The long-awaited third season! Aoi Koga, Makoto Furukawa, Yoshimi Ohara, Yosota Suzuki and Mimyu Tomita talk about the highlights of "Kaguya-sama ga Sesshirasai - Ultra Romantic" and their memories of the series! Interview] "Kaguya-sama ga Koezarasai - Ultra Romantic".

Kaguya-sama ga Tetsukurasai: Geniuses' Love Brain Battle" (original story: Akasa Akasaka, serialized in Weekly Young Jump; hereinafter "Kaguya-sama") will begin its third TV anime season, "Kaguya-sama ga Tetsukurasai: Ultra Romantic," in April 2022 for broadcast and distribution.

This work is based on the first season "Kaguya-sama ga Teshirasai - Geniuses' Love Brain Battle" and the second season "Kaguya-sama ga Teshirasai? ～This is the third season of the TV anime "Kaguya-sama ga Sukerasai," following the first season "Kaguya-sama wa Sukerasai ~Tensai-tachi no Koi Toushi no Kokoro Brain Battle~" and the second season "Kaguya-sama wa Sukerasai? As the subtitle of this season is "Ultra Romantic," one wonders what will happen to the relationship between Kaguya and Shiragane, and if that scene from the original story will finally be depicted. Many of you are probably excited to see what will happen to the relationship between Kaguya and Shiragane, or if that scene from the original story will finally be depicted in the new episode.

We asked Aoi Koga (Kaguya Shinomiya), Makoto Furukawa (Gyoko Shiragane), Yoshimi Obara (Senka Fujiwara), Akita Suzuki (Yu Ishigami) and Mimyu Tomita (Miko Iino), who play members of the Shuchiin Academy student council, to look back on the series so far and talk about everything from highlights of the third season to their acting. We asked them about various topics, from the highlights of the third season to their performances, while looking back on the series so far.

What are their favorite scenes, such as the distance between the two, the special training sessions, and the brain (internal) battles ......?

--The first and second seasons of "Kaguya-sama" have been broadcast as a TV animation. Please tell us about your favorite episodes.

Obara What do you think, Chairperson (Ms. Koga)?

Koga It's very difficult to narrow it down to one, but I'd like to share my favorite episode from ....... In the first season, fireworks are absolutely essential, and in the second season, we can't miss the student council election and Ishigami-kun's sports festival. However! I dare to use here the scene from the 6th episode of the 2nd season, "Kaguya-sama is not called", where Kaguya is in her futon and the chairman comes to her.

Tomita What's in your mind?

Koga In the first season, it was really like a "battle of wits," wasn't it? But from the second season, I think the part where we can be honest is starting to emerge a little bit.

Furukawa: Yatta! (laughs) I like that scene too. (laughs) I like that scene too. After the heated student council election, what do they do? You can feel the closeness between the two of them and see how cute they are to each other.

I also really enjoyed the part in Fujiwara's training session when he sang "a song like the guts of a sea cucumber. （I also enjoyed the part in Fujiwara's special training session when he sang "Soranbushi like the guts of a sea cucumber.

Obara I still have that song (laughs).

Furukawa I still have that song (laughs). (Laughs.) I keep thinking about the blank-eyed Fujiwara watching Shiragane training, his bangs swaying to the beat of the drums. It's like, what is this guy doing ......?

Obara (sighs) Really. ......

Furukawa: (Fujiwara) It's a constant struggle, isn't it?

Obara (laughs). I think this work has allowed me to do many things. Like "Chika to chika chika senka ♡". Fujiwara is like a lively captain, and in the training sessions, Fujiwara is the one with the mommy's side, but in terms of acting, I feel that I was somewhat nurtured by the chairman (Shiragane).

Shin Furukawa (left) and Aoi Koga

Also, if I had to give you a personal favorite scene, I really like the scene in the first episode of the second season, "The Student Council is Ungodly," where they peek to see if they are kissing or not.

Suzuki: (Kashiwagi and) Tsubasa-kun's.

Obara I like how Kaguya and Fujiwara come at the right moment when the boys are thinking, "I shouldn't look but I want to," and I like that flirtatious feeling. This is an original part of the anime, but I think it shows the quality of the characters in the original work. If you like the original, you may be wondering, "What kind of development is this? I have never seen it before! I've never seen it before!

We were also excited to see how it was going to be drawn! It was also the moment when we felt that "Kaguya-sama" was about to start all over again. It was the moment when everyone gathered for the first time in a long time and said, "All right, let's do it! We all gathered together for the first time in a long time and said, "Let's do it! At the time, all four of us were still standing in front of the microphone in front of Corona, and I remember how noisy everyone was (laughs). (Laughs.) I remember how "Kaguya-sama" (the recording of "Kaguya-sama") was like, so I really like this scene.

Suzuki: The direction of this episode was also good. The train and Shinkansen coming in like a whirlwind.

Obara That's right. No matter how you scream, they don't get angry (laughs).

