[Signed packs will be given away! From Aika and Mami's tearful goodbye to their ambitions as the voice acting unit SMILE PRINCESS!　PLAORE! ~PRIDE OF ORANGE~" Interview with Riho Masuda and Yoshinoh Aoyama!

Media mix contents depicting girls who devote their youth to ice hockey, "PLAORE! ～PRIDE OF ORANGE".

On October 6, 2021, the TV anime "PLAORE! ~PRIDE OF ORANGE~ will begin broadcasting on October 6, 2021. At the end of the second episode, the protagonist Aika Mizusawa's best friend from childhood, Mami Ono, announces that she is transferring to a new school. In the just aired episode 3, their parting scene became the talk of the town.

In this interview, we talked to Riho Masuda, who plays Aika Mizusawa, and Yoshinoh Aoyama, who plays Mami Ono, about the anime currently airing and their activities as the voice acting unit "SMILE PRINCESS" consisting of the seven main cast members.

A look back at the first turning point, up to episode 3

───Please introduce the characters you both play and tell us what you think is attractive about them.

Masuda: Aika Mizusawa, who I play, is a really positive girl who can brighten up the world around her. On the other hand, when I feel down, everyone around me encourages me to cheer up right away, and I am the kind of character who can pull others along with me because I was saved. She is a bright and cute girl!

Aoyama Mami seems quiet and withdrawn at first, and at first I thought she was like that, but she is funny and expresses her emotions well, especially when she is with her best friend and childhood friend, Aika, who seems very natural. She is quiet, but in fact she is kind, cheerful, and tries her best in everything, and to me she is a very cute girl.

─ ─ How would you describe her personality in terms of whether she is close to you or not?

Masuda: I think we are similar in that I act on instinct.

Aoyama I see!

Masuda: In my daily life, I sometimes act without thinking. If there is something I want to do, I just do it anyway. Aika also has that tendency, so I think we may be similar.

Aoyama That's so true Aika!

Masuda But when I'm slacking off, I'm really unmotivated (laughs).

Aoyama I guess so. ...... I have played many different girls, but Mami is the one who is the furthest away from me (laughs). (laughs) Even in terms of tone of voice, I have a fairly low natural voice, but Mami speaks in the highest voice in my life as a voice actress, and she speaks in a cute way. It's kind of gentle. I feel that when she sees a flower blooming on the side of the road, she probably thinks it is lovely in various vocabularies. I am the type of person who doesn't notice the flowers on the street, so I try to be careful how carefully I play Mami so that my own messiness doesn't come out when I play her. I am hoping that somehow I will become more like Mami (laughs).

─ ─ Masuda-san, Aika Mizusawa is your debut work and your first starring role, what was the audition process like?

Masuda: I was attending a vocational school for voice actors, and there was audition information posted on the bulletin board at the school. I was told that I should go to a lot of auditions for future experience, so I decided to give it a try! That's when I decided to give it a try! It was my first audition, so I was very nervous. I had practiced a lot for both the songs and the script, but I was really nervous and my voice was faint (laughs). I was asked, "What do your friends usually say about your personality? I answered, "They say I don't know what I'm thinking. He then asked me, "What do you actually think about?" I answered, "(I don't think about anything in particular. ......) I think about how hungry I am," and I thought, "Oh, I've failed! (Laughs) But now that I am here, I am really happy that I was accepted.

─ What was the assigned song?

Masuda: I sang "Hikarihe" by miwa. The other songs were in a higher key, but I thought I could manage to sing "Hikari he".

───Can you tell us a little more about how you felt when you passed the test?

Masuda: I was really surprised and thought, "Am I good enough? (laughs). (Laughs) But now that I was chosen, I wanted to do my best. I was really happy.

───You first auditioned for a different character, didn't you?

Aoyama: That's right. When I went to the studio audition, I was asked to play several other characters. (Laughs.) Then I was invited to audition for another character, and it was Mami.

───How did you respond to the audition?

Aoyama: I thought I would not be chosen for such a cute and innocent character. But I was so happy to be accepted that I was rolling with joy. It was a new role for me, but I was given the chance to audition, so I decided to give it my all, and I think I got the chance.

Riho Masuda

─ Since you are playing the role of two best friends, what is your impression of each other's characters and what do you like about each other?

Masuda: I like girls with short cuts, and I really like (Mami's) visual. I really like ...... a lot.

Aoyama I'm becoming an otaku with no vocabulary (laughs).

Masuda: When I look at Mami while playing the role of Aika, I see that she has a brightness that is different from that of Aika. I think that is one of the things that attracts us to each other. I think they both have something that I don't have.

