#Kirika Yura

[fuckyeahanimebirthdays]

Kirika Yura (Cue!)  » January 17

[prismatranslates-cue]

Chisa [The Princess' Incredibly Busy Day] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Kirika: Okay, I understand the situation.

Chisa: Kirika-sensei, please help teach them.

Kirika: Firstly, I cannot abide the three of you disrespecting the sanctity of the lesson studio. You know food isn’t allowed in here. Do you see what a mess you’ve made?

Kirika: The three of you will clean this up. 10 laps around the room with dust cloths.

Yuuki: Okee!

Chisa: Why on earth are you so eager?

Yuzuha: I’ll go get a vacuum cleaner.

Chisa: No you will not. You’re doing this manually.

Kirika: Now then, Eniwa-san?

Airi: Yes!

Kirika: To confirm, your high school phys ed test consists of assessing your ability to perform a somersault? That’s all?

Airi: Yes. Each student has to do 3 in a row.

Kirika: Why don’t you go ahead and make them layouts, then?

Airi: I-I don’t think I even could…

Kirika: It would be a lot more impressive.

Airi: A-are we really doing this…?!

Kirika: It never hurts to raise the bar a little.

Yuuki: So true!

Chisa: Again, why are you the one taking point?

Chisa: Anyway, Kirika-sensei. That sounds lovely, but I must remind you the test is tomorrow. There’s no time, maybe we should focus on just getting her up to par?

Kirika: Oh, but this is such a wonderful learning opportunity. I’d like to get as much out of it as possible.

Chisa: I’ll leave it to you, then.

Kirika: I didn’t come all the way out here in the middle of the night just to do things halfway, so you three better not expect me to let up!

Chisa: Good luck, you three.

Chisa leaves.

---

Chisa: It’s been almost 3 hours…are they still not done?

Chisa: Maybe getting Kirika-sensei involved was a bit overboard? I hope everything’s alright…

Wham

Yuuki: Chisa!

Chisa: Can you at least knock?! What’s the matter?

Yuuki: Airi’s in big trouble. Come quick!

Chisa: Huh?! What do you mean, big trouble?!

---

Airi: Hah! Hup!

Kirika: Sigh…No good. Try again.

Chisa: What’s going on here?

Yuuki: We spent so long trying to get Airi to pull off a somersault, but she just couldn’t. Even Kirika-sensei hit her limit.

Airi: Hah, hup! How was that, Kirika-sensei?!

Chisa: Well she certainly seems more confident about these. Oh, Manager, you’re here too?

Manager: I only meant to watch for a little bit and then be on my way, but I think I missed my chance to leave…

Kirika: …Eniwa-san. Let’s try changing how you’re approaching this.

Airi: What do you mean?

Kirika: Perhaps we should accept that you are not quite able to perform a proper somersault. Then, if you do not attempt it, you cannot fail to perform it, yes? Airi: I see…

Kirika: In short, you must instead act like you’ve done the somersault. Well enough that it convinces everyone else.

Chisa: How is she supposed to…?

Kirika: As a seiyuu, your greatest weapons are your voice and your power of imagination. That’s what all our lessons are for, isn’t that right?

Airi: Huh…yeah…

Kirika: Picture it in your head, and then act it out with your voice.

Manager: Will that really work?

Yuuki: It’s worth a shot! Yeah! Imagination Somersault!

Yuzuha: I think it sounds cool!

Manager: …Seriously?

Kirika: Go on, Eniwa-san!

Airi: …Here goes.

Airi: Hah! Ryaaa! Hup!

Kirika: …Well done. You pass.

Airi: Yayyyy!

Manager: …What just happened?

Kirika: That was a seiyuu’s rendition of a somersault. An excellent one at that. Eniwa-san put all her power into it.

Kirika: I’m sure this will suffice for tomorrow. Good work, have a good night.

Chisa: Oh, you too, Kirika-sensei! Sorry again for bothering you so late…

Door closes

Airi: I think I really pictured myself doing it just now!

Yuuki: I guess tomorrow will be all clear as long as you move your body a little!.

Yuzuha: Even just walking should be fine, no?

Chisa: (Well, it’s better than nothing.)

Chisa: I’ll head back to my room then, I’ve got things to tidy up. I’ll leave the rest here to you, Manager.

Manager: Hm? Oh, sure…I guess I won’t be going home for a while longer…

---

Chisa: Voice-acting a somersault because you can’t actually physically do one…

Chisa: Heh. Eheheh, hahaha! Oh, goodness, come on, Akagawa, get a grip.

Wham

Yuuki: Chisa!

Chisa: I thought I told you to knock!

Yuuki: Airi’s hurt!

Chisa: What?! How?! Did she try to do a somersault again?!

Yuuki: No, she just tripped on the stairs.

Chisa: Hey, are you okay? Here, let me see.

Airi: Owowowow. My knee…

Chisa: Oh, it doesn’t look too bad. You just grazed it a little. Come sit here.

Chisa: You did work hard today, it’s no surprise you’re a little tired. Alright, here comes a bandage.

Airi: You’re so nice, Chisa-chan…you’re just like my mom.

Chisa: Next time, don’t leave all your preparations until the night before the test, okay?

Airi: Ouch! Owowow…

Chisa: Alright, good luck tomorrow!

Fin.

[puellamagishowdown]

Round 2 Has Finished!

Hey, no tiebreakers this time!

Not much to say this time. Most of the results were what I expected but I do have some questions about others (please feel free to answer said questions).

If you would like to see the percentages and some commentary, continue reading. If not, I will see you soon for round 3.

Ayame Mikuri (51.9%) vs Miyuri Yukari

Pia Undo vs Tsubasa Hanekawa (75.2%) - I know nothing about Divine Gate, but I do think Pia's outfit is quite cute. A little sad she lost.

Toyo vs Madoka Kaname (84.3%)

Livia Medeiros (50.7%) vs Rena Minami - ... Really? Alright then.

