs, which song do you think is the most difficult to dance?

A: Surprisingly, it’s “Jumpin’ Bunny Flash!!” especially the live version. It’s difficult!

Q: Do you have any tricks in remembering a dance?

A: By learning the rhythm of the dance itself or the sound of the music with the dance. And then learning the figure of the rest of the dance.

Q: What do you think is the good thing about being a unit?

A: We share our memories together.

Q: What do you always do right before a live? (Something like a jinx.)

A: Give it my all to listening to my favorite song.

Q: What is the moment when you feel that you “Linked” with the fans?

A: When I face all of our fans during a live.

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YuiKaori’s new album “Bright Canary” has been released.

YuiKaori’s 3^rd album “Bright Canary”, according to Ogura Yui and Ishihara Kaori, is a workpiece that means To fly as high as a canary, for a brighter future. This album includes their summer 2014 guitar-rock song “Intro Situation,”, their January 2015 single “NEO SIGNALIFE,” that tells a strong message from its lyrics. An album with various songs worthy to be called a “next project” after their 1^st album, Puppy and their 2^nd album, Bunny. So how did they sing these new pieces that they called “YuiKaori’s Brand New Tunes?” We asked them about it.

Interview──Text / Narimatsu Tetsu

Running on the ground, jumping from the ground, and then flying into the sky.

──The first album title which released in 2011 was “Puppy”, which means a small dog and the 2^nd album which released in 2013 titled “Bunny” = rabbit. And this time’s album is “Bright Canary”, it’s a canary.

Ogura Yui: We started from the image of puppies running around, and next was rabbits. It had the image of rabbits hopping around, so we came into discussions such as “What should we do next?” or “We want to fly even more, right?” and then, we came up to “Canaries are the birds with beautiful voices, isn’t it a perfect image for us?” thus, we put “Canary” on the title.

──But this time, you put “Bright” before it.

Ogura:  You’re right, if you came with “Puppy” and “Bunny”, of course it should be “Canary”, but…

──The euphony of “Puppy”, “Bunny”, and “Canary” also sounds nice, after all (laughs).

Ogura:  It’s just as you said (laughs) but now that both of us turned into our twenties, we had a concept of challenging things we haven’t tried until now, so while also following the flow up, we decided to add something new.

Ishihara Kaori: So we added “Bright”, to mean a promising future.

──After that, you selected the songs which are worth to be featured in “Bright Canary”?

Ishihara:  No, we didn’t. The songs selection and the title creation went together, right?

Ogura: Yes. Instead of us hearing everything first to choose, it was the Staff who chose them for us with the theme “YuiKaori’s Brand New Tunes” in mind. We were allowed to listen to the demo songs since all of them were fit into the theme; songs we’ve never had up to now, then we thought “Let’s add something else for ‘Canary.’” Just as what Carrie-san (Ishihara) said, the songs selection and the title creation progressed together.

The symbol of the evolving YuiKaori = “Baisoku∞Love Straight”

──And then you lined up “YuiKaori’s Brand New Tunes” that evolved from your guitar rock summer single “Intro Situation” from last year, and this year’s summer single “Ring Ring Rainbow!!”

Ishihara: However, I was a bit anxious even since we started to make this album. We’ve been making this album with hope that everyone would see YuiKaori’s growth, which is different with the one they know in mind, but every time we record the new songs and received the completed songs, I started to feel like “Will it be okay?” or “Will everyone accept it?”… But because it’s an album, when you listen to it together with the songs from the singles, you could really feel our progress, or rather, it properly becomes a YuiKaori song, so to be honest, I felt a bit relieved (laughs).

Ogura: Ever since I got the demo songs, I also felt really anxious before listening to the completed songs, like “Will this song represent YuiKaori properly?”, but now that the satisfaction is bigger, I thought “Were we able to express a new thing which only our current self could do?”

──Certainly, you could say that even from the 1st song “Baisoku∞Love Straight”, you can feel the new representation, or rather, I was surprised by it. With the recent 4/4-beat dance rock, you only did extensive word plays. The things happened in the lyrics, such as getting late, forgetting things, sitting beside the boy you like during class in campus, being without no make-up, only that. No narratives and plots at all (laughs).

Ogura–Ishihara: Ahahahaha (laughs).

Ogura: But I thought that this song is the proof of the evolution of YuiKaori’s songs. Even while we have rock as the base, the way we play with the Chinese-like melody and ethnic melody popped on the way of the song is also new, but we also have “PUPPY LOVE!!” which was included in “Puppy”…

Ishihara: Or the song from a single that’s also in this album, “LUCKY DUCKY!!”…

Ogura: To some extent, we could say that this song is similar to our previous slapstick songs where we chattered and did word plays along the rhythm. For example, the part where we chase each other’s lines is certainly from “PUPPY LOVE!!”, I was surprised by the sound, but then it made me think “The slapstick, chatter song has finally come after a while, huh”.

Ishihara: Yeah. Even though we have something new, we also have the same things as before. Now that we have both sides, we were able to make this song our own song, it’s a great thing for YuiKaori, or so I thought.

Ogura Yui & Ishihara Kaori, thinking about their friendship once again

──Just as Ishihara-san said before, the new songs for this album actually have the roots from your previous discography. Starting from “Baisoku∞Love Straight” which has the strong novelty feels, to “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” which is about your relationships and determination towards the fans, it linked smoothly, and later on, and it continues to the lead track “Canaria”.

Ogura: This song is embarrassing!

──While the strings dramatically resounds, the two canary birds = the singing birds, in other words, it’s a song where you gently sing about your friendship, isn’t it? (laughs).

Ogura: Up until now, we didn’t have any songs where we need to sing in our own world, so I was surprised by it, and got a bit embarrassed. During the recording, I sang this song while imagining about my friends from school, the fans, or the friends of the fans. Because I thought “If I only think about Carrie-san while singing it, it’ll be very embarrassing, you know?” (laughs).

Ishihara: Ahahahaha (laughs). I also didn’t only think about myself when I sang it. If I sing it with only about Yui-chan and I in mind, I feel that this song would be a really personal song, which nobody could empathize it.

Ogura: Right? I might exaggerate it if I say that “We’ve been together in joys and sorrows” until we became the YuiKaori we are now, and were able to release three albums like this, but it’s a fact that many things had happened, and we reached up into our relationship like now. Once, I tried to put these feelings that sometimes appears inside of me into my singing, but if I imagine our episodes specifically, just as Carrie-san tried to explain, I thought that it’d be a world of a song where no one could get in to.

Ishihara: Though the reason why we didn’t stand close only to ourselves, it’s just as Yui-chan said before, because it’s embarrassing (laughs).

“Ishihara-san, you’re so easy to please.” “This, this isn’t me!!”

──Certainly, for you who have been together since middle school, and has already turned into adults now, you need some courage to confirm about your friendship and how deep your relationship is, right?

Ishihara: I’ll change the topic for a bit, but until recently, I couldn’t really grasp how to use the word “nikoichi”.

──With the meaning of ‘to combine the working parts of two or more broken machines to make one functioning machine’, it also means “We’re tied with a strong friendship like two people becoming one” wait, huh?

Ishihara: That’s right. My relationship with Yui-chan is something that’s beyond that word. I think it’s because I have this relationship with her that doesn’t need the label ‘friendship,’ anymore.

Ogura: Even without confirming it with words, Carrie-san being on my side, her existence has already become obvious, and we know about each other too much that I would think “Has she seen through me?” (laughs).

Ishihara: That’s why when we got the lyrics for “Canaria,” I felt that I’ve been seen through (laughs).

Ogura: But that’s why, there’s a meaning of why we need to sing and confirm our friendship and relationship now. I think that it’s only our current self who could sing out about how deep the relationship we’ve built and the friendship that one could feel because of the time that passed, from then until now.

──Not only that, your annual solo songs for YuiKaori’s albums are also recorded here. But they’re the opposite of the solo songs on “Puppy” and “Bunny”. Up until now, Ogura-san got the electric song, while Ishihara-san got to sing the guitar song, but…

Ogura: Ah, you’re right! (laughs)

Ishihara: I didn’t realize it at all! (laughs)

──Hahahaha (laughs). And then, on the electric dance music “Telephone Call” which Ishihara-san sings, there is this lyrics “Even though you coldly deal with me with ‘I’m busy’ or ‘I can’t’, but sometimes you come to me to be spoiled, that part of you is incredibly lovely”. If I should say it, Ishihara-san, you’re easy to please (laughs).

Ishihara: This main character isn’t me! (laughs)

Ogura: Ahahahaha (laughs).

The song I need to sing, and the song which is strange yet interesting

──So, is this main heroine, easy to sing?

Ishihara: It’s the type I haven’t able to get to sing up until now, so it was fun. You could say that singing while acting is interesting. But, this girl’s feelings, as Ishihara Kaori personally, I couldn’t understand her (laughs).

──You also said “What do you mean by ‘but sometimes you come to me to be spoiled, that part of you is incredibly lovely’!?” (laughs).