Aoyama: Aika is so intensely naive that the word "naive" is too strong a word to describe her. I myself am attracted to her, and I think everyone has a longing for such a person. She is so aggressive that I wonder what would happen to her if she existed in the real world (laughs), but her actions are very convincing. I think the persuasiveness, brightness, and purity of her actions are partly due to the fact that she is played by Rikkun (Masuda's nickname).

─ ─ "Puraore! ～What was the atmosphere like during the recording of "PRIDE OF ORANGE"?

Masuda: Right now, we have to deal with Corona, so we can't record with everyone together very much.

Aoyama: But we were able to record a lot with the four members of Kinugawa Chu-men, Aika, Mami, Kaoruko, and Ayaka, so I was happy to be able to record with them. It takes time to get a feel for the characters and atmosphere in the first recording of any work, but "Puraore! sound director Akiko Fujita is a passionate person, so I was especially prepared for that (laughs).

Yoshinoh Aoyama

───How was it in reality?

Aoyama: Rikkun was too tough!　If it were normal, he would have broken my heart.

Masuda: ...... was broken (laughs).

Aoyama But he always replied "Yes! And it was amazing.

Masuda I'm just an idiot (laughs).

Aoyama This is what makes Aika so special!

Masuda You have to try, you can't say you can't do it. You can't say you can't do it. So I was desperate, like, "Okay, I'll try! I was desperate. I didn't want to break, and I couldn't break.

Aoyama: The sound directors were also in conflict with us, so it was a really heated battle. We watched on and said, "Go for it! We were all looking on.

─ What were the points of direction that Mr. Fujita was particular about, and what were the points that Mr. Masuda had to stick to, and what were the difficult points?

Masuda: It was very early in the play, so everyday conversation was very difficult. The difference in distance between talking across the table and talking next to each other was very difficult. （I was sometimes told off for speaking too loudly (in relation to the distance of the conversation). I have learned a lot through postrecording, and I think I am getting a little better at it these days.

─ ─ The pause in everyday conversation is difficult, and it is a challenge, isn't it?

Aoyama: It is difficult. In my first regular work, I was taught very strictly about conversational distance. So I feel a lot of sympathy for him, but it was very frustrating for me not to be able to teach him something. It was like I was watching myself. I think it is a common experience for voice actors to have difficulties in ordinary conversations, not in dramatic scenes. It is difficult to relax even when you want to, so I appreciated Mr. Fujita's easy-to-understand, passionate instruction that was close to my heart.

Masuda: It was a very gratifying experience.

─ By the way, did you have any experience in theater or acting?

Masuda: I had no acting experience at all. I was interested in voice acting, but I thought it would be difficult because it is a tough world and that I would just go to college and make a living. But I didn't really like studying, and on my way home from cram school, when I was at the height of my "Ugh, I don't want to study," I happened to see an ad for a voice acting school, and I called on the spot to inquire.

Aoyama: (Your energy is) the hero!　The overwhelming hero!

Masuda When I went home and told my father about it, he was really angry (laughs).

Aoyama: I am so glad that I happened to find that ad at that time.

─ ─ In the last part of episode 2, we saw a shocking ending where Mami mentioned that she was going to change schools. On the official website of the anime, only Mami originally belonged to the Nishi-Tokyo Ice Rabbits, right?

Aoyama It was obvious, wasn't it? When I looked at the official site, I thought, "Oh, I must have done something official" (laughs). I had grown up with everyone since I was a little girl, and although we were childhood friends, I was in the position of .......

Masuda: I was very shocked to hear that we had to say goodbye after 3 episodes so soon. I'm sad.

──What did you think of the drama in the series of 3 episodes?

Masuda: The farewell scene was really moving, especially with May'n's song. Even when I was practicing the dubbing at home (I was so moved), I would say "Oh, I can't do it, it's too hard ......". I was so nervous on the set that I was worried whether I could do it well or not. Even when I rewatch the video, I still feel painful.

Aoyama: Nowadays, recording booths are usually partitioned off with curtains (to prevent infection), so you can't see the face of the person next to you, let alone hear their breathing. But for this scene, we decided to put on masks and look at each other's faces. When we were face to face, Rikkun started to look more and more like Aika and I started to cry. If I had been looking at his face the whole time, I would have been soaked with tears, so I was glad that there were curtains when I performed. Aika is Rikkun, and Rikkun is Aika.

─ ─ (The interview was not aired yet.) Have you seen the video yet?

Aoyama: I glanced at the first episode. But at the time of recording, the pictures were pretty well drawn. Did you see the opening Victory Dance?　The movement of the pictures is smooth and smooth!

Masuda: The effects were amazing!

Aoyama: They moved well and sparkled. I don't have the vocabulary, but I hope you get the idea.

