Signatures will be given away! Broadcasting starts on July 7! The degree of teasing is getting stronger and stronger! Interview with Riyo Takahashi as Mr. Takagi and Yuki Kaji as Nishikata in "Mr. Takagi, the Master of Teasing 2

The TV anime "Takagi-san the teasing teacher" is a comical and sometimes sweet and sour depiction of the adolescent lives of two junior high school students. The long-awaited second season of the TV anime will be premiering in 2019.

The long-awaited second season will begin airing on July 7, 2019!　We asked Takahashi Riyo, who plays Takagi-san, and Kaji Yuki, who plays Nishikata, to look back on the story so far, and also to share some of the highlights of this year's episode!

Mr. Soichiro Yamamoto told me, "Don't make Mr. Takagi into a bullying child" (Takahashi).

──We are finally approaching the broadcast of the second season, but first of all, looking back on the first season, could you tell us what episodes were the most impressive?

Kaji: I guess it would have to be the first episode. It was the story that became the base for me in creating Nishikata, so I remember thinking a lot about it as I played the role.

Takahashi-san said, "How should I tease her as Takagi-san? I had to think about how I could make him look like a good tease, so I gave careful thought to how to adjust my reactions.

Takahashi: In episode 5, there is a scene where they take shelter from the rain at a shrine, and it was difficult to keep it from sounding too sexy.

Kaji: The other day, when we were recording an episode, someone pointed out that it was too sexy. (Laughs)

Takahashi: Yes, there was!　If you are curious, please watch the on-air episode (laughs).

--Can you tell us how you felt when you heard that the production of the second season with such interesting content had been decided?

Kaji: Actually, at the launch of the first season, some of the staff members made comments to us cast members that raised our expectations, so I honestly had a feeling that there would be a sequel, and I had high hopes. So I was very happy when I heard about the specific recording schedule.

It seems that I knew about the second season earlier than Mr. Takahashi, and when I told him at the site of another work that the second season of "Mr. Takagi" had been decided, he said, "Oh, is that so? I was told, "Oh, really?

Takahashi: Yes, that was the first time I learned that the second season had been decided. ...... (laughs). I was very happy when I heard.

Kaji: I was also reminded that this work is supported by many people.

Takahashi: Since the original work was so popular, I was worried whether people would love the TV anime as well, but I am very honored that it has been recognized with the decision for a second season!

--I am very honored to have been chosen for the second season!

Kaji: While the main focus is on the dialogue between Nishikata and Takagi-san, Nishikata in particular has a lot of monologues, and the "winning formula" that he accumulates and accumulates ...... and finally Takagi-san takes it all away is really addictive. In the end, I hope that Nishikata will be used as a springboard for Mr. Takagi and Mr. Takahashi to shine (laughs).

Takahashi: When I go to the recording booth, I feel like I'm playing Takagi-san more than when I'm reading the script by myself and preparing beforehand. Without the object of my teasing (Nishikata), even when practicing, I don't feel comfortable with my teasing, so I feel like I want to go to the studio as soon as possible!

Kaji: To put it simply, this work is about Nishikata being teased by Takagi-san, but it's amazing that no matter where you look, none of the characters are jerks. They are lovable and lovable. I think the wonderful thing about "Mr. Takagi" is that you naturally fall in love with him.

And the fact that he is still in junior high school is amazing. I especially feel a devilish atmosphere in Mr. Takagi. I think real junior high school boys can't get enough of him (laughs).

--Takahashi: Did the original author, Mr. Soichiro Yamamoto, give you any advice when you were playing the role?

Takahashi: During the first season, I met Mr. Yamamoto when I went to the Takagi Shrine in Tokyo to pray for a hit, and we talked about how I should play the role. At that time, he gave me a word of advice, "Don't make Mr. Takagi into a bullying child.

It seems that Mr. Takagi's charm has escalated even further in the second season (Kaji).

--What are some of the highlights of the second season?

Takahashi: The episode where Nishikata calls out "Takagi! I was very impressed by Kaji's performance. I felt a gap between Nishikata's masculine side and his usual side. It was a very touching scene.

