Super Sentai Series' First Full-Length Drama CD "'Space Sentai Kyuranger' Make 'em Cry! Tamakyuu troupe Dai Ichiban! Included interview

The special effects TV drama "Space Sentai Kyuranger" will be made into a Drama CD!
The drama CD series that has been developed with "Masked Rider Sword" and "Masked Rider Drive" will now be adapted into a Super Sentai series work.
The script is a completely new work written by Kento Shimoyama, who is also involved in the TV series!
From the "Kyuranger" members, Takumi Kizu plays Lucky/Shishi-Red, Taiki Yamazaki plays Naga-Ray/Hebitsukai Silver, and Tetsushi Sakakibara plays Sparda/Kajiki Yellow. M.A.O. as Raptor 283, Hiroshi Kamiya as Sho Rong Po, and Tatsuo Suzuki as the guest showgun, Chunen Shachu!
The three actors spoke at length about the recording of this work from the recording studio of the drama CD, the first in the Super Sentai series to be released during the broadcast of the main story.

What guest voice actor Tatsuo Suzuki taught us about the first full-length drama CD in the Super Sentai series

───There has been a Sho Rong Po CD for "Space Sentai Kyuranger," but what did you think when you heard that you would be making a drama CD with a title that is a spin-off from the main story?

Takumi Gishu (Gishu): I was surprised when I saw the name of the voice actor participating in the CD and saw that he is Tatsuo Suzuki. I was surprised to see the name "Tatsuo Suzuki." In addition to Kamiya-san and M.A.O., I thought that Mr. Suzuki would be an even more splendid addition to the cast. I was impressed to hear that this was the first time* that an entire drama series had been produced as part of the Sentai series. I was impressed to hear that this was the first time that a whole drama series of Sentai had been produced.
This is the first time in the entire Sentai series that a full-length drama CD is released during the broadcast of the main story.

(All laugh)

Daiki Yamazaki (Yamazaki): I was extremely happy when I heard that I would be doing a drama CD. I had worked on a previously released soundtrack that included our voices and a short story in the form of a drama CD, so I could imagine doing a drama CD for "Kyuranger". I am looking forward to the 60-minute drama CD, and I am sure that people will discover new charms of "Kyuranger" by enjoying it only in audio form, which is usually done with visual images such as TV and movies.

Tetsushi Sakakibara (Tetsushi Sakakibara ): To be honest, I'm really looking forward to it. I've been waiting a long time! I was really looking forward to it. I have been able to do many new things with "Kyuranger". For example, we were allowed to do a V-cinema during the main story, and this time we did a drama CD. I wondered how the story would turn out with the three of us, Kamiya and M.A.O., but I was surprised to hear "Oh, this is how it's going to turn out! I was surprised. I was surprised to hear that Tatsuo would be joining the cast. I was not that familiar with voice actors, so I looked up Mr. Tatsuo and thought, "He's so famous! (laugh). (Laughs) So at first I thought it was going to be voice actors vs. actors.

─ I understand that you have just finished the recording, but could you tell us how you feel afterwards?

Yamazaki: This time we were in a different recording booth from the one we usually use, so I felt a little itchy. Then, when we started recording, we suddenly ran through 12 pages of the script as a test. I was like, "They did that all at once? I was like, "You're doing all of that at once? I have done drama CDs for other productions, but I still had many new discoveries this time. When Tatsuo-san entered the booth and uttered his first words, his voice was so loud that I was surprised that the microphone was shaking. But on the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised. I was standing next to Tatsuo during the recording, and I said to myself, "Professionals are amazing ....... We were inspired and tried our best not to lose.

─ I know that you do postrecording for your regular programs, but what was the most difficult part of the recording this time?

Taiki: I usually listen to Kamiya-san and the other dubbing artists while they are recording, and I feel that they are professionals. Usually I feel like the voice actors are adapting to our way of doing things, but this time we did the same things that the voice actors were doing, so I really felt like I was thrown into the world of their real work. Also, I personally love anime, so it was a lot of fun to learn that this is how they record.

─ ─ In a sense, you have the most difficult role in this project. (You play several roles this time.) Sakakibara

Sakakibara: If it was a physical performance, I might have been able to combine it with movements, but to play multiple roles with only my voice was an unknown world, and it was difficult to put it all together. The moment Tatsuo-san uttered his first words, all three of us became atrophied. ......(laugh). The moment the monster appeared, we were already defeated. But Tatsuo-san was very kind to us. I heard that when you record a drama CD, you only do a test at the beginning and then the rest is the real thing.　Do you want to do it smoothly? He asked us, "How do you want to do it? Since we were small fry (laugh), we felt sorry for Mr. Tatsuo, but when we asked him if he wanted to practice before the performance, he gladly accepted our request and said "Sure. Moreover, Mr. Tatsuo really wanted to hit us, and we were very grateful for that. It would have been impolite if we didn't go along with him, so we also gave it our all. However, we were so enthusiastic during the performance that we sometimes ran out of steam (laugh), but that made it more enjoyable, and I am looking forward to the finished product, which will be different from what we usually do.