Sana Futaba (78.3%) vs Asahi Miura

Kaede Akino (56.8%) vs Sudachi Suwa

Mikoto Sena (51.7%) vs Hotaru Yura

Saki Asami vs Mikage Yakumo (82.6%)

Sasara Minagi vs Amaryllis (81.1%) - This was a much larger gap than I expected. Is her story that good or do people mostly just like the design better?

Ren Isuzu (76.3%) vs Kokoro Awane

Kuro vs Nanaka Tokiwa (70.9%)

Kagari Hinata vs Alina Gray (85.7%)

Mikura Komachi vs Yu (76.9%) - Please, I am begging someone to tell me why Yu. Why is she so popular? It can't be because she's a serial killer, other serial killer magical girls have lost this already.

Himena Aika (62.5%) vs Sayuki Fumino

Ashley Taylor (70.7%) vs Meiyui Chun

Mel Anna (77.1%) vs Ryoko Natsu

Hazuki Yusa  vs Eternal Sakura (71.2%)

Mayu Kozue (53.4%) vs Kako Natsume

Rui Mizuki vs Kanoko Yachiyo (64.8%) - Aw man, the resident chuunibyou lost...

Masara Kagami vs Juri Oba (57.3%)

Kyoko Sakura (88.8%) vs Tsubaki Mikoto

Riz Hawkwood (75.4%) vs Kanna Hijiri

Chiharu Hiroe vs Mito Aino (59.2%)

Corbeau vs Tsuruno Yui (70.4%)

Yuma Chitose vs Mitama Yakumo (77.6%)

Yuna Kureha (66.2%) vs Riko Chiaki

Ayaka Mariko (74.6%) vs Meguru Hibiki

Momoko Togame vs Ui Tamaki (52.1%) - This was a little closer than I expected.

Ao Kasane (52.7%) vs Suruga Kanbaru - For a while, I really thought Suruga was going to win this.

Gunhild vs Homura Akemi (85.2%)

Sae Kirino vs Nagisa Momoe (74.3%)

Iroha Tamaki vs Yachiyo Nanami (62%) - It feels early to have two major characters face off, but the RNG willed it. And it wasn't that close.

Seika Kumi vs Nayuta Satomi (52.6%)

Karin Misono (56.7%) vs Kanae Yukino

Konoha Shizumi (68.9%) vs Shigure Miyabi

Oriko Mikuni (76.9%) vs Lapin

Olga vs Mifuyu Azusa (59.5%)

Felicia Mitsuki vs Mami Tomoe (72.2%) - Even against another major side character like Felicia, Mami has dominated. All hail Mami.

Rika Ayano vs Sayaka Miki (66.3%)

Mitsuru Inami vs Ikumi Makino (69.5%)

Kirika Kure (63%) vs Konomi Haruna

[shizukateal]

Magical Girl Fashion Review Compilations

The 3 Rules. Mobility Tips.

PMMM

The Holy Quintet: Part 1 and Part 2, Nagisa Momoe Opinions, Miscellaneous Last Episode Girls

Homucifer vs Godoka

Magia Record:

Part 1 (Mikazuki Villa)

Part 2 (Rena Minami, Momoko Togame, Kaede Akino, Asuka Tatsuki, Kanoko Yayoi)

Part 3 (Natsuki Utsuho, Hinano Miyako, Sasara Minagi, Nanaka Tokiwa, Emiri Kisaki)

Part 4 (Shizuku Hozumi, Akira Shinobu, Manaka Kurumi, Kako Natsume, Meyui Chun)

Part 5 (Ayaka Mariko, Masara Kagami, Konomi Haruna, Rika Ayano, Ren Isuzu)

Part 6 (Konoha Shizumi, Hazuki Yusa, Ayame Mikuri, Aimi Eri, Karin Misono)

Part 7 (Kokoro Awane, Tsukasa and Tsukuyo Amane, Kuroe, Alina Gray)

Part 8 (Leila Ibuki, Seika Kumi, Mito Aino, Mayu Kozue, Himika Mao)

Part 9 (Mitama Yakumo, Ria Ami, Mel Anna, Mifuyu Azusa, Kanagi Izumi)

Part 10 (Riko Chiaki, Ryou Midori, Ikumi Makino, Touka Satomi, Nemu Hiiragi)

Part 11 (Ui Tamaki, Sasara Hanna, Sayuki Fumino, Chiharu Hiroe, Yukika Nanase)

Part 12 (Hikaru Kirari, Sunao Toki, Mikura Komachi, Seira Mihono, Temari Kira)

Part 13 (Shigure Miyabi, Tokime Shizuka, Rabi Himuro, Yuna Kureha, Ao Kasane)

Part 14 (Oriko Mikuni, Kirika Kure, Yuma Chitose, Suzune Amano, Kanae Yukino)

Part 15 (Kazuki Subaru, Umika Misaki, Kaoru Maki, Shion Chisato, Arisa Narumi)

Part 16 (Tart Magica)

Part 17 (Hagumu Azumi, Rion and Hotoru Yuuki, Juri Oba, Livia Medeiros)

Part 18 (Monogatari girls)

Part 19 (Ranka Chizu, Tsumugi Wakana, Moka Megumi, Maria Yuki, Sakuya Suzuka)

Part 20 (Asahi Miura, Meguru Hibiki, Ashley Taylor)

Part 21 (Hinata Matsuri, Haruka Kanade, Ryoko Natsu, Rui Mizuki, Sakura)

Part 22 (Himena Aika, Alexandra Kurusu, Urara Yume, Nayuta Satomi, Mikage Yakumo)

Part 23 (San Kagura, Miyuri Yukari, Mitsune Miwa, Sae Kirino and Yuna Kaharu)

Miscellaneous MagiReco Girls:

Kushu Iremei, Hotaru Yura, Mikoto Sena, Mabayu Aki, Kagome Satori, Mitsuru Inami, Kagari Hinata, Summer Yachiyo, Sae Kirino, Sudachi Suwa and Yozuru Sasame, Rui Mizuki, Yuu and Shi

Puella Historia: Part 1, Part 2

Precure:

A La Mode, Hirogaru Sky (Cure Majesty), Delicious Party, Doki Doki, Huggto, Cure Tomorrow and Happiness Charge, Healin'Good, Splash Star, Smile

Star Twinkle Precure: Cure Selene, Cure Soleil, Cure Milky, Cure Star, Cure Cosmo

Tokyo Mew Mew:

The Reboot Outfits

Sailor Moon:

Sailor Moon La Cygne, Moon Crisis and Eternal Sailor Moon, the Senshi/Sailor Scouts in general, Eternal Sailor Senshi

🌸💖Card Captor Sakura💖🌸

Favorite Outfits

Clear Card Arc Anime Outfits: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

W.I.T.C.H.