Kaji: Nishikata herself probably thinks she's living like a man (laughs). For me, Takagi's charm seems to have escalated in the second season. I think this is supported by the fact that Takagi's feelings for Nishikata are getting stronger and stronger, which makes the viewer want to root for them.

Also, I can't give you specifics yet, but there are some scenes that will surprise you, such as the appearance of a character played by a veteran voice actor. I hope you will look forward to that as well.

Takahashi: Then there is the variation in Takagi's teasing. This time, he makes fun of Nishikata by keeping her in the water for a bit and then teasing her with "flirtatious teasing" instead of "flirtatious shoving.

(Laughs.) There will be many scenes that will make viewers think, "I wish I could be in a situation like this and be told something like this! I'm sure there will be many scenes that will make viewers think, "I wish I could be told something like that in this situation, too!

--Do you think there were any changes in the way Takagi-san and Nishikata played their roles in the second season?

Kaji: Even though they have moved up to the second year of junior high school, what they do is basically the same (laughs). (laughs) However, I think the sense of distance between the two of us has been shortened. I made sure to play the role with that in mind. There are some episodes, such as the story of when they met, that are intentionally depicted in different time frames... I think it was more difficult for me to play the role as if there was a wall between them.

Takahashi: With Takagi's aggressive lines in many episodes, there were times when I felt like "I shouldn't get any closer to Nishikata, shouldn't I? I sometimes feel like "I shouldn't get any closer to Nishikata". There are times when I want to go straight to the point, but I have to hold back .......

--In the second season, the interaction between the trio of classmates Mina, Yukari, and Sanae is also depicted in each episode.

Kaji: They are the strongest of the three. Sanae's poking fun at Mina is always brilliant, and Yukari's hard work makes me laugh. ......

Takahashi: I always laugh at the subtitles of the episodes in which the three girls appear. We often don't get involved in the scenes in which the girls appear, but we are always able to watch them with ease (laughs).

--By the way, do you have any "Mr. Takagi"-like episodes from your school days?

Kaji: I don't know if this is relevant to the "Mr. Takagi" world, but when I was in junior high school, I lived in a peaceful rural area surrounded by rice paddies. ...... One summer night, the whole class decided to go out together to test our courage together. One summer night, the class decided to go out together to try out the test of courage! But then I heard the sound of scary men on motorcycles approaching from the distance. They were what we call a "biker gang. As a result, we broke up immediately. If I had been able to test my courage as planned, I think I would have been able to make some kind of memories of my youth at ......, but such romance disappeared with the sound of the motorcycle (laughs).

Takahashi: My classmates used to say to me, "You cut your bangs too short again!" but I actually thought I was being fashionable. There was an episode like this in "Mr. Takagi 2," so I know exactly what you mean. ...... Looking back on it now, it is a very embarrassing memory (chuckles).

--Lastly, do you have a message for our readers?

Kaji: The original work itself has a lot of charm and interest, and in addition to that, I think that our cast and the production staff's enthusiasm for the work has grown even stronger than in the first season. I am sure that you will experience a very satisfying time this time as well, especially with Mr. Takagi's teasing.　I hope you, the viewers, will be teased to your heart's content this time as well!

Takahashi: The number of characters has increased since the first season, and there are many scenes that make you say, "This girl is going to do something like this," which is a thrilling scene unique to group activities in a class. Is it Nishikata who is teased, Kimura who tends to be enlightened, or the three girls who are at their own pace? We hope you will enjoy it as many times as you like from your favorite point of view!

(Reporting and writing by Atsushi Saeki)

To commemorate this interview, we are giving away autographs signed by Riyo Takahashi, who plays Takagi-san, and Yuki Kaji, who plays Nishikata, from "Mr. Takagi the Teasing Girl 2" to one lucky winner!

To commemorate this interview, we are giving away autographs of Riyo Takahashi (Takagi-san) and Yuki Kaji (Nishikata) to one lucky winner! Please read the detailed application guidelines before applying.

<Prize
A drawing for a signed autograph of Riyo Takahashi (Takagi-san) and Yuki Kaji (Nishikata) from "Karakajite no Takagi-san 2".

<Entry requirements

Application period: July 3, 2019 (Wed) - July 10, 2019 (Wed) 23:59

Number of winners: 1 person

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Prize shipping: Prizes will be shipped by the end of September 2019.

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