─ I think "Kyuranger" is a program that really challenges various things.

Q. I would like to do animation!　I'd like to make a 30-minute animation for one episode!　It hasn't come to fruition so far, but you can check ....... I have been saying this for quite a while now, so I hope a miracle will happen.

Yamazaki There are two things I want to do. I've said this many times, but there are 12 Kyurangers and we've made it to episode 39 so far, so it would be normal for each one of them to be in charge of narrating the next preview. But ...... hasn't sent me one yet. I wonder why it hasn't happened yet, and I wonder if I did something wrong (laughs). (Laughs.) I know that Red's Gishu and the girl, Hammy, do a lot of work. But I just wonder why I, ......, have never done one. So I would like to do it at least once somewhere. I would also like to do an action scene wearing a suit. I would like to experience firsthand how hard it is for the suit actors who play our roles.

Qisu That reminds me, I would like to wear a cracked mask (a hero's mask cracks to reveal his true face)!

Sakakibara I would love to use Sparda's kitchen in the opening scene with 12 people. It might be too tight (laughs). I would also like to do a rain scene, as I have never done one before. I think a rain scene with 12 of us in it would be quite moving. Well, I know there are some complications, but I would like to do it if I could.

Yamazaki Oh, there is one more thing!　I would like to do a character song. Naga has formed a band called "BN Dan" with Balanced, and I would like to do it with them.

Sakakibara The BN group doesn't have to sing.　It could be a manzai or something.

Yamazaki Stop it, don't say "manzai" (laughs).

Sakakibara Then, a rhythm piece? (laugh).

Yamazaki It's not a story!

What points of mutual respect were revealed in this recording?

─ ─ Do you have any points that you thought "This is great! What were the points of mutual respect you found in this recording?

Gijima: Sparda's ad-libbing is really amazing. She kept ad-libbing for a scene that was about 10 times longer than I had imagined. It was just amazing.

Yamazaki And he did it by himself for a long time, playing several roles. I was really impressed. It was amazing how he made the most of the character of Sparda, and at the same time put him in a position that Tetsushi is good at. But it was a real Sparda, and it was really interesting. After Tetsushi's line about Sparda, I had my own line, but it was so funny that I couldn't say the next line, so please look forward to it. Lucky is consistent between the video and the drama CD, and there are many parts in the drama CD that make me feel that he is still Red. There are many parts in the Drama CD that make me feel that Red is still Red. I felt that Lucky is a point that children would find interesting to listen to. There were many scenes where he changed his voice a bit.

Gishu: That was thanks to Tetsushi-san. The level was too high, and I had to adapt to it.

Yamazaki The fact that you have the resourcefulness to adapt so quickly is amazing.

Gishu: Naga is a ghost story, but I thought it was great that the emotionless part of the story came to life and made the audience feel thrilled and excited.

Sakakibara What I think is great about both of you is that you are good at coloring. Of course, we are playing the characters, but they are able to add color to the characters with their voices. It is not from the beginning, but toward the latter half of the story that they bring out their own flavor. Only a Naga can do something like that. You both have a very keen intuition, and it's scary. I think they have great flexibility.

───As for yourself, have you grown in any aspect?

Qisu: When we were waiting to shoot on the set of the Orion, everyone would get a little crazy. We would play around with various voices, and I was able to use those voices this time. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to use the fun side of the Orion. However, both male voice actors are good-looking, so I was happy to play along with them, but it was also embarrassing.

Yamazaki: After a year of playing the same character in the squadron like this, I feel that I am able to filter through the "Naga's case" right away. At the beginning, the character was a bit unique in that he did not know emotions, so it was difficult for me to express him in what way I wanted to.

Sakakibara Today, it is Tatsuo-san who has made me grow up a lot. When we were working together, Tatsuo-san said "I want to have a lot of fun". We don't have those weapons, but we still wanted to enjoy Tatsuo's "way of playing" with him since we were allowed to work together. I think the reason we managed to "play" together this time was because we had grown together over such a long period of time and we had a full understanding of the base character. Because of that growth, we were able to grow even more with Tatsuo-san, and I really appreciate that. I felt the response today that I could now play between the lines and do difficult things, but I also saw the parts I was not good at. I think today was a good day for me to feel that, because it is something that is created by people and people.

What the Cheers of Children Taught Me

───What heroes did you admire as a child, and how do you feel now that you are a hero yourself?

