#azusa sensei speaks

[bluekino]

Uhh I'm going to ramble a bit about BA yuriship, so here we go.

Despite being very much a hetshipper (just look at my reblogs lol), Blue Archive is arguably the first media (idrk the correct term) where I also take a liking to yuriships as well. Probably because (a) for some reason no one talks about yuri ships in English-speaking side of the fandom, and (b) I can be rest assured that no BA yurishippers will try to suicide-bait me over shipping preferences, unlike in fandom of other medias (looking at you, western animations).

About the ships themselves, turns out there's a lot of them — from the super popular to the ship that the number of its shippers can literally be counted with one hand. If you want to check out the more popular ones, you can look it here (note: it's in Japanese). Personally speaking, I've seen fanarts of ships from both end of the spectrum, both the popular one (like Hifumi/Azusa or Mika/Koharu) and the super rarepairs (like Suzumi/Serina or Natsu/Mari) wait why the examples are all Trinity girls lmao. If you want to search the fanarts, your best chance is through Twitter and Pixiv. And if you want the fanfics, Pixiv is also your best chance, though it's all in Japanese. There's some fanfics too on AO3, but it's far and few in-between.

To close the rambling, I agree with the original picture and there should be more discussion of BA yuriships (and hetships too — I want essays and headcanons of Sensei x Their Studentwife too goddammit).

[azusa-mefu]

Liar Satsuki Can See Death

binAn interesting horror manga that I ran across while trying to find Mieruko! I ended up giving it a read and it’s actually kind of interesting, so let’s get into it!

TW: death, discussions of blood, gore, corpses

General: Main character Satsuki sees bodies 24 hours before they actually die, and she does her best to prevent these deaths. Unfortunately, she can’t lie for shit, so when she warns someone they don’t believe her, and she’s got a reputation for lying to people that they’ll die, because they never end up dying thanks to the work she puts in to prevent it. The first person we see her save is Komachi, and she gets a bunch of other friends this way too.

Story: I think the story is alright, there are some interesting bits and occasionally they’ll pull off some Detective Conan stuff with corpse analysis and stuff like that. It does show a little in the early chapters that the author wasn’t 100% sure where to go with the story and some details feel a little weird(I think Satsuki would be the type of person to know Not to throw water on an oil fire), but it’s still a nice read!

Visuals: The art style is rather nice to look at, I like how the author does the eyes and hair. Actually, I went and read their previous work, Shi Ni Aruki, because I heard that it was also horror related, and it was actually quite an improvement! Overall pretty nice, and the corpses and environments are also drawn with a lot of detail.

(Romantic) Relationships: Liar Satsuki isn’t explicitly a yuri manga, but there’s quite a bit of teasing(Edit: actually I went back and checked, it Is tagged as shoujo ai). Komachi is the first one saved and while she doesn’t really get what Satsuki’s doing, she’ll support her anyways(even though the way she supports may not always be what Satsuki actually wants...). Yeah, Komachi has hints of being a little weird, to say the least. Akira is a brasher partner in crime, who actually befriends her after Satsuki discovers her plan to kill her dad, and they don’t see eye to eye on whether or not Satsuki has to save every corpse, but they care about each other and work together in the end. Those are the main two relationships, although as of recent chapters we also have Sae and Miho, class rep and gossip girl respectively. Those two aren’t really pushed in the same way, but I do like the overall dynamic of the cast. they play off each other well and it’s nice to see different moralities being brought together.

Overall: I don’t have much to say since the manga itself doesn’t have a ton of material, but it’s nice to read and come back to every once in a while! I personally read it when I’m waiting outside class. I also just personally enjoy a little murder mystery now and then, and it’s fun to try and guess at how the death will actually happen, as well as how they’ll stop it. For this one, you can binge/speedread this, but I recommend trying to pick up details to figure out the puzzle, since it’s a little more fun that way.

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS DARK FATE Gentei Tokuten Drama CD ”Satanic ★ Super Sadistic Teachers ~Dream or Reality?~

Original title: 悪魔的★ドSティーチャーズ～夢か現か～

Source: Diabolik Lovers Dark Fate Gentie Drama CD 

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toriumi Kousuke, Hirakawa Daisuke, Takashi Kondou, Kimura Ryohei, Kishio Daisuke, Morikawa Toshiyuki

Translator’s note: This has to be one of the most fun DL drama CDs I have listened to in a long time. Perhaps it is because I recently started working as a high school teacher myself, but I really enjoyed the portraying of (some of the) DL characters as sadistic teachers. xD I definitely wouldn’t mind having these guys as my colleagues though~ If you had not listened to this CD yet, you’re missing out! uwu

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

*Ding dong ding dongー Ding dong ding dongー*

*Knock knock*

Carla: ...Come in.

You enter the classroom.

Carla: Good to see you, rotten apple. Take a seat over there. Hurry up.

You walk over towards the desk.

Carla: I assume you know why you have been summoned here?

You frown.

Carla: ...Hooh? You do not? Well, well...That is quite the answer.

Carla steps closer.

Carla: According to what I heard, you have been shamelessly seducing the men on this campus, corrupting them.

You look at him in sheer surprise

Carla: Do not play dumb.

Laito: There, there, Carla-sensei. If you approach a student - no, Bitch-chan, with such a scary look on your face, they won’t be able to speak up even if they do have something to confess, don’t you think?

Azusa: Eve...Tell me the truth...Please? I won’t get mad, okay?

Kou: No, no, M-neko-chan, if you want to admit to your crimes, you should do it to Kou-kun-sensei! I’ll treat you well, promised!

