Two winners will receive autographed checkered photos] "Playing Kukuru made me love living things! Ito Miki looks back on the first episode of the TV anime "Aquatope of White Sand"! Interview]

P.A.WORKS presents a completely new original animation "Aquatope of White Sand". The first season, which focused on life at the "Gamagama Aquarium," which had been decided to close, has come to an end, and the second season, with a completely new setting, has begun.

We asked Ms. Miki Ito, who plays the main character, Misakino Kukuru, to look back on the first season and talk about the work, what she was conscious of in her performance, and her memories of her experience as a zookeeper.

There is a giveaway at the end of the article. Click here for details!

I was careful to express impatience and anxiety, but not to make it seem unpleasant.

--Ito: Looking back on the first cool (episodes 1 to 12), what are your honest impressions?

Ito: In the first cool, the main story was about how Kukuru wanted to revive the "Gamagama Aquarium". There were many descriptions of the work at the aquarium, and I think that the audience was able to understand the aquarium and its creatures. I learned a lot myself.

--How did you play the role of Kukuru?

Ito: I had heard that Kukuru was a bright and hibiscus-like character, so at first I was just conscious of playing her cheerfully and tried my best to make her look like a girl who would fit in well in Okinawa. But in the middle of the role, I began to act more and more due to impatience (the "Gamagama Aquarium" was closing). I was hoping to express a little bit of anxiety in my performance.

--I was even more impatient towards the end of the film.

Ito: I was already in a state of panic towards the end (laughs). (Laughs.) Even from an observer's point of view, it was like, "Kukuru, you're already ......." I was so in love with him that I was causing trouble for everyone around me. Because of my love for them, I would cause trouble for those around me and act childishly. But even though he is in a hurry and causes trouble in a childish way, it is because of his dream, so I was careful not to make it seem too bad.

--It is a subtle nuance, isn't it?

Ito: I tried my best to convey to her that there is a reason for her actions, so that she does not become just selfish. That's what I was trying to convey in my performance.

--In terms of impatience, in episode 9, a new aquarium keeper, Chiyu Haebaru, arrived from the aquarium under construction, "Aquarium Tingara," for training. Her words sound very sarcastic at first, but she has a good point, doesn't she?

Ito: That's right. Kukeru was not mature enough to take such a hard-line attitude. I thought to myself, "That's right, he's going to get annoyed with me" (laughs). (Laughs.) I was thinking, "I don't want to be in a new aquarium! (Laughs). I was just showing all my feelings of "I don't want to go to a new aquarium!

--What was the most memorable scene or line in the first season?

Ito: Grandpa's (Kukuru's grandfather) lines always stuck with me. In episode 11, Kukuru is holed up in the middle of a typhoon to oppose the closing of the "Gamagama Aquarium. But at night, the typhoon causes a power outage, and he tries to deal with the situation with Fuka, who comes to the aquarium, but she says, "The Gamagama will break down! We have to do something about the creatures! I was in a state of panic. ...... In the end, Grandpa and the others came to the house, and Grandpa said to them, "Trust the creatures, they are not so weak. They are not so fragile." I was very impressed by his words.

It is true that aquariums have a lot of detailed work and breeding methods, but it is also necessary for keepers to believe in the life force of living creatures. Like Kukuru, I also had an "aha" moment.

--I think I understand Kukuru's feelings, even though he may be a child in the act of staying in there.

ITOH: I understand. But for Kukuru and the creatures of the "Gamagama Aquarium," it was a truly moving scene when everyone came to me in a pinch.



Fuka, who was negative at first, became a dependable person throughout the first cool season.

--In the 12th episode, which was the last episode of the first season, we saw the human situation between Kukuru and Fuka, and I could really feel their feelings for each other.

Ito: That's right. Because they are close and trust each other, I want them to do what they want to do and I want to push them to do it. I thought it was very realistic that they are a little awkward.

--In the end, Fuka doesn't get on the plane to Tokyo, but returns to Kukuru. This scene was also impressive.

Ito: I cried because I was sad that she was leaving, and then Fuka came to me. I think this scene showed Fuka's coolness, like an older sister. At first, I had the image of her quitting the idol club with a "I don't want to be ......" attitude and Kukuru pulling her along with a smile, but in the end, it showed Fuka's boldness in a good way. I felt that Kukuru must have always been helped by that kind of thing.

--It is true that at the beginning, Kukuru was the older sister, in the middle she was the same age as the others and made a lot of noise with them, and at the end, Fuka was the older sister.

Ito: That's right. I felt that Kukuru was supposed to have an older sister, so I felt that she became a reliable person during the one-cour period.

--I think she has become a dependable person during the course of the first season.

Ito: They are all very attractive, but Natsurin (Hisaka) made me want to support her throughout the story. She is actually an adult (compared to Kukuru and the others), but she is like a frank big sister who treats you like a friend. She always respects what Kukuru wants to do. But when she tells Kukuru that she also wanted to be an aquarium keeper (episode 8), I felt like cheering her on. I think Natsurin was also influenced by Kukuru and changed her character.

--How about Tsukimi Teruya aka Udon-chan?

Ito: Udon-chan is always a mood-maker, cheerful, and she listened to Kukuru's "lifelong request" many times (laughs). (Laughs) She also has an older sisterly personality, and I think she is someone who helps you out when you are in trouble. She is also the only one who has good instincts and supports Oar-kun (Nakamura). She is an amazing girl who has her own dreams and can see what is going on around her.

