#Shigeru Chiba will always have the best laugh

[mkmikunasu]

Here are the best parts of Shigeru Chiba playing as Manto in the Xbox 360 version of ZIRIA

[yyh4ever]

Interview with the voice actors (1994)

Source: Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Comics, Meikai Shito Hen - Honoo no Kizuna, volume 2 (October, 1994). More info: Anime Comics.

This may be a long interview, but it’s interesting to learn more about the japanese voice actors’ point of view about the characters and YYH in general.

Nozomu Sasaki (佐々木 望)– Yusuke Urameshi

Profile

- Birthplace: Hiroshima;

- Birthday: January 25 (Aquarius);

- Blood Type: O;

- Freelancer voice actor;

- Other roles: Tetsuo (Akira), Shin no Suiko (Samurai Troopers).

Note: he was a freelancer when this interview was conducted in 1994. For more info, visit Nozomu Sasaki‘s Official Site.

How did you react when you found out you were going to play Yusuke?

Even though he was a character I really wanted to play, I knew it would be very hard being chosen, so I tried not to worry about the results of the audition. When I got the news, my motivation was renewed.

What are your impressions of Yusuke after playing him?

Hum...I can't say I know him thoroughly. Despite what he may look like, he's not an ordinary guy, he's someone who goes deep in his thoughts. When I think I am finally able to understand him, in the next scene he says and does things I could never imagine.

Which Yusuke's episode was a moment to remember?

I always end up forgetting about my favorite scenes (laughs). For example, I can't fully express in words everything I felt during the dialogues exchanged between Yusuke and Sensui at the time anymore. If feels like all of this has already become a part of me.

And which episode in general was one to remember?

When Master Genkai died. It was tough and sad. Even knowing she would resurrect later, it was impossible to not be moved. It was like my own grandma had passed away.

Apart from Yusuke, who’s your favorite character?

Yusuke (laughs). But I also like Genkai.

What's your opinion about Yu Yu Hakusho?

I  think YYH has something different from the other traditional fighting animes. It doesn't betray itself. If feels like it has its own purpose that no other anime has.

What makes you think so?

Don’t you think YYH differs from the traditional animes with beautiful characters? Of course, YYH has its heartthrobs (laughs). But the same old rule that separates the hero from the villain doesn’t apply here. Both Younger Toguro and Sensui had their own goals that went against others. So, if you put yourself in their shoes, you will understand their motives and what led them to act the way they did.

How would you describe Yusuke in one word?

Every time I am asked this question, I answer that he is stupid (laughs). But he can’t be boiled down to that…What about someone who pretends very well to be stupid?

Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁) – Kazuma Kuwabara

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- Birthplace: Kumamoto;

- Birthday: February 4 (Aquarius);

- Blood Type: O;

- Affiliated with the talent management enterprise Eighty-One Produce;

- Other roles: Chief Shigeo Chiba (Patlabor).

For more info, visit  Shigeru Chiba’s Official Twitter

Did you take any precautions while playing Kuwabara?

I’ve always taken good care to not make him sound like a heartthrob. I tried to dub him as a normal guy for what he really is, so people would be able to identify themselves in him. If there is an exception to the rule, it’s when he shows his feelings without reservation.

Note: It’s also interesting to have a look on this interview (2011). Togashi praised Shigeru’s work twice: “the acting skills of the voice actor of Kuwabara Kazuma, Chiba Shigeru, motivated me greatly. He understood the character of Kuwabara even better than me. Therefore, when I watch the anime, I also had something to take away from it. That is the best result”  and “The person who can act out the right voice, not only merges with the original work, but also investigates the character in their own way, just like Chiba Shigeru whom I mentioned earlier, he understands the character better than I do. ‘So you can interpret the character that way too’, I was surprised that way before. Because I know this is a good learning point for me, I would consciously avoid the sound”.

Are there any unforgettable Kuwabara’s scenes or lines to you?

When Kuwabara saved Yukina and said: “I’d like you to know that not all the humans are bad. For that reason, please, don’t hate all human beings”. Or in the movie when he was losing badly, he didn’t quit the fight and said: “in a matter of stubbornness I’ve never lost to anyone¹”. Through this line, I found out the real meaning of the word “quit”.

Note¹: In the english dub version of the Poltergeist Report movie, Kuwabara says: “in a true contest of guts I have never been beaten”.

What do you mean?

Normally, this word carries a negative sense, for example, “to quit your efforts”. But in reality it means “facing the reality as it is and move forward”. For that reason, it’s beautiful when someone fights with all his might even knowing he will die. That’s the way Kuwabara has always fought.

