Saga Anime "Arita's First Love" and "Takeo no Okusu" Announces Cast!　Hiro Shimono & Saori Hayami, Nao Higashiyama & Nobunaga Shimazaki

Pony Canyon has announced the cast and comments for a new anime set in Saga Prefecture.

This is a 10-minute short animation planned by the Saga Prefecture Cultural Affairs Department to encourage people to visit various places in Saga Prefecture. Yakusoku no Kiki: Arita no Hatsukoi" is a coming-of-age story set in Arita, directed by Junji Nishimura, written by Keigo Koyanagi, and scripted by Mari Okada. Winter Oath, Summer Festival: Takeo no Okusu" is a story about two people watched over by Takeo no Okusu, directed by Junji Nishimura, written by Akiko Waba, and scripted by Mari Okada. Both are produced by Seven Arcs Pictures.

The cast has now been revealed. In "Yakusoku no Kiki: Arita no Hatsukoi", Hiro Shimono plays Jun Uchiyama, a high school student who aspires to become an Arita-yaki potter, and Saori Hayami plays his childhood friend Nao Akino. In "Winter Oath, Summer Festival: Takeo no Okusu", Nao Higashiyama plays Rinko Yamaguchi, a high school sophomore attending a high school in Takeo, and Nobunaga Shimazaki plays Sota, a childhood friend who is teaching the local Araodori dance. Comments below.

The film will be open to the public (free of charge) at the Saga Prefectural Kyushu Ceramic Museum and the Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum from March 12. In addition, a completion announcement preview and a talk show by director Junji Nishimura (a native of Saga Prefecture) will be held at the Saga Prefectural Space & Science Museum on March 12 as a commemorative event for the film's release. To apply, please visit the special page (http://www.saga-s.co.jp/meguru-anime.html).

Questions: 1) Have you ever visited Saga Prefecture? If so, please describe any episodes. If not, please tell us your image of Saga Prefecture (before recording).

Hiro Shimono: I have never visited Saga Prefecture, so I only know that it is famous for Arita-yaki ceramics, the Ariake Sea, and Saga beef, that there was an original story about the Yoshinogari ruins on the TV program "Suiyodo-Do", and that the program staff Ureshino-san is from there. But because it is a place I don't know and have never been to, I want to go there and find out many things!
Saori Hayami: I have never been to Saga Prefecture, but I have an image that traditional crafts such as pottery are popular there.
Nao Higashiyama: I have been to Kyushu before, but I have never been to Saga Prefecture! When I was in elementary school, a song by "Hanawa," a comedian from Saga Prefecture, became popular. I remember my friends and I imitated him and happily sang "S.A.G.A., Saga! I remember singing it happily with my friends!
Nobunaga Shimazaki: I have never been to Saga. As for my image of Saga, I know it is a bit of a cliché, but Hanawa-san's song about Saga Prefecture left the biggest impression on me. After that, I have an image of pottery such as Imariyaki and Arita-yaki.

Question: 2) Did your image of Saga Prefecture change after watching the video and reading the script?
Hiro Shimono: People say on TV that Saga is "a place with nothing," but from watching the anime, I don't think that's true. When I myself travel, I enjoy strolling around and taking in the scenery and townscapes of the area rather than visiting tourist spots.
Saori Hayami: This video helped me discover the charms of Saga Prefecture that I had not noticed before. There are many scenes in the video that incorporate photos that were actually taken in Saga Prefecture. The buildings and traditional crafts depicted in the images are wonderful, of course, but I also felt a sense of taste in the scenes of ordinary cityscapes. The images made me feel as if time was passing slowly. I also felt the atmosphere of Saga in the scenes as I received sweets and food from Saga as gifts on the set.
Nao Higashiyama: I was surprised to see such beautiful scenery in Japan! I was surprised to see such beautiful scenery in Japan. The origin of the "Araodori" dance that appears in the anime and the railroad crossing at the "Touzan Shrine" were dramatic and made for a lot of fun onsite! Seria Fukagawa gave me an Arita-yaki spoon during the recording session, and it is now in use in my home!
Nobunaga Shimazaki: The work reflected actual buildings, scenery, and culture, so I was very impressed with the imagery. In particular, "Araodori" was a topic of conversation during recording sessions, and when I looked into it, I found that it originally originated from an impromptu dance performed by foot soldiers to celebrate victory in a battle, and there were many other interesting episodes that tickled my intellectual curiosity.