The Girlies and C.H.Y.K.N.

Nerissa Again

Miraculous Ladybug

Part 1 (Ladybug, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge and Volpina, Carapace, Queen Bee and Vesperia)

Black Rock Shooter

OG OVA and 2012 Anime The Ugly-Ass 2022 Anime

Nurse Angel Ririka

LoliRock

Alice Madness Returns

[puellamagifashion]

Character Masterpost

Original series: Madoka Kaname Ultimate Madoka Homura Akemi Homura Akemi (glasses/plaits)/Moemura Devil Homura Mami Tomoe Sayaka Miki Kyoko Sakura Hitomi Shizuki Nagisa Momoe

Kazumi Magica: Kazumi Subaru Kaoru Maki Umika Misaki Saki Asami Mirai Wakaba Satomi Usagi Niko Kanna Kanna Hijiri Airi Anri ‘Yuuri’/Yuuri Asuka Ayase/Luca Souju Akane Sumire

Oriko Magica: Oriko Mikuni Kirika Kure Yuma Chitose Sasa Yuuki Komaki Asako Lina Hitomi Mio Miyako Saki Mai Akane Erika Mamiya Koito Asako Akira Namekata Miyuki Nagatsuki Futaba Chihana Masumi

Suzune Magica: Suzune Amano Arisa Narumi Chisato Shion Haruka Kanade Matsuri Hinata Kagari Hinata Tsubaki Mikoto Kanami Honoka

Tart Magica: Tart/Jeanne d’Arc Riz Hawkwood Melissa de Vignolles Eliza Celjska Corbeau Lapin Minou Isabeau Pernelle Fleche Lame

Magia Record: Iroha Tamaki Yachiyo Nanami Tsuruno Yui Sana Futaba Felicia Mitsuki Mifuyu Azusa Touka Satomi Alina Gray Nemu Hiiragi Ui Tamaki Rena Minami Momoko Togame Kaede Akino Karin Misono Kanagi Izumi Mitama Yakumo Tsukuyo Amane Tsukasa Amane Kuroe

Kagome Satori Yuna Kureha Hikaru Kirari Ao Kasane Juri Oba Shizuka Tokime Chiharu Hiroe Sunao Toki Himena Aika Shigure Miyabi Hagumu Azumi San Kagura Miyuri Yukari Lavi/Rabi Himuro Asahi Miura Alexandra Kurusu Urara/Ulala Yume Nayuta Satomi Mikage Yakumo Sudachi Sawa Yozuru Sasame Livia Medeiros Mikoto Sena Tsuyu Mizuna Chizuru

Asuka Tatsuki Kanoko Yayoi Natsuki Utsuho Hinano Miyako Sasara Minagi Nanaka Tokiwa Emiri Kisaki Shizuku Hozumi Akira Shinobu Manaka Kurumi Ria Ami Kako Natsume Meiyui Chun Leila Ibuki Seika Kumi

Mito Aino Kokoro Awane Yukika Nanase Hanna Sarasa Ayaka Mariko Himika Mao Sakuya Suzuka Aimi Eri Tsumugi Wakana Ren Isuzu Konoha Shizumi Hazuki Yusa Ayame Mikuri Masara Kagami Konomi Haruna

Rika Ayano Mayu Kozue Sayuki Fumino Moka Megumi Riko Chiaki Maria Yuki Mel Anna Mikura Komachi Seira Mihono Temari Kira Hotori Yuzuki Meguru Hibiki Eternal Sakura/Sakurako Ranka Chizu Rion Yuzuki

Ryo Midori Chika Aoba Hotaru Yura Kanae Yukino Yuuna Kaharu Jun Kazari Ashley Taylor Ikumi Makino Mitsune Miwa Sae Kirino Rui Mizuki Akari Mai Ryoko Natsu Kushu Irina Kuro Mabayu Aki

Other: Pia Undo Overall other characters

[kurayamineko]

[recentanimenews]

CUE! - Crunchyroll Winter 2022 Spotlight

  If you've ever taken a crack at breaking into the world of voice acting, you know it can be a tough endeavor. All the hurdles in the world won't stop the young women of CUE! from trying, though, as they audition for the honor of being one of the most adorable looking shows in Crunchyroll's Winter 2022 lineup. Step up to the mic and check out our full spotlight below for more on the mobile game's journey to the television screen. 

  Official Website

      Navigation

Launch Info

Official Trailers

Synopsis

Characters and Cast

Staff

Additional Info

    Launch Info

  Launch Time: January 7 

Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS

Show Page

  Official Trailers 

        Synopsis

  Set at the offices of "AiRBLUE", a rookie voice acting agency with no track record or experience, CUE! follows the trials and tribulations of a group of young women who follow their dreams of becoming voice actors. But the voice acting world is highly competitive, and no matter how much someone practices, not everyone will make it past the audition process. Despite frustrations and setbacks, the story of a new generation of voice actors is about to begin.