Shuu: Haah...What a drag...Considering we all had to gather for this, we’re not gonna let her excuse her actions whether she confesses or not, right?

Subaru: Yeah...Geez...This sucks. Anyway, let’s just hurry up and get started.

Carla: ...What is starting, you ask? Hmph. You do not even know that much? Supplementary classes, obviously.

Kou: Exactly, supplementary classes! As part of the student guidelines, students who commit a crime against the public morals shall be subjected to a punishment - or rather, supplementary classes! This is written under rule nr. 666 of this Diabolik Academy’s school regulations! 

Shuu: In short, even though you may have been unaware of it yourself, as a punishment for toying with the hearts of those guys, you’ll be receiving all sorts of trainings from us teachers right now. Pwaah...

You shake your head, stepping back.

Azusa: Eve...Are you scared? You’re backing away...Don’t worry. I’m here for you...

Subaru: That’s the part that makes is scary!

Kou: Subaru-sensei’s so kiiiind~ 

Subaru: I-I’m not kind or anythin’...Azusa-sensei just seemed kinda creepy so I...

Carla: It does not matter. Let us start already. Who shall go first?

Shuu: If there no set order, I’ll go first. I want to get this troublesome task out of the way as quickly as possible.

Carla: Well then, let us get started.

Shuu: Haah...Getting ordered around by you kind of pisses me off too though. Oh well, whatever. 

Shuu turns towards you.

Shuu: For one, the problem behind seducing these guys lies within you as a person. What’s with that look in your eyes? You want to claim I’m being oppressive? First there’s this scent of yours. That’s what luring them in. ...Can you not tell yourself? Take a wiff. There’s an indescribable smell, right? 

You frown.

Shuu: This smell is unconsciously tempting the men at this academy - the Vampires. You might think there is nothing you can do about that, but I know one way to control this scent. Want to know?

You nod.

Shuu: Heeh? You do? I totally thought you enjoyed being ganged up by and sought after by those guys though? This is unexpected.

You puff out your cheeks.

Shuu: Well, if you insist, I wouldn’t mind telling you. So, what do you say? Are you for real? 

You nod again.

Shuu: I see. Then show me just how serious you are.

You ask him what to do.

Shuu: You’re the one who should think of what to do, right? All you need to do is put me in the right mood, hahaha...

*Rustle*

Shuu: That expression...It’ll only tempt me to make you cry so cut it out. Trying to rely on others as soon as you’re in a pinch is a bad habit of yours. 

You tell him you have no clue. 

Shuu: Heeh...I’ve said this much and you still don’t know what to do? You really are a fool, aren’t you? Guess it can’t be helped. I don’t mind giving you some pointers. First you should take off your clothes and get on your knees (1) over there.

Kou: Woah, hold upー!! Shuu-san? What kind of ‘training’ is this exactly? 

Shuu: Can’t you tell? A training for health and physical education.

Kou: That’s an obvious no-go, don’t you think?

Shuu: What’s so wrong with it? Teaching her a specific way to suppress her pheromones to ensure she no longer disturbs the public morals should be the quickest and most efficient method. Well, if you have another good suggestion, I don’t mind passing you the baton...I was just starting to get sleepy anyway...Nn...Zzー...

Kou: He fell asleep way too fast...!?

Azusa: Kou...What will you do? At this point...Shuu-sensei...will no longer wake up...

Laito: Exactly! You should take responsibility and provide her with guidance next.

Kou: Tsk...I don’t really care though...Well then, to get back into it...This Kou-sensei over here will give you a lecture on how not to subconsciously seduce these random Vampires, okay...~ First, this is an important condition, but you need to become more aware that you are someone who lures in Vampires, understood? Understanding that and learning to control it is very important, you see. Like me, that is. While I am sure the method Shuu-san suggested would be effective as well, this gets the job done much swifter.

*Rustle rustle*

Kou: First, when an infatuated Vampire appears,, you should take the initiative and approach him, taking the lead. (2) Just like this...

Rustle rustle*

Kou: Say...You like me, don’t you? I can tell just by looking at you~ You’ve been oggling me this whoooole time after all. Besides, those eyes of yours...They’re watering, don’t you realize? What do you want me to do? Tell me. ...You want me to kiss you? Fufu~ Really? With pleasure~ Mmm...~ 

Kou leans in to kiss you, but he gets smacked on the head by Laito.

*Thud*

Azusa: ...Laito-san?

Laito: Whoops, my bad~! Somehow I got super duper pissed off, I punched you without thinking~ Nfu~ 

Kou: ...Laito...You...!!

Laito: ...Uwah! How scary...! Our so-called ‘idol teacher’ Mukami Kou-sensei is making such a devilish expression...~

*Clap clap*

Carla: That is enough. Mukami Kou. Explain your behavior just now.

Kou: Even if you ask me that...I was basically trying to teach her that if you reward them in moderation, keeping their desire in check, they won’t go completely crazy...!

Subaru: Haah...!? The fuck!?

Kou: It’s economics in a nutshell! ...Geez. I don’t want to hear that from a muscle brain like you, Subaru-kun.

Subaru: ...!? Muscle brain...? You up for a fight, huh?

Carla: Sakamaki Subaru. Rather than wasting unnecessary strength on taking on Kou, you should focus on guidance for now. You are up next.

Subaru: Che...Fine. I just gotta do it, right?

Subaru walks up to you.

Subaru: ...Anyway, things turned out this way ‘cause you keep on doin’ this fucked up shit.