Masuda: In the first episode, Aika and her friends are going about their daily lives, so it's like a bunch of cute girls are having fun and playing ice hockey! It's like they are about to play ice hockey. The ice hockey scenes are very powerful and the sound is very realistic. The cutting is very fast, so I was very excited during the recording. It's also difficult to hear the voice and breathing when the puck is hit towards the goal.

─ I heard that you actually went to see an ice hockey game together.

Aoyama: We realized that the intensity of the play is not what we had imagined.

───Are there any highlights from the anime?

Masuda: I think the highlight is watching Aika and her friends grow as the episodes go by. The speed of the match scenes is also amazing, so I think you will really enjoy it. When they win the match, there is a Victory Dance, and you can see the unexpected charm of each character, so please look forward to it.

Aoyama: I look forward to seeing you in West Tokyo. Mami-style future highlights: ...... will be coming out again!　I can only say now that I will be coming out again, but you will have to wait and see.

My dream is to have a solo live performance at the Nippon Budokan?

─ ─ At KYO Mafu on September 18, it was announced that the 7 main cast members will be working as a voice actor unit "SMILE PRINCESS". We will now talk about the unit activities. First of all, please tell us about your debut stage at "Anipachi -Anime Carnival- supported by OPENREC.tv" held at TOKYO DOME CITY HALL in June.

Masuda: I was really very nervous on my first stage. Aika is a very energetic girl, so I thought I would dance with a lot of energy! But I had no experience in singing and dancing, so it was really difficult. But when it came time to perform, I was supported by the enthusiasm of the audience and the members around me, and I think I was able to perform as Aika on stage. It was a lot of fun!

Aoyama: Even before the first stage, the seven of us had been working together on YouTube for a long time. So I was happy to finally be on stage for the first time with all seven of us. And in this day and age, I was very happy to be in front of an audience that came to see us as an audience. I am sure there were people who had not yet heard of "Puraore! but I thought it was a beautiful sight to see the circle expanding to include such people. It was a great stage. After the performance, the dance teachers were in tears and told me how good it was.

─ What is your role in SMILE PRINCESS as a unit?

Aoyama: As for dancing, Mayuchi (Mayu Sagara), Shio-chan (Asuka Shioiri), and I, as the one who has experience, are saying that it would be nice if I could help them.

Masuda: From my point of view, Mayuchi-senpai is the one who takes the lead, watching over everyone and checking with the dance teacher. Yoppi-senpai is like the teacher who watches over everyone from behind when they go for a walk in the nursery school.

Aoyama: That seems to be the case. The staff also sees Aoyama as someone with dance experience. ...... For example, on the day of choreography, we are given videos in advance as reference materials. I wonder if they expect me to memorize some of the moves, but I am not good at memorizing moves from videos, and I am not good at dancing in the first place (laughs). (Laughs.) So I'm torn between feeling like I have to do it right more and more, and feeling like a puppy.

─ Is there anyone who is a mood-maker for you?

Masuda: Maybe Satomi (Satomi Hongo)?　Satomi is always funny.

Aoyama She is a funny girl (laughs).

───What do you mean by that?

Aoyama: I'm embarrassed when people ask me that. Basically, ...... strange?　Satomi's facial expression never changes, so at first I think she is a cool girl like Yuu Kiyose, who plays her. But she says very strange things with a straight face.

Masuda: Sometimes I can't pick up the blurriness because she makes blurriness with a straight face.

Aoyama Also, Sai-chan (Saika Kitamori) is really a very cheerful person. She is so yang that at first I was worried if we would get along (laughs). (Laughs) But she is so full of yang that I came to like her.

Masuda: She's very savage, isn't she?

Aoyama: It's seriously funny. Sai Kitamori is not a gal, but she is also a strange person.

Masuda I remember Sai-chan writing "It's easy to write with ballpoint pen refill leads.

Aoyama: Everyone is naturally funny, so every day I realize that I am a sensible person. And Moririn (Yurika Moriyama) is already .......

Masuda: An archangel!

Aoyama She is the queen of super common sense.

Masuda Whenever I have a problem, I check with Moririn.

Aoyama She's super serious, a very nice girl, and I feel like she has something in common with me. I'm sorry if this doesn't make you happy, but I'm sorry, Moririn. ......

───What do you feel is similar to yourself?

Aoyama: The way I approach postrecording. ...... I'm actually quite serious at heart. Moririn is serious both at heart and by nature. I don't like to be called "serious" because it sounds like I have nothing interesting to say, but Moririn is a serious angel. Thank God she exists.

Masuda: It's precious. She wraps everyone with her angel wings Fuasaa .......

Aoyama There are many interesting children around me, so every time I see them, it brings out the fact that Moririn is an angel.

─ ─ "SMILE PRINCESS by Puraore! You are also putting a lot of effort into YouTube as "SMILE PRINCESS by PLAORE! What videos or recordings have left a lasting impression on you?