  Characters and Cast

  Haruna Mutsuishi

VA: Yurina Uchiyama 

    Maika Takatori

VA: Nene Hieda (Yuzu Izumi in Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki) 

    Shiho Kano

VA: Kyoka Moriya (Hemo Midori in Dropout Idol Fruit Tart)

    Honoka Tsukii

VA: Yuna Ogata 

    Yuuki Tendo

VA: Ayaka Takamura (Nanaho Nanahoshi in Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens)

    Chisa Akagawa

VA: Satsuki Miyahara 

    Airi Eniwa

VA: Mayu Iizuka (Kawauchi Sensei in Recorder and Randsell)

    Yuzuha Kujo

VA: Manatsu Murakami (Komichi Akebi in Akebi's Sailor Uniform)

    Miharu Yomine

VA: Yukari Anzai (Momo Minamoto in Release the Spyce)

    Aya Kamuro

VA: Saki Matsuda 

    Mahoro Miyaji

VA: Megumi Yamaguchi (Hifumi Takimoto in NEW GAME!)

    Riko Hinakura

VA: Arisa Tsuruno 

    Rie Maruyama

VA: Hina Tachibana (Satono Diamond in Umamusume: Pretty Derby) 

    Satori Utsugi

VA: Ami Komine

    Rinne Myojin

VA: Mai Sato (Nana in iii icecrin)

    Mei Toomi

VA: Rio Tsuchiya (Ranka in SSSS.Dynazenon)

    Masaki Otori

VA: Yoko Hikasa (Freya in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)

    Rio Isuzu

VA: Aya Suzaki (Mako Mankanshoku in Kill la Kill) 

    Kirika Yura

VA: Hiromi Igarashi (Yuri Alpha in Overlord)

    Staff

  Original Creator

Liber Entertainment, Inc.

  Original Character Design

Siso

  Director

Shin Katagai (My Sweet Tyrant, Eyeshield 21)

  Series Composition

Tatsuhiko Urahata (Hi Score Girl)

  Character Design

Motohiro Taniguchi (My Sweet Tyrant, RPG Real Estate)

  Art Director

Hiroki Matsumoto

  Music

Ryosuke Nakanishi

  Animation Production

Yumeta Company x Graphinica

    Additional Info

  Liber Entertainment's original CUE! mobile game launched for iOS and Android devices in Japan on October 25, 2019. The game lets players take charge of four teams of four aspiring seiyuu. The characters in the game are voiced by fresh faces in the industry themselves, and the teams they're divided into are Flower, Bird, Moon, and Wind. 

    Here are a few promos showcasing the game prior to its original launch, with each featuring the same voice talent as the anime. 

              -------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster

[prismatranslates-cue]

Aya [Look Up to the Sky] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Mahoro: This has been, “Mahoro and Miharu”!

Miharu: Thank you, thank you!

Applause.

Kirika: Excellent work.

Aya: (They were so good.)

Kirika: Good stuff, you two. Okay, next, Kamuro-san and Hinakura-san.

Riko: Yessir!

Aya: (My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.)

Kirika: Let’s see, your team name is ”Ayariko”? Good, good.

Aya: (I’ve done everything I could.)

Riko: Let’s go get ‘em, Aya.

Aya: R-right.

Aya: (I just have to do it like we rehearsed.)

Kirika: Alright, get ready.

Aya: (Wait…how did it start again? Oh no, I can’t remember the first line! What do I do?!)

Kirika: Give it up for ���Ayariko”. Begin!

Aya: (Whatever, it’s all up to fate now! Whatever happens happens!)

---

Riko: Thank you very much!

Miharu: …

Mahoro: Whoa…

Kirika: I’m amazed, truly. You sure outdid yourselves.

Aya: …Huh?

Aya: Just now, I…

Miharu: That was amazing!

Mahoro: My cheeks hurt from laughing! I’m impressed.

Kirika: Might I ask which of you wrote the script?

Riko: Uh, technically Aya, but…

Kirika: That’s impressive, Kamuro-san.

Aya: Um, I just totally blanked out…

Kirika: Rather than creating some quirky persona, you went into it with your true, genuine self. A side of you we’ve never seen before.

Aya: …Huh?

Kirika: To be honest, I know comedy and bursts of laughter are pretty much the furthest thing from you, so I was expecting you to come across stiff and forced during your skit.

Kirika: But you blew those expectations out of the water! You really set yourself free.

Aya: I…did?

Kirika: I’ve never heard of a boke who didn’t say a single word in the entire skit! I’m speechless.

Aya: What.

Riko: Aya…you…

Aya: Riko…I…

Riko: You were killing it up there!

Aya: Huh?

Riko: You totally planned that, didn't you?! I was so unprepared! But thanks to you, it went really well.

Aya: Y-you’re welcome.

Riko: But! Let’s stick to the script next time, yeah? No more surprises.

Aya: Oh…sure, of course.

Aya: (I honestly just totally froze up, so getting all this praise is…)

Aya: (I feel awful…!)

Fin.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Aya [Look Up to the Sky] Part 1

Kirika: Your assignment for today will be to perform a manzai comedy routine.

Aya: Huh?

Kirika: You’ll work in pairs: Kamuro-san with Hinakura-san, and Yomine-san with Miyaji-san. Please come up with your own original skits.

Riko: May I ask why we’re doing this?

Kirika: The reason will become all too clear. You see, the goal of comedy is simple: Making people laugh.

Aya: (I’m going to be so bad at this…)

Kirika: And yet it is quite a difficult task. Comedians need to be imaginative in creating their own material, which they then also have to perform competently in front of a live audience.

Kirika: All essential skills for entertainers like yourselves.

---

Riko: You be the boke, Aya, the silly one.

Aya: Huh?

Riko: I promise I’ll be the best tsukkomi! I’ll jump in with those quips like you’d never believe.

Aya: Really?

Riko: Really. So, with that settled, see if you can come up with anything for now, yeah?

Aya: Wait, by myself? Where are you going?

Riko: Sorry! I’ve got to go for my part-time job. Maybe Manager or someone can help you out. Toodles!

Aya: Why is this happening to me…

---

Manager: You…want me…to help you think of material for a comedy routine?

