What's Yin Kya and What's Yang Kya ......? A number of episodes of the cast members' youth! Autumn 2022 Anime "Bocchi Za Rokku! Just before the start of the broadcast! Interview with Yoshinoh Aoyama, Sayumi Suzushiro, Saku Mizuno, and Ikumi Hasegawa [Part 2

The popular comic "Bocchi Za Roku! (original story: Aki Hamaji / serialized in Houbunsha's "Manga Time Kirara MAX") will be adapted into a long-awaited TV anime, which will begin broadcasting and distribution on October 8, 2022.

The story is about a shy and shy girl named "Bokuchi-chan" (Goto Hitori) who joins a band called "Band of Unity" and grows up together with unique members such as Ijichi Nijika, Yamada Ryo, and Kita Ikuyo.

The TV anime is produced by CloverWorks and directed by Keiichiro Saito, and it will be interesting to see how the daily lives of the unique members of the "Band of Unity" will be depicted in the anime.

With the start of the broadcast just around the corner, we interviewed Yoshinoh Aoyama (playing Hitori Goto), Sayumi Suzushiro (playing Nijika Ijichi), Saku Mizuno (playing Ryo Yamada), and Ikumi Hasegawa (playing Ikuyo Kita), who play the members of the "Band of Unity".

Following the first part, we hope you enjoy the interviews with the main cast members!

Please also check this page!
⇒[ Autographs will be given away! Yoshinoh Aoyama was also saved, saying, "Seeing Bokuchi, I realized that there are people below me. ...... Autumn 2022 Anime "Bocchi za Roku! Just before the start of the broadcast! Interview with Yoshinoh Aoyama, Sayumi Suzushiro, Saku Mizuno, and Ikumi Hasegawa [Part 1

Direction to create individuality, such as "don't talk to each other" and "cheerful and flowery

--Please tell us about the appeal of each character and how you decided to play them.

Aoyama: I mentioned that in the audition for one of the characters, it was written, "Please play a character who is essentially negative in nature," but I couldn't connect "Kirara's work" with "essentially negative. So, with a sense of resignation, I performed the role in a very negative way at the audition. But miraculously, I was given the chance to play the role, and I felt that I could do such a good job even in a Kirara work.

During the postrecording, the sound director and the director gave me detailed direction, and I kept going through the question, "What is a "gakka"? I was given detailed direction by the sound director and the director during the postrecording. I was told to "not talk" and "look at the floor more as if I were talking," and they pulled out a lot of things that I had never done in my life as a voice actor. My own life has not always been so bright, so I feel that this is how I am living out my longing and negative feelings toward the yo-kyo characters (laughs).

Yoshinoh Aoyama

Suzudai: Even though Nijika is with many different types of girls, I think she is essentially yang, or the most general and solid of the four of us.

In the audition, I played her as cheerful and leading everyone, but during the recording, I thought more deeply about that plus the part in her backbone. She is able to make people listen to her without making them feel uncomfortable, even when the content sounds heavy at first glance. Through the recording, I felt that this was a reflection of the generosity and gentleness that she originally possesses, and I wanted to convey this atmosphere in her voice as we recorded the scene.

Mizuno: At first, I thought Ryo would be a cool and downbeat girl. Of course, she has some of that, but she is a total weirdo (laughs). There are many things I don't understand about her, such as the way she asks for money or eats grass.

In direction, I was often told, "Don't be too emotional. By pointing out various things to me, I gradually came to understand Ryo-chan, but I wasn't sure how much I could do in the parts that were out of character. But as the story progressed, I realized that I could do more, and then I was able to break out of my shell. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Saku Mizuno

Hasegawa: Kita-chan is probably the easiest to understand among the members. She is a complete joyful person. Even in direction, I was told, "It's okay if she's more cheerful, like a flower garden who doesn't care about anything too much," and I thought she was happier than I thought, and rather natural and at her own pace.

She said, "Sounds fun!" I like it!" and I can act on that. As we grow older, we tend to hesitate or stop doing things for strange reasons. I think it's very attractive to be able to be honest with yourself and act with positive feelings, and I'm very envious of that.

The four of them revealed episodes of their negative and positive attitudes!

--Aoyama: In relation to the work, please tell us about your negative episodes and, conversely, your positive episodes to the greatest extent possible.

Aoyama: I had a lot of negative episodes where things that I thought were normal in my mind were like, "What? You don't do that very often, do you? I don't do that very often. It is often said, "Yakiniku by myself" or "Family restaurant by myself.

--I think it is normal to do so.

Aoyama That's right. I live so normally that I don't know what is "yin-kyakka" and what is "yang-kyakka. I think I am better suited for Twitter than for Instagram (laughs).

(Laughs) -- Do you have any cheerful episodes?

Aoyama: I am actually quite versatile. I have done calligraphy, competed in the national skiing competition, and sang in the chorus all through elementary, junior high, and high school. Chorus is not something you can do alone. I am aware that I was able to fit in with the group. You definitely have to be a cheerful person to be able to do that!

Ikumi Hasegawa

--That's for sure. By the way, do you want to do something on video-sharing sites like "Guitar Hero"?