--In the sixth episode, Udon-chan was very supportive when he tried his hand at making original sweets to attract customers to the "Gama Gama Aquarium".

Ito: Even there, Kukuru was asking for the impossible as a lifelong request (laughs). (Laughs) But the way she did it while having fun was so sparkling that I thought, "I want to be like that, too.

--I would love to try that ice cream.

ITOH: It looked so delicious. It looked cute, too. I would like to see a "Udon-chan Cafe -Kamee business trip version-" at a collaboration cafe or something. I would also like to try the udon champuru.



I had no fear of fish, and the experience of being a fish keeper went easily.

--I was very impressed by the way the characters were drawn, and the scenery, creatures, and food in the film are all very beautiful. How did you feel when you actually saw the finished film?

ITOH: I was very impressed by how beautiful it was. It was amazing that you were able to express the vividness of the Okinawan sea so well in the pictures. I could feel the warmth or the air of Okinawa from the screen. The music and other elements make me feel as if I am really in Okinawa.

Also, the movements of the creatures, which the director was very particular about, are really amazing, and each one moves differently! They all move in different ways! I was like, "Wow! I love the way he put love into the creatures, making them realistic and cute.

--I think it's wonderful that you love living creatures and portray them in a realistic and cute way.

Ito: It makes me very happy. When I do the voice-over recording, I usually do it in black and white (no color yet), but I am really moved when something beyond what I imagined comes out of the screen.

--Is there anything else about this work that you found amazing?

ITOH: It was the "realism," after all. I myself experienced being a keeper at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama for the "Ito Mirai's keeper experience" project, and the backstage of the aquarium was very realistic, just as I had seen in the animation. In particular, I actually experienced putting vitamins into the fish for feeding, and I really liked that scene (in the second episode).

--I was a little curious when I saw the video, but were you always okay with touching fish?

Ito: Actually, I had almost no experience in touching or preparing fish until now. I don't cook much either. ...... The only contact I had with fish was through the glass at the aquarium, but after working on this film, I no longer have any fear of fish or any sense that I am not allowed to. I was able to do it easily as a keeper's job.

--So you were able to do it easily as a fish keeper. I was surprised at how easily he opened the gills of the fish to put in vitamins, when I thought he might be a bit hesitant to do so.

ITOH: I really didn't feel a little uncomfortable touching it. I was also surprised at how easily they were able to do it (laughs). (Laughs) I was also surprised when I met a beluga whale and was allowed to touch the inside of its mouth. It was all thanks to the work. I think I was able to do it easily because I had seen the dolphins through dubbing, pictures, and text.

Through this work, I came to love living creatures and had the opportunity to learn about ocean issues.

--I also found that the production team played a lot of games when I watched the first episode again. For example, the license plate number of the motorcycle (moped) that Kukuru rides is "03-707," did you notice what the number is?

Ito: What? (I think about it, but can't quite come up with it.) ...... Tanabata? Is it the date? Then is it Kukuru's birthday?

--It is correct! Kukuru was born in Heisei 15 (Heisei 15), so if you convert it to the western calendar, it's 2003, which is July 7, 2003, so it's "03-707".

ITOH: I see! It's true, there were stuffed animals of characters from other works that appeared here and there (laughs).

--(Laughs) - Speaking of which, what was Kijimuna's existence in the end?

Ito: My personal view is that he was a "guiding presence. He would walk in front of Fuka, or say, "This way," or something like that! or "This way! Kijimuna is the guardian god of Okinawa, so he is a spirit that will continue to watch over us.

--And now, the second season will start next time. The stage will be moved to "Aquarium Tingara," and the synopsis says that Kukuru's position will also change. What are some of the highlights of the second cool?

Ito: There are many new characters in the second season, and Kukuru is unexpectedly transferred to the sales department instead of being a zookeeper. How will Kukuru, who loves living creatures, work in a job that does not allow her to directly interact with them? Up until now, I was the deputy director of a small aquarium called "Gamagama Aquarium," and I think there was a part of me that was very confident when it came to living creatures. Now that I am a working member of society, I think it will be interesting to see how that will change.

--I think he will have a tough time in the sales department.

Ito: Because of her personality (laughs). (Laughs.) He's a bit egotistical, or maybe he's just not what he wants to do! (laughs). I wonder how he will put his feelings into practice and whether he will listen to what Kukuru says. The new aquarium is also worth seeing, so please look forward to it.

--Lastly, what have you gained from playing Kukuru so far, and how do you feel you have changed?

ITOH: There are so many things I have gained through this work. The director said that he wanted to convey the work of an aquarium and the importance and preciousness of living creatures, and I, as an actor, was able to understand that very well. It is hard work to keep living creatures, and it also gave me an opportunity to learn about current ocean issues and what is happening in the ocean. I also came to love living creatures anyway.

I had never disliked living things before, but I didn't particularly like them very much. I had never had a pet before, and I had never really thought about it. Aquariums are fun to look at, but I thought they existed as entertainment because they want people to love living creatures despite the difficulties of raising them by hand and the various problems they face. I have come to love aquariums, I have come to love Okinawa, and I have come to love living creatures. I hope that I can convey even a little bit of the current situation of living creatures to people who watch my film.



(Reporting, writing, and photography by Kenichi Chiba)

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