Aya: If you can…

Manager: Like…what are we aiming for, exactly?

Aya: Something surreal, stylish, and original.

Manager: That’s, uh, a taller order than I was expecting.

Aya: But it should still be simple and easy to grasp. Something that’s relatable. Like…hm, maybe a hospital setting?

Manager: A hospital?

Aya: One person will be the doctor, and the other can be an assistant. What do you think?

Manager: Sounds good to me.

Aya: “Okay, let’s begin the operation.”

Manager: (Wait, are we starting already?)

Aya: “The operation we are performing is quite a complicated one. Prepare yourself.”

Manager: R-right.

Aya: “Okay, let’s begin. Kissers.”

Manager: What?

Aya: Y-you’re supposed to say, “You mean scissors?” Yeah. “You mean scissors, right?!”

Manager: Y-you mean scissors, right?!

Aya: It’s my first time, please be gentle.

Manager: Well…that’s one joke down.

Aya: …This won’t do.

Manager: Huh?

Aya: This isn’t good enough. I’ll go back to my room and give it some more thought.

Aya: Thanks for your time.

Manager: (Aya…it’s hard to picture her laughing, never mind performing a comedy skit…)

To be continued...in Part 2

[prismatranslates-cue]

Aya [Unhatched Seiyuu] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Kirika: Here. Dry your tears.

Aya: Phew. I don’t know where that came from.

Kirika: You know, most people go through their lives keeping so many emotions bottled up inside.

Aya: Huh?

Kirika: Starting almost as soon as we’re born, we’re raised to keep our feelings under control, taught to never let them show.

Kirika: No one does it intentionally, but that’s what it takes to survive in this corporate world we live in.

Aya: …Yeah.

Kirika: But people can’t help feeling sad sometimes. And when we bottle it up, all that sadness just builds up until your very soul wants to scream. Sometimes, we need to let it all out.

Aya: Right.

Kirika: And actors like us can even make use of it.

Kirika: It’s a job where we get to lay bare the emotions in our hearts.

Kirika: Depending on your point of view, it can all be part of keeping ourselves healthy.

Aya: Right.

Kirika: Kamuro-san, you should let yourself feel your feelings more. Cry when you want to cry. Smile when you want to smile.

Aya: I…try to.

Kirika: You may think you do, but what does your true self feel? Please, I encourage you to try and pay more attention to your own self.

Aya: …Okay.

---

Aya: (My true self, huh…)

Riko: Hey, you guys wanna get pizza?

Miharu: That sounds good to me!

Mahoro: Same.

Riko: How about you, Aya?

Aya: I don’t mind.

Riko: It’s settled, then! I’ll take my motorbike and pick it up, we get a free one that way.

Mahoro: Hold up. We can get an even better deal if we order online.

Miharu: What kind of crust should we get? I like thin crust so it’s nice and crunchy.

Riko: Same.

Mahoro: Me three.

Mahoro: How about you, Aya?

Aya: …

Aya: (My…true self…I have to let it out.)

Miharu: What’s wrong, Aya?

Slam.

Aya: I…! I prefer when the crust is soft and fluffy! When it’s not fluffy, I honestly feel robbed!

Aya: That’s all I can think when I have to eat a thin crust pizza!

Mahoro: …Huh?

Riko: I’m fine either way.

Miharu: Same. I don’t mind getting soft-crust if that’s how you want it, Aya.

Aya: (I did it! I was able to express my true feelings!)

Aya: Really? Thank you!

Aya leaves.

Riko: Aya…I’d honestly been worried about her, she’s looked real tired recently.

Miharu: But it looks like she’s all cheered up, judging from that smile just now.

Mahoro: All’s well that ends well. Alright, I’ll order a soft-crust pizza then. Oh, what toppings should we get?

Fin.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Aya [Unhatched Seiyuu] Part 1

Doctor: Physically, your body is fine. You were just exhausted. You should take the next 2 or 3 days off and get some rest.

Aya: (Was it really just exhaustion, though…?)

Boy A: Miss! Could you pass me that ball?

Aya: (What if I have some incurable disease…? What if I don’t get better? What will I do?)

Boy A: Hey! Hello? Miss! Can you hear me?

Aya: (I could disappear from this world, just like that. Everything I am, ceasing to be.)

Boy B: Forget it, she seems like a weirdo. Just go get the ball.

Boy A: Tch!

Aya: (When I think about it like that… it’s like I’ve suddenly realized what’s truly precious to me.)

Boy A: Yikes, now she’s got this weird smile on her face for some reason.

Boy B: Let’s get outta here!

---

Aya: (Such a vast sea of people, made of more faces than I could ever count. I wonder, will I come across any of these souls ever again in the great cycle of life?)

Aya: (Death comes for everyone eventually…There’s no one on this Earth who has never known sadness.)

Riko: Oh, Aya! What are you doing here? Where you headin’?

Aya: Hm? Nowhere in particular.

Aya leaves.

Riko: How mysterious.

---

Aya: (I’m not special, we’re all trying our hardest to live our lives.)

---

Aya: …

Aya: Aaah…

Aya: …

Aya: Aaaaaah…!

Aya: …

Aya: Huff….Aaaaahhhhh!!!

Kirika: No good. Try again.

Aya: Kirika-sensei?! When did you come in here?

Kirika: Did you not hear me? Try again.

Aya: Oh, I’m not really practicing seriously or anything…

Kirika: Kamuro-san.

Aya: …Okay.

Kirika: You’re tensing up. Relax, let go…and try again, please. Let the emotions stirring within you in this moment come out and be known.

Aya: …

Aya: Huff...Ah…

Kirika: That’s it. Let go…

Aya: Huff…Ah….sniff.

Kirika: …There you go. Well done.

Aya: Why…am I crying?

To be continued...in Part 2

[prismatranslates-cue]

Yuzuha [Neorealism!] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Chisa: I wonder if Yuzuha managed to come up with something.