Which episode of the anime was unforgettable to you?

Sensui’s Arc. Even in daily life, people tend to eliminate what they fear. For that reason, I think humans are the most fearful race of all. Sensui claimed he wanted to be killed in the Demon World (Makai) by the hands of a youkai. Even though this act would not erase his sins, that feeling really moved me. In the end, love, hate, envy and sorrow are originated from the same kind of energy. Depending on how it is used, a person can hurt others and eventually can destroy oneself. Using this energy in a positive way, it becomes love; in a negative way, grudge.

What's your opinion about Yu Yu Hakusho?

I think YYH tries to unveil what it is being human. Evil also exists within us and that’s exactly why Yusuke and Kuwabara fight. The goal of this story is to make them realize the existence of this evil in order to destroy it.

Do you mean it’s not a traditional story about good and evil?

Normally good overcomes evil and we’re proud of that. But here, the “evil” also has its motives and if you delve deeper you may find out it could exist within you. That’s what Sensui’s saga was about.

Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之) – Hiei

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- Birthplace: Hiroshima;

- Birthday: August 25 (Virgo);

- Blood Type: A;

- Affiliated with the talent management enterprise Art Vision;

- Other roles: Pedro Kazmaier (Jungle King Tar-chan), Maito Senpuuji (The Brave Express Might Gaine - Yuusha Tokkyu Maitogain) etc.

For more info, visit Hiyama’s Official Twitter

What was your first impression of Hiei?

At the beginning, he was an enemy, then I thought: “the stronger the enemy, the cooler he is”. So, I thought about playing him in a way that intimidated Yusuke.

But he ended up becoming an ally…

That’s right, that’s when I felt flat on my face.

What kind of guy is Hiei?

He’s a character in which strength, sincerity and bad mood coexist. It’s natural for some people to refrain their desires due to other people's opinions, but he is free of modesty. He comes and goes as he pleases. It’s not like he doesn't think of others, but keeping his own rhythm is more important to him.

Do you mean he is only sincere with himself?

Yes, even though I receive lots of letters saying he’s a "contrarian" (laughs). He seems to be this way because the story is told by Yusuke’s point of view. If it was Hiei’s perspective, you would see that he is just unable to lie to himself.

Which episode of the anime was unforgettable to you?

It’s not about “one episode”, I like when Hiei loses a little bit of his composure when Yukina is around. Shortly thereafter, Yusuke and Kurama show up to mock him. What a pain in the ass those guys (laughs).

What are Hiei’s best lines?

Those three: “Humph”( フン), “tsk” and “idiot” (laughs).

What's your opinion about Yu Yu Hakusho?

Even though it’s a fighting anime, the way the story is written is unique.

The enemies are interesting, don’t you think?

I agree. I don’t think Yusuke and the others have any goals in mind to fight but the enemies do. I know Hiei and Kurama are very dear and popular characters, but personally, I see many interesting things about the enemies as well.

Who is your favorite villain?

Sensui. He’s a character who had been worried about several events and that led him to desire the destruction of the entire human race. I know it would be impossible at the moment, but he’s the character I’d like to play one day, like in 10 or 20 years.

Note: Mr. Hiyama, more than 20 years later (February 20, 2020), gave an interview alongside Shohei Hashimoto, Hiei’s actor in the Stage Play, commenting about playing Sensui. The question was about if there were any scenes they wanted to see on the stage. Hiyama’s answer: “what I personally want to see is the Sensui’s Arc. I've loved it since then. Hiei doesn't get much of a chance to appear, though (laughs). Even though he passed away, Sensui was a really cool character with the performance of Naya Rokuro (he died in 2014, R.I.P). I was reading an interview from back then in which I said "I want to be an actor who could play the role of Sensui in 10 or 20 years”  but I'’m not used to it yet (laughs)”.

Megumi Ogata (緒方 恵美) – Kurama

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- Birthplace: Tokyo;

- Birthday: June 6 (Gemini);

- Blood Type: B;

- Affiliated with Aoni Production;

- Other roles: Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon), Hiryu (Ginga Sengoku Gun Yuuden Rai) etc.

For more info, visit Megumi’s Official Twitter

What was your first impression of Kurama?

When I asked the producers what kind of character was Kurama, I got this answer: “he’s human but also a youkai; has a human form but is fox; looks like a girl but he is a boy; looks 16 but is hundreds years old...” (laughs). Confused, I turned to the manga and saw for the first time his appearance as Youko. So, my impression was: “what? such a complex character!?” (laughs).

How would you describe Kurama in one word?