Ishihara: That’s why, contrarily, I was able to sing it fairly. If I were this kind of type,I think it’ll be the same with when I got “Canaria” lyrics, that it felt like I’ve been seen through and get embarrassed by it, but I was able to sing it in a different feeling from my own, I think it’s because of that I’m also working as a voice actor. Not only that, the songs I usually listen to are mostly dance music. I’ve been thinking of wanting to sing this kind of song for my solo, so I was really happy that it’s finally granted.

──On the other hand, Ogura-san’s solo song is “Liar Sheep”.

Ogura: I was worried about “How far I’d be immersed into this song’s world?” just before the recording…No, actually it’s until we were recording this song. It’s also because the key for this song is originally a bit high, and has a bit of a float-y feeling. I thought about it a lot, of how should I sing with a bit of soft vocal but with lyrics that has a strong message.

──It’s a bit of an ironic song where you need to act as “The boy who turns fresco”, “The boy who turns the globe”, “The old man who turns the clock”, they’re strange characters; you need to sing about the transition of time, and about no matter how many time has passed, there are people’s actions and ridiculous things which wouldn’t change, after all.

Ogura: So, I tried out various ways to sing it, but the finalization was in the condition where the key had been lowered to a half tone, so if I sing it with the current key, it’ll be a rock number which I could send the message properly; but the soft part from the original arrangement isn’t completely deleted. It became a song that can hype with the listener during a live, also a song which you could enjoy while wearing a headphone by yourself. I think it became a song that is strange yet interesting.

Although it’s embarrassing, we tried to act cool to aim for the “New World”

──Next, your song “New World” with an emo-loud type of tough sound with lyrics such as “I’ve been forgetting about important things, counting the stars, to keep running away, but I swore to myself”, “To only look ahead and cut through into my only future”, it’s a song with a strong message.

Ogura: The first time I listened to the demo song, I thought that “It’s really cool!” But after that I realized something, “By the way, this song, we’ll be the one who will sing it, right?”…

──Something like “Ah, it’s not good if only I enjoyed listening to it!” (laughs).

Ogura: Exactly (laughs). I’d say, that this song is a piece which you need to act cool to send the message, isn’t it? That’s why we need to act cool to sing it, and it’d be meaningless if it obviously sounds like “Somehow YuiKaori is acting cool”, I grabbed my head for a while because of that.

──You could finally find a cool voice style, while still being yourself, couldn’t you, Ogura-san? 

Ogura: But we have the adlib-like singing parts like “Oh no…” and “Oh, oh” in-between the verse and the bridge, I felt how interested I was during the beginning of the recording, who tried to act cool and sing the “Oh no…” and “Oh, oh” parts (laughs).

Ishihara: Ahahahaha (laughs).

──That “Oh no…” and “Oh, oh” were also cool, you know?

Ogura: In the end, I felt that I could properly act cool and sing the “Oh, oh”, but the first “Oh, oh” was really a hurdle (laughs). It’s a phrase that doesn’t usually come out from our songs after all.

Ishihara: Ah, but I think it’s the opposite for me. Because it’s the type of song that YuiKaori hasn’t been able to sing up until now, so it might be misleading, but it was near to when I sing my favorite musician’s songs at the karaoke, or something like that. While thinking of “It’s a bit difficult, but it’s a cool song~”, I was able to have fun by acting cool and singing it, and I was able to say “Oh, oh” in a high spirit (laughs). And maybe this isn’t a strong word so far, because recently we have sung “From now on, too, we’ll go forward together with everyone” in “NEO SIGNALIFE” and “Ring Ring Rainbow!!”

Ogura: That’s right. That’s why in the end we were able to sing the “Oh, oh” part.

The album making that didn’t end at the finale

──Amongst the new songs, was “New World” the most troubling song to record?

Ogura: No, it’s the last song “Billion-Carat”, isn’t it?

Ishihara: Yeah.

──Certainly, it’s not a “J-POP that adopted Electro Dance Music’s technique” or “Dubstep-like J-POP ”, nor the cool dance music; it has intense Electro Dance Music-feels, which actually is real Dubstep. I was surprised that you put this song as the last song of the album.

Ishihara: It’s not where we sing a YuiKaori-like song which everyone might think of and it goes into a “happy end”, but rather even we were surprised by how we needed more challenges for a new thing (laughs).

──Not only that, the title is “Juu-oku (Billion) Carat”, and the lyrics are declaring things such as “One day of the Billionaire heart” and “Hey, Be a Bright GEM!”, you put a blast to the listeners, which are the “jewelries”.

Ogura: I feel that I’ve been saying the same thing for quite a while, but this demo song particularly had an impact (laughs). The lyrics, title, and also the sound. “Billion-Carat” is obviously a title for a dance music, but the rules of the rhythm is different with all of the dance music songs we’ve been dancing and singing up until now.

──Electric Dance Music (or EDM) means to reach the peak. Because it keeps the rhythm on the surface of the beat, so the manner of the rhythm is different with Hip Hop, Jazz, and House music which engraves the beat, isn’t it?

Ogura: That’s why I thought something such as “I wonder where should we put a step forward to take into the rhythm?”

When our voices overlaps, I suddenly can see clearly before me.

──How did you settle it?

Ogura: It’ll be an abstract explanation though, but we tried to search something like the link between the cool part which could show how YuiKaori is, and the cool part which this song has. At first we snuggled up to this sound, we sang it in quite a serious way, but somehow it didn’t feel right.

Ishihara: I think I’ve already talked about it, but with our characters, we couldn’t show “The sexy older women who runs a club” (laughs). (Reference: YuiKaori “NEO SIGNALIFE” Interview).

Ogura: That’s why I tried a lot of trials and errors, but when I tried to change it into “Let’s genuinely enjoy this new rhythm a bit, like kids”, my impression of the song suddenly changed by itself, and I was able to sing it into a YuiKaori-like EDM very smoothly.

Ishihara: Thus, because Yui-chan has finally found her way to ‘YuiKaori-like “Billion-Carat”’, it made me a bit at ease (laughs).

──You felt at ease?

Ishihara: As for me, I kept thinking about how to show the cool YuiKaori-like way, I was really troubled by it, but it was Yui-chan who did the recording first. At the chorus, there’s a part where I need to sing in unison with Yui-chan, but when I heard Yui-chan’s voice that was recorded first, it made me think “Ah, it’s okay to sing just like I thought” and “So it’s okay with the cool YuiKaori-like I’ve thought of”. It’s not like we talked about “Let’s sing it like this, okay?”, but the way we think of it was the same. That’s why, the moment our voices are mixed together, I felt that I was able to see clearly before me.

──It’s not about the friendship we’re talking about before, but you really are able to communicate with each other spiritually, aren’t you? You also previously said “You don’t know why, but you know everything about Ogura-san” after all (Reference: YuiKaori “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” Interview).

Ishihara: Ahahahaha (laughs). The me at that time, I was close to not saying anything, wasn’t I? I really don’t know why, but I know if it’s about Yui-chan.

Ogura: For me as well, to know something such as “If it’s Carrie-san, I bet she would sing like this” or “I bet she would act like this” is a normal thing, when you said something like “you can communicate with each other spiritually”, in contrary, it made me surprised. But even though we were able to try a lot of new things for this album, it still ended up being a YuiKaori-like work; I guess it’s because we’re in unison, or so I thought.

Translations: Rurei
TLC/QC: Satsunyan
Source: Natalie PowerPush

Note: If to be taken out, please link to this post instead of reposting. Thanks!

YuiKaori’s 11^th single “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” will be released on August 5^th.

The title song, “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” is an opening theme for the TV Animation “Joukamachi no Dandelion” (Castle Town Dandelion) which both Ogura Yui and Ishihara Kaori also appeared in. Alongside a bright guitar sound, they sing in resonance about “Please look at me properly”, “I want to respond properly”, a song made for the siblings who are candidates to becoming the next King complete with a touch of comedy. As for Ogura and Ishihara, this song is also an answer song for the fans who supported them in their live in Chiba’s Makuhari Event Hall during the end of 2014. So we ask them again about their reasons and attitude going forward.

Interview-Text / Narimatsu Tetsu

What kind of “Family” does YuiKaori think of?

—On the previous interview, you said that both of you have started to actively participate in the song’s direction and taste, and the message of the lyrics since the production of your single in January “NEO SIGNALIFE” (Source: YuiKaori “NEO SIGNALIFE” interview).

Ogura Yui: That’s right. Before, the only thing we could do was to perform our best, and it was the fans who leads us, but since around last year’s tour, both of us started to realize and thought that “Now, it’s time for us to lead the fans”, that kind of awareness.

Ishihara Kaori: The staff understood the change in our awareness, so during the tour and “NEO SIGNALIFE” meetings they started to ask something like “What do you think?” and heard our voice.

—And then, about this time’s “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” it has steadily stepped up since then, or should I say, it has become a song that you wanted, huh?

