I cried a lot when I was chosen to be a member of the Amazon Trio, which I longed for! In commemoration of the release of "Sailor Moon Eternal" Part 1, an interview with Satoshi Hino, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, and Shota Aoi!

The legendary girls' manga "Sailor Moon," which has been loved beyond time and generation, returns to the screen after 25 years!

The "Dead Moon" version, which depicts Chibiusa and Elyos' first love and the growth of the Sailor Senshi, has been made into a movie in two parts: the first part and the second part!　The first part of "Sailor Moon Eternal" will be released on January 8, 2021 (Friday), and the second part will open in theaters nationwide on February 11, 2021 (Thursday, national holiday).

In this film, the Dead Moon Circus will stand in the way of the Sailor Senshi as their enemies. The three members of the Amazon Trio, who were transformed from circus pets into human beings, appear as the vanguard of this group. Akiba Research Institute interviewed three members of the Amazon trio: Satoshi Hino (Tiger's Eye), Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Hawks Eye), and Shota Aoi (Fish Eye)!

How did they play the three too unique characters? ...... Please enjoy the interview along with the photos!

Q: How did you feel when you were chosen for the role?

Hino: I watched the first TV anime version of "Sailor Moon" with my younger sister when I was a child. The "Dead Moon Arc" was one of the most popular stories, so I was very happy to be able to participate as one of the Amazon trio that appeared in the story. When it was announced, I received calls from my family and relatives.

Satoshi Hino as Tiger's Eye

Toyonaga: I was surprised to be asked to participate as the Amazon Trio in "Sailor Moon," a work so popular that there is no one who does not know its name, and I said out loud to the manager, "Seriously? (laugh).

(Laughs.) That was my honest impression, but from an actor's point of view, the Amazon Trio are very popular characters, and they are a trio that will be a major hook in the "Dead Moon Arc" as well. And since their tone of voice is very impactful, I was very grateful to be given this opportunity to take on a new challenge as an actor with this very big title.

Also, my wife is a big fan of Sailor Moon, so when I told her that I had become Hawke's Eye, she responded the same way I did, "Seriously? I could tell that she really loved Sailor Moon, and she started talking about it in a very fast and rich way (laughs).

Aoi: For me, "Sailor Moon" is the very essence of my youth, and I can't tell you how many times they have saved my life. In various interviews, I am often asked about my favorite anime, and "Sailor Moon" is a work that I cannot miss.

So I was shocked that there was an audition for the Amazon Trio, and I was very grateful to have been told about it. It was the most miraculous, almost miraculous moment for me to be allowed to audition, and my heart was racing. I get nervous at all auditions, but "Sailor Moon" is the work that changed my life, so I was surprised at how nervous I was.

That is why I was so surprised when I received the acceptance and cried a lot at the same time. I had already told everyone around me that I liked Fisheye, so when it was announced, all my friends at the time contacted me at once. They said, "Wait a minute!　What do you mean? (laughs). One of my friends sent me a message saying, "Dreams really do come true, don't they?" I was very grateful and thought it was truly a miracle.

Q: What do you think is the appeal of "Sailor Moon," which is loved by so many people?

Hino: At the time, there weren't many female heroes, and the fact that the girls transformed into Sailor suits was a big shock to me. I was watching an anime, but I clearly remember that my sister and I got more and more involved in the world of the show. I remember thinking at the time that this work gave dreams to women and men, adults and children, not only in Japan but all over the world.

Toyonaga I think it is a milestone that created the "Bishojo Senshi" category/genre. Personally, I was surprised that it was serialized in "Nakayoshi" (Kodansha), and the theme of the work has moments that make me feel "heavy" even if I am an adult reading it. Looking back on it now, I think it must have been a work that really stuck out to those who read the original comic at the time, who were in their adolescent years or who wanted to grow up a little bit. An obvious example is the relationship between Usagi-chan (Sailor Moon: Usagi Tsukino) and Mamoru (Tuxedo Mask: Mamoru Jiba). I think every girl at one time or another has dreamed of going out with Mamo-chan.

Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Hawks Eye

Hino: Tuxedo Mask was cool from any angle, wasn't it?

Toyonaga: Yes!　He was so cool!　I wondered if anyone could look good with roses like that (laughs). It was very stylish.

And there was a time when both boys and girls were doing "Moon Prism Power Make-Up! I remember there was a time when both boys and girls were doing "Moon Prism Power Makeup! That left a deep impression on me.

Aoi: As Hino-san mentioned, most of the magical girl shows on TV at that time had the main character transforming by herself, but "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" had several girls transforming, and the transformation scenes were so wonderful, which I think was one of the charms of the show. I think that was one of the charms of "Sailor Moon".

I also think that the adolescent girlishness that Ms. Toyonaga mentioned is also appealing. Usagi-chan meets Luna at a time when junior high school girls are in their adolescent years and have many dreams and things they still want to do.

The most shocking part of the story was the surprising title "Death of a Sailor Soldier! The first "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" episode 45, surprisingly titled "The Tragic Final Battle," was particularly shocking. This episode was a social phenomenon: a junior high school girl in a cute sailor outfit dies as a result of fighting through powerful techniques. It's heavy, isn't it? Now that I am older, I realize that we are all a bit depressed, lost, and frustrated over the slightest thing, but seeing her stand up against the heavy fate that she cannot escape teaches me that I should not be depressed over such a thing. I think this is one of the reasons why people of all ages can get involved in watching this movie.

Shota Aoi as Fish-Eye

Q: What were you conscious of when creating the role of the character you played?

Hino: Personally, I took the performances of my seniors who played the Amazon trio in the past TV series as a reference, and thought about how to express the Tiger's Eye I envisioned in my mind.

I was going to use a cool onee expression in some parts, but from the time of the audition, the sound director told me, "Make it more over the top!　Make it weirder! (laughs). (Laughs.) So I was conscious of a slightly overdone onee-esque tone rather than coolness. I still wanted to be "cool whenever I had the chance," but when I did that, there was an air of "that's not right, is it? I think that's what the atmosphere was like.

Toyonaga: Tiger's Eye, which increased at the mirror house, was interesting (laughs). (Laughs.) "Hino-san is the best! I was like, "Mr. Hino is the best!

Aoi I love you already!

Hino: That's why I was most conscious of making sure that the director, sound director, and everyone else could get close to the Tiger's Eye that everyone had in mind.

Toyonaga: Like Mr. Hino, I watched the TV series and incorporated the nuances of the play into my own performance, but the basic premise was to find the place where I could express Toyonaga's character.

Hawke's Eye has a close relationship with Mako-chan (Super Sailor Jupiter/Makoto Kino), but I had to include another message in the play, not just to frame the other character. In other words, it was about how to make Mako-chan rethink about her dream, and in that sense, I had a hard time deciding where to put the most emphasis in the dialogue. So this time, rather than creating strange, distorted emotions, I decided to create a rather innocent or straightforward story, including how she became a human being from a hawk.

However, I wanted the audience to feel something suspicious, but I thought the onee tone of voice would probably take care of that. I took the approach that I wanted to make the weirdness come out there (laughs).

Aoi: I agree with what Mr. Hino and Mr. Toyonaga said, but I also love Akira Ishida's Fish-Eye, which was played in the TV animation at that time. But that is why I thought it would be disrespectful to the character if I imitated the Fish-Eye that Mr. Ishida played. I tried to be faithful to my favorite Fish-Eye that Mr. Ishida played, and I tried to do the Fish-Eye that only Shota Aoi could do because I passed the audition for this theater version.

I was able to do the postrecording with the three of us, but because Tiger's Eye and Hawks Eye were there, they were able to push me and I was able to become Fish-Eye as well.

Q: Did the director have any requests for you?

Aoi: I was anxious too, and I guess that came out, so he asked me to "give it my all. But I also thought that it would be meaningless if Fish-Eye was not cute, so if I felt she was not cute when I was playing her, I remember asking her to let me play her again.