Lately, I am not able to answer that. The same way it is hard to describe a real person, he’s almost indescribable.He’s a character that seems to be always walking a fine line.

What are Kurama’s best lines?

What he said when Yusuke was about to die in the Irima’s cave (Sensui’s Arc): “I couldn’t stand it if any of us four weren’t here”. Due to his real age, he already has a refined mind and rarely externalizes his true feelings. But, at that time, he spoke from the bottom of his heart.

I have the impression that you natural voice and Kurama’s voice are very different.

Really? I don’t need to create a voice for him. The voice simply comes out of my mouth when I think about him. After finding out I had a high-pitched voice, I tried to make it sound deeper, my focus was solely on my voice. Then, I started to dedicate more to acting and trained a lot to increase my vigor. Paying more attention to intonation helped me to expand my vocal capacity.

Apart from Kurama, who’s your favorite character?

Sincerely, it’s Yusuke. He has a big heart and is able to accept people for who they are. No matter who, everyone ends up liking him. The guys gathered together thanks to Yusuke and, in the end, even Toguro and Sensui were attracted by his charisma.

What's your opinion about Yu Yu Hakusho?

It’s a story free from hypocrisies. It addresses several themes, but never pushes you to agree with any of them. That’s its attractiveness. When I play Kurama, I always try to convey this lack of pretense from the story itself! Please, keep on watching Yu Yu Hakusho!

[iwroteyoualoveletter]

Megumi Ogata Livedoor Interview (May 2018) [1/2]

I could make it this far because I overcame that adversity. Megumi Ogata on fighting to the end with Kurama during her newcomer period.

The Female Voice Actors We Fell in Love With

It’s been more than 10 years since I first heard their dreamy voices from anime men, charming my heart completely. In the blink of an eye I was dazed, to find out the possessors of those voices were female, so astonishing it was not to be forgotten. Completely different from the “sweet girl” voice actresses, it became natural to chase after them. Despite their dignified femininity, they could still voice powerful men, sway my heart with mysterious sex appeal, and manage to sound more boyish than a real boy in vocal purity and forwardness… at that time, I fell in love with their colorful voices, the same ones that color the anime world today.

Here at Livedoors, we’re featuring the women behind those cool and charming voices who are continuing their fight on the frontline. There are 3 interviews in total. In this second feature, I listened to the story behind Megumi Ogata’s acting of the ever calm and composed Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho.

Photography: Tetsuya Arai

Reporter: Kaori Aoyama

Hair & Make-up: Naoko Sugiura

Pushing my senior voice actors out of the way and getting to the mic, that’s how the recording began.

In 1992, Yoshihiro Togashi’s popular boy’s comic Yu Yu Hakusho (Shuueisha) became a TV animation. Killed in a traffic accident, juvenile delinquent Yusuke Urameshi goes through a series of events that allow him to return to life, and the story follows his activities as a spirit detective. Ogata played the role of a former demon thief.  Appearing first as an enemy, he later becomes an ally to Yusuke in protecting the human world.

-- In December 2017 it was announced there would be brand new animation for Yu Yu Hakusho’s 25th anniversary Blu-Ray boxset. Please say how you felt when you heard the news.

First, “Will the cast be the same?” was something I wanted to know. I didn’t want to celebrate prematurely in case they changed the casting, so until I knew I kept a careful watch. (laughs)

-- When they pitched it to you, how did you feel?

I was happy. “I can act him again.” Now that the staff are earnestly working on production, I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

-- I believe the fans are waiting with heartfelt anticipation too! Next, I’d like to hear about the period of time around the anime’s original airing. Yu Yu Hakusho was your debut work, wasn’t it?

It was my first work, so it was a lot to absorb. Even the terminology in the script, things like, “OL(※1)” and “PUN UP(※2),”  were words I didn’t understand…

-- That terminology isn’t something a newcomer can go somewhere to learn, right?

That’s right. There were so many things I didn’t understand, and it was a really big role, so I felt like there was pressure building up on all sides. (laughs) At the same time, it was decided I would be in “Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinaisai” (in the role of Yamaguchi Shizuo). Both required all my strength, and I knew I’d have to give them my all or die trying.  

-- Did you receive advice from any of your seniors at the studio?

Yes. For example, in the beginning I couldn’t use the mic well, and I was told, “You don’t need to try so hard. It’s going to pick up your voice anyway.” (laughs) For Yu Yu Hakusho, we had 3 mics, and since the lead(s) spoke often, there was a dedicated “leading role mic.” The other 2 mics were used by supporting cast.