Ogura–Ishihara: Thank you very much.

—Alongside the hard dance beat, you sang “Do now, I know TARGET” for “NEO SIGNALIFE”, and grammatically had “I” = “watashi”. On the other side, “Ring Ring Rainbow!!” is a kind of cheerful with a good contrast song. It has a sing-a-long part such as “Let’s go!” and “Let’s sing!” As for this one, the subject is “us” = “watashitachi”. The target for singing became wider, and you are trying to involve the listeners.

Ogura: This time, it’s also because we are in charge of the opening theme for the anime “Castle Town Dandelion” which has ‘family’ as the setting, but certainly it’s because we are aware of “as YuiKaori” like we talked about before, Kaori-chan and I, myself, our relationship is like a family, we also think of our fans like our own family, so I feel that this song should be a song that can involve a lot of people. It’s not like, we sing this song only for the anime, and not only for ourselves either. It became a song that could be taken in various ways, and I think that’s really good.

It’s because we are business partners so we could become a family.

—This time is your 3^rd time taking our interview, but certainly your relationship is more than friends, it feels more intimate.

Ishihara: It’s a relationship where we can stay being frank with each other, right?

Ogura: It’s because we can be ourselves, as we are with our own families, so we don’t feel a wall between us. That’s why we could also know the parts of each other that’s really easy to understand (laughs).

Ishihara: Yui-chan is really easy to understand (laughs).

Ogura: I also know when Kaori-chan isn’t in a good mood, like “Ah, just now, she’s not very energetic isn’t she?” and such (laughs).

—But you aren’t related by blood, so to speak, you are a business partners, right?

Ishihara: We have been doing activities together ever since before we formed YuiKaori, and during those times we were together for almost 365 days so I feel like maybe we could be like this because of that, too, and I also feel it’s because we are business partners that we could become a family.

—What do you mean by “It’s because we are business partners that we could become a family”?

Ishihara: It’s because what we do is a job, so there are times and then, because we built up that kind of atmosphere around us, the staff around us are guessing about “Ah, so their relationship is like that”.

Ogura: Yeah. Both of us are showing both good sides and bad sides to each other, so the staff could also understand our current condition and such properly, and I can also feel that they could see that coordination.

The “Oh! So it became like this” kind of Chorus Work

—It’s also like this for “NEO SIGNALIFE”, but “Ring Ring Rainbow!!”’s lyrics has also become a new innovation for YuiKaori, isn’t it? To cheerfully agitate the listeners with “Migi te ni yuuki wo, hidari te ni ai wo, hoka ni wa nani mo iranai (Courage in my right hand, love in my left hand, I don’t need anything else)”.

Ishihara: But I could sing it straight without worrying about anything. I look plain when I’m in front of Yui-chan, but when I’m making a work to be delivered to people, I will be a bit different. I’m the type who can’t make anything if my switch isn’t turned on somewhere, or something like that. Certainly, to sing is a big matter, but when I sang this song, I thought “Oh, so we will sing this kind of song” and my switch turned on so I could think “It would be great if we, and everyone else could think like this,” and sang it frankly.

Ogura: I think it went smoothly for me. That, and I also felt that I need to lead the fans, I realized that since the tour last year, we received a lot of power from everyone, and I’m grateful of it. Since then, I always think of “I want to repay it with something”, and this time, I could convey it with this song. I think that this song could properly become an answer song to everyone, and I felt glad over it so I didn’t even feel anxiety nor hesitation.

—At first sight, this song seems straightforward, but the chorus work is……

Ogura: Even amongst YuiKaori’s history, I think the difficulty is on the top-level, or something like “Oh! So it became like this” (laughs).

—“Aka mo ao mo shiro mo kiiro mo (Red, blue, white, and yellow)”, that phrase is fairly trivial and on top of that, it split to “Aka (Red)” and “Shiro (White)” for Ogura-san, and “Ao (Blue)” and “Kiiro mo (and yellow)” for Ishihara-san to sing in a high-speed duet, as for “Amaetakunaru (I want to be spoiled)” on the 2^nd chorus……

Ishihara: I sang the “ama” part (laughs).

Ogura: And I sang the “eta” part (laughs).

—And then you sang “kunaru” together (laughs).

Ogura: Fufufufufu (laughs).

I want to pass around the “red”, “blue”, “white”, and “yellow” batons

—Huh? How did you sing it? First you sang “amaetakunaru”, you cut “ama” for Ogura-san and “eta” for Ishihara-san……

Ishihara: Not with that way of cutting, just like the length of the line, I only sang the “ama” part (laughs).

—Did you do something such as going to the recording booth together to record it?

Ishihara: We didn’t do that too. I recorded this song a long time before Yui-chan did, but I didn’t have any problems at all.

Ogura: It was easy to sing.

—“Isn’t it difficult to put your feelings into the sound “ama” and “eta” which doesn’t have a meaning as a standalone, and on top of that, to sing and synchronize your mood like a solo vocalist?” or so I feel.

Ishihara: Somehow I could intuitively know that “If it’s Yui-chan, I think she will go like this”. We have been singing together for a long time as YuiKaori, and there are also times when we are together on the same place for anime recording, we have a lot of lines in-sync. Because I knew that during this situation Yui-chan will sing with this kind of tension, so somehow I know that I should sing like this. Practically, when I get to hear mine after it gets piled up with Yui-chan’s, I went “Ah, it’s just as I expected” and “We fit in each other” (laughs).

Ogura: I also went with my imagination (laughs). “I think Kaori-chan will go with this kind of approach”, I expected something like that. I did the recording a long time after Kaori-chan, so when I heard Kaori-chan’s “ama” before taking it, I went “Ah, like I expected” (laughs).

Ishihara: You got me (laughs). I don’t know why but somehow we just know it, right? In contrary, if we think about each other too much and get too conscious over it, I feel that we couldn’t fit at all.

—“What if, after the recording the two of them need to do punch-in or punch-out on the live, how will they sing?” I also have that kind of thought……

Ishihara: I think we also need to sing just like we did in the recording, on the live (laughs).

Ogura: And then, I really look forward to do it. Especially the “Aka mo ao mo shiro mo kiiro mo” part, we are doing a duet like we are passing batons to each other, and I thought that it would be fun to pass the batons to the audience, too.

—And after passing the colored batons, alongside the shouting part “Let’s sing!” you plunge in it together with the audience, right?

Ishihara: Not only that, during the live, I will have Yui-chan standing beside me, passing batons to each other, which is completely different from during the recording. I feel that a new nuance will be born and it will be interesting.

Yui who closes the curtain, and Kaori who doesn’t know the curtain could be closed

Ogura: That’s why I really look forward to the live, the recording was also fun…Ah! But I felt much more embarrassed that the Director and the Sound Engineer were sitting outside of the recording booth.

—Why is that?

Ogura: During the shouting parts like “Let’s Go!”, “Let’s sing!”, “Se~no!” to be seen while doing that is a bit……(laughs). During the recording, at some point I was singing while drowning into the imaginary world where I am thinking about the people who buy the CDs, or go to the live; but the world on the other side of the glass’s booth is the reality, isn’t it!?

—Everyone is working hard, after all (laughs).

Ogura: That’s right. On top of that, whenever I see the directors talking about something, it makes me to think “Aah, looks like it wasn’t good……” That’s why I always close the curtain whenever I am inside the booth, this time I felt that I closed it a bit too fast (laughs).

Ishihara: …….Wait, so it’s okay even if you close that curtain? I just learned about it now (laughs). Certainly, I also feel embarrassed during the recording. There is also “because I put my feelings while singing” or “because I imagine doing a live” and such, I also make a lot of expressions even though it’s only a recording, other than that, because I’m the type who easily gets caught into rhythm, I often move my hands, so I always sing while thinking of “Ah, I got seen again”, “It’s embarrassing~”……. Next time, I will close the curtain! (laughs)

My shine, and my friends’ shine

—The coupling song, “Calling Calling” is the same with “NEO SIGNALIFE” which is an electric dance tune, but you sang it by striking down the tempo and the mood, so it means……

Ogura: It’s a little bashful (laughs).

—About “Shourai no yume toka iu kedo honto ha jishin nai, kowai yo (I’m saying things about my future but I actually have no confidence, I’m scared)” and “Kirakirashiteru tomodachi tottemo urayamashii ii naa (I’m envious of my friends who are shining brightly, how nice)”. Is it a fictional song?

Ishihara: No. I think it’s also a song that can be applied to us.

—But after such a long time, I can’t imagine about both of you being uneasy of your future, or getting envious of other people……

Ishihara: If you are talking about me, now I am a 4^th year university student, since around last year, my friends have been doing job hunting, and soon they will start to decide on their career.

—But as for Ishihara-san, you could say that you are already done with the job hunting, or should I say, you already have a job, right? Wouldn’t it be alright not to think about it again? Or so I thought.