Masuda: Recently, I uploaded a video titled "Sagara and Masuda are Praore! A Tour of Sacred Places". I would be happy if people who saw the video could visit the places.

Aoyama: So you can visit all the places in one day if you follow the order in the video, right?

Masuda: That's right!　If you want to go slowly, take your time (laughs). It was a fulfilling day and left a lasting impression. (In another video) We also played inline hockey. We also played tag.

Aoyama: That was the first video with all seven of us together. It was interesting to see how the seven of us gradually got used to inline skates and the heavy hockey equipment.

───Masuda-san, please tell us about your first recording as SMILE PRINCESS.

Masuda: My first recording was "Hare, chi dore minggu! ○". Just like dubbing, I was very nervous the first time I went to a recording studio. I practiced a lot, but I was nervous about the recording at ....... It was difficult to sing as the character Aika. But the song itself was really fun to sing, so while I was singing it, I felt like I was having fun too, and we were able to record it.

Aoyama Rikkun's voice is surprisingly low; if you watch YouTube videos of him singing, you will be surprised at the image of Aika.

───Mr. Aoyama, can you tell us about the recording of the opening theme song for the anime, "Phi-O Fight! the opening theme song of the anime?

Aoyama Before recording that song, I asked Mr. Ochiai, "Why don't you make a solo version of 'Fie Oh Fight! I asked Mr. Ochiai before recording that song, "Why don't you make a solo version of 'Phi-O Fight! I asked Mr. Ochiai without any hesitation. Then Mr. Ochiai took me seriously. So we decided to make a solo version with all the members singing the full chorus, which was originally planned to be a part-singing version.

Masuda: I didn't realize that!

Aoyama The song was so good that I wanted to hear everyone's solo version, and it was possible. So we sang through the song on the day of recording, but we still didn't know who would sing which part. Everyone has a part they want to sing. So we competed for that part, and when it was finished, we all checked together to see who would sing which part.

Masuda: At first, we all listened to the song together.

Aoyama: It was very interesting, and I thought Aika was very strong because the lyrics were determined by the power of the song. It was made with a lot of care, so please check it out with your well-trained sense of sound!

───Who mainly watched over you during the recording?

Aoyama: "Phi-oh Fight! was Mr. Hidekazu Tanaka, who wrote and arranged the music.

───Mr. Aoyama, you have known Mr. Tanaka since your debut, right?

Aoyama: The recording sessions were a perfect match (laughs). (laughs) Mr. Hidekazu Tanaka has been a great help to me since my debut, so I was really grateful and happy to be able to work with him again on a new work.

─ Now that you have officially started as the voice acting unit "SMILE PRINCESS," what are your dreams, or rather ambitions, for the long run?

Masuda Ambitions, ambitions, huh?

Aoyama: What do you want to be in three years (laughs)?

Masuda: ...... (Japan) Budokan!　I want to go there.

Aoyama Hugh!

Masuda I also hope to go overseas someday.

Aoyama That's true. Budokan, wow, I just said that!　But let's keep our dreams to ourselves!　If we put our dreams into words, they may come true. But this is a result of our own efforts as well as the support of our fans. First of all, we will work so hard that we can't work any harder, and I hope that the appeal of ice hockey and the bonds of SMILE PRINCESS will spread to as many people as possible. As for my latest ambition, Rikkun is coming of age next year, so I would like to bring him a bouquet of flowers (laughs). ...... I would also be happy if the anime is a great success. Good luck (whispering).

───How about going in a different direction and having a Victory Dance at an ice hockey rink?

Aoyama & Masuda: I'd like to do that!

Aoyama: That's it. That's what I really want to do.

Masuda: We have talked about it a lot. （Aoyama: Do you skate (on skates)?

Aoyama Indeed! I wonder how it will turn out... We are indebted to the H.C. Tochigi Nikko Icebucks, so I hope we can perform the Victory Dance there and make it a good thing for everyone, those who like "Pulaore" and those who like ice hockey, to get together.... I hope it will be a good thing for everyone....

─ ─ Finally, could you give a message to your fans?

Aoyama: What is going to happen to Mami, but I don't think you will be able to see her farewell without tears. I put my heart and soul into my performance. The characters and voice actors of the rival team are also very attractive, so please pay attention to them as well, and look forward to seeing the growth of everyone in SMILE PRINCESS!

Masuda: The TV anime "PLAORE! ~PRIDE OF ORANGE~, which started in October, is a really passionate anime about cute girls who play ice hockey in their youth. We, SMILE PRINCESS, will also do our best in various activities, so please give us your support!

(Reporting, writing, and photography by Kiri Nakazato)

Outline of the present campaign

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■"PLAORE! Interview Commemorative, Riho Masuda and Yoshinoh Aoyama autographed packs will be given away to one lucky winner!

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