When Kurama first appeared in the “Three Bandits” scene, there were two others with me. Because we had to record the protagonist Yusuke’s voice too (voiced by Sasaki Nozomu), the 3 of us had to use the 2 remaining mics. I was new so I worried over, “Which mic should I be using…” until the scene finished.

-- You must have been nervous about the timing of when to start speaking alongside your seniors.

(In the role of Gouki) Norio Wakamoto was an actor who used to be part of the police riot squad. His way of speaking and moving was loud, because of the training he’d received as an officer, and he approach the mic with his whole body saying, “Uwooo! Haaaa!” while waving his arms about. Then, alongside him was Hiei’s voice actor Hiyama (Nobuyuki). At first, Hiei also required quite a bit of energy so he was shouting, “Haaaa!” waving his arms around too. I thought someone was going to get hit. (laughs)  

While I was debating where I should go, their scene finished. The voice actress for Kurama’s mother, Kumiko Takizawa, guided me by saying, “You can just push them out of way and take your place,” and Wakamoto also said, “Come over here.” I gave a timid, “O-okay then” and made my way over. (laughs) That was my first appearance, my first recording.

Editorial Annotation:

OL(※1)  - Overlap - While the first video is running, the scene gradually becomes the next scene’s video.

PUN UP(※2) - The camera angle pans from down to up.

“Don’t lie to the heart” The teachings of the audio director live on even now.

-- What was the atmosphere like at the studio?

In the animation business now, people tend to gather with others from the same generation, but back then everyone was on their own. I was the only real new one. Though Hiyama was also relatively new, he’d still started before me, and above me were other young people who’d already made a name for themselves like Nozomu and Megumi Hayashibara.

Above them were the backbone actors, like Mayumi Tanaka (Koenma) and Shigeru Chiba (Kazuma Kuwabara), and then above them even we had people like Tesshou Genda (Younger Toguro) and Hisako Kyouda (Genkai). Because there were so many people of that generation, it really encouraged me to learn a lot.

-- So many prominent people!

Among my superiors was the audio director Kan Mizumoto, who had a large presence. When overlaying the audio, he’d say things like,”It’s ok if it doesn’t match to the second (while pointing at his chest) as long as it doesn’t lie here.” Cute or cool voices aside, more than clearly pronouncing the sounds like “ga” or “wa,” he said it was important to be honest, because real stories came from the heart. Keeping the meaning of those words in mind, I continued on with the story more at ease with my acting.

-- What a lovely piece of advice!

Isn’t it? But there were times my superiors were against me too. Scolding me like, “Just now, you sounded too much like you’re acting in a romance and it wasn’t good. Can you stop that?” I���d listen to them shaking but only be thinking, “In any case, I didn’t lie” or “My heart is one with the role.”

-- Those words have stayed with you even now, haven’t they?

Yes. Because of that, if I thought I’d done a really good take, even if it was slightly off I’d negotiate with the director about altering the art to match. It wasn’t digital like now, it was film and not an easy thing to fix, but the director (Noriyuki) Abe really did his best to accommodate me. I felt nothing but gratitude towards him.

Masafumi Mima, the audio director in my other debut work “Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinaisai,” was of a similar mindset, insisting it was critical for one to be “born into the work.” Those two had a huge influence on me in my first 2 years. Really, I owe a lot to them, that I came to embody those words in my heart and turn them into habit. The director of “Haameru no Biolin Biki” Junji Nishimura who I’ve worked with once told me, “You’re the least suited voice actress in Japan for lip syncing.” [T/N: Lip syncing as in pacing her words to the already animated mouth.]

-- What!

While laughing the director continued, “But, when I’m listening to your acting, I want to change the work to match you, so it’s fine.” I believe that having those supportive directors and audio directors allowed an unskilled actor like myself to get by. Of course, it wasn’t that I didn’t see the arrogance in asking them to change the animation to suit me, but in my heart I always felt that I wanted the work a certain way, for the work to resonate with people. Of course, the effort it takes to be in sync [with the animation] is a major premise too! (laughs)

Pressure from all sides! … Troubles with no one to listen.

-- When we interviewed Hongo Kanata, who you worked with on “Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School,” he said, “When I nervously entered my first recording session, I was really happy when Ogata took the time to introduce herself to all of the cast.” Would you say you’ve always been that mindful of and considerate towards others [when working]?

During my newcomer days I didn’t have that kind of time at all! I didn’t know anything about the business, and suddenly I was a regular on a major production. There was so, so much going on. Like I said earlier, “there was pressure from all sides.” At that time, the production company president said to me, “If you keep putting in your best effort, your relationship with this company might improve,” and I was shaking like, “But it’s only my first time doing this…!” (laughs) There was a lot other than that, but it felt like fighting for my life every day, thinking, “If I mess up this role, there’s nothing after!”