You try and explain yourself.

Subaru: ...Ah? I’ll teach you thoroughly, to make sure this won’t ever happen again. Listen up. If you’re luring in Vampires without your knowing...You should seek them out first...and do this!!

He punches the wall.

*THUD*

Subaru: No matter how lovely your scent may be, if you show them you’re packin’ a nasty punch, I doubt they’ll dare come your way. As a test, try throwin’ your fist at Mr. Hat over there.

Laito: E-Eh...!? M-Me...!?

Subaru: I know. This guy has been makin’ moves on you every so often, hasn’t he? I’ll hold you...

*Rustle rustle*

Subaru: ...from behind like this...And teach you how to throw a real punch. Leave it to me. I won’t treat you badly. 

*Rustle*

Subaru: There’s no point in just randomly lungin’ your arm forward. You gotta put your whole body in it...Like this!!

*THUD*

Laito: Gwah!!

Subaru: Haah...One more time...More! Put your everythin’ into it! 

*THUD*

Laito: Guh..!!

Subaru: How’s that? You got the technique down, don’t you? Now if you put your whole weight behind it, you should be able to handle most opponents. Altho, when you’re seriously in trouble, I’m here for you. 

You thank him.

Subaru: ...!! I-I’m not doing it...for your sake or anythin’...You know...Right! I just don’t want the school to get any more disordered...Either way!! Do you get it? 

Azusa steps in and grabs your hand.

Azusa: You can’t...do that.

Carla: Azusa. If that is unacceptable, which method do you suggest? 

Subaru: Is there any other way to fix it than with brute strength? Aah?

Azusa: There is...Eve...I’ll teach you next...

Subaru: Che...

Laito: Or ratherーー!! How could you!? What if my nose ends up crooked!?

Subaru: Fuck off...Just shut up and watch that guy have his turn.

Azusa: Eve...You are a sinful...girl. You end up subconsciously...luring in Vampires...That’s right, isn’t it? However, according to my experience...Scaring the opponent is the...best way...Once you’ve installed said fear in them once...No matter how attractive you may be...That person will no longer...approach you. 

*Rustle*

Azusa: You creep up on them from behind like this...and whisper the scariest words you can imagine...right in their ear...Just like this...

*Rustle rustle*

Azusa: Say...Do you like...pain? You do, don’t you? I mean, you get to...experience directly...what it means to be alive...Pain teaches me...my place in this world...You feel the same way, don’t you? Right? After all...You are me...and I am...you. We are two peas in a pod. Aren’t we?

Kou: Azusa-kun actually realized just how scary he is himself, huh?

Subaru: My thoughts exactly...We actually agree on somethin’ for once.

Azusa: What do you think? I’m sure Vampires will stop approaching you carelessly now...?

Laito: Tsk tsk tsk. Gosh, you guys, you’re all so naive. (3)

Azusa: Laito-san...Then...What other methods can you...come up with?

Laito: Nfu...~ So it is finally my - Laito-kun’s - time to shine, huh? Guess you could say the main performer will take the stage. Fufufu~ Bitch-chan...~ To be blunt, all the other methods up till now were completely and utterly useless. Just think about it, the guys approaching you are no different from bloodthirsty beasts which have completely lost their reason. I doubt trying to deceive, punch or even scare them will have any effect...

Shuu: In other words, my method was the best, huh? 

Laito: Oh! Shuu...When did you wake up? 

Shuu: Pwaah...Just now.

Laito: Nfu~ Well, I will admit that Shuu’s method wasn’t all too shabby either but my way is the best one. Say...This may be a bit of a sudden question but...Bitch-chan, how do you feel about going against the natural flow of things?

You reply.

Laito: Exactly, it would be unnatural, right? Which means that things are best as they are. You need to let nature take its course. Haahn...

Laito bites her.

“Mmh...Nn...”

*Gulp gulp*

“Ahn...”

*Gulp*

Kou: H-Hey...!!

Subaru: ...!? Laito, you bastard...!

Shuu: Good grief...I figured this sorta thing would happen.

Azusa: To my Eve...No way...!

*Snap*

Kou: Did you guys hear that...sound of something snapping just now...? ーー Wait...Carla-sensei...!?

Laito: Nn...

Carla: Sakamaki Laito!!

Subaru: He lost it...!!

Carla: You bastard!!

*Rustle*

Laito: ...W-What...!? All of a suddeーー Eeeek...!? 

Carla: To think you would resort to such illicit sexual acts on the sacred grounds of this academy...EXPLAIN YOURSELF...!!

Carla flings Laito across the room.

Laito: Uryaaaaah...!!

*Thud*

Azusa: Ah...It’s no use...The power of his rage is too overwhelming...I can’t even get close...! Ugh...

Subaru: Tsk...Oi, you...Let go ofーー

*BOOM*

Subaru: Uwaah...!?

*CRASH*

Carla grabs hold of your shoulder.

Carla: Woman. Who gave you permission to have such a body!? Tell me!

You start to panic.

Carla: If you cannot tell me, I shall punish you instead. You belong to me, a proud Founder. 

Carla bites you.

*Sluuuuurp*

Carla: This isn’t enough...Mmh...

*Sluuuuurp*

Kou: A-A Founder’s sucking her blood...Ah, wait! This isn’t the time to be in awe! At this rate, all of us will die!

Shuu: Haah...What a drag...In this case, rather than making a run for iーー Huh? Wait...Azusa, you...What’s that!?

Azusa: A bomb I was...going to...use on myself at some point...I had it on me, so I pulled it out...

