Special feature on "Girlfriend, I Borrow (2nd season)" vol.2] "In the 2nd season, I try to play various Chizuru's roles on stage and in junior high school! Interview with Amamiya Ten, who plays Mizuhara Chizuru, and photogravure! Part 2

The second season of the TV anime "Kanojo, Oyakimasu" is currently being broadcast and distributed to rave reviews. This time, we interviewed Amemiya Ten, who plays the heroine, Mizuhara Chizuru.

She, I Borrow You" is a popular romantic comedy serialized in "Weekly Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha) 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 in July 2022.

In this issue, we continue our interview with Amemiya Ten, who plays the role of Mizuhara Chizuru. We asked her about a wide range of topics, from her impressions of the other female characters to the story of her grandmother, whom she says is her biggest fan.

The second season, in which Chizuru plays a more diverse range of characters, including on stage and in junior high school.

─ Did your impression of the female characters other than Kazuya change in the second season?

Amemiya: I think my impression of Ruka (Sarashina) changed. Basically, she still moves according to her feelings and makes a mess, but in the second season, I was able to see Ruka's feelings as well. I was able to see her impatience and pain behind her messed up behavior. When I could see what she was holding on to, I began to think that although it was something she wanted to do, she was also forcing herself to do it. I came to think that she is a patient, dedicated, and lovable girl.

─ What about Sumi Sakurazawa?

Amemiya: I think you can see that Sumi is trying to change. Not only does she want to change herself, but she also tries to change for Kazuya and for Chizuru, and she becomes very active. She may look animalistic and weak at first glance, but in reality she is very strong, and I think that is a good thing.

───Are there any new challenges in acting in the second season?

Amemiya: In the past, I have always played Chizuru in Lenkano mode and Chizuru as she really is, but in the second season, I think it may be a challenge for me to play various roles, such as Chizuru on stage and Chizuru's past as a junior high school student. Chizuru in her junior high school days has a bit of an attitude (laughs).

─ ─ Were there any acting directions that left a lasting impression on you?

Amemiya: When I played the real Chizuru, I tended to be cold toward Kazuya (laughs). So I was told to be a little less cold. I know that Chizuru's feelings for Kazuya were moving within me, so I tried to maintain Chizuru's standard, but I think I became cold in the process. It is difficult because my own emotions sometimes come into play, and both my emotions and my performance shift and change.

Amemiya Ten's biggest fan is her grandmother!

─ ─ Chizuru's dream is to be an actress. Amemiya, are you yourself interested in acting in live-action?

Amemiya: I don't really want to do it. I can't remember the lines (laughs). (laughs) And I'm not very good at shooting video, my mind goes blank.

─ ─ I got the impression that you are used to shooting music videos.

Amemiya Ah, yes, that's right!　I am fine with music videos and such, but when it comes to speaking dialogue or comment videos, I get nervous.

───Amemiya, what made you decide to pursue your dream of becoming a voice actor or an actor?

Amemiya: It was pretty much a spur of the moment thing. I was a student who liked ani-songs, and I had a lot of otaku friends around me who were close to the works. One of my good friends showed me videos of Miyuki Sawashiro playing various roles, and I thought it was cool that one person could express herself with so many different voices and in so many different ways! I thought it was cool! She also found me for the audition I went in for (the 2nd Music Rain Super Voice Actor Audition). I didn't even know much about the agency, but we applied together. So it was with the help of my friend and my own momentum that I took the plunge.

─ ─ Earlier, you mentioned that one of the points that made you not like Kazuya was the fact that he was being influenced by the situation while lying to his grandmothers. What kind of existence are grandmothers from your point of view?

Amemiya: I think it is rare to see so many grandmothers in a film. Not only Kazuya's grandmother but also Chizuru's grandmother appeared, and the relationship between the two was depicted. They look like they are having fun and acting as they please, but in fact, I think they know everything about Kazuya and Chizuru. She is an important presence that envelops them and I think she will become more and more important from now on, so please watch over her with me.

─ Do you have any memories of your own with your grandmother?

Amemiya: Can I tell you about a recent memory?　At the beginning of this year, I visited my grandparents' house for the first time in a long time. She gave me a tiny rice cracker and asked me, "Is it good?　What flavor do you think it is? He asked me, "What flavor do you think it is? I answered, "Ebi kanana (shrimp) ......? When I answered, "Shrimp," he showed me a Korogi rice cracker!　I was a little surprised. My grandma is very mischievous.

─ Does your grandmother ever watch your films or give you feedback?

Amemiya: The Korogi Senbei grandmother is from my father's side, but my grandmother on my mother's side really likes to follow my activities. So she looks for and sees my works on her own without me having to show them to her, and she also gets goods from somewhere. Sometimes she sends me lines with her impressions. They also come to my live performances (laughs).

─ ─ In a sense, they are my biggest fans!　Lastly, do you have a message for your fans?

Amemiya: In the second season, each character has been explored more deeply, and as you become more emotionally involved in the story, you will be moved by it. It was in this second season that I came to like Chizuru, whom I had always loved, even more, and I came to like Kazuya, whom I had said I disliked in the first season. So I hope that everyone is waiting for the broadcast with high expectations. There are many important scenes, so please don't miss them.

(Reporting and writing by Kiri Nakazato; Photography by Shohei Kanazawa)