Ishihara: During job hunting, everyone is doing their best to face themselves, and they also think of what to do from now on, aren’t they? When I saw them, I feel like I was left behind. “Would it be good if I also face myself earnestly?” it made me to think like that. I also talked about it on the radio (Bunka Housou “YuiKaori no Mi♪”), so I thought the staff also considered it and it became this song.

—on the other hand, Ogura-san is a 2^nd year university student……

Ogura: (intercepting) No, everyone is already shining so brightly! I think about it every day!

—But you had a live in Makuhari Messe during the end of 2014, and also Saitama Super Arena’s “KING SUPER LIVE 2015” last June, aren’t both of you already shining brightly?

Ogura: We aren’t like that at all (laughs). Even though we are shining, but I think we do it in a bit of a different place with our friends. Because both Kaori-chan and I, with our state, could be proud with our job so everyday feels fun, but our friends also have their own worlds, so I thought that is the part where they shine.

Ishihara: They shine in their own ways, right?

Ogura: Compared to our friends around us, our experience in being a student is low, so when we look at our friends who shine as students, there are times when we desire it. Our friends gets anxiety, compared to theirs we have more anxiousness too, but I thought that there is also a place which we can shine. Now it’s surely the time when like our friends, who are shining, everyone can shine as well. So I thought that “Calling Calling” is sung while thinking of that. That’s why I thought it could be applied to us as well.

Ishihara: I also thought “Why did they got me!” and sang it, shocked (laughs).

Because we had that experience, we could sing “Calling Calling”

—Just like it said, you sang “Calling Calling”‘s “Jishin motte kao agete ikou!! (Have confidence, raise your head and let’s go!!)” and “Hane kaese pressure (Kick back the pressure)”.

Ishihara: I think that we could sing it because we have had an experience in witnessing everyone job hunting. To singing is like voice acting, both needs experience. It’s okay if you didn’t experience 100% exactly like the lyrics or the anime but if you have no experienced, even if you recall the closest experience to it, it would not be as convincing. This is why I think I could sing it now.

──Did Ogura-san too, sing it “Jishin motte kao agete ikou!! (Have confidence, raise your head and let’s go!!)” honestly?

Ogura: I guess. It’s not like I know all about the world where my friends do their best. So I turned upon “It will be okay if I do my best in my own world!” (laughs). I think that I could sing the way Kaori-chan did when I realized about it.

The single which became a good start-dash for the 22-year-old

—This time the single will be released in August 5^th. It’s the day before Ishihara-san’s birthday.

Ishihara: On the making of the PV, I jokingly said “Tomorrow is my birthday, so please celebrate it” and such, and when I thought that everyone will really greet me,, somehow I feel embarrassed (laughs).

—I’m sorry to make you feel embarrassed like this (laughs). Will this single become the summary of your 21-year-old self? Or rather, the beginning of being 22 years old?

Ishihara: It rather has an image of a ‘start’ to me. That’s why the pressure is also big…….(laughs).

—Even though you sang “Migi te ni yuuki wo, hidari te ni ai wo, hoka ni wa nani mo iranai” (Courage in my right hand, love in my left hand, I don’t need anything else) and “Stand up! Let’s go!” you should properly stand up with the courage and love in both of your hands, and go forward (laughs).

Ishihara: That’s right (laughs). But with a new year ahead, I’m really happy that we could sprout a new bud that YuiKaori didn’t have until now. Next year, around this time, if we’ll be looking back to this year, “Ah, ‘Ring Ring Rainbow’ was a nice start-dash, wasn’t it?” I’ll do my best so we can say it!

Credits:
Translations: Orihara Rurei
Translate Check/Proofreading: Satsunyan
Source and Photos: Natalie Power Push 

Note: If to be taken out, please link to this post instead of reposting. Thanks!

YuiKaori’s new single “NEO SIGNALIFE” has been released.

Ogura Yui, Ishihara Kaori, for both of them, the title for their first release in 2015, and this song boldly betrays YuiKaori’s image up to now, (in a good way). With a tough and quick digital beat, making it their own “new” (NEO) to “define” their start (SIGNALIZE), being a word which guides them towards the new “way of life”, it becomes a cute and powerfully striking song.

Ogura, Ishihara, which has been described in various way such as “cute”, “lovely”. While both of them had to overturn their public image midway, did they make their spirit and personal thoughts into words? And so we ask both of them.

Interview-Text / Narimatsu Tetsu

A Quick-paced And Extremely Fun 2014

──How could you describe 2014?

Ogura Yui: As YuiKaori, I think it was a year when we’ve mostly improved a lot, or where we rapidly changed, something like that (laughs). Anyway, I really feel that we’re moving in a quick pace.

──During the interview in summer (Source: YuiKaori “Intro Situation” Interview), Ogura-san had graduated from high school and said that the release pace has turned quick. In fact, they have many releases since a year ago, “LUCKY DUCKY!!”, thereafter, a single, “Intro Situation” in July, and DVD/Blu-ray “YuiKaori LIVE ‘BUNNY FLASH’” in October.

Ishihara Kaori: The release of CDs and DVDs are also like that, and even before Yui-chan had graduated from high school, I felt like our whole activities’ pace has risen. We took “LUCKY DUCKY!!’s” recording when Yui-chan was still in high school, we also had a live in a larger venue than usual, Pacifico Yokohama, in February……

Ogura: We also had Anisama (Animelo Summer Live) in summer, and we have a tour, “HEARTY PARTY!!” that will be starting in Fall…

Ishihara: That’s why I feel like we’ve been together as YuiKaori for the whole year, I also feel that I kept meeting you (laughs). That’s why, it was really fun!

Ogura: Yeah!

A “Subtle” And “Vague,” Yet “Powerful” Self-Produce

──And now, your first work in the beginning of the year, this single, “NEO SIGNALIFE”……about that, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I say that you’ve carried it over from the tide of 2014. You’ve raised the gear higher, right?

Ogura–Ishihara: Fufufufufu (laughs).

──Both of you were laughing over “Intro Situation” ’s coupling dance tune, “MIRRORING DESIGNS” ’s lyrics and said “To think that YuiKaori would sang something like ‘ambition’ and ‘privilege’”, but “NEO SIGNALIFE” is even more tough both in the beat and phrases. You even sang “Shockin’ REVOLUTION” “Do now, I know TARGET” since the beginning of the song. In this term, both of you weren’t even holding a vague feeling of “ambition” anymore, and we could clearly see that it turned into something you aimed for.

Ogura: This time’s song concept is certainly about “To show a strong intention in proceeding to the next level.”

──Didn’t you need courage to declare something like “It’s a revolution”, “We will do it now”, “We know our target” ?

Ishihara: But we also have the feelings such as “We will move forward” and “We will aim for the next”.

──Though, the one who wrote the lyrics weren’t both of you, but Hata Aki-san who also wrote “MIRRORING DESIGNS” ‘s lyrics, right? Was it something like, the label staff and Hata-san, also the composer Ono Takamitsu-san had joined up and made your spirit into a song?

Ishihara: It’s kind of complicated.

Ogura: Yeah. It’s unclear.

──“Complicated” and “unclear”?

Ogura: Certainly, it’s not like that we haven’t talked directly to Hata-san about it before, but…

Ishihara: Ever since the live in Pacifico, we have been participating in the YuiKaori-related meetings, such as goods production, and now we could give our own opinions to the staff, like “We want to show something like this”.

Ogura: And of course regarding this time’s single, ever since the production had begun, we always talked about things such as “We have experienced a lot of things as YuiKaori, that’s why we have something we could do now” or “I want to express something different than the usual YuiKaori has been.” I feel like our feelings has finally been granted.

The Whispering Voices That Has Been Granted

──Was that “A proposal where we considered ourselves,” that was made by both of you? Or was it because the staff has started asking your opinions?

Ogura: I think it’s also ‘complicated’ and ‘unclear’ (laughs).

Ishihara: We’ve been asked something like “What do you two think?” since a long time ago, but when I was still a freshman in university, I’ve never thought that my opinions would match [the theme], so I didn’t really have a confidence to say it……

Ogura: Yeah. I was also thinking that “I’m only a high-school student”, so I had no confidence. Thus, and during my junior high-school and senior high-school days, I spent my days embraced by people’s kindness and affection, and yet I still could really experience a lot of things so I thought “Maybe it’s okay to stay this way.”

Ishihara: But even though it’s obvious, YuiKaori is our group, so we must do it with all of our might, and it’s because we have something we want to do, that’s why during those times, we didn’t say our thoughts loudly, but we did do something like muttering things (laughs).

──Hahahahaha (laughs). And what makes those whispering voice change into a loud voice?

Ishihara: Because the staff had actually heard our whisper. “So you thought of something like that?” “Then, it’d be better if you discussed it before”, they started to tell us something like that, so I realized and thought “What, so I don’t need to take it too seriously and just propose it?” And then, when I looked at Yui-chan beside me, it looked like she caught the same thing, that’s why we went, “Well then, let’s say it together!” or something like that (laughs).