Shuu: Haah...!? Are you kidding me!?

Azusa: Now what to do?

Kou: W-What, you ask!? E-Either way, throw it towards Carla-sensei! Hurry!!

Azusa: Ugh...!!

*Swoosh*

Kou: It’s gonna explode...!!!

They all run away.

Carla: ...Hm?

*BOOM*

...

The voices of students talking can be heard in the background.

*Ding dong ding dongー Ding dong ding dongー*

*Rustle rustle*

Azusa: Eve...Have you awakened?

You ask him where you are.

Azusa: Eh? The library...at school. Eve...You were sleeping comfortably...

Laito: Oh dear~? What’s wrong, Bitch-chan? You’re covered in sweat! Could you have had some sort of...dirty dream perhaps~?

Subaru: Che...Don’t spout disgustin’ crap...

Kou: ー You say that, but you seem worried, Subaru-kun~ 

Subaru: Idio...! That’s not true...!

Shuu: ...Shut up...Don’t make a fuss...You’re ruining my Bach. 

You tell about your dream.

Azusa: Eh? A dream...? All of us were...teachers?

Kou: Eh? Supplementary classes? Pfftー! No way that’d kind of supplementary class would exist!

Laito: I figured it would have been a little more sexy of a dream...Somehow I’m a little disappointed.

Subaru: Geez...You made me worry for noー No, I wasn’t worried or anythin’...Anyway, no matter how bad of a masochist Azusa may be, a bomb is really pushin’ it, don’t you think? That’s too ridiculous even for a dream.

Carla walks up to them.

Carla: ...

Kou: Well, well, seems like Carla-sama has arrived to the scene. Do you need something?

Carla: Nothing in particular. However, this was laying around.

Azusa: Ah...That’s mine. ...Thank you.

Carla: ...

Kou: Eeeh...!? T-That’s...!? Waitー! A-Azusa-kun...!?

Azusa: The bomb I was...going to use on myself...Should I not?

Laito: No, no, no, no...!! That’s obviously a no-go! Hold up! Don’t bring it any closer...Uwah!

He pulls out the pin by accident.

*Cling*

Azusa: Ah...

Carla: Oi...What are you doing?

Azusa: Whoopsie...I accidentally...removed the pin...

Laito, Subaru, Kou: Uwaaaah...!???

*BOOM*

*Ding dong ding dongー Ding dong ding dongー*

...

ーー THE END ーー

Translation notes

(1) 正座 or ‘seiza’ is a traditional Japanese way to sit with your legs folded underneath you. While it is standard at many ceremonies, it is a very uncomfortable way to sit as well and many people suffer from numb legs/feet when sitting in ‘seiza’ for a long time.

(2) Literally he says ‘drag them into your own pace’, implying that you need to ensure that the other person gets absorbed by whatever you do/say and follows your lead.

(3) 甘い or ‘amai’ usually refers to a sweet (taste) of something, but it can also be used to mock someone for being ‘weak’ or ‘naive’. 

[ayuuria]

Yashahime Translation: Da Vinci Magazine December 2020 Edition

Please do not repost this translation without my consent! This includes screenshots. If you wish to share this translation, simply link to this post.

“Hanyou No Yashahime” Tripartite Cast Talk

Matsumoto Sara X Komatsu Mikako X Tadokoro Azusa

Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter and Sesshomaru’s two daughters play an active role in “Hanyou No Yashahime”. As an original anime with no original work (translator’s note: As in not an adaptation of something like a manga or light novel), the subject is the next generation of “Inuyasha” done in the same style. Being “Inuyasha” fans themselves, we had the three lead voice actresses talk about the charm of the series.

The main character design was done by Takahashi Rumiko!

Towa

A 14-year-old middle school girl. 10 years ago, she time traveled from the Feudal Era to the Modern Era and became the adopted daughter of Kagome’s little brother, Souta. Upon reuniting with her younger twin sister, Setsuna, after she time travels to the Modern Era with Moroha, Towa decides to return to the Feudal Era. She is Sesshomaru’s daughter.

Setsuna

14 years old. Towa’s younger twin sister. A member of the demon slayers led by Kohaku. She has lost her memories of her childhood and is unable to fall asleep. She has the gold rainbow pearl in her left eye. While she does not believe Towa is her older twin sister, she travels with her as she tries to take back Setsuna’s memories and sleep.

The 3 of you reacted shocked with “What you mean daughters?!”

Moroha

Commonly known as “Monster Killer Moroha”. A 14-year-old bounty hunter. When she puts on rouge stored in a shell with the red rainbow pearl on it, she becomes “The Country Destroying Beniyasha” and goes on a rampage. While she is Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, she does not know her parents and has lived mostly on her own apparently.

Komatsu: When the work was announced, the world was shocked like “Sesshomaru has a daughter?!” and we were the same. When I opened the audition documents, it was written that the setting takes place over 10 years after the conclusion of the original work and that Setsuna, who I was auditioning for, is Sesshomaru’s daughter. I thought “What does this mean?” and reflexively grabbed the last volume of the manga.

Matsumoto: I was handed Takahashi Rumiko-sensei’s character design and a simple correlation diagram. In regards to Towa, who I auditioned for, it was also written that all that was known was that she is Sesshomaru’s daughter. I was given lines without knowing the context or anything so I wondered what to do. However, at the same time, I was so happy to the point that I was like “The “Inuyasha” world is coming back!”

Tadokoro: I completely freaked out (laughs). Also, my manager knew I was big fan of “Inuyasha” and calmly told me before I looked at the audition documents “Azusa, you absolutely can’t miss out on this. This a huge opportunity.”

