Mai Fuchigami takes another step forward after 10 years as a voice actress Interview with Mai Fuchigami on her first anime ending theme song "Rainbow Planet

Mai Fuchigami, who made her debut as an artist with a full album and successfully held her 1st live concert, released her first single. This is the ending theme song for the TV anime "Planet Wiz" and is full of a sense of speed. We asked her about the appeal of the song, which she sang with a "no-compromise" quality, and her approach to her work.

The 1st single that made us feel the weight of the theme song that bears the work on its back

─ In January 2018, you made your solo debut with a full album, and in May you held a live concert at the Maihama Amphitheater as an additional performance to your 1st live concert. Could you tell us first of all how you felt about that?

Fuchigami: It all went by so fast. I was thrilled to be on such a big stage by myself, but I was also very anxious and nervous until the day of the show. But once the show started, it didn't take long before the costume change came around and I was like, "Does that mean the show is over already? It felt like 30 minutes. Although it was a large venue, we were close to the audience, and we could see surprisingly well to the back of the stage, and I was more than happy that the audience was more excited than any other time during the tour. Of course, there are things that I need to reflect on, but for the time being, I can say that the show was a great success, and I am very satisfied with the time I spent there.

───On stage, you announced that your first single "Rainbow Planet" had been chosen as the ending theme song for "Planet Wiz" and that you would be playing the role of Harumi Kumashiro.

Fuchigami: This time, the theme song tie-in was significant for me. I strongly felt the weight of being one of the people who will carry the work on their shoulders, and I felt that although it is my song, it is not only for me. Up until now, I had most opportunities to be involved in productions as a voice actor and as one of the characters, but being involved with Mai Fuchigami as an individual has changed the way I see her. After 10 years as a voice actress, I have become accustomed to many different things, and I am deeply grateful to have been given a new sensation.

─ When I interviewed the singers of the theme songs, they all said the same thing: "the responsibility of carrying the work on your shoulders.

Fuchigami: It's hard for me to put this into words since I have only just started my career as an artist, but being the theme song for an anime means that I will be seen and heard by many different people, even those who don't know me, who will like this work. So it is my responsibility that it is not enough for me alone to be satisfied. For example, I feel the importance of the responsibility of being connected to the work, as if my memories of a very old work come back to me when I hear the music.

─ ─ You played the role of Harumi Kumashiro in "Planet Wiz," how did you learn about the work?

Fuchigami: I was exposed to this work in the same way as the other cast members. I was given a synopsis and outline of the story, and was allowed to read the original story by Mr. Satoshi Mizukami (Satoru Mizukami) up to the third episode. I was surprised and moved by each episode, as if I was reading a manga series.

─ As a performer, how did you create the role of Harumi Kumashiro?

Fuchigami: I often start from the visual aspect, but Harumi was an unexpected character. I thought she would look timid and gentle, but in fact she is a character with a strong judo spirit who goes berserk when she loses her temper, which surprised me (laughs). I have often played relatively calm characters in the past, but it was a lot of fun to play a character with such a wide range. If I hadn't been an actor, I would never have shouted as an adult (laughs). (Laughs) I think it is a job that gives me a fun experience because I get to see a new side of myself through it.

─ Have you finished all the recording?

Fuchigami: Yes. This work was done very quickly, so the postrecording went on every week. I had the pleasure of seeing the episodes that I was not in for the first time, and the episodes that I was in gave me a very different impression from the ones during the postrecording. I know the storyline, but I feel the power of the sound very strongly, especially since I was involved in the theme song for this work. The power of the robots is totally different when sound effects are used, and the accompaniment conveys the excitement and eeriness of the story in a way that is easy to understand. I am always excited to continue watching the work as if I am watching a work I do not know. Original works are more enjoyable because you can't see what's going to happen next.

───What did the music for "Rainbow Planet" look like when you received it?

Fuchigami: This work is filled with all of Mizukami-sensei's particulars, including the story, character designs, and of course, the opening and ending songs. There was originally a ballad as a candidate for the ending song, but Mr. Mizukami insisted on a song with enough momentum and impression to be the opening song for both, and as a result, this song with a sense of speed was chosen. Both the lyrics and melody were carefully crafted and polished.

─ It seems that you yourself like this type of music, doesn't it?

Fuchigami: Yes, I do. It feels good to sing. It's a song that allows me to immerse myself in the world, and it's a song that I can sing comfortably. The chorus part is in a falsetto (back voice), and when it goes well, it feels really good. I still have trouble with the sudden changes in sound, but I want to learn to sing it better and perfect it someday when I have the chance to perform it.

───Have you done this part of the recording many times?

Fuchigami Yes, many times. Many times. I thought I could do a little more. I took more time to record this song than any other song I have ever recorded. It took time for me to get used to it, and I felt a sense of responsibility as one of the parts that would carry the work, so after recording all the parts, I voluntarily asked, "Can I do it again? I was so determined to make a higher-quality recording that I used all the time I had to record. I am usually a person who does not work hard (laugh), but this song has a melody that I like very much, and it is fast and powerful, so even though I was not used to singing it yet, there was a quality that I could not compromise, and I thought that if I sang it one more time, I could get there. I felt that if I sang it one more time, I could get there. Maybe it is because the song is so much a part of myself.

─ How did you feel about the lyrics?

Fuchigami: It was very difficult. There is no right answer. There is a nuanced line in the work that says, "You have to side with the people you want to side with," but I was struggling with the question of whether it is necessary to separate justice and evil, or whether the evil side thinks they are justified and vice versa, but in the end I cannot decide which is justified or evil. In the end, it is impossible to decide which side is righteous or wrong. But it is not a lighthearted "everyone is different and everyone is good" kind of thing, and I found that very difficult as a nuance of the song. I still haven't found the answer to this question, but I believe that I can sing this kind of song because it is a song about my work. With songs from my own albums, I can go with what I think are the right lyrics or what I want to sing, but this time, I think it was a new experience for me to sing a song that is close to the work and to find my own answer.

─ How was the shooting of the music video?

Fuchigami: It was a composite shot, and everything around me was blue background, but it was strange to sing along to the song and act out the scene in an empty space. Even though the director gave me acting instructions, I was worried because there were no situations, but the finished video turned out to be fantastic, and I was once again surprised by the amazing visual technology that has been developed in recent years.


──You showed off a new all-white costume for the music video and jacket.

Fuchigami: The lyrics of the song are about "neither justice nor evil," so I didn't want to dye the song in any one color. I discussed the shape of the costume with the costume designer, and although there was an idea to make it more princess-like, he was able to make it stronger and more glamorous, so that the hem could be ripped off in a fight if necessary.