Yuuki: She’s a weird one, so it’s hard to predict what she’ll do.

Chisa: I hope you have enough self-awareness that I don’t need to tell you about the glass house you’re throwing stones in.

Yuuki: Of course I do!

Airi: I really do wonder if Yuzuha-chan will be able to understand the desperate poverty shown in the film.

Yuuki: Yeah, no kidding.

Yuzuha: Yoohoo~

Yuuki: A wild Yuzuha appeared with an unexpected greeting!

Yuzuha: I watched the movie over and over and over, and I think I managed to pull something out from the film’s themes.

Chisa: Huh, really?

Yuuki: What did you end up with?

Yuzuha: Bicycle Thieves is about…how stealing bikes is wrong.

Yuuki: …Come again?

Yuzuha: I mean, everything would’ve been fine and dandy if the protagonist’s bike never got stolen to begin with.

Chisa: I think it’s a given that there will always be thieves and robbers in the world.

Yuzuha: I know that. But it’s still wrong.

Yuuki: Can’t argue with that, I guess.

Yuzuha: And so I realized that this film’s theme is best understood as a PSA that stealing bikes is wrong!

Airi: I’m…not sure about that.

Yuzuha: Anyway, here’s the script. Take a look!

---

Yuuki: My role is…the mascot of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?

Airi: I’m a policewoman?!

Chisa: This reads like a random PSA telling people not to steal bikes.

Yuzuha: Yeah, that’s what I told you it was.

Yuuki: I’m really not sure this is right.

Yuzuha: It’d be shallow if we tried to act out someone driven to the brink by poverty, wouldn’t it?

Yuuki: I think it would still be better than a script starring a police department mascot…

Chisa: This just doesn’t really have anything to do with the movie anymore.

Yuzuha: Coach said I could take liberties with the script, remember?

Chisa: Yeah, but this might as well be a completely unrelated piece.

Yuzuha: What do you want from me then? I don’t know what else I can do, so you tell me!

Chisa: Ah…sorry, I didn’t mean to push you.

Airi: We’re sorry.

Yuzuha: We could take a script like this and do a collab with the police and spread it nationwide.

Yuuki: So that’s what you had in mind.

Chisa: Let’s put a pin in that for now and focus on Kirika-sensei’s assignment.

Yuuki: Hey, Yuzuha. When you watched the movie, did any scene in particular stand out to you?

Yuzuha: …The one near the end. The protagonist had spent so much time and effort to find his stolen bike, but he just couldn’t get it back.

Yuzuha: And in the end, he tried stealing someone else’s bike.

Yuuki: Mhm.

Yuzuha: But then he got caught right away…that bike’s owner called the cops, but then he made eye contact with the protagonist’s son and decided to let him go.

Chisa: Yeah, the bike owner forgave him.

Yuzuha: All the townspeople were saying such awful things, and the protagonist was just standing there dumbfounded…and his son started weeping.

Airi: Right.

Yuzuha: So he took his son’s hand in his, and they walked away together. That’s the scene that stood out to me the most.

Yuuki: …I see.

Chisa: There’s no real dialogue in that scene, though…

Airi: This is supposed to be an exercise for us as voice actresses, but we’d just be staring at each other.

Yuzuha: There’s nothing to work with for a script there, right? So I just don’t know.

Yuuki: No, we can make it work. We’ve gotta make it work.

Yuzuha: What?

Yuuki: It’ll be fine. Even with no dialogue.

Yuzuha: But this is for our seiyuu lessons, remember? I’m not sure Coach will like that.

Yuuki: I’ll take my chances with this over what we had earlier.

Chisa: At the end of the day, it’s the scene that moved you the most, right Yuzuha?

Yuzuha: Yeah…I don’t really have any memories of ever walking hand-in-hand with my Papa like that. I know it’s not exactly a happy scene, but…it was nice to see that part at least.

Airi: That makes sense.

Yuuki: Your dad’s a busy man, right?

Yuzuha: Yep, especially when I was small. But nowadays, I can go in for a hug whenever we see each other.

Chisa: I guess that comes a little more naturally if you grow up outside Japan.

Yuuki: Alright then, it’s settled. Now come on, let’s get practicing!

Airi: Yeah!

---

Kirika: Excellent! Good job, girls! That was your finest work yet.

Yuuki: Great job, Yuzuha! You knocked it out of the park!

Yuzuha: Heheheh.

Chisa: All your hard work paid off.

Yuzuha: It was no big deal.

Chisa: Heh, feeling cheeky now are we?

Airi: Thanks, Yuzuha-chan!

---

Yuzuha: Hello? Papa? Where are you right now? Italy? What a coincidence! I just watched an Italian film.

Yuzuha: …No, I don’t need anything in particular. I just felt like calling.

Yuzuha: My friends? Yeah, they’re doing good. We’ve been having so much fun!!

Fin.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Yuzuha [Neorealism!] Part 1

Kirika: Today your assignment will be a study based on the film Bicycle Thieves.

Yuzuha: Coach, over here!

Kirika: Yes, Kujo-san?

Yuzuha: I had my bike stolen once.

Kirika: I’m sorry to hear that.

Kirika: Despite the title, the protagonist is actually the victim of a bike theft.

Yuzuha: Oh, just like me then.

Kirika: The film was made quite a few decades ago, so keep in mind that the value of a bicycle was different from what it is today.

Kirika: You would do well to take note of the historical background, the social classes of the different characters, and the relationships between parents and their children.

Yuzuha: Coach, over here!

Kirika: Yes, Kujo-san?

Yuzuha: Who are the thieves?

Kirika: You can see for yourself when you watch the film.

Kirika: Your assignment is to watch the film and pick one scene to reenact as a group. You may take liberties with the script if it better suits your own interpretation.

Kirika: Furthermore, I’d like to assign the scriptwriting to…you, Kujo-san.

Yuzuha: Okay.

---

Chisa: Kirika-sensei’s really figured out how to handle Yuzuha.