Ogura: Yeah (laughs). After that, we actively participated on the meetings and such, and it’s really fun to see how the things which Kaori-chan and I had said become real. Since then, we reached up to the point where we made things together with the staff.

Ishihara: That’s why the reason is ‘complicated’ and ‘unclear’ (laughs). Even if the loud voice of “We want to do it like this!” came from us, it isn’t like someone told us to “Say it with a loud voice!”

The “Embarrassed” Yui And, “I Feel Embarrassed But I Won’t Be Embarrassed” Kaori

──On the previous interview, Ishihara-san said that when you sing YuiKaori’s songs, you don’t stand on the heroine’s point of view. Instead, you’re trying to grasp the full view of the heroine by looking at her from afar.

Ishihara: Yes.

──Then, Ogura-san said that she is visualizing the world of the lyrics inside of her head, and think of how the heroine will sing in that visualization. But with the lyrics of “NEO SIGNALIFE”, your approach won’t work, right?

Ogura: That’s right. Because this time, it’s a song where we need to sing about our intentions, we couldn’t catch the lyrics into a narrative point of view. About my voice, too, I also thought that I only used my strong part and core part of myself.

──“I thought”, so rather than facing yourself, it’s more like you let out your inner self?

Ogura: It’s something like that. It’s the type of lyrics which I haven’t received until now, so when we started the recording, I got embarrassed, or rather, if I don’t get fired up I couldn’t sing it properly, but I also like songs with strong words, so in the end I felt like “Ah, I could sing it”. Also, during the recording, both the staff and I are worried about “You act a bit too show-off, it might be different with the usual”, but when I finished singing, I got “Ah, it’s still YuiKaori’s song. It’s okay.”

Ishihara: Heee~! Even though I sang it without getting embarrassed, even if I did get embarrassed (laughs).

──Ahahahaha (laughs).

Ishihara: It’s obvious because it’s a song where we want everyone to listen to our intentions, but I could also sympathize over the lyrics “we express our problems that we have now and the feelings which we couldn’t rub off, and how we will go to the future up ahead”. “I understand it~”, while thinking about that, I could be myself and express my own feelings without fiddling (laughs).

Seeking YuiKaori’s Way Of Being Stylish

──Please tell me about the tracks, too. From the information, it also said something about “An electro-tune from YuiKaori which has a reputation of dancing”

Ishihara: No~! (laughs)

Ogura: Ahahahaha (laughs).

──But in fact, the same goes for “MIRRORING DESIGNS”, you aren’t actually only cute. But you are a unit with a lot of strong beat, dance tunes.

Ogura: There is that, and this time Kaori-chan, the staff, and I had also decided that the theme would be “dancing” since the start.

Ishihara: This is also a new trial for us, to choose a song which would suit the theme, and we are also allowed to discussed and witness what to do with the arrangement.

──Did the chosen song do well?

Ogura: There were really a lot of songs we got for the demo, but all of them matched. We went “Ah, this is nice” together while choosing the “NEO~” demo.

Ishihara: We felt like “this is it” and smoothly decided on it. We advanced it to “let’s change the tempo so you could dance more stylish” or something like that. Both Yui-chan and I, even though we’re supposed to choose the song from various points of view, not only about “we can dance it”.

──“Various points of view”?

Ogura: It’s been a while since we have a dance number for our single, we also thought of how the fans think of YuiKaori’s image.

──What do you mean by YuiKaori’s image which the fans think of?

Ishihara: How should I put it? “Lax”? (laughs)

Ogura: You’re right. Even on the radio (Bunka Housou “YuiKaori no Mi♪”), to everyone who know the way we talk, I’m sure they will say “lax” (laughs). Then, because both of us are “lax”, we are aiming to be stylish, but we still couldn’t become cool and sexy no matter how hard we tried…

Ishihara: Because there is a limit to what we can do (laughs).

The “Fuu~!” Becomes A Proof Of A “YuiKaori-like” New Innovation

──Ishihara-san, what is your “point of view” of the chosen song?

Ishihara: It’s the same for Yui-chan, too, because we were intended to unveil it during the tour which started in November, so we wanted “a song which can pump up the live”.

Ogura: Yeah.

──In fact, how did the audience react to it?

Ishihara: This time, it was the first time that we have a part where we have to do something like a dance battle in the choreography……

──You did a solo dance during the guitar solo, after the 2nd chorus, right?

Ishihara: This song was unveiled on the first day of the tour in Nagoya (November 22nd, Aichi-Nagoya Congress Center Century Hall Live), during that solo part I could hear some audience making a sound like (with a high pitch) “Fuu~!” (laughs).

Ogura: I heard that, too! When I heard that “Fuu~!” I got really impressed and thought “It reached the audience!”

──Certainly, the audience in Nagoya could “understand” it. If you saw before and after from the making of the PV and the dance battle, you could embody the image of “NEO SIGNALIFE”. Before taking (the dance battle part), even though Ogura-san kept saying “I will win over Kaori” with a posed look, Ishihara-san only said “I won’t lose to you~” with a surprisingly carefree tone. And right after that, Ogura-san also blew off her posed look (laughs).

Ishihara: That’s why I thought it’s very YuiKaori, but we were still able to show the cool part, too; a new song in our way, too (laughs).

Yui And Kaori’s Miraculous Way To Of Being Out of Sync

──The coupling song, “Orion Kara no Message” (lit. Message from Orion) is a complete change. The lyrics is written by Matsui Goro-san, and the composer is CHI-MEY-san, it’s a four-key and sentimental ballad.

Ogura: To be honest, because YuiKaori has never sung this kind of bittersweet ballad, it was really refreshing, and I thought it’s really nice. I felt like I was becoming an adult, or something (laughs).

Ishihara: Ahahahaha (laughs). But certainly, it’s the most bittersweet song from all of YuiKaori’s songs, and it’s the most adult-like song.

──How did you deal with that bittersweet and adult-like song?

Ishihara: It’s the same with “NEO~”. I felt that I could sing it proactively. I, myself, is the type that will listen to a bittersweet song to calm down, and think “let’s do our best again”, and the lyrics have scenes like ‘the frozen roadside trees’ or ‘the sound of a mail echoed from the pocket’, which are realities everyone would know, so I thought maybe I should put my own feelings into the song.

Ogura: As for me, when I sing “Orion~”, it makes me feel a bit strange. I could imagine a scene of a picture book inside my head. And when the heroine on the book feels a bit sad and walk in-between ‘the frozen roadside trees’, this song is like a heaven-sent music, something like that. From above or beside her, it’s a bit vague, but I feel like I’m singing this song near the heroine.

──On one side, you were singing it as a heroine, and on the other side you became a specific character, it’s unclear, but in fact you sang it while committing to the world of the song, like that?

Ogura: Somehow it turned out really different (laughs).

Ishihara: Right! Even though I thought that Yui-chan would also sing with the same feelings (laughs).

Ogura: But we tuned in (laughs).

──That’s right. Because the chorus work of this song also becomes an important point.

Ogura: Because we are often told “you resemble each other” about our appearance and personality, we resemble each other but we’re actually really different.

Ishihara: Like when we are singing, our way of thinking about the scene we visualize is different.

Ogura: Although we’re out of sync, for example with Kaori-chan’s way to bulge and my way to feel down, it feels good. When we go through it, we are perfectly in sync. I think because YuiKaori is that kind of existence, that’s why we can perfectly sync our voices, too.

YuiKaori’s Target For 2015

──Going backwards on our topic, but just as written on “NEO SIGNALIFE” about “I know TARGET” which you sang, what kind of “target” will you aim for in 2015?

Ishihara: I wonder what we should aim for. (laughs)

Ogura: Right? (laughs) But, I think that how we can finally say the things we are thinking of is also one of them, and since our activity as YuiKaori 5 years ago, I feel like we finally know what we should do or what we want to do.

Ishihara: Yeah. But something like the trend of the time, the things I should do or the things I want to do will sometimes change depends on the circumstances, so I can’t say something like now “I will aim for this”, “I will be heading to this” specifically, and I really can’t imagine of what kind of existence I will be, but I do think of how I want to extend my outlook. If I have a wider outlook, I can have various patterns of ideas. Even though the circumstance is changing, I can’t do anything because I’m being tied by the stereotype; I think something like that should be gone.

Ogura: Then, taking that something which sometimes will happen into account, I hope that we could find a ‘target’ we could aim for that time. For the sake of that, choosing the song, the live, the talk, and also something I can do now, I hope I can do all of them. With that, we could think “This time we could do this, that’s why next time we can also do this and that” and the range of the places we can aim for and head for will also be widened.

Credits:
Translations: Orihara Rurei
Translate Check/Proofreading: Satsunyan
Source and Photos: Natalie Power Push

First of all, Happy Birthday, Nanchan! Today, in Japan it’s already 7/12! Nanchan has turned 31 17! Please wish her a happy birthday (お誕生日おめでとう！) over at twitter! Although she’s definitely at her birthday live right now.