Komatsu: A lot of pressure!

Tadokoro: Then when I looked at the documents, I saw that Moroha, who I was auditioning for, was the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome. After getting excited like “They had a child~!”, I saw Towa and Setsuna and screamed “I will be upset if they’re not XX’s children!” (translator’s note: they’re referring to the mother)

Komatsu and Matsumoto: I know!

Tadokoro: As a fan, I worried endlessly but as a voice actress, I thought I couldn’t miss out on this. However, when I went to the studio audition, I was told “Keep the base but try to say these lines a little more like a middle-aged man”. I became flustered like “Even though she’s a 14-year-old girl?” … I felt like I didn’t respond properly and was really down going home.

Komatsu: Me too. Maybe it was because I was pulling too strongly from Sesshomaru’s image but I was told “Not only coolness but we would also like for you to show the cuteness of a 14-year-old” and I couldn’t make the switch the very well. I didn’t get the reaction that I got the part at all.

Matsumoto: I over considered the setting of (Towa) wearing a boy’s uniform and I was told “Don’t make her a boy”. After that no matter how many retries I did, the direction I took didn’t match up… I cried a lot when I got home like “I totally bombed it”. That moment, I realized that I had really wanted the part and was surprised. “Inuyasha” was a work that was more special to me than I thought.

Overcoming different boundaries, their feelings melt together

Komatsu: For me, “Inuyasha” was also a textbook on love. Especially the relationship between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyou. It’s a little hard for kids to understand and I thought, “Why does Kikyou always get in the way?” and “Inuyasha too, make up your mind” but in a certain scene, Kagome asks Inuyasha “I… What exactly am I to you?”. In between the feelings of it can’t be helped that he overlaps her face with Kikyou’s and this has nothing to do with her, she properly checked what her existence meant to him. Seeing that, I realized. Not only in love but that’s important in life in general as well.

Tadokoro: It’s so cool isn’t it? She acknowledged all her feelings of jealousy and hate towards Kikyou and still saved her on top of that. She showed us her resolve to properly face her heart and Kikyou and accept them. It was so cool that I cried. Then when I became an adult, I came to understand Kikyou’s feelings and it hurt.

Matsumoto: Well she was also a victim… I think when you read “Inuyasha”, you become emotionally attached to each individual character because depictions that give you a sense that they’re “alive” are inlaid in all sorts of places. For example, the scene in volume 1 where Kagome offers food to Inuyasha whom she had just met. While Inuyasha makes his wariness known, he takes a bite of the radish in the next frame. I always laugh like “Even though you say it’s annoying, you’re still eating it!” but at the same time I feel that it’s really “like” him. From those ordinary depictions, over time we accept “something” without realizing it. That accumulation turns into a big emotion that overflows when you get to the important scenes.

Komatsu: At times when those complexly wrapped emotions sublimate, even sad endings become beautiful. For example, Kagura. Even though she was born from Naraku, she was guided to good through Inuyasha and the others who were supposed to be her enemy. Kagome and Kikyou’s relationship too but ally or enemy, good or evil, all sorts of borders are crossed and seeing drawings of humans and demons coming together I think is the charm of “Inuyasha”.

We haven’t been told the answers to the mysteries

Matsumoto: Continuing onward to “Hanyou no Yashahime”, the character I play, Towa, passed through space-time and got sent to the Modern Era at age 4. However, possibly because she was raised by Kagome’s little brother, Souta, even though she is Sesshomaru’s daughter, I feel like she’s also similar to Kagome.

Komatsu: While blood inheritance is important, the person who raised you has a big influence as well. Also, what environment you were raised in. Setsuna lost her childhood memories due to certain circumstances. So of course, she doesn’t remember her older twin sister, Towa, whom she got separated from at 4 years old. Due to that hole and being raised in an environment where you could be killed by anyone at any time, she gives off an air of not allowing others to get close to her. But just when you think that, there are times where you can feel that she’s actually kind and that makes it heartrending.

Matsumoto: Feeling she (Towa) needs to fill in the 10-year void with Setsuna who became like that, the highlight is seeing their relationship change as Towa closes the gap between them. Add Moroha in and there’s a lot of chattering.

Tadokoro: Moroha speaks in a vulgar manner (translator’s note: it actually translates to abusive language but abusive didn’t sound right to me) but in reality, I have a feeling that she truly enjoys traveling with the two of them. To her, those two are probably the first friends she has ever had. That form is so precious and I feel lonely when I wonder what sort of environment she grew up in. I wonder why she’s desperately earning money by slaying demons. We were only told who she was raised by but at this time, we have not been told things like happened to Inuyasha and Kagome.

Matsumoto: This includes who Towa and Setsuna’s mother is. This is something fans have been wondering the most but the answers will be revealed eventually and I have faith that this work will properly continue on what was drawn in “Inuyasha”.

Tadokoro: That’s why we would like everyone to watch over them until the very end and love the 3 Yashahimes as they survive with each of their individual strengths.

Komatsu: While there are a lot of cheerful episodes, there will be times when the inlaid depictions within those episodes will be collected in an instant which I think people will enjoy. For that, we will give it our all!

We Asked Takahashi-sensei!

Q: What did you especially focus on when doing the character design?

A: Series composition writer Sumisawa (Katsuyuki) requested me to draw the image of Towa as a white Sesshomaru and Setsuna as a black Sesshomaru. Upon reading the scenario, I designed them incorporating their father’s facial look. Moroha was the same, being Inuyasha and Kagome’s child. As such, I made it so that Inuyasha’s mischievousness came through.