Suzuki I also did the scene at full max. If we leave the gymnasium aside, I was shocked by the brain meeting that takes place in the second episode of the second season, "Kaguya wants to give it to you". I usually tease Koga-san quite a bit on the radio, but that was just as I expected. I believe you recorded the performance separately (for each Kaguya), didn't you?

Koga They were recorded separately.

Suzuki But from what I have heard in the test, the way you have separated the roles is so wonderful that if there was no overlap, it would have been possible to go on with the whole performance as is.

Koga Thank you very much.

Suzuki: It was a hot topic on SNS, wasn't it? In the brain-meeting (brain (internal) battle), "Kaguya the Ice (prosecutor)", "Kaguya the Idiot (defense attorney)", and "Kaguya the Young Girl (judge)" are all in one place, and each of them is an important character throughout the story. I think it was wonderful in the sense that everything is in Kaguya.

Obara At that moment, those of us who were not acting were gut-punching our hearts out (laughs). (laughs) We thought, "We've recorded something good.

Suzuki I thought, "It's decided! I thought. How about you, Mr. Tomita?

Tomita: Since I joined the project in the middle (from the 2nd season), I was very impressed with the appearance of Miko in the 4th episode of the 2nd season, "Miko Iino wants to make things right". I was very nervous to join in the middle of the already established atmosphere and grouping at the site. At the time, I had not yet become familiar with everyone, so I wondered if I would be okay going into the recording session. Then, Koko-chan (Ms. Obara), who was sitting next to me during the recording, paid attention to me and said, "It's Miko, Miko, Miko, next! I thought, "What should I do? I was thinking "pressure ......" (laugh).

Obara I'm sorry (laughs).

Tomita That did happen, but I must say that in every episode of "Kaguya-sama," I was often pulled along by the enthusiasm of the other actors' performances. What an amazing place to work! I was impressed by Miko's appearance in the first episode, which was also very memorable.

That scene is noteworthy, but it is not the only highlight.

--As the title "Ultra Romantic" suggests, we can expect dramatic episodes in the third season. What are the points you would like us to pay attention to in the third season? Then, please start with the chairperson.

Koga Those who know the original work are finally there? I think you are expecting that. But I don't know what to say.......I myself was really looking forward to it when I read the original work, and if that scene is going to be realized, I feel that as Kaguya's vocal cords, I must be prepared to do that, but I am ...... thrilled with happiness and many other emotions.

Besides, I think there will be scenes where the spotlight will fall on characters who have not been paid much attention up to now, so I hope you will pay attention to that as well.

Obara I think you can sense from the slovenly manner of the chairperson that there will be some development in the love story. But then I thought, wait a minute. There will be variety, and I assure you there will be noisy times (laughs). There will be times when Fujiwara won't shut up! There will be times when Fujiwara will be like, "Fujiwara ain't gonna shut up!

(As a whole,) I feel that the third season is a culmination of the good qualities of the first and second seasons. We have always depicted romance in the past, but in the third season, we were able to depict it to a greater extent. At the same time, there were gag elements that made me wonder if "Kaguya-sama" was this funny. I felt that all the characters became more human. Kaguya in particular is remarkable, and I think you will enjoy the good teamwork in the new work because the relationships between the characters have become even better.

Furukawa: That's right. Although there is a lot of variety and various stories in between, during the recording of the third season, I felt that the story of Kaguya and Shiragane was the main focus of this year's episode. Even if the story does not develop romance at all, there are always glimpses of it in some part. How do people close to them, such as Ishigami, Miko, and Hayasaka, interact with each other and what kind of changes do they make? I hope that you will not miss any part of the story.

However, as the actor who plays Shiragin, I personally am scared to death. I wonder if I will be able to build it up properly in my mind and bring it to the final scene before the end of the third season. I hope I can do my best to recover the subtitle properly.

I would be very grateful if you could see it as "Kaguya-sama" as before, even though it is called "......." Of course, the love story is noteworthy, but I hope you can see it as it is. Of course, the love story is the focus, but it's not the only part. Because it is "Kaguya-sama" (laughs).

Suzuki: Because "Kaguya-sama" is a series of complete short stories, there are things that never change. （I haven't had a chance to read the scenario yet, but I'm sure the "first-year students" are no slouches either!

Tomita We are not losing!

Suzuki Go ahead and say it!

Tomita No, you don't speak for yourself! (laugh).

Suzuki I'm a senior (laughs).

Tomita (laughs). Let me talk about Miko. Miko Iino's character of being extremely serious and disciplined has always been the same, but in the third season, we see a more unexpected and interesting side to her, and I felt that we can get to know her more deeply. Those who have read the original story will laugh with all their might, and those who have seen the anime for the first time will discover that she does this kind of thing as well, so I hope you enjoy it. ......, I didn't mention Ishigami at all! (Laughs)

Suzuki That's totally fine (laughs).

Tomita How about Ishigami?

Suzuki As for Ishigami, I would be happy if we could see a lot of Tsubame-senpai (Koyasu Tsubame). In the second season, we only got to know her face at the end, but if you have seen the Sports Festival or the "Yuu Ishigami Closed His Eyes" series, you know that she is a very nice person who is attentive, kind, and reaches out to you. As for Ishigami and Miko, it is hoped that the gymnastics festival will be a chance for them to get to know each other a little better and witness the growth of the first-year students.