Yuzuha: Hm?

Chisa: Oh, nothing. Have any of you ever watched this movie?

Yuuki: Nope.

Airi: I think it’s from Italy, and from before films were in colour.

Chisa: It’s not one of those silent films, is it?

Airi: I don’t think so…?

Yuzuha: Hmm, I’m not that great with Italian.

Chisa: You’re not…thinking of writing our script in Italian, are you?

Yuzuha: You think I shouldn't?

Chisa: Uh, obviously!

Yuuki: I don’t see a problem.

Chisa: Huh?

Yuuki: I know a bit of Italian myself! “Buono!” and all that.

Airi: Oh, that means “Yummy!” right?

Yuuki: Yep yep. …That’s pretty much all I’ve got.

Chisa: And that one word is enough for you to feel confident doing a whole script in Italian…?

Yuzuha: Mm, sorry Yuuki. I’m really not confident enough with Italian, so I’ll stick to Japanese.

Yuuki: Well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Chisa: Why do you sound so ungrateful?

Airi: We should go rent a DVD of it on the way home!

---

Yuzuha: Hey, I found these two copies of it from two different aisles. Which one should we get?

Airi: I would think either one is fine…?

Chisa: What, do you think they were sorted separately because they’re that different?

Yuuki: If you’re really worried about it, we can always just rent both.

Yuzuha: Good idea! Let’s do it ♪

Chisa: Is there really a point to that…?

---

Chisa: That’s how it ends, huh…What a downer. I wish it was a bit happier.

Yuzuha: Mmm.

Yuuki: He never got his bike back in the end.

Airi: Poverty is definitely a key theme.

Yuzuha: Which part should we do a reenactment of?

Yuuki: Yuzuha probably can’t even imagine what being poor is like.

Yuzuha: Should we try to focus on acting out being poor?

Airi: It’s an integral part of the story, there’s no avoiding it. The characters had to pawn off their bedsheets to even be able to afford food.

Chisa: Just thinking about it hurts my heart.

Yuzuha: I guess the hardest thing for me to relate to is how worked up they got over that bicycle. For me, someone stealing a bike might as well be stealing a cheap umbrella, you know?

Chisa: You really are something else…

Airi: Maybe you could try imagining something in place of the bicycle?

Chisa: Yuzuha, what’s something that you’d hate to have stolen from you?

Yuzuha: Hmm…maybe my bag.

Chisa: Your bag, huh. Okay, so what would you do if it did get stolen?

Yuzuha: Buy another one.

Chisa: Right? But the protagonist in the film couldn’t do that, so he was desperately searching for that one bicycle.

Airi: Especially since he needed it for his job. Without that bicycle, he couldn’t make a living.

Yuzuha: So something that I can’t do without because I need it for my job…oh, like my voice?

Chisa: What are you, the Little Mermaid?

Yuzuha: Maybe my script, then?

Yuuki: Would that be a big deal?

Chisa: Uh, yes it would be, but who’s trying to steal that in the first place?

Yuzuha: Oh, I know. Self-confidence!

Chisa: That’s definitely important, but…that’s an abstract concept.

Yuuki: How about money?

Yuzuha: I’m sure I’d always have more.

Airi: I guess we really can’t find anything comparable for Yuzuha-chan…

Chisa: It’s hard to believe, but I guess so.

Yuuki: So Yuzuha can’t get anything out of this movie, huh.

Yuzuha: Wait, then what am I supposed to do about this script? What scene do I use?

Yuuki: All up to you!

Chisa: Please and thank you.

Airi: Sorry for the trouble.

Yuuki, Chisa, and Airi leave.

Yuzuha: Hmm. Maybe a rewatch will help.

To be continued...in Part 2

---

Notes

"Neorealism" in the card title refers to a film movement from post-World War 2 Italy. Bicycle Thieves is a notable example of a film from this movement.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Airi [Unhatched Seiyuu] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Masaki: So, what did you think of your first kabuki show?

Chisa: Every sight was an explosion of delight! Every sound, a novel sensation!

Masaki: Indeed. And what about you, Airi? Did you glean anything useful regarding vocalization?

Airi: It was such a shock…the yells reverberating throughout the venue, across the entire audience. The timber of it, the timing!

Masaki: Sounds like you did. …Although, what do you mean by “timing”?

Airi: Watching the actor’s breathing, anticipating the pauses in the lines, timing it just right…

Chisa: “Nakamura House!” [1]

Airi: You could really feel that special live show atmosphere! I couldn’t get enough of it!

Masaki: Ah, so it wasn’t so much the actors’ performances, but rather…well, whatever works.

---

Airi: Nakamura House! Nakamura House!

Yuuki: I can barely hear you.

Airi: Why…?

Chisa: You were totally projecting yesterday, though.

Yuzuha: What could’ve changed between yesterday and today?

Airi: This is so strange…

Yuzuha: Is this what they call…beginner’s luck?

Chisa: Maybe.

Yuuki: I mean, you got it once, isn’t that enough?

Airi: No, it’s not!

Kirika: What’s going on in here?

Chisa: Kirika-sensei!

Airi: Yesterday I could yell out “Nakamura House!” so loud and clear, but now I can’t and I can’t figure out why.

Kirika: “Nakamura House”? What are you talking about?

Chisa: Oh, you know, the thing in kabuki theater when the audience shouts out something altogether.

Kirika: Ah…I’m sure it’s to do with how immersed you were in that context.

Chisa: The context…?

Kirika: If you’re immersed in the right circumstances, then you can unleash incredible power you didn’t even know you had. Why don’t you try imagining yourself back in the moment?

Airi: Nakamura-san…

Kirika: Try to remember. The massive venue, the stunning costumes, the flashy stage design. Out from the wings, the actor bursts onto the scene. The sound of the wooden hyoushigi clappers signal the moment…

Yuuki: Chonchon!

Airi: Nakamura House!!

Kirika: There you go!

Chisa: That was amazing!

