Vol.8] "I wanted to know as much as possible about the background and settings of the characters. ......" Interview with Riyo Takahashi, who plays Sumi Sakurazawa and is overflowing with love for the characters! Part 2

The second season of the TV anime "Kanojo, Oyakimasu" is currently being broadcast and distributed to rave reviews. This time, we interviewed Ms. Riyo Takahashi, who plays the fourth heroine, Sumi Sakurazawa.

Kanojo, Oyakimasu" is a popular romantic comedy serialized in "Weekly Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha), written by Reiri Miyajima. The main character, Kazuya Kinoshita's ideal girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara, is actually a rental girlfriend ......?　The first season of the anime aired in July 2020 and gained popularity, and the long-awaited second season is scheduled to air this summer.

Following the previous interview, we interviewed Ms. Riyo Takahashi, who plays Sumi Sakurazawa. She talked about various aspects of the second season and the appeal of "Kanokari" as a work.

⇒ "I feel like I have more voices than in the first season, and I feel like I have more range to play with" Interview with Riie Takahashi, who plays Sumi Sakurazawa! Part 1

My understanding of the characters deepened through interaction with the original author, Miyajima-sensei

Q: When you were acting, did you get hints from other sources than the main story?

Takahashi: That's right. If there was new information about the character, I wanted to know as much as possible. I was so happy when I heard that there was going to be a spin-off that I immediately started reading it on Magapoke (laughs). Also, once on Mr. Miyajima's YouTube channel, he made a virtual Sumi-chan and I was able to voice her, but I couldn't speak at all. ...... (laughs).

You were on his channel, weren't you? Mr. Takahashi was a guest as a friend of Sumi-chan.

Takahashi: Actually, I was given materials at that time. I was given a document that showed Sumi likes this kind of things and spends her daily life in this way, including getting up at 4:00 a.m., which you may have heard about.

When I spoke with her before, I heard that she created the backgrounds and settings of the characters in great detail, so I asked her if I could have those materials. I asked him if he could give me some of those materials. I asked him if I could have a copy of that material.

That is very valuable. That kind of backbone is what led to the few words that were used.

Takahashi: I don't know if what I know has made a difference, but my image of Sumi Sakurazawa is becoming more and more solid.

Takahashi: In the spin-off, he talks a lot in monologue, so I would love to see him in anime as well.

Takahashi: I want you to do it too! I've always wanted to see it in the anime. I would love to do Sumi's monologue. Actually, I have been trying to do a monologue since I auditioned for the role. I sometimes imagine how I would like to play Sumi's monologue, so I hope you will do it someday.

ーーExpectations are high!　Also, I think one of Sumi's charms is her cute clothes.

Takahashi: Sumi's fashion is cute!　I don't usually wear that kind of clothes, but when I go shopping and go around the floors, I feel that Sumi would definitely shop on this floor! I don't usually wear that kind of clothes, but when I go shopping around the floor, I sometimes feel that Sumi is definitely shopping on this floor, and I think that outfit also represents Sumi. I think her clothes also symbolize Sumi. She loves cute clothes.

Also, when I said to Ms. Miyajima, "This brand of clothes looks good on Sumi-chan," she immediately searched for it. He always responds to things that could be a topic of conversation, so I'm glad I brought it up! I thought that he was very interested in fashion as well. So when I meet him, I get nervous because I have to be careful about what I wear (laughs).

(Laughs) Because I am playing Sumi, Kazuya feels like a big brother to me.

Q: Sumi has a crush on Chizuru, what do you think of the relationship between Chizuru and Kazuya?

Takahashi: I think it's very wonderful!　I think I like Chizuru even from the same gender perspective. She is a girl who is straight forward in pursuit of her dreams, and I personally feel that her strong core is similar to Amemiya Ten's. I want to be like her!

I want to be like her! Chizuru is moving straight ahead in the direction of what she wants to be, but there are times when she wavers and worries. Kazuya's ability to be there at such times is amazing!　It would be like saying it didn't have to be Kazuya, but it was Kazuya who was there at that moment. There is such a sense of fate, and I feel like it was fate that brought us together. So I think the relationship between Chizuru and Kazuya is something that is hard to describe in words.

Q: What do you think is Kazuya's good point?

Takahashi: My impression of Kazuya was good from the beginning. (Laughs) But there was a faction among the cast members, and it was a toss-up whether Kazuya was a good or a bad guy.

I think Kazuya is fine for his age, and he is very straight-forward in his love life, which is highly appreciated, partly because he plays Sumi, but also because he gives me a big brother image (laughs). (Laughs.) I have an image of him as an older, kind older brother.

Sumi-chan is a girl who should be cared for, but I feel that she sees me as a small animal and not as a man or a woman, which makes me feel comfortable with her. I felt that she would never do anything wrong.

Q: "Kanokari" is also being made into a live-action TV drama.

Takahashi: I think it is the human drama of Kazuya and Chizuru.　I think it's fascinating how the people clash with each other, and it's not just a pretty picture. I think they are "Kanokari" because they have a human side to them. I hope to see Sumi in the drama and I will be rooting for the drama as well!

Q: What are the highlights of the second season?

Takahashi: When Chizuru is pursuing her dream, I can't help but want to support her, and when I think of Ruka's feelings, I want to take good care of her, so I wonder if I have to focus on just one person. (laugh) But I am sure Kazuya will face this issue properly, so I hope you will watch over Kazuya's feelings.

Q: Lastly, if you could rent anything, what would you rent?

Takahashi: It's a rental, so you have to return it. ...... But I would like to rent time. I would like to borrow the time of someone who is free right now and return it when I am free.

Q: Why do your busy times somehow coincide with each other?

Takahashi: That's right. I want to have time today! I want to borrow time at that time.

(Interview, text, and photography by Junichi Tsukagoshi)