The Wheel of Seiyuu is a series of 50-questions by DDNavi for different male and female seiyuu. So far, our friend/s has been translating the other female seiyuu interviews! Visit them for more 50 Questions! If you know someone translates the male seiyuu 50Qs please do send us a message so we can add them here for everyone who would be interested!

Meanwhile, if you would like to contribute (translate a 50Q), but need a translation checker, don’t hesitate to ask for our help! (ง •̀_•́)ง

After literal months of procrastinating, I was finally able to finish this 50 Questions for Nanjolno! It was a perfect opportunity to post it today!

Well then, without further ado… off towards the interview!

P.S. I had actually omitted the original Nanjolno photo used for the interview because it’s too small (or I just can’t save the original size/quality rofl)

P.P.S. We also used the template questions already translated by My Story Your Beats, hope you don’t mind!

A 50 question relay series to popular seiyuu, from work related questions to private questions called, “The Wheel of Seiyuu.” The second person we interviewed was Murakawa Rie-san, it was a wild, all over the place, talk, “as expected.” It also received a lot of response.

The third person, as introduced by Murakawa Rie-san, is the voice of Ayase Eri from Love Live, and the vocalist of fripSide, Nanjou Yoshino-san!

—–

01. Please tell us why you decided to become a seiyuu.
I went to training school, then once presented an opportunity for a certain work, I took it.

02. What was your first anime role?
Soul Link’s Sugimoto Aya.

03. Among the many roles you have done so far, is there any character which leaves behind a particularly strong impression?
In terms of character, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes’ Akechi Kokoro, I guess. It was the first time I have ever played such a character that makes a fuss out of everything. (laughs)

04. The character you voice right now and yourself, please tell us similar things between you two.
Right now, it’s Senki Zesshou Symphogear G’s Tsukuyomi Shirabe-chan, our similarities… “Her way of speaking is like of an adult female, and not like of a young girl, but she can say right away what’s on her mind, a straight to the point girl.” At first, I thought that I didn’t have this kind of image, but Symphogear’s original creator Agematsu-san said, “Shirabe fits your image well, Nanjou-san, keep it up!” so I thought, “So I had that kind of image!” It made me happy. (laughs)

05. Of all the characters you’ve voiced up to present, please tell us one scene that is the most impressive for you.
The Love Live character I played, Ayase Eri, had a scene in episode 8 where her motive and complaints were revealed. It was an impressive scene. Upon the start of the anime, the staff-san told me that “The direction of the planning are settled with Nanjou-san’s acting together with the character’s expression.” It left an impression on me.

06. Do you have a seiyuu-san who influenced you to become one?
A seiyuu who affected my job as a seiyuu, in that sense, the person to be up to that level, a person who affected my life would be, Kumai Motoko-san.

07. Do you have a fellow seiyuu who you look up to as a rival or as a goal?
Hm~~~~~ I do have a goal… but it’s a secret!

08. What do you think you would have become if you had not become a seiyuu?
Before I started aiming to become a seiyuu, I’ve always loved to draw, if possible, something related to drawing. Get a part-time in my home town, and then draw as a hobby… or something like that. (laughs)

09. What has been the toughest part about being a seiyuu?
Hm~ the tough things that I recall is… sometimes there are things that are dependent on the schedule. Game recording, live, voice acting, and it continued for a few days. I come home from work, which is the evening and I have to check the lyrics and the script. There were also times when I didn’t have time to memorize the lyrics before recording a song, I had to check it, but if I didn’t sleep well my voice wouldn’t come out. Because I didn’t sleep, my throat wasn’t warmed up properly, however I still had to use it until it became painful, but if I relaxed it, my voice would change then it wouldn’t match the song. I check scripts at night and end up not getting some sleep. Something like that, I wonder, I guess the management of my health? There was a time where it was really difficult.

10. On the other hand, what has been the most satisfying part about being a seiyuu?
“I was able to take part in a wonderful work! I was part of it!” that’s what I thought at the moment. Also “This character, and that character, I didn’t expect them to be voiced by the same person!” It makes me happy when I do characters that have [character] gaps. (laughs)

11. As fripSide’s vocalist and as a solo singer, please tell us a memory that has left an impression on you.
My in-store performance for the release of my solo album “Katarumoa,” last year, left the most impression in me. For fripSide, it’s the complete opposite. Being comfortable with the audience at the same time, like a team work. It was the best.

12. Do you love to singing?
May it be good or bad, it doesn’t matter! I love it!

13. In the radio programs you have been in, were there any things sent in that left behind an impression?
For topics of mails, there is none. Every time, there are people who send topics to the “(Radio) Personality” corner, and these are easy to discuss. There was one time I absentmindedly chose a mail that I should read. The people doing the radio with me also picked the same mail. “Whoa, this person is amazing!” Such things have happened before.

14. During an act, is there anything which you take particular note about?
There are characters with a similar visual, but have different ways of living. I always try to pull out the differences, even if it’s just a little. Though to some extent, it will only be me who understands these differences (because something like “the characters with a similar visual will have the same voice” often happens…). Like, the way they end their speech, although maybe it’s just for my self-satisfactory. (laughs)

15. Is there a certain type of character that you are better at voicing?
I used to think that I’m good at voicing obedient characters, but lately, I feel like it’s easier for me to voice idiotic little girls instead. I was given the opportunity to play as Hourou Musuko’s Sasa-chan, and I thought that it was really easy to voice her. So those kinds of characters may be my specialty!

16. Please tell us about your goals and dreams as a seiyuu.
Since my activities in the seiyuu industry has become wider recently, to be asked only on what I aim for by just being a seiyuu is a difficult question for me. I think that as long as I’m able to use my voice, and then the people who hears it become happy and energetic, I’ll be happy. Although singing and doing radio activities are okay too… I want to work hard so that more people would say “When I heard Nanjou-san’s voice during that time, I could feel my energy coming up!” and the like.

17. What advice would you give to someone who’s aiming to be a voice actor?
This is the kind of occupation that will use everything in your life as a nourishment. It’s not just the fun things to experience, but also the bad things. You must experience them all.

18. Besides the shows you appear in, are there any other anime you frequently watch?
It’s a work from before I made my debut, the anime that made me aim to become a seiyuu is “Card Captor Sakura” I suppose! And then there are many others…

19. With reference to the question above, are there any roles you adore or want to voice?
Well, because of all those characters in that work (and with all of those seniors who voiced them) that’s why it exists, so I don’t have any characters I would like to voice. Instead, as someone who gets a lot of power from those characters and that work, I’d like to say, “Thank you for voicing them!!!” That’s how I feel.

20. As a viewer, what kind of anime do  you like?
Although it’s a genre that I haven’t been able to watch lately, I may like the fantasy ones with a hero, a magician and then they go on an adventure. With a nice story, and the characters are very alive, with a background story that I would yet to see. I love those kinds of works.

21. How were you like as a kid?
I’m a very indoor person, doing nothing else but draw a lot.

22. Please tell us about your favorite book (including manga).
The one that I was given that had a lot of impact in me is the book, “Little Tree.”

23. Please tell us about your favorite game.
It’s Final Fantasy IX!

24. Please tell us about your favorite music (album, musicians, etc).
Hmm~~ I can’t choose……!!

27. Please tell us about your favorite movie.
It’s “How to Train Your Dragon!”

26. Please tell us your personal motto.
“God never gives us more than we can handle.”

27. Please tell us about your experiences in sports thus far.
Eh….? Spor… Physical Education, Kaatsu Training, Love Live!

28. Please tell us about the songs you usually sing at karaoke.
I guess Oku Hanako-san’s songs, and w-inds-san’s too.

29. Please tell us about the food you like.
Ramen, Curry.

30. Please tell us about the food you dislike.
Entrails, except Hormon, lamb meat, Escargot…. Although I don’t have a lot of opportunities to eat it, peaches.

31. Please tell us about the shops you frequent.
Hmm~ The A-net System (Note: Stores such as the clothing stores ZUCCa, TSUMORI CHISATO and others.) types of stores are the ones I probably often go to.

32. Do you have any favorite snacks?
I love baked sweets. Like “financier” for example! Also ROYCE’s chocolate potato chips….! I like dark chocolates as well.

33. Do you drink alcohol? If so, what are your favorite varieties?
I certainly do. I like Umeshu, Makgeolli and cocktails… I’m into sake lately, I hope that I don’t get too into it. (Laughs)

34. What did you do on your latest day off?
It was today (the day this interview was written), I slept until noon, submitted papers, wrote lyrics, ate a meal, then I played with my cat. Later, do the laundry.

35. If you had a weeklong break, what would you do?
I guess I’ll travel, or I’ll go home to my parents’ house!

36. Do you have a hobby you’ve been hooked on to lately?
Recently, I’m into the “Road Movies” application that lets you take videos.