Yuzuha: Excellente!

Airi: Yay! I did it!

Kirika: Now that you’ve recreated the scene in your head like that once, it’ll get easier and easier each time.

Yuuki: I bet you could call out other stuff now and not just the one name.

Airi: Definitely! I can call out all kinds of houses now! “Greenhouse! Powerhouse!” See?

Yuzuha: What about something like, “In the name of the stars, I will punish you!” [2]

Chisa: Oh come on, that’s like the most basic of basics! Right, Airi?

Airi: …

Chisa: A-Airi?

Airi: I can’t…those words…they hold too much power! I could never!!

Airi runs off

Kirika: Goodness…that one will need a lot more help in her training.

Fin.

---

Notes

[1]: Airi and Chisa are describing the custom of kakegoe, where the audience members at a kabuki show yell out certain phrases at certain points during the play. One of the most basic things shouted in kakegoe is the actors' yagou, their stage names that come from the name of their guild. The shout that Airi and Chisa use, for example, would be for an actor who is affiliated with Nakamura-ya, or Nakamura House, and thus has a stage name of "Nakamura-san".

[2]: A funny reference to Sailor Moon's iconic line, but with "stars" instead of moon.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Chisa [Look Up to the Sky] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Kirika: Listen up, everyone. Akagawa-san has a special solo presentation for us today.

Yuuki: Whoa! It’s all you!

Airi: Break a leg!

Yuzuha: Wooo! Yeahhh!

Chisa: Sensei, the thing is…

Kirika: Hm?

Chisa: I did manage to think of something, but…it’s a really difficult memory to look back on.

Manager: (Can’t say I’m surprised…)

Kirika: That’s the point.

Chisa: Huh?

Kirika: This exercise is about you. The person who you are, no more, no less. Facing our darkest moments like this helps us move past them.

Manager: (That’s true.)

Kirika: Now then. Whenever you’re ready, you may begin.

Chisa: Well…Here goes, then…

Yuuki: …

Airi: …

Yuzuha: …

Chisa: Waaah, Sensei! I really can’t do this!

Kirika: Huh?

Chisa: It was so hard, not just for me but both of my sisters too...! We were in so much debt. And I failed so many auditions trying to become a seiyuu…

Kirika: R-right.

Chisa: My older sister was already married and had her own kid to look after. Her own family was barely scraping by financially.

Chisa: But even still, when I was leaving for Tokyo, she gave me a 10,000 yen bill to help me out. I remember, for some reason, it was all muddy, too…

Chisa: I wanted to hold onto that bill…I never wanted to use it. But then, I got so lonely and missed my family so much, I just had to call them…

Chisa: And then the phone bill was so expensive…I ended up having to use that 10,000 yen almost right away…

Yuuki: Oh…I get you.

Chisa: I felt so useless. So, so stupid.

Chisa: Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up and bawl my eyes out! I don’t want to remember it ever again!!

Yuuki: Waaah, Chisa!!

Airi: Waaah, Chisa-chan!

Yuzuha: Weeeh, there there!

Chisa: Waaah! I miss my sister!

Kirika: Well…I think this still counts as completing the assignment.

Manager: (Yeah. I’m rooting for you, Chisa!)

Fin.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Chisa [Look Up to the Sky] Part 1

Subbed video available here

Kirika: You think your emotions are bottled up?

Chisa: Because of everything I’ve been through…

Manager: (It doesn’t seem that bad to me…)

Chisa: I mean, it’s one of your more common criticisms for me, isn’t it? That I’m holding back my emotions.

Kirika: Well…to be precise, there are emotions that you act out well, and others that you don’t.

Chisa: So it really is a problem…

Kirika: In your case, Akagawa-san, I believe you are unintentionally hampering yourself. You have a certain amount of ability already, but you are convinced that you are completely incapable.

Chisa: Hm…

Kirika: For example…Going back to our four primary emotions–ki-do-ai-raku–you are quite adept at displaying anger, do.

Manager: I agree.

Chisa: That was an awfully quick response, Manager. Are you trying to say something?

Kirika: Ki-raku, joy and pleasure, are also not a problem for you.

Chisa: Oh, the Chinese restaurant? Yeah, I like it okay. [1]

Manager: Huh?

Chisa: Never mind. So…That just leaves ai, right? Sorrow?

Kirika: So it does. Now then, what do you think about your ability to act out sorrow?

Chisa: I think it’s a huge weakness for me. I mean, sorrow basically equals “weeping”, right?

Kirika: That's right. A feeling stronger than mere sadness.

Chisa: I can cry, more or less, but it never lasts more than a few tears…

Manager: I can think of a lot of actresses that can definitely turn on the waterworks.

Kirika: That’s true. Although male actors can, and do, perform with that kind of emotion too. It’s a matter of immersing yourself in the right circumstances.

Chisa: Immersing myself, huh…not my strongest suit.

Kirika: Well then, why don’t we make it an assignment?

Chisa: A-an assignment? Um, okay. What is it?

Kirika: Think of a moment from any point in your life when something made you burst out in tears. Just absolutely wailing and screaming.

Chisa: I’m…not sure I’ve ever done that.

Kirika: You will then recreate that moment here.

Chisa: H-here?! In the lesson studio?!

Kirika: Where were you? Who were you with? What did you say? The time of day, the time of year? Reconstruct the scene to the fullest extent possible.

Chisa: I see…

Kirika: There is no need to explain what you were doing beforehand or why it made you cry. Just focus on the moment itself.

Chisa: I hope I can come up with something…

Kirika: I’m sure you will. You’ll present tomorrow in front of the others.

Chisa: Huh?!

Manager: (Reliving and acting out a big moment of weakness like that…what a difficult assignment.)

To be continued...in Part 2

---

Notes

[1]: There's a restaurant in Shibuya called Kiraku, and it's well-known as one of the oldest ramen restaurants in the area. The menu is primarily Chinese cuisine, including the ramen which is made in a more traditional Chinese style.