[thecircusfreaks]

“I don’t like being told what to do ... unless I’m naked.” Azusa speaking to someone else with Kenshin overhearing.

“I’m sorry ... did I interupt anything?” Kenshin could have acted as if he was never there and just return another time but he decided to be open about it. His eyes would first lock onto Azusa who he knew, he then would look over at the unfamiliar face. Was it one of his students, another teacher or someone random? He couldn’t imagine a random person being in here, maybe a parent? That aside, he wasn’t here for them. “Sensei, I got your text about my headphones still being here, I came to pick them up. I will be out of here right after whatever is going on here.” 

[scrollsofeternity]

the ones who bloom in the bitter snow | Ami | Finale | The Choice

It’s not a pleasant sight, seeing Hisato Kaneshiro die, and Ami makes sure she stays holding Kushiko close the whole time in case she needs to look away. Perhaps this is what Hisato wants, and in some way the apt punishment for what he’s done to others, but watching someone die is always terrible. Especially when it’s someone you once called a friend. All Ami can hope for, really, is that death by beheading really is instant, and that at least temporarily, Hisato will have some relief from his burdens before consequences catch him again. Does he actually deserve that? She doesn’t know, but she thinks at some point, he did.

And then, as Azusa speaks, hugs her and says she loves her, Ami breaks into a sob.

“L-love you too, Azusa...it’s all going to be better someday, I promise…”

Terror grips Ami’s chest for a moment, but she breathes a sobbing sigh of relief when Arisa hugs Azusa and the vial shatters on the ground, the fears of watching another best friend die dissipating into gratitude towards Arisa for managing to break through to her. 

“I’ll be out right behind you, Kamiya-san...I can’t stay here. The things it falls to me to do for everyone...I can only do them outside of this world. ”

At the beginning of this, she probably would have jumped at the chance to run away from her life--one she didn’t see a future for, so she simply kicked and screamed against it uselessly. She became a phantom thief in hopes it would give her some sort of excitement. She fought with her mother and defied the way she wanted her to present herself at every turn even if she was ultimately powerless against her. If someone told Ami a few months ago that she could stay here forever and not have to go home, she would have said yes and never looked back.

Now? Now things are different. She has so many promises to keep and things to do in the world outside that it’s impossible for her to stay here. Hearing Aina speak confirms as much to her.

“...thank you, Aina-sensei. I-I hope I can do right by what you say. I...I’ll tell your daughter that…you’ll be back.”

Ami is trying desperately to wipe away tears, the feelings coming from leaving people behind overwhelming her. Yes, she's telling herself it's not the end and she really does think they can do it, but she's still scared. She's still going to be sad while she waits.

But then Chiharu takes her hand… her friend, Chiharu, as they’ve both stubbornly been at each other’s sides through everything. And now they’re both going to stubbornly fight so the people they love can live happy lives. 

“Right. One moment, Chiharu-san.”

She smiles, and gives Kushiko, her personal Elysium, the biggest hug she can before stepping back to speak. Ami understands the fears her beloved has and why she needs to watch over those she cares about: it’s not in Kushiko’s nature to leave people to the unknown. That’s why Ami knows what they both need to do.

“...don’t stay too long, alright? When we know for absolute certain Yoshiko-san will be safe and when she’ll wake up...come home. We can go home together. Until then, I’m talking to you as much as I can through those servers—Yamaguchi and the others are going to be sick of me, just watch!”

They’re doing the same thing, just in what they believe is in their power right now. It’s going to be ok even if their duties take them to different places for a while—what’s a month or so compared to the lifetime they’ll have together?

“You’ll both be home in no time. Wait for me, Kushiko-chan...I love you so much! The future we’ll build is going to be great!”

[medea10]

My Review of Kiss x Sis

/headdesk

Okay, I guess 2019 was the year I catch up on incestish titles. After watching more recent animes involving the main boy-toy eye-banging their step-sisters like in Domestic Girlfriend and Eromanga Sensei, I thought I should go back a decade and check out a slightly-known anime known only as Kiss x Sis.

…Of course I didn’t go at this voluntarily! I have more sense than that! I just put it in the randomizer with a bunch of other animes that are unlicensed or in license limbo. Who the fuck knew this one pile of dirty underwear was going to be the one that I would watch after finishing a cute story like Fushigi Yugi?!

I hate my life sometimes!

Actually, I was semi-curious about this title back when the television anime series came out in 2010…if not horribly disgusted at the concept. But because I had other things to watch at the time like Hetalia, Durarara, and Kimi ni Todoke…you know I had better things to watch! So here we are!

Keita Suminoe is a third-year middle school student on the verge of entering high school. He has a life that the boys at his school envy.

He gets to go home to two horny step-sisters, Ako and Riko!

So basically, Keita lost his mother at a young age and his father remarries soon after. That mother has two daughters, Ako and Riko. Basically a non-fucking-a-teacher version of Domestic Girlfriend! And it is clear that these two sisters WANT THE D from their younger step-brother!!! Very clear when in the first episode alone, these two girls flashed him their boobies, stole his dirty underwear to sniff, and broke into his heavily locked-up bedroom to sleep with him and play grab-dick!

WHAT AM I WATCHING?! And this is clearly something made in the early 2010s with this shit! At least .feel productions went on to do better…God I hope so!

So we watch the weekly shenanigans of Keita trying to study in order to get into a high school, while his horny step sisters do every erotic thing you could possibly think of to get their brother’s attention. Just put the bullet in my head now, please!

