Special feature] Serialization in commemoration of the Boitama Project reading play vol.2 "white Swan+"! The 4th interview with Ruri Arai!

The Voitama Project, a project in which new voice actors take on various challenges with the aim of becoming world-class voice artists, will hold a reading theater vol. 2 "white Swan+" on November 2 and 3, 2019.

Boitama Project Reading Theater vol. 2 "white Swan+" is a re-staging of the reading theater event "whiteSwan" held on March 27 at Ebisu Tenmado.switch, with two versions: "ver. Denev" with the same cast as the previous performance, and "ver. Albireo" in which the cast has been shuffled.

The five new female voice actors belonging to the Boitama Project, Ruri Arai, Akane Kumada, Moeba Gomoto, Marina Horiuchi, and Chisato Yoshitake, will perform in the show. The reading play, in which the girls, who are working hard every day toward their dreams despite the obstacles they face, play the same rookie voice actors as themselves, is packed with entertainment elements, including acting and singing!

Akiba Research Institute interviewed the five girls, who are currently rehearsing for the performance! We asked them what they were thinking about for the performance, what they usually think about, why they wanted to be a voice actor, and what they wanted to do. We also asked them about their reasons for becoming voice actors and their episodes.

The fourth interviewer is Ruri Arai, who plays the role of Madoka Shiraishi in "Live Revolt.

She is a versatile actress who sings, acts, and dances, and we asked her a variety of questions.

⇒ [ Special feature] Boitama Project Reading Theater vol.2 "white Swan+" Commemorative Serialization! Interview with Chisato Yoshitake!
⇒[Special feature] Boitama Project Reading Theater vol.2 "white Swan+" Commemorative Serialization! The 2nd interview with "Moiha Gomoto"!
⇒ [Special feature] Boitama Project Reading Theater vol.2 "white Swan+" Commemorative Serialization! The 1st interview with Akane Kumada!

─ ─ It's been a while since last year's "Live Revolt" interview at Akiba Research Institute, hasn't it? It has been a while! How was the "Live Revolt" inter-unit live held on September 28?

Arai: Until now, we have often performed in live shows with all eight members, but this was the first time for us to perform as a unit, and I was very nervous because it was the first live show with only four members. I was afraid that having only half of the members would mean that our power would be cut in half, but as we rehearsed more and more, I could feel the spirit of "I won't let that happen! I was really encouraged by the other three members who were pulling me along.

The venue was really hot at the show. ...... There are two meanings of heat: heat in the sense of heat and excitement, and real heat in the sense of temperature. I was soaked in sweat. I think I was sweating more than I have ever sweated in my life (laughs).

─ ─ Every song in "Live Revolt" is fast, isn't it?

Arai That's right, the songs were all over 200 BPM, so it was a real field day, a sport. But because of that, I felt like I had done my best, and I think I was able to deliver an enthusiastic live performance to everyone.

───In addition to such intense live performances, you have also challenged yourself with reading plays in the "Boitama Project." In this reading play, you play the roles of new voice actors, and the new voice actors play anime characters.

Arai: There is a scene in which I play the role of a new voice actor, and it was difficult for me to do it while remembering my early days as a voice actor, not that I am a bad ....... I thought it was a reading play that reminded me of my initial feelings or how I felt back then.

I wanted to show my growth as a performer, so I wanted the audience to enjoy how I gradually grew from the initial awkwardness of my performance. However, if I became too good at the role and became a completely different person, I would lose the good qualities of the role, so I had to carefully show the process of growth, which was difficult.

─ ─ You also sang in the reading play, didn't you?

Arai: It's not a musical, but if the audience thinks that the singing has suddenly become a part of the play, it will make them feel uncomfortable.

─ I felt as if I was watching a live drama CD.

Arai: That may indeed be true. I think it is an interesting experiment.

─ ─ In vol. 2, there will be two versions: Denev, with the same cast as before, and Albireo, in which the roles are shuffled. How do you feel about playing opposite characters?

Arai: If I had to pick out two characters who are opposites, I would say they are these two. Yuki is a mood maker, or rather, an athletic personality who can get by as long as she has a lot of energy. Her character was originally not a match for mine, and I had a lot of trouble creating her character, but I found the parts of her that matched mine and played her in the hopes that the audience would feel the same way. On the other hand, Rui is a character that has many similarities with me, and I myself am a rather calm person, so it is quite difficult for me to switch between the two characters. When I played Yuki, I put a lot of effort into the role, so I was afraid that when I played Rui, the character I had worked so hard to create would fall apart. I am quite concerned about that. I am quite concerned about that.

I think my first priority is to play the role while maintaining the similarities with myself, so I have to draw a clear line between the role and myself.

───What are the highlights of vol. 2?

Arai: The play has two different casting patterns, so I think it is interesting to see either one or the other and think, "This girl who played this role last time is playing this role this time. Also, for those who saw vol. 1 and are coming to see this show again, I think our own growth since the last time will be connected to our growth as actors, so I think they will enjoy that aspect of the show.

──What do you find attractive about your co-starring members?

Arai: The play is about all five of us growing up together, so there are times when we clash, but each of us has our own unique way of clashing, or rather, everyone clashes in a different way. I think it is interesting how the actors' own personalities and the personalities of the roles are well mixed and harmonized.

Kumachan, who played Sayaka last time, is a character who speaks quite straightforwardly. But Kumachan is not like that at all. She is a girl who cares about the people around her, and I think the gap between the two is interesting.

Moeba played Chihiro last time, but in Albireo, she switched places with Kumachan and plays Sayaka. Chihiro is a quiet and reserved character, but Moeba herself is the type of person who can speak up and say things without hesitation, so I would like you to see the difference between the two.

Marina is a good friend of mine since we are also in "Live Revolt" together, but I am still overwhelmed by her. In Denev, she plays the role of a leader, and she really has the appearance of a leader. I think it is amazing that she looks like a leader not only in her voice but also in her aura or the way she stands.

I think that only Chisato can play the role of Himari, and I think that she really fits the role perfectly. This time, in Denev, you will be playing Himari again, so I think we will see some differences from the last time. I am looking forward to that as well.

─ By the way, do you have an image of the voice actor you would like to be in the future?

Arai: I have many visions of what I want to be as a voice actor, but the most important thing is that I want to keep voice acting at the core of my work. I am now doing a lot of things, including live performances, but I hope that all of those things will come alive in my voice acting, and I want to be a voice actor with depth.

───I would like to ask you again, what made you decide to become a voice actor in the first place?

Arai: Actually, my sister is not a voice actress, but she does voice work.

I had always liked and watched a lot of anime, but it was more of an aspiration than something I wanted to be a part of. However, in my third year of college, I was doing the usual job hunting and realized that what I really wanted to do was not job hunting, so I auditioned for voice acting.

───Have you yourself changed through your voice work?

Arai: I have changed quite a bit. I used to not be the type of person who had many friends, and I didn't really like being out in the world, but now, being on stage is my reason for living. I have been allowed to perform live, and I have learned the joy of performing while looking at the faces of the people who came to see me. I think that's what has changed the most.

─ ─ Thank you very much! Lastly, do you have a message for our readers?