-- By “all sides,” do you mean there was pressure other than that from the production company?

Yes. One was, not counting child roles, but roles from high school and older, I was the first voice actress to attempt voicing a young man.

--  You have an amazing story for how you were chosen at the audition. The first thing you did was give your name, “Megumi Ogata” and they immediately reacted, “This is the exact Kurama voice we’ve been searching for!”

(Link to Tweet story.)

Yes. When I went to the recording studio, the staff said things like, “If we compare you to [someone else] your balance is a little… well, we picked you, your voice suits the role. But, it needs a bit more something?” I worried, “A bit more ‘something’? What should I do?”

-- That’s when you received those words about “a story that doesn’t lie” from the voice director Mizumoto…

He was the person to say, “You’re forcing your voice lower, but you don’t need to.”

-- How were you able to overcome that obstacle?

I’ve casually spoken about it before, but I was aware my vocal cords were on the rare side and long for a female. Japanese people often have short vocal cords, but mine are more like a black person’s… That’s to say, they’re vocal cords with the possibility to expand. You can think of vocal cords the same way you think of a violin or double bass. The violin’s strings are short and produce a high sound, the double bass has long strings that produce a low sound.

You can train to a high pitch (singing range) and extend [your ability], but the length of your vocal cords is something you are born with, so people with short vocal cords cannot produce a low sound. But, for me to deliver my voice, teachers in my major said if I trained the muscles throughout my body that I needed like any average man, it seemed possible my singing range would naturally expand. I believed their words and started frantically working out at the gym.

-- You had multiple things within the company coming at you, pressure from the production management, pressure performing as a young male character, in addition to all the pressure you were feeling during actual recordings. Even though it was your first work, it was a difficult situation to be in. Did you have anyone you could talk to?

No, there was a lot more official stuff going on too, so there was little time for personal matters. I got the job and many other problems popped up around the same time… My family and friends were worried for me, as well as the classmates I’d had with me up till then, who as you’d expect talked with me.

I didn’t have any accomplishments to speak of, and there was a period I was regarded as the lucky newcomer. Outside the top tier, many staff and senior actors would say things like, “Your role should’ve been my role.” One senior actor actually said that to my face. Of course, not all the senior actors were like that! In any case, there wasn’t someone to talk to [about my troubles]. I had no choice but to make my own resolutions and overcome.

-- It was the first case of a woman acting a young male’s role, so I imagine not all fan reactions were genial.

In truth, though people said things, I did not get any complaint letters (about how I acted Kurama). At the beginning it was more that people thought things like, this popular character should be played by a normal male voice actor, or where did they get this nobody from to play this role.  But, in playing the role, it’s true I didn’t feel I had [the fans’] consent. Putting that thought out of mind also took personal effort.

-- While you were fighting with yourself you were still able to overcome so many challenges. I think that’s really incredible.

It’s only that I had to! (laughs) Conversely, you could say my first year and how I spent its beginnings sticking out Kurama’s role might be how I was able to do everything that followed to now.

-- Didn’t you ever think, “I don’t want to go to work anymore!”

At that time I never thought, “I don’t want to go.” Just, after the show had been airing for about half a year, suddenly my voice refused to come out. The doctor said to me, “It’s due to stress so if you rest about 2 weeks it’ll be fine.” That’s when a lot of stuff happened that I can’t say in interviews.

-- I see… well, how about when you heard people’s opinions that “Kurama’s voice is really lovely!” Did you feel something like relief?

Before the first event, one of my seniors who’d been a big anime’s lead teased me by saying, “I got hit with an egg.” (laughs) Other levels included things like, there might be razors in fan letters so be careful, and “what would you do if someone threw something,” all of which had me nervous.

The event began with the anime opening playing, with me on stage in the wings (where I couldn’t be seen from the audience). At the lyric Kurama is shown, I heard loud cheering. “Huh, maybe it’ll be ok…” I thought with surprise, and made my way on stage to meet the loud cheering. I was so relieved! For the record, I don’t think I ever received razors in a letter.

→ Part 2

Translator’s Note: Do not take everything written in this interview word-for-word. There were many places I struggled to find the appropriate English for and I might have misunderstood the original Japanese. If you noticed mistakes, please tell me so I can fix them and learn.

Part Two of this interview strays away from YYH and Kurama into what happened next in Ogata-san’s career as a voice actress and musician. As a huge Ogata fan, I’ll keep on plodding through for myself, but give a comment if you’d like me to post that too when finished.