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE NEVER TO BE DUB: So as of this date, no one has picked up this anime here in the states. Neither the television series nor the OVA! Which is shocking to me! You mean to tell me that Media Blasters wasn’t stupid enough to pick up this? That’s the same company that licensed a bunch of obscure yaoi and hentai titles and you’d think something like this would have gotten a full release (no pun intended). So in short, this series is unavailable on any streaming site, DVD release, or any of that shit! So yar-dee-har-har, pirate time!

The cast, I’m only familiar with one well-known name and the rest of the cast I’ve only heard in a few roles from animes I hardly remember watching. I can’t really claim that this is the anime that gave Ayana Taketatsu several incest-ish roles in the future, but you can’t argue with the results. Because Taketatsu ended up playing a girl interested in her sibling at least three other times after playing Ako. As you can tell, I am still clearly not over watching Oreimo. With that said, here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

*Keita is played by Ken Takeuchi (known for Lithuania on Hetalia and Yusuke on Green Green)

*Ako is played by Ayana Taketatsu (known for Sugu on SAO, Kirino on Oreimo, Azusa on K-ON!, Koneko on High School DxD, Hotaru on Dagashi Kashi, Yuzu on Citrus, and Erica on Berserk 2016)

*Riko is played by Yuiko Tatsumi (known for Mio/Midori on Little Busters)

I FEEL SORRY FOR…: Yeah, here’s a nice category where I feel sorry for a single character in this show that really shouldn’t have so many horrible things happen to her. Yeah, I said ‘her’. I feel sorry for Keita too (to an extent), but Miharu’s got it worse!

Miharu has just been in the wrong place at the wrong time whenever she’s around Keita. Oh sure, this anime gives us the usual schtik of her falling over and everyone sees her underwear or something else incredibly embarrassing where other classmates can see. But nothing could prepare me for episode 5 where we see this woman fondled, stuck in small spaces with that same fondler, and to cap this off, watch Miharu hold in her pee until she literally burst. Yeah, they animated this girl peeing on Keita. Add insult to injury, that wasn’t the last time we saw this girl pee on or in front of Keita. It happens again! And again!

And he even dreams about being pee’d on! In fact, every time Miharu hears Keita’s name and sees him, she wants to pee! God, this poor girl!

Amazingly, THIS still doesn’t trump Gakuto deficating during class in Prison School. But the pee-pee scenes were still pretty messed up.

SHIPPING: Oh God…where do I even begin with this tripe?! As it turns out, Keita actually had feelings for both of his older step-sisters when he was much younger. He even prayed for one day marrying both of them. But got slapped in the face by reality as Japan does not allow polygamy of that caliber!

You wouldn’t have thought that with the way he is now as he’s embarrassed and hates being fondled by his older step-sisters, but here we are. And as for Ako and Riko, they find every other boy gross, perverted, and disgusting. They like their pure little step-brother. And before you go off on the age-demographic, Ako and Riko are only one year older than Keita. So age shouldn’t really be an issue here. It’s everything else that’s hella illegal!

Oh and their parents just laugh it off and find it cute that the girls love their little brother this way. Some parents!

But it’s not just the two sisters after Keita! Keita has an underclassman named Yuuzuki who has a thing for him. Because this series isn’t complete without a Lolita flashing her panties! And then there’s Miharu…

Oh God, this poor girl. She ends up with the short end of the stick whenever Keita is around her (especially the pee scenes). I know because some of these interactions, both Keita and Miharu have felt some sort of uncomfortable yet sexual thrill with one another. I just have a feeling Keita’s going to end up with one or both of his sisters despite all this.

At least that’s all for Keita’s sordid affairs…

Episode 7 happens!

FUCK! WHY THE TEACHER?! WHY DID SHE “MAGIC-MIKE” HERSELF ON KEITA’S GYM CLOTHES!

I apologize for most of the things I ever said about Domestic Girlfriend. At least Natsuo was at legal age (in Japan). This kid is a middle schooler being pursued by two classmates, his two step-sisters, and a teacher from the high school. IT ISN’T EVEN HIS TEACHER (yet)! This lady is Ako and Riko’s teacher! I say NO to Keita getting with the teacher!

ENDING TO TV SERIES: So the main focus of the series (besides a middle school boy being lusted after by his two step-sisters, a loli, and a teacher) mostly has to do with Keita trying to study so he can enter the same high school as Ako and Riko. Yeah, Keita is usually studying whenever we get a break from loli-twincest-bait. I shouldn’t say that, because the girls still made study sessions extra sexual.

Yeah, if you have a sister writing words and phrases in provocative parts of her body, you’re gonna remember!

So Keita studied for the entrance exam and took the test. However the day of the results was anything but pleasant. Bad luck followed Keita everywhere he went. And when he went to the result board, his number wasn’t on there and so he will not attend the same high school as his sisters, his friends, and one horny teacher. And I gotta say, that’s a fucking blessing. Keita barely gets any peace at home with his sisters constantly trying to get in his undershorts. Add to that, their teacher now has pervy fantasies involving Keita along with her samurai fetish. Not going to that school is probably the best thing to happen to the boy. But that’s just my opinion. Of course he’s going to try for the school again next year.

But Keita finally got some good news! Miharu’s dog somehow got some mail from Keita and it was an acceptance package due to Keita being on the waiting list. So Keita gets to go to school with Ako and Riko. And Miharu didn’t pee on him when Keita hugged her…but the trail of pee she left as she ran off speaks otherwise. God, this fucking show!

