Interview] Miho Okazaki makes her debut as an artist!　1st single "Happiness" is a positive song about her longed-for self.

Miho Okazaki, who came into the limelight playing the main character Rimuru-Tempest in the TV anime "Tensei Takera Kara Slyme Datta Koto" and is also known for her singing ability in the game "THE IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS," will finally make her artist debut!　Her first single "Happiness" was written and composed by DECO*27, a very popular sound producer. The song is as cheerful as the title suggests.
Miho is a natural singer without being overbearing. Her wonderful personality is also evident in this interview. She spoke freely about the joy of opening a new door for herself!

I have had a desire to transform myself since I was a child and have longed to be a voice actor.

─ ─ Congratulations on your solo debut. First of all, please tell us how you feel about taking your first step as an artist.

Okazaki: I have loved singing since I was a child, and since I started working as a voice actor, I have had the opportunity to sing character songs, and I have experienced the joy of expressing myself through singing many times. And now I am very happy to have the opportunity to express myself as an artist. I can't stop being excited to think that I will be able to share the scenery with you all that I could never see on my own.

───In the first place, did you first aim to become a voice actor, or did you want to become a singer?

Okasaki: I aspired to be a voice actor. I have always had a desire to transform myself. In the world of anime, I can become a wizard and fly in the sky, transcend gender and age, and even transform into animals instead of humans. I thought it would be wonderful to be a voice actor who could take on such a variety of roles, and I began to yearn for such a job. I also discovered that I could sing, and I became interested in singing as a voice actor.

─ ─ Your debut as a voice actor was in 2017, and you have played many different roles so far.

Okazaki: Thankfully, I have been able to experience many things through my roles. However, I would like to do my best so that I can audition for more roles.

─ ─ I believe that there were senior voice actors close to you who are active as artists. How did you feel about them?

Okasaki: I looked at them with admiration and thought they were cool. I had a feeling that I would like the chance to be an artist someday as well, but since I was just starting out as a voice actor, I thought it was far in the future for me. When I was approached by King Records, I was really surprised, but I had no hesitation at all and immediately said "I would be happy to work with you. Moreover, King Record is home to a number of voice-over artists whom I have admired since I was in junior high school, so I felt like I wanted to follow their big backs and do my best.

─ I heard that you had contact with Nana Mizuki before she made her debut as a voice actress.

Okazaki: When I was in my first year of high school, there was an NHK Nodo Jiman in my hometown in Okayama Prefecture, and when I heard that Nana Mizuki was going to be a guest, I applied. I was very happy to be able to sing her song right in front of her and talk a little about it during the program. I have not seen her since she became a professional voice actor, and I get nervous when I imagine meeting her someday (laughs).

─ ─ I am looking forward to seeing your future expand even more now that you have made your debut as an artist, and the yellow color highlighted on the CD jacket and official site is refreshingly typical of Okasaki-san.

Okazaki: It's my favorite color, and many of the characters in my works are associated with yellow, so I thought it would be a wonderful color to match my image for my artist debut.