37. Please tell us about the qualifications that you possess.
Personal Computer Certificate Rank 1, Kanji Test… I forgot what rank it was already! I’m sure that there are others I have, but right now I can’t remember any! (laughs)

38. What are the things you would like to challenge yourself to do over the next 10 years?
I guess it’s to increase my activities as a solo…

39. What type of men do you like?
Medium build, a cheerful, but also a diligent person, would be great. Also, it would be nice if we had common interests~

40. Which part of the opposite gender’s body catches your eye the most?
Hm….!? Eyes…. No, Arms…. Wrist…?

41. Out of the things you have bought recently, please tell us the most expensive one.
A camera’s lens, I guess?

42. What do you want the most right now?
A lot of time I can spend on traveling!

43. If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring one item, what would you bring along?
A ship that would immediately take me back.

44. If you could spend 1 million yen freely, how would you spend it?
I’ll save it for moving houses, then I’ll move! The rest would be spent on coming back to my parent’s house…

45. Do you normally use Twitter? How often do you use it?
I use it. I use it so much that people tell me, “Nanjolno, you can’t live without twitter, huh www” Is that so~? (laughs).

46. Please tell us about the websites you definitely take a look at everyday.
There’s none specifically, I guess.

47. Please say something for your fans.
For always supporting me, thank you very much! In summer, I’ll be in the animes, “Futari wa Milky Holmes” as Akechi Kokoro, “Senki Zesshou Symphogear G” as Tsukuyomi Shirabe, “Recorder and Randsell” as Tetsuya and “Card Fight!! Vanguard” as Tatsunagi Rekka. It would be nice if you could see them~!

48. A question from Murakawa Rie-san, “Even though I’m always so high-tension and not very good at finishing my sentences, if it’s okay with you, will you continue to look after me?”
To actually still be high-tension even in an article–!! (laughs) If you’re alright with me, then by all means set up a plan with me~! (laughs) Let’s have tea again sometime~**

49. Please tell us about the other seiyuu that you are close to for the next interview.
Next time, to be able to work together in “Hourou Musuko,” we were able to talk a lot and get along better! I would like to pass the baton to “Nanri Yuuka-chan!”

50. Please leave a question behind for the next seiyuu guest.
As you are singing and voice acting, when are the times you feel “Ah, I feel so blessed now”??

—–

That’s it for Nanchan’s 50 Questions! Luckily for everyone curious… Nanri Yuuka’s interview has also been translated here!

It was a nice ride to know more about Nanjolno, she really is an interesting person huh? We’ve actually expressed interest in translating Ookubo Rumi’s 50Qs and Sakura Ayane’s 50Qs! But when will they be done… I wonder!

Until next!

Sources: DDnavi, Nanjou Yoshino’s Official Site (Image)

I’m sure everyone has been worried for Nanchan who recently was injured and asked to take a break from her activities. But she’s back, and her first stop was Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2015! AFATH2015 is the first Anime Festival Asia event to be conducted in Thailand. The event occurred last April 30th, May 1st, 2nd and 3rd (today!)

So, what was fripSide, famous duo consisting of the charismatic vocalist, Nanjou Yoshino A.K.A. Nanjolno and  the ever so fabulous keyboardist/guitarist, Yaginuma Satoshi A.K.A. sat-san’s opinions on Thailand and AFATH2015? Read on!

Q: Is this your first time visiting Thailand? What was your first impression?

Nanjou: Yes. I’ve heard about Thai food for some time now, and this visit just proved that Thai food really is great. Other than that I also had a chance to travel around Thailand and visit places.

sat: This is my second time. Last time was a private resort trip. Thai food is delicious, Thai beverage is good, and Thai people are also very nice.

Q: Before visiting Thailand, what was your expectation?

Nanjou: Thai food!

sat: Well, I want to meet Thai fans.

Q: Impressions about AFA Thailand

Nanjou: It’s hard to tell since I haven’t performed on stage yet. But I’ve been told that the exhibitor and staff behind AFA really put their best efforts into making this event as good as possible. Which is why I want to try my best as well.

Q: Being an artiste gives you a chance to travel to many places. Are there any worries about visiting foreign countries?

Nanjou: Actually, I’m not a very healthy person. So whenever I travel between countries, I worry about my condition and I need learn how to adapt to each country’s weather. I have to look after myself so that I don’t get sick.

Q: Where does the name “fripSide” come from?

sat: fripSide comes from the English word FlipSide, which means to flip to the other side. Take a look at a cassette tape. They have two sides, A and B. We want to combine both side A and side B to make the best music.

Q: During early fripSide’s music videos and concerts, you invited a comedian to perform with you. Is there any special reason behind it?

sat: During that time we accepted work for many opening songs and ending songs of different anime. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun) is one of the anime that we composed a song for. We want to reflect the image of a person who has a very special talent, someone who shines amongst others, so we invited him to work with us. In doing so, the result was a success. 

Q: What is the best thing for you to become an artiste like today?

Nanjou: The best thing is meeting our fans who support us.

sat: I used to work as a salaryman. In Tokyo the trains are usually packed and traffic is really bad, so I’m very pleased that I don’t have to deal with those ever again.

Q: How is your knee injury right now? (A Question for Nanjou Yoshino)

Nanjou: I’ve applied medicine and I try not to overdo myself during exercises. For today, I will try my best. Even if my knee is hurt right now, my spirit is very healthy. No need to worry!

Although neither of us in Seiyuuri was able to attend AFATH (even though Satsunyan could’ve gone, but work was in the way), we hope that everyone enjoyed the event and all the artiste performances, fripSide included!

Lastly, we would like to thank Akibatan for allowing us to translate and post this exclusive interview for the world to see! Of course, special thanks to Noel-kun as well for translating for us from Thai to English! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

fripSide is also releasing their 9th single on May 20, 2015 titled “Luminize” Don’t forget to support them!

Thanks for reading! ╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑

Credits:
Interview + Photos: Akibatan
Translations: h2so4noel (visit his website too!)
Proofread: Seiyuuri

Anyway, off to the interview!

Note: If to be taken out, please link to this post instead of reposting. Thanks!

~*

Ogura Yui and Ishihara Kaori; the active seiyuu duo-unit—YuiKaori. Since May 2010, after their debut, they have constantly been publishing many songs and now they have completed a new single titled “Intro Situation”. It’s their first appearance on Natalie. This interview will be centered around the new single; about their stand as a duo-unit and also about how they deal with the music as individuals.

A Summer pop-tune song from the two who were born in summer;

—It is said that ”Intro Situation” is “YuiKaori’s first summer pop-tune”, but as the two of you were born in August. Does summer have a special meaning to you?

Ishihara Kaori: It absolutely makes me thrilled whenever it [August] comes! I don’t have to think about “What will I do when summer comes?” since the first half of the college year has ended and after will be a long holiday (laughs). Not to mention that it will be bright until evening [the sunrises earlier and sets later], so I have an impression that summer would be fun!

Ogura Yui: Since I have an image of my birthday being celebrated in summer, I’m really looking forward to it from now on (laughs).

— Lately, there aren’t any straight forward love song titles for YuiKaori’s singles, right? You continued with songs that sent a message of support to people, and a few striking novelty pop songs.

Ogura: Aah, that’s true. It might be a while since then.

Ishihara: Now that you say it, it might have even been longer than since.

—Did you plan to sing it differently, since it’s a love song?

Ishihara: The song has a summer feel to it. Since it’s a love song, we sang it while thinking of having those feelings. So we sang as straightforward as we could.

About “The raised expectations.”

— What kind of impression did you get when you first heard the song?

Ogura: It was right after we finished our previous single, “LUCKY DUCKY!!” (8th single, released in April 2014), we were told that “the next one will be a summer song”. We were also told that “After a while, This time, it’ll be with Shunryuu-san”, so I thought about it a lot. Since the expectation was higher, at first I was really scared to listen it (laughs). But after listening to it; it was a really wonderful song that I overcame the weight of the expectations, and wanted to get to [record] the song immediately.

Ishihara: The Staff said that, “It’s a summer song, it’s not the ‘everlasting summer-type’ song. Instead it was a solemn, but refreshing song.” After that, I tried listening to it, and it’s my favorite type of music, and thought, “Yay!”

Ogura: A long time ago, before our debut (as YuiKaori), we released a CD titled 「Koi no Overtake」. It was the first song we sung that was by Shunryuu-san.

Ishihara: Since he had known us for a long time, we feel really relieved by that (laughs). He definitely goes to our live performances, too!

—Have you heard a story regarding Shunryuu-san talking about your singing style?

Ishihara: I don’t think he ever told directly. But he told us a long time ago, “Because the two of you have a straightforward voice, you have to take advantage of it.”

Ogura: We don’t talk about it recently, so I’m quite curious on what he thinks of us now. (laughs)

—Regarding Shunryuu-san’s songs; it seems that it’s because he has known you two a long time now, that’s why he knows how to raise the difficulty [of the songs] slowly, as if you were climbing the stairs and leveling up.

Ishihara: Ah, he did say that! “I will gradually raise the difficulty.”