Aoyama: I used to do that. Like Bocchi, I had a massive need for approval. But when I posted "I tried singing" or something like that, I got only 150 views or so. ...... is pathetic.

Hasegawa I would like to try my hand at "I tried singing. I'd like to try my hand at such a thing, since voice actors basically don't have the opportunity to sing themselves unless they have made their debut as an artist.

--Please tell us about some episodes in your life that you think are behind-the-scenes.

Hasegawa: In my first year of high school, I wasn't living properly, or rather, I was living in a daze (laughs). During summer vacation, I could count on one hand the number of times I left the house because I had nothing to do. I was so busy that I could count on one hand the number of times I left the house during the summer vacation. As I sat in my seat feeling depressed, I heard some cheerful girls in my class saying, "I was really only home for one day during summer vacation. At that moment, I thought to myself, "What is my existence? I want to go home ......" (laughs).

--(Laughs.) - I do feel that way. On the other hand, what about the sunny side?

Hasegawa I wonder......... but lately I've been feeling rather cheerful. When the people I interact with are cheerful, I am pulled along by that. I was never the outdoorsy type, but there are people around me who take me outside, like Sayumi (Suzushiro). Lately I feel like I'm getting used to the sun, and I feel fulfilled (laughs).

(laughs) Suzudai: I'm probably yang! (laughs) Or perhaps I have never thought about yang or yin. (laughs) But when I read the original story, I could relate to the feelings of one person, so I guess there are parts of me that are essentially yin to the story. As a side note, many of the people I have worked with have been interesting people, and I grew up in an environment that was like a "fun group," so I think that is why I am somewhat out of character (laughs).

Sayumi Suzushiro

--So you were raised in an environment with a lot of interesting people, which is why you are somewhat outgoing (laughs).

Suzushiro: I was in the cheerleading club, so I am often said to be a cheerful person, but that is not true at all. There were interesting people around me, and I was drawn to them because they were so lively. There were many other types of girls who were on the same wavelength as me, and I enjoyed my days with both of them.

--How about you, Mizuno-san?

Mizuno: My hobby is video games, and I like to play games by myself, so fundamentally I don't like to leave the house much. I think I'm more of a "shady" person in that respect.

--By the way, what kind of games do you like?

Mizuno: I like FPS (First-Person Shooter) games. Recently, I have been playing "Apex Legends" the most. I also like horror games, and I would like to play live games.

--What would you name your live-streaming game "Guitar Hero" or something similar?

Mizuno: I would like to have a very safe name. Hanako or Saito would be good (laughs).

--(laughs). -What do you think is the most cheerful part of your life?

Mizuno: When I was in high school, I played in a band at a school festival. There was a girl in my class who could play the drums, and she really wanted to be in the band, so I played the guitar and sang a little, in the role of Kita-chan. That's a very cheerful position (laughs).

--(laughs) - I'm sure of it. Lastly, please give us a message.

Aoyama: To be honest, I'm both excited and anxious about how everyone will receive it. I live my life imagining that I will be slammed and exposed on the Internet, saying, "Goto Hitori's voice is not like this," and at the same time, I am thinking, "The cast and staff put their hearts and souls into this production, so it would be strange if it is not recognized! I am fighting every day with my bullish self that "It's strange not to be recognized because the cast and crew put their hearts and souls into this work! I have never forgotten my love for the work and I hope to walk with everyone who loves the work with me.

Suzudai: The chairperson (Mr. Aoyama) said that he was anxious about some things, but I am sure that it was Yoppi who raised my spirits from the beginning. Everyone around me and myself followed his lead, and I think the enthusiasm of the staff and the cast all worked together to create a very good synergy effect. The script alone was quite funny and made me laugh, so I myself am really looking forward to seeing how it will turn into an anime. I hope you can relax and enjoy it! Best regards!

Mizuno: As the two of you mentioned, I can clearly sense that a lot of people put their hearts and souls into the work. It is the same for the four cast members. Especially Yoppi, I was listening to him really put his soul into it up close, so there was no way it wouldn't be interesting!

Aoyama Don't raise the bar (laughs).

Mizuno: No, it's really funny. I was struggling to hold back my laughter during the post recording, so I hope everyone is prepared for a stomach ache.

Hasegawa That's right. I laughed every episode, even when I checked the V at home, and I also laughed when I heard everyone's performances at the recording studio. Especially Yoppi. I was amazed at how many drawers he has! His performance is so unbelievable.

Aoyama: Everyone is terrible! You should be prepared (laughs).

Hasegawa (laughs). (Laughs.) But I think you can see a lot of expression in both the acting and the visuals in this production. Right before each recording, the sound director would say, "Let's have fun," and I could feel the production team's enthusiasm for making something interesting every time we went through postrecordings. I also feel that I have to respond to their enthusiasm! I am also doing it with the thought, "I have to respond to their enthusiasm! Some of you may be wondering about the music aspect of the band, but I'm very enthusiastic about that as well, so please look forward to it!

(Reporting and writing by Kenichi Chiba; Photography by Shohei Kanazawa)