Yuta Suzuki (left), Yoshimi Obara (center), Mimyu Tomita

Koga is very reliable and trustworthy when he is switched on.

--I have heard that you have become more human and that we can see unexpected aspects of your character. How about you, Chairperson?

Koga If anyone is coherent, please go ahead (laughs).

Suzuki: I, for my part, feel that Kaguya is becoming more like Koga-san in the recording of the third season.

Obara Ah, indeed.

Koga Yes, that's true.

Tomita I think so.

Suzuki I am not sure if Kaguya is getting closer to Koga-san or Koga-san is getting closer to Kaguya, but I have the impression that they are becoming more in sync with each other. What kind of mindset do you have now?

Koga I don't know. ......I don't feel like, "Okay, I'll put KAGUYA in me now," at all. ......

Suzuki I wonder if we are synchronizing without even realizing it.

Furukawa: While you were working on "Kaguya-sama," you went through a lot of different scenes, didn't you? I guess that's where I got a deeper understanding of how to act and how to interact with the roles. That is why we seem to be very much in sync, but I think Koga-chan feels that she is (unconsciously) using what she has cultivated and doing Kaguya as she has in the past. But when it comes down to it, Koga-chan is extremely strong, so I think everyone should have high expectations for her.

Koga Wow!

Koga: That's how much I trust your acting. I felt the same way during the recording of the third season, and there were many areas where I felt I couldn't lose. I don't know if it was unconscious or if it came out of Koga-chan's sensitivity to Kaguya, but in any case, I think a lot of those things were packed into Kaguya Shinomiya.

Obara I guess I am an actor at heart when I am asked (about acting). At first, I think I adapted to Kaguya based on my senses at the time, the environment I had grown up in, and my sense of style. But as Kaguya grew up and her expression became softer, I felt that she began to resemble you.

Koga That's a bit presumptuous of me. ......

Kohara Everyone can casually say "wow" to Aoi Koga in everyday life, but when she turns on the switch and becomes Kaguya Shinomiya, no one can say it. That is how much we all have the "immense respect" that Mr. Furukawa mentioned. I feel that it is truly amazing.

Tomita: I watched Mr. Koga from behind during the recording of the second season, and his back looked very dependable. Now in the third season, I feel that your back has become even stronger.

Koga The muscles?

Tomita Not muscles! (laughs)

Koga After the first season, there were many scenes in the second season where Kaguya's human heart was created by the student council members. Until then, she had been mechanical, thinking of people only in terms of whether she could use them or not, or whether they were profitable or not, but she began to look at them with her own eyes. I could really feel that "I want to be involved with this person, not just be available or unavailable. I felt that the members of the student council made me a human being, so I think I probably came closer to the human Aoi Koga (laughs).

Koga: I think we have come very close in our emotions as well.

Koga I would like to continue with the challenge of the third season, valuing Kaguya who has come to be able to express such human emotions. In the current recording, even if we were able to record at the same time as the people with whom we are in contact, we are sometimes in different rooms. I am also fighting to perform without being able to see everyone, so I would like to take this challenge even more seriously in the third season.

The five of us are like a "dog sledding" team!

--I think that Kaguya and Shiragane want the other person to confess, in other words, they want to get the other person to say what they want to say. Who do you think is the best at getting words out of the five of them, and I don't mind if it's not limited to love?

Suzuki: If I had to choose, I would say Furukawa-san.

Furukawa You're kidding, right?

Suzuki: At the end of last year, we did a live web radio broadcast (Christmas special) of the "Tell RADIO 3" with the Student Council members, and compared to the usual three of us (Koga, Obara, and myself), Kogawa-san was very good in the way he stood around and asked questions. In terms of getting the other person to talk and drawing them out, I think Mr. Kogawa is very good.

Furukawa: No, no, no. No, no, no, no. That was a great choice of e-mail, so I had to do something about it! I just had to do something!

Obara But Mr. Furukawa has been the older brother since the first term. He would say the important phrases at the important points, and then he would pull us out and say, "Let's all go," or he would watch over us from behind. He is good at nudging us in that way. If it were just us, we would be too assertive (laughs).

Koga Like a winter "dog sledding"? Mr. Furukawa is the human, and he pulls the reins.

Suzuki Are we dogs? (laughs).

Koga Yes (laughs). (laughs) (laughs). We can run because Mr. Furukawa is in control, that's how we feel.

--(laughs) Yes, (laughs).

Tomita: I think Osuzu (Suzuki-san) is the one who is the best at eliciting words from people. I often sit next to her during live broadcasts and interviews, and she is very easy to talk to. I respect him a lot.

Obara You are very quick-witted, aren't you?

--He was the first one to speak when I asked him this question.

Suzuki: No, I am sorry for making you talk all the time (laughs).

Furukawa: This is probably the point, isn't it?

(Interview, text, and photography by Kenichi Chiba)