Ogura: He did say something like that for our first album, Puppy, released in September 2011. “This time, the difficulty will be higher.”

Ishihara: In Puppy, I had a solo song titled “Magic Starter,” it was by Shunryuu-san. That time he said, “I made it really difficult, I’m sorry.” (laughs). But then, he said that, “If you can reach this part, the rest will follow, so do your best.” He really raised the difficulty little by little, and we always clung onto that kind of progress. It was as if he silently gives us trials [in singing].

Ogura: Sometimes he will tell us about what the trials were, but that usually happens when the recording has already finished (laughs). He’s really thoughtful.

The two who shared both fun and tough times

—Well then, how was the recording this time?

Ishihara: Since we’ve been doing this together for a long time, so I already know such things as “this part should be song this way, I guess?” I was able to finish without many struggles.

Ogura: The song from our 2nd Album, Bunny; “Tsubasa ni Naru yo” had a higher difficulty, but because of that, we were able to sing Intro Situation quite smoothly.

— When you sing the lyrics as if they were your own words, how did you work around it to make it have a personality like it was you in the situation? Did you stick with the heroine’s point of view? Or did you make a distance to some extent [thinking outside of the box]?

Ishihara: For me, I didn’t stick to the heroine’s point of view. When the scenes came out, I could understand it better by seeing it from afar compared to the heroine’s point of view.

Ogura: For me, I usually stick to the heroine’s point of view. First, I imagine how the story would be and something like “I will apply this heroine in this story.” I imagine the scenes and the feelings inside my head, so I could draw out a conclusion that the heroine might be singing this way or that way. It’s quite close to what I usually do when voicing in an anime.

— Whenever you look at the frame of the story in your perspective, does it being a profession take a big part on how you perceive it?

Ogura: I suppose that’s true, too. That’s why my nature and tone of voice changes depending on the song, unconsciously.

— It’s interesting, because the two of you have your own perspectives, but you can be in unison like it’s natural.

Ogura: Maybe because we already understand and know that if one “Will do this,” the other “Will do that.”

Ishihara: Yeah, it certainly is like that.

— It’s interesting how the both of you could understand each other that much. It certainly a relationship one could be envious of. It would be understandable if you were a band that is like childhood friends, but you have other activities beside this unit.

Ogura: We’ve been always together, as if we were really childhood friends. We both share both fun and tough times together (laughs).

Ishihara: We ate the same food as well (laughs).

Ogura: We have overcame mountains and valleys of challenges together after all, understanding each other is like a natural thing now.

— Compared to your early days, has your perception of the lyrics of a song changed since then?

Ishihara: On my early days, I was desperately thinking about where should I put the accent. In the end, I wasn’t able to learn it, and ended up forgetting about understanding the lyrics. Eventually, putting your feelings into is more important than just having skills… I realized it around this time (while pointing to “Kimi no YELL” from all of their works that has been arranged in chronological order on the table). It took me a while (laughs), but since then, I’ve always been thinking on what stance [style] to put my feelings on while singing.

Ogura: For me, I desperately tried to live up to the expectations that everyone told me. Slowly, I learned how to sing, thanks to my voice acting jobs. Like how to put a playful side to my style of singing, and gradually doing it in a way I would like it to be. “I want to try it like this,” or something like that.

—When was your turning point?

Ogura: Hmm, maybe it was around “Shooting☆Smile” (4th single, released in April 2014). Because on “Puppy”, I already enjoy singing by that time.

“YuiKaori singing [About] Privilege, Responsibility, and Ambition”

— As for the coupling song, “MIRRORING DESIGNS”… it’s a really snappy dance music, even if it’s you two, cutesy ladies sang it, it feels like a song about privileges and responsibilities.

Ogura: We didn’t expect that we would be singing a song about “Ambition” for a YuiKaori song. (laughs)

Ishihara: I thought about it, ‘Privilege, huh…” At those times (while pointing at their early works), it was a word that I couldn’t really imagine singing about. So I thought, “Finally, we’ve reached up to this point, too!” (laughs). Because until now, we’ve never done a snappy dance music-like song. I was worried if I can sing it properly with a switch turned on or something. I thought, “So I can sing a song until my energy is up to this point,” I feel like I found a new field.

Ogura: Since we’re both born in summer, we were told that the aim is to create a more mature melody. Because we thought that it’d be nice to let ourselves out, which hasn’t happened until now, we really enjoyed singing it. Besides, the two of us really like dancing. So when we thought that we will really shine while dancing with this song, we look forward to singing it in our live, too!

— A little while ago, when I was asking about how you do your planning on singing a song, these two songs are really different with each other. How did you handle the switch?

Ishihara: For “Intro Situation” I was seeing it from afar [outside the box], but for this I thought that I should sing it closer to how I usually am. It wasn’t too intense, but it’s an emotion that I also have inside myself. So I decided to put my personality in it while thinking on how to sing it.

Ogura: If I were to compare it to our the other mainstream songs we’ve been singing until now, this song describes a mental state of someone who stands in the front stage [part of the mainstream] on a daily basis, or something close to that. With a determination that I don’t usually show, I thought that I should do my best to not lose [to this song]. I sang it while looking back to my experiences up to now.

— It is rare to sing about “Privilege and Responsibility” in melody, after all (laughs). I’ve heard it, and it’s really hooking and very catching!

Ishihara: That’s actually my part, then the first time we got the lyrics, we didn’t know who would be the first to sing. And I thought, “So it’s me, huh~?” (laughs).

—Was it difficult to sing a different song from the usual?

Ogura: I was hoping to pratice more than usual, but when I took the recording first, my feelings didn’t really flow into the song. When I sang the sabi (Chorus) of the song, it started going well. The a melo (verse) was a little too hard for me, so I couldn’t sing it well. But I was told that the sabi (Chorus) should come first, I recorded it first, before recording the a melo (verse) and the b melo (second voice); that way my feelings came along properly. (See: Eurobeat Mechanics)

Ishihara: As for me, I did the recording early in the morning, so unexpectedly, my tension was going up (laughs). At first I felt like just using my usual voice, they said that it sounded nice on my first try. So we recorded it soon after.

YuiKaori, Attacks!

—You’ve been releasing singles in a faster pace lately, in less than three months in between. It’s been a while, isn’t it? It’s like YuiKaori is on the attack now!

Ishihara: Ah~ That’s true. Maybe it’s majorly influenced by Yui-chan becoming a college student, too. You have tests for the first term, so it’ll be difficult from now on, you know?

Ogura: Is that so?

Ishihara: Since everyone will only talk about how “Tests are awful, aren’t they?” (laughs).

Ogura: That’s true, a little while before, I always thought “Recently, I haven’t met with Kaori-chan~” However, lately we always meet each other. Like the other day we just had a shoot, and now we already have another (laughs).

Ishihara: We also had a live last February, from then on we’ve always been together. We were having fun on the rehearsal, and until now, I’m still in an extended festive mood because of it (laughs).

—If one were to see the making video of “Intro Situation” that was uploaded on YouTube, they will definitely understand what you meant by being “in a festive mood” (laughs).

Ishihara: I was thinking that I should be careful of my physical strength between the shooting, for the second half… but I ended up exerting more energy. I was really tired on the second half of the shoot. (laughs)

—You will hold a birthday live in August. Has the contents been established?

Ishihara: Not yet. The other day, we happened to see the hall for the live, (Tokyo, AiiA Theater), “It’s such a wonderful place!” We were both really hyped.

YuiKaori’s other-self introduction

—It’s the last one. Instead of self introduction, could you do an ‘other-self introduction’? Please introduce each other.

Ishihara: I think, Yui-chan has been more calm, recently. I’ve always seen her level-headed on the surface when she’s working, but I thought that her usual self is always on the loose (laughs). She’s punctual, but she always tears the snacks’ wrapping papers sloppily (laughs). She has a lot of unexpected sides to her. We’ve been together for a really long time, but I always discover something new and react like, “So you do it like that!?”

Ogura: She always says that with a laugh!

Ishihara: Because it’s weird, you know?

—Well then, on the contrary, how is Ishihara from Ogura’s point of view?

Ogura: Compared to before, Kaori-chan has become a lot more like an adult lately (laughs). A sudden change occurred at one point, you know? Now she can firmly convey her thoughts, and since she became a college student, her fashion has become adult-like too. But her weirdness will always be very weird.

Ishihara: You know, Yui-chan always laughs at me when I’m getting angry.

—Is her angry face interesting? Or the atmosphere is interesting whenever she becomes angry?

Ogura: I wonder?

Ishihara: Maybe it’s because I shut up whenever I’m angry~

Ogura: We always laugh when we’re together, but whenever we get angry, we’ll be silent. Because I do the same thing when I’m angry. But whenever I see Kaori-chan getting angry, it’s really fun. It’s because her anger wakes me up, it’s helpful (laughs).

Credits:
Translations: Orihara Rurei
Translate Check/Proofreading: Takahashi Satsuki
Source and Photos: Natalie Power Push