Q: Lastly, who is your favorite Sailor Soldier?

Hino: Rei-chan's (Super Sailor Mars/Rei Hino) last name is "Hino. I also have "Hino" in my name, so even though our names are different, I felt a strong kinship with her even as a child. I felt a miraculous connection with Rei Hino, and I really wanted to have her finish me off (laughs).

Toyonaga That sounds like a very dominant statement (laughs).

Hino: (laughs). So my favorite warrior is Rei-chan. Of course, I really like Usagi-chan, as she is the main heroine, and I also like Ami-chan (Super Sailor Mercury/Ami Mizuno) because I like short cuts, but I would have to go with Rei-chan Hino!

I'm going to give them all to you, aren't I (laughs)?

Hino Did you notice ...... (laughs).

Toyonaga I like them all, but I especially like Super Sailor Jupiter. Partly because I like her ponytail, but I also like Mako's vivacious, bamboo-split personality and the fact that she is known for her monstrous strength.

The first part of the movie revolves around Chibi-Usa-chan (Super Sailor Chibi Moon/Chibi-Usa). When I see Chibi-Usa-chan's struggle to become an adult, I feel that she is very healthy and I really want to protect her. I think I am getting old when I have such feelings, but I can't help but develop feelings from a guardian's or father's point of view. I like Chibi-Usa-chan because I have made such discoveries. I was taught that there are many kinds of "likes.

Hino What else?

Toyonaga: When we left the house, his wife said at the entrance, "Mercury is cute!　Mercury is cute!" twice." Personally, I think Super Sailor Venus (Minako Aino) is cheating, too. Venus is nice too!

Aoi: The six main girls were named firmly, weren't they (laughs)?

Aoi: I really like Ami-chan. The character that each of us is facing this time happens to be my favorite character!

Toyonaga Everyone was fighting against someone they each like! (Laughs)

ーーThat's also amazing. What do you like about Ami-chan, Aoi-san?

Aoi: Ami-chan is very smart, and as I am not that smart, I admired her then and still do. So I always wanted to be someone like Ami-chan, who is both gentle and strict, like water that embraces you.

Also, every warrior has their own unique transformation scene, which I think is a highlight of the show. I also like Rei-chan.

Hino: I like her in her miko costume.

Toyonaga In Rei-chan's transformation scene, she is licking from the bottom. When the bright red pinwheels came out in that scene, I thought that men would get hit. I was really moved by that.

After this, the male cast members continued to have fun talking about Sailor Senshi ....... The movie version of "Sailor Moon Eternal" (Part 1), featuring the attractive Sailor Senshi, will open in theaters nationwide on January 8, 2020 (Friday)!

(Reporting, text, and photographs by Junichi Tsukagoshi)

Film Information
Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie: Part 1 / Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie: Part 2
Release date: Part 1 January 8, 2021 (Friday), Part 2 February 11, 2021 (Thursday, national holiday)

<Cast>
Kotono Mitsuishi Kotono Kanemoto Hisako Sato Rina Koshimizu Ami Shizuka Ito Misato Fukuen Kenji Nojima Junko Minagawa Sayaka Ohara

Ai Maeda Yukiyo Fujii Ryo Hirohashi Futoshi Murata Futoshi Nakagawa Shoko Matsuoka Teijo
Naomi Watanabe Nanao

＜Staff
Original Story/ Supervisor : Naoko Takeuchi
Director：Chiaki Kon
Screenplay : Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Character Design : Kazuko Tadano
Animation Production: Toei Animation/Studio Deen
Distributor: Toei

＜Theme Song＞
"Tsukiiro Chainon
Momoiro Clover Z with Sailor Moon (CV: Kotono Mitsuishi) & Sailor Mercury (CV: Hisako Kanemoto) & Sailor Mars (CV: Rina Sato) & Sailor Jupiter (CV: Ami Komizu) & Sailor Venus (CV: Shizuka Ito)
Lyrics: Shirobara sumire Composed by Akiko Kosaka Arranged by Gesshoku Kaikan