Question: 3) What kind of character is "Jun Uchiyama" played by Mr. Shimono?
Hiro Shimono: Jun may seem blunt at first glance, but he is actually a kind and serious boy who is just a bit clumsy. He is desperate to make Arita-yaki tea bowls for the heroine, and because of that, he becomes stubborn, which is a really clumsy side of him. At the same time, I felt an itch. It's like youth, isn't it?
Saori Hayami: Nao is a cheerful and honest girl. I thought she is the type of girl who can get along with anyone without hesitation. I think that her cute and adorable side is what attracts me to her, as she makes a healthy attack on Jun, her childhood friend.
Nao Higashiyama: She is a girl who loves the stars, and she gently has feelings for her childhood friend Sota. She is a quiet character who cannot clearly express her feelings and does not talk much with Sota, but it was funny and frustrating to see how they understand each other. The little Rinko holding the "sen-daiko" is also very cute!
Nobunaga Shimazaki: He is blunt and not a man of many words. But he is a very cool boy with passionate feelings and a solid core, giving the impression of a good old-fashioned Japanese boy. He is a little clumsy when it comes to love, but I really liked his single-mindedness.

Question: 4) What was the most memorable scene in the work?
HIRO SHIMONO: I thought the entire drawing was amazing. The scenes that left an impression on me were the scene where the broken teacups are shown in the flowing river and the scene where the hero and heroine are talking to each other. The background was so beautiful and realistic, and the characters showed so many rich expressions!
Saori Hayami: The last scene. I feel the youth. The interaction between the two, the long staircase, the torii gate, the train passing by, the railroad tracks, etc., were all wonderful backgrounds to enhance the scene. Then there is the scene at the Gen-emon kiln. This scene was the impetus for the story, and I was attracted by the delicate depiction of the inside of the Gen-emon Kiln.
Nao Higashiyama: I was surprised to learn that the camphor tree in Takeo is 3,000 years old. It is amazing that it is a big tree that has been alive since BC. It is depicted fantastically in the anime. I would like you to pay attention to how the relationship between Rinko and Takeo turns out under the camellia tree, which is also a spot for matchmaking.
Nobunaga Shimazaki: I would have to say the confession scene between Sota and Rinko. They have always had feelings for each other and cherish each other. But that's why they can't take the plunge and tell each other. And when they finally come to the point of confessing their feelings, Rinko, rather than Sota, comes out with the decisive words, which I felt was a bit telling of the relationship between the two. I thought I was going to say it myself, but Rinko said it first. I liked Sota's upset reaction (laugh).

Question: 5) Do you have a message for the people of Saga who will be watching this anime?
Hiro Shimono: I was surprised at first that I, who am not from Saga Prefecture, was going to play the role of Jun, but I was very happy. However, it would be sad to have no real connection with Saga, so as someone who was involved in "Yakusoku no Kiki: Arita no Hatsukoi", I would love to visit the prefecture! So, to everyone involved, and by extension, to everyone in Saga Prefecture! Please take us to Saga, in any way you can, whether it be an event, a project, or anything else! Please take us to Saga! Please bring us to Saga!
Saori Hayami: The two "Saga Tour Animation" films are filled with scenes that depict the actual streets of Saga. We hope this video will be an opportunity for both local Saga residents and visitors to rediscover Saga. We hope you enjoy it.
Nao Higashiyama: Through my involvement in this anime, I learned that Saga Prefecture has many unique cultures and specialties, and that the people of Saga cherish them! I feel as if I have been allowed to visit Saga Prefecture through the anime. It was a very nice place and it was heartwarming! Thank you very much!
Nobunaga Shimazaki: I hope you enjoyed the "Animation Tour of Saga Prefecture". I feel very happy and warm inside when I see works about Miyagi Prefecture, my hometown. I hope that the people of Saga Prefecture also feel that way with this work. Through this work, I was able to experience the wonderful scenery and culture of Saga Prefecture, albeit indirectly. Someday I would like to visit Saga Prefecture and enjoy its beautiful scenery and culture. I look forward to working with you then!