CATDOLL: Interview with new voice actor Nanami Kamisaki and Yuki Takao from "A Town With You"

Voice actors are envied and admired by countless fans of the second dimension. Every year, a large number of newcomers with dreams emerge. However, only a few succeed. But today's newcomers may become tomorrow's stars that everyone is chasing after! Japanese media interviewed the new voice actor. The new voice actor this time is Takao Yuki, who voiced the heroine Kamisaki Nanami in "A Town With You".

Q: Ms. Takao played the role of Maria Sarushima in "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches", and the first episode she appeared in did not disappoint the audience! Here, please introduce the role of Maria.

Takao: Maria is one of the seven witches. She is a returnee from America...ah, the original setting information didn't say it was America, but I thought since she can speak English, there must be some connection.

When I was dubbing, I asked the original author, Miki Yoshikawa, "Where is Maria from?" She replied, "America." Considering that she is a returned child, her kissing look is the most adult among witches.

Q: The ending theme "Mimime Mimi" was also written, composed and sung by Ms. Takao. This song is included in the album "CANDY MAGIC". What do you think of this album?

Takao: The word CANDY in the title means candy, and candy means that you can taste it right away when you put it in your mouth. However, the melting feeling you get while tasting it is similar to the "passing of time". Because there is a time limit, we try our best to show the taste, which is a mixed feeling.

The characters in "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" want to convey their thoughts to others in the limited three years of high school and enjoy their youth together. And it is precisely because time is limited that we can feel the shining youth.

Q: Is there anything in the lyrics that particularly caught your attention?

Takao: When I was eating candy, I found the words "like" written on the wrapper, so I wrapped the candy and put it in my pocket. I read the original work before writing the lyrics, so I thought that if it was Shiraishi Rei (voice actor: Hayami Saori), she would definitely do something like this. People who are in unrequited love, please try this "love magic" (laughs).

Q: This pleasant melody is very impressive. How did you compose it?

Takao: It was originally a demo song, so I used other lyrics, but after accepting this job, I rewrote the lyrics. I also ate candy myself, feeling the sweet and sour and sad mood.

Q: Are these sweet and sour lyrics mixed with your real experiences? Or is it just your imagination?

Takao: I wrote this while recalling my high school life. I went to a girls' school, so I didn't fall in love during that time. Although I experienced a lot of things with my friends, they had nothing to do with classes. For example, when the bell rang at 9 o'clock in the morning, I still didn't want to go to the classroom, and I went to find a corner in the library that no one had ever found... Now when I think back, I still complain to myself, "How could I do such a thing?" I was actually quite painful at that time. But after going through this period, it seems that I have held my heart so tightly. This is what youth is.

Q: Just listening to Ms. Takao’s introduction, I felt like my heart was captured…

Takao: Even after growing up, I still have endless troubles. I feel like I am still young now. As time goes by, when I look back in the future, I will also think that I am young now. "CANDY MAGIC" is also connected with me now, and it is a youth song that looks back on the past and feels happy.

Q: There is a candy logo in the lyrics. Ms. Takao has used this logo in many places, and it even appeared on Mimimeme MIMI’s Twitter recently.

Takao: This is a logo that I came up with after thinking about candy, but now I’m worried whether this logo can be displayed in karaoke (laughs). Mimimeme MIMI’s recent buzzword is candy, so it will be used in many places. When I type “candy” on my phone, this symbol will appear (laughs).

Q: Also, the e-book "Hore Pandemik" was released a few days ago.

Takao: The first album "Maze Center" released last year was made into a light novel in this format and published. If you read it together with the songs, you can feel the growth of a 19-year-old girl and resonate with her.

Q: Such works transcend the limitations of genres and present a rich and colorful worldview. Ms. Takao seems to have participated in many auditions in middle school. What kind of dreams did you have before?

Takao: I liked animation when I was in elementary school. After watching "Ninja Rantaro" and "Detective Conan", I admired Ms. Takayama Minami very much. I also started writing songs for my interest in junior high school. Later, I wanted to hold a solo concert, so I participated in about 100 auditions.

Q: 100 games!? This is really an energy beyond that of an ordinary person.

Takao: I hate to give up. But I feel like I've grown gradually in the process of auditioning, so I kept going. At first, I couldn't even pass the written review, but then I got the first interview, the second interview, and I think the harder I work, the easier it is to be noticed.

Q: As a singer-songwriter, what genre are you more interested in?

Takao: I used to like the rock band Paramore. And I admired Cyndi Lauper. Rather than saying that Cyndi Lauper has a powerful voice or a special beauty, it is better to say that her unique charm is more attractive. I don’t think my songs are good at all. I was originally tone-deaf in elementary school, and I failed in the singer selection of the junior high school light music club. In the end, I could only play the guitar (laughs). But since high school, someone finally said, "You sing well" (laughs).

