The first installment of the battery project for the spring anime "KYUSEI"! Interview with Kaori Maeda as Eishin Takeda

The anime "KYU-YOUEI" is a hot topic for its passionate adolescent drama of baseball girls who play high school baseball for girls and its powerful depiction of baseball.

This work is an anime adaptation of a popular manga by Mountainpukuichi serialized in "Manga Time Kirara Forward" (Houbunsha). It is an adolescent sports anime in which Yomi Takeda enters Shin-Koshigaya High School in Saitama Prefecture and is reunited with his childhood friend Tamaki Yamazaki, and the two, together with their friends, revive the suspended baseball club and aim for the national championship.

Akiba Research Institute interviewed two members of the cast who play the central roles in the story of the new Shin-Koshigaya High School baseball team!

First, we spoke with Kaori Maeda, who plays the main character, Eishin Takeda.

─ ─ What were your first impressions of this work and how did you feel after reading the original story? Also, what do you find attractive and interesting about the anime "KYU-SEI"?

Maeda: When I first saw the original comic, I had the impression that the girls were very cute, and I thought it would be a work about baseball while living a heartwarming everyday life. However, when I looked at the contents of the comic, I found that the characters were playing baseball with all their might, and that the positive attitude of all the characters was very appealing! Also, the Shin-Koshigaya Nine are all full of individuality, and although at first glance they seem to be a bit disjointed, they are united and have a deep bond, and I think that kind of relationship is also wonderful!

───Please tell us anything about the character, such as what attracts you to Eishin Takeda and what you are conscious of when playing her!

Maeda: Takeda Eishin is cool because she is the most unflappable in any situation, like an unshakable ace. Sometimes she puts on too much effort, but she brushes it off with a smile and a laugh, and when she is in doubt, Kukihime, her battery partner, casually supports her!

When acting, I try not to make serious scenes sound too serious, and I try to show my emotions as much as I can, but I also try to be very careful in my acting, such as the way I put my energy into the baseball scenes and the ad-libs I throw, and how I put my energy into them!

─ ─ Do you have any baseball experience or memories of baseball yourself?

Maeda: I played a little baseball in gym class when I was in high school, but after I was cast in "Kyuu Ei", I joined a grass baseball game on my days off to learn the distance that is unique to baseball! I have been asking those of you who used to pitch, "How did you feel when you were pitching in these situations? I also ask questions to those who have pitched before, such as, "How did you feel when pitching in these situations? By actually playing baseball, I was able to get to know all the cast members very well, and I wonder if this at-home atmosphere has an effect on the appeal of the anime. I hope so!

───Can you tell us about some of the memorable episodes during postrecording?

Maeda: I talked a lot with the staff during postrecording, and to be honest, I have many impressive stories, but the one that sticks in my mind the most personally was when I asked one of the staff members about something that had been bothering me for a long time, "Why was (I) chosen as Eishin-chan? It was Maeda-san. I was also told that during the audition, as soon as Director Fukushima heard my voice, he mumbled, "Maybe it's her. ......" I had never had such an experience before. It was the first time for me to have such an experience. I was really grateful and happy, and it made me more determined to do my best. I felt more determined than ever to do my best.

─ How did you communicate with your battery partner, Satomi Amano, who plays the role of Tamahime Yamazaki?

Maeda: Satomi Amano, my battery partner, is a really polite and nice girl. During the first recording session, we were both nervous, but as the session went on, we became more comfortable with each other. In the scene where Eishin is sweet-talking Tama-chan, Tama-chan is basically a salt-of-the-earth girl, but every time we finished recording such a scene, she would say, "Am I being too cold? ......? Is she okay? ......? It was very cute how she would anxiously ask, "Am I too cold? (Laughs) I love how she switches from that to the cool Tama-chan again!

When we went out for dinner together, we talked about clothes, what we had for breakfast, and other such trivial things (laughs). (Laughs) I hope that we will have many more opportunities to get to know each other through events and so on!

─ ─ We have reached the midpoint of the anime broadcast, what are some of the highlights?

Maeda: From episode 4, the practice matches finally begin! From the middle of the episode, the individuality of the team gradually becomes apparent, and I think the highlight of the episode is that the team is becoming more cohesive! Also, the relationship between each member is gradually becoming apparent, and that is just precious. ...... The trust that has been built up between the members comes out in the play, and I am sure that it will be a development that we cannot take our eyes off of!

─ You also sang the ED theme song "Plus Minus Zero no Houshi." Could you tell us about the recording episode and your impression of the song?

Maeda: First of all, I thought it was a wonderful song with a refreshing sound that easily penetrates the ear, and the way it was sung made me feel like I was passing the baton to my teammates! Also, on a personal note, I love the work of lyricist/composer Jun Maeda, so I was very honored and happy to be asked to sing the song! I was very happy to be able to sing the song! I recorded the song with the image of everyone having fun playing baseball under a blue sky. The tapioca scene is also very cute and high school girl-like, and I watch it while drinking tapioca (laughs).

─ By the way, what kind of club activities were you involved in when you were in school?

Maeda: I played basketball in junior high school. But I wanted to shoot, and when I went in for a shot, it was blocked from above and I lost miserably ......, and at that time I felt terribly sorry for myself. I thought, "I'm going to play with a quickness that doesn't stop at the eye! but I still couldn't move like lightning ...... (laughs).

I have always had stamina, so if I ever play basketball again, I would rather play with stamina than lightning speed! I would like to try it!

───Finally, could you give a comment to the viewers?

Maeda: Thank you for always supporting "KYU-SEI"! Thank you for always supporting "KYUHEI"! We hope that the hearts of the people who watch the anime will be cheered up by the heartwarming and cute conversations that are typical of high school students!

We will be as excited as Wing Chun and her friends are, so let's run through to the final episode together!