Okay, time for graduation from middle school to high school. And as is tradition, girls ask for a button off a boy’s uniform as a memento. In Keita’s case, too many unnamed girls beat the main girls to it. So Ako and Riko decided to have a little fun by playing a different game to gain something from Keita. And then Yuuzuki and Miharu ended up in this game as well! Yuuzuki flashed her snatch to Keita and Miharu was alone in the shed with Keita for a few minutes. Surprisingly, Miharu didn’t pee all over Keita this time (although they slipped and they wound up in an awkward position).

So after that dirtiness, the family celebrated Keita’s graduation. And that night, Ako and Riko decided to give him a friendly visit while Keita slumbers. Now believe it or not, I was shocked that this scene didn’t end up with a premature ejaculation gone wrong, but we get a touching scene instead. Keita was speaking while sleeping where he’s fighting off a horde of crazy girls to save a button for his sisters. Aw, he loves his sisters. Aw, I’m fighting back my urge to puke!

The ending credits show us Keita entering high school and watch all the shenanigans of him with his harem of girls. One can only imagine what his high school years are going to be like. But since this series ended in 2010, that tale ends here. Now I haven’t picked up the manga publication and have no intention of doing that (this adaptation is enough for me). Seeing as the manga is still in serialization, maybe they’ll get into Keita’s high school life and quite possibly who he chooses to be with. Now does the OVA give us a glimpse of Keita in high school with Ako, Riko, Miharu, and the pervy teacher lady? Let’s take a look!

OVA: So the OVA series began in 2008, two years before the television series came to air. And it didn’t finish things until 2015. So basically, people waited a full year for each episode to come out. Normally I’d be pissed if I had to wait a full year for a continuation to a story. But for fuck’s sake, it’s Kiss x Sis, I want to fuck my little step-brother please! Nothing hard to remember there!

And because these are OVA’s, I expect this to be a lot more lewd compared to the television series. Meaning, expect to see nipples and ejaculation scenes! When viewing, yeah it’s a lot nastier than the television series, but no actual nipples. Every show is different with nipples showing, I guess! Also, they somehow toned down scenes where Keita is peed on. I didn’t think this was a sentence I ever needed to write, but here we are! One thing I noticed is that the first half of the OVA set mostly featured Keita and his sisters. All the other characters really didn’t show up until the 6th episode. What’s more, after episode 5, they show Keita in high school with his sisters. So I guess we do get to see Keita in high school here. But let’s not give this show the benefit of the doubt. It’s still full of panty shots, piss shots, kissing, heavy petting, erotic scenes, and 95% more boners from Keita. I will say that Keita seems more willing to go along with whatever sexual act his sisters put him through than in the television series.

The final episode wasn’t really a conclusion and we don’t really know who Keita’s going to end up with. So I guess it’s up to our imagination if he ends up with his step-sister, his other step-sister, the underaged Lolita, Boobs McGee, or a horny teacher with a samurai fetish. Instead, we get an episode of getting drunk off some tapioca wine, ball sucking that leads to tit and clit sucking, a very weird scene where Keita puts 10 bandaids on his sister’s box, and other disgusting acts of debachary.

Before you ask, no I disliked this anime. Just…no!

I do admire their creativity when the sisters are sexually curious. I mean we were all at that age where we get sexually curious. I’m not into the incest storylines. If that’s your thing, fine with me, I don’t and can’t judge anyone on that!

Thankfully, no one has licensed this anime. That should be a clear sign that you avoid Kiss x Sis like the plague!

Thank God that’s over! What’s my next anime that’s unlicensed/license limbo?

To Heart.

This shit wasn’t an incest show, was it? No?! Okay, I’ll take it!

[teatime-scans]

Zero’s Tea Time Ch. 17 Text Translations

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delays in uploading text translations for ZTT! We will be uploading text translations to this account, so make sure to follow us if you want to keep up-to-date with the manga! Translation: Kayumi and Fuji

Page 1 Top Text: Time 17. Big Brother!? Arai Takahiro | Helped With Draft: Aoyama Gosho

Side Text: The stage is Poirot! An unimaginable surprise...!?

Bottom Text: Single issue, volume 2   For sale from 10/18 on!! The official twitter is [@zerotea_file]

Page 2 Panel 1 SFX: rrriiing clack Rei: Hello, Café Poirot here!

Panel 2 Rei: I am terribly sorry... We have already closed for today...

Panel 3 Rei: Yes,

Panel 4 We are open for lunch as well! SFX: pant pant

Side Text: Café Poirot after closing--

Panel 5 SFX: picks up Rei: Tomorrow... Lower SFX: clack Rei: Certainly, we’ll be waiting!

Page 3 Side Text: This is the record of the days of a man who lives with three faces.

Panel 1 Azusa: Thank you, Amuro-san! Rei: No no...

Panel 3 Azusa: Oh, Amuro-san, could I ask you for advice about something? Rei: What would that be?

Panel 4 Azusa: Do you have any idea about how to make cats like you...? Rei: Cats? Has something happened with Taii?

Panel 5 Azusa: Well… It’s not about me... SFX: knock knock

Page 4 Side Text: [Character] Amuro Tooru: A man with three faces - Public Safety・Detective・Black Org. Member. His motorcycle riding technique is devilish as well.

Panel 1 Azusa: Big brother!? Sugihito: Azusa!! Text: Enomoto Sugihito, Broker-dealer employee

Panel 2 Sugihito: I thought you’d be finished with your work soon, and since I was in the vicinity anyway, I