Q: This is incredible. Is there such a dramatic change?

Takao: I went through special training for this. And I’m still doing it now (laughs). When I was in junior high school, I also went to karaoke.

Q: You’ve been composing music since middle school...how many songs do you have now?

Takao: About 300 songs. But I don’t think every song can be sung in front of others.

Q: 300 songs! Just from this number, you can feel that the changes in your mood every day will be reflected in the songs.

Takao: Yes. I feel embarrassed when I listen to songs from high school now. Even songs from a year ago make me sigh: I actually wrote something like this. For example, there is a song called "SAY-YOU" in the first album. The theme is to separate myself as a voice actor and myself as a singer into two people, and then sing to each other. And I feel different every time I look back at different times. And it would be great if the listeners could also gain different insights over time and let this song accompany them for a long time.

Q: Where do you get inspiration for composing music?

Takao: I get most of it from the diary I write every day. Also, when I'm swimming in the pool, or when I'm taking a walk and looking at the scenery. I can feel a lot from different things, and sometimes I feel it's hard (laughs).

Q: You debuted as Mimime Mimi in August 2013. At that time, you probably didn't know that you would be singing as the voice actor Takao Yuki, right?

Takao: I didn't show my face when I debuted. My friend Chiyamoi was the "eyes" of MIMI, and I was the "ears" of the lyrics and music. The album covers were often drawn by Chiyamoi. So we didn't have many opportunities to show our faces in public at concerts. But last summer we held our first concert and announced that we would sing under the name of voice actor Takao Yuki.

Q: What thoughts did you have at that time?

Takao: Initially, I wanted to introduce myself and Chiyamoi separately... After all, what is presented to everyone is Chiyamoi's illustrations, and if I, who is responsible for the "ears", appear in front of the public, it would feel a bit awkward.

But now Takao Yuki and Mimi Mimi are connected. The worldview created by Chimoi merges with the real me, and a new Mimi Mimi is born.

Q: You also feel the rewards of merging Takao Yuki and Mimime Mimi.

Gaowei: Now I don’t have the same worries as before, I feel very comfortable.

The experience gained from music activities was used in my dubbing acting, and the experience gained from acting inspired the songs, so everything is connected. Q: Previously, you also held the "Visual and Audio-Visual Akademie" event under the name of the Visual and Audio-Visual Combination.

Takao: This is different from a solo concert, it is a self-planned event. Because it is a self-planned event, once I decide to do it, I have to take full responsibility (laughs). In the audio-visual room, it is like learning together with the guests, and we make progress together, and the distance between us is shortened. And I call them "みみめめメイト"

Basically, the event is a concert, but I have also invited i☆Ris as a guest and sang anime songs such as "WE ARE!" together. I feel like I am part of i☆Ris and I am very happy (laughs). And we have also joked about what color scheme I should have (laughs).

Q: During the event, the unfinished "1,2, Girls" (the theme song of the e-book "Ashe Pandemic") was announced. Such stage activities are rare.

Takao: That's right! I wanted to let everyone listen to the song before it was finished. After the concert, I thought about making it more lively next time and changing the lyrics, so "1,2, Girls" is like a song I created with everyone.

Q: Ms. Takao will soon hold her first solo concert in a year since last summer!

Takao: I will be performing new songs including "CANDY MAGIC" in Osaka on June 7 and in Tokyo on June 28! Last year was my first concert, and it was also my first time standing in front of everyone as Takao Yuki. I was not able to adjust my emotions at that time. Although it was the best concert, I was not able to fully perform because of my lack of ability.

However, I participated in many activities this year, and I think I have gradually grown up. Therefore, I hope to bring a concert that will make my fans and I feel happy.

"CANDY MAGIC" was released nearly 10 months after the last album, and I think that time was not wasted. After the release of the first album, I did not hold a concert, but by letting everyone hear the new songs at the concert, I felt that the first album and "CANDY MAGIC" were officially completed in the form of "music".

Whether they know me through anime or through my music, I would be very happy if people who like our music could gather here.

Q: Ms. Takao, what else do you want to challenge as a voice actor in the future?

Takao: I'm still very immature and I'm still in the stage of exploring my acting skills, so I'm greedy to challenge various roles. If I talk about the roles I want to challenge... I want to play non-human characters! When I write lyrics and compose music, even if I hate it, I still face myself, so as a voice actor, I hope to play a role that is completely different from myself (laughs).

Q: Finally, please say a few words to our readers!

Takao: I will continue to work hard in the future. I would be very happy if everyone can cheer for me. And it would be great if I could meet everyone somewhere!

Q: Thank you for accepting our interview today!