Gijima: When I was a child, it was "Kamen Rider Kuuga. I also liked "Samurai Sentai Shinkenger" because I was doing calligraphy. I also liked watching anime and heroes, so I was just happy when I was chosen to play Red. There were many, many auditions, so when I passed the final audition, I was so relieved that I called my mother, but actually there were still auditions left (laughs). (Laughs.) But I stuck to my mind, "I'm going to be Red! I am glad that I stuck to my mind and became Red. The main reason I got into show business was that the Junon Boy kids of my generation were heroes of "Zoological Sentai Juyouger" (Ken Watanabe) and "Masked Rider Ghost" (Shun Nishime), and I felt strongly that "I want to be one too! I wanted to be a hero too! I really think it is a miracle that I am able to be a hero like this now.

Yamazaki: I have been a fan of Kamen Rider and Sentai, but when I was a child, I didn't have any particular heroes in mind. What I realized recently is that my mother was my hero. When I first became a hero in this way, I often wondered if I was really a hero, but as the broadcast progressed, I began to be approached by children, and I realized that I really am a hero. Recently, I have been performing at Theater G Rosso, and when the children cheer me on with "Ganbareta! The children's cheers for me are so loud that they shake the theater. Hearing their cheers, I feel that this is something that only those who have become heroes can experience, and at the same time, I feel like I am being taught that we are characters who really should not fall down. That is why I want to protect the universe for everyone.

Sakakibara I am from the "Ninja Sentai Kakuranger" generation, so I admired Kane Cosugi. Ninja Black's position is unique among the "Kakurangers. I liked Ninja Black even more than Red, because he could take action like crazy. I liked him better than Red, and now I am in a position to support Red. I am not a star like Red, I am just a "Meister," right? (laugh) Among the members, I feel that I can prove the most that "a hero can be a chef" and "anyone has a chance to be a hero. Spada is a little bit out of the ordinary, but I still have children who call me "Spada! I'm not extremely strong, but I think I'm the best among the members. He is not extremely strong, but I think he is a character who can make you think that he could be a hero without destroying the image of a hero that everyone has of him.

─ ─ Lastly, please tell us what we can expect to hear in this work.

Qisu I don't know how it sounds because we tried to do it in the same way that professional voice actors do it, but I didn't only play Lucky, I also played other characters. I don't know how it sounds, but I didn't only play Lucky, I also played other characters. For example, I played Sparda's family. I hope you will pay attention to the interaction between Tatsuo-san and us.

Yamazaki: Usually in a TV show, we enjoy watching the images and the "sound" comes from the images, but this time, since it is a drama CD, there are no images, only "sound," so there is a lot of room for imagination, such as what kind of expressions we are acting and what the monsters are like. Also, our faces are usually shown in the video, but since our faces are not shown this time, the way we act is different from usual. I hope you will take the time to listen to it.

Sakakibara There is a story about Sparda's family at the beginning of the film, and this time we delve deeper into that story. That story is the core of the story this time, and from there, the individuality of the Kyurangers is highlighted in this work. As Yamazaki mentioned earlier, Tatsuo-san helped me learn how to use the tone of voice in a Drama CD style, so there is a possibility that we may have grown from the beginning to the latter half of the CD, so I hope you can look forward to that as well. Some things are stable, some things are different. The story is full of laughter and tears, performed only with our voices, so I hope you will enjoy it.

[Product information
■Drama CD "Space Sentai Kyuranger" Make them cry! Tamakyuu troupe Dai Ichiban!

Release date: January 26, 2018 (Friday) *Pre-sale scheduled for January 24, 2018 (Wednesday) at the Super Heroes Festival
Price: 3,000 yen (excluding tax) / 3,240 yen (including tax)
Specifications CD

Appearance: Lucky: Takumi Gishu, Naga Ray: Daiki Yamazaki, Sparda: Tetsushi Sakakibara,
Raptor 283: M.A.O., Show Rong Po: Kamiya Hiroshi
＜Chunen Shachu: Tatsuo Suzuki, etc.

Original story: "Space Sentai Kyuranger
Distributed by: Toei Co.
Distributed by: Movic Co.

<Story
I'm going to make not only you, but all jerkmatters cry!"
It's the first holiday in a long time. Lucky, Naga, Raptor, and Sho decide to accompany Sparda, who is going to visit his sister who is performing in a play on the planet Weeg.
However, the actors on Planet Weeg have been captured by Daikern Chunenshachu, who hates the arts. In order to rescue them, Lucky and his friends decide to perform as a traveling troupe.

<Animate pre-order bonus
Special discussion CD - animate edition (Takumi Gishu, Daiki Yamazaki, Tetsushi Sakakibara, M.A.O., Hiroshi Kamiya, Tatsuo Suzuki)
M.A.O. and Hiroshi Kamiya will appear in a message.

<amazon special features
Special discussion CD amazon version (Takumi Gishu, Daiki Yamazaki, Tetsushi Sakakibara, M.A.O., Hiroshi Kamiya, Tatsuo Suzuki, Taku Mochizuki)
*M. A. O and Hiroshi Kamiya appear in the message.

(c)2017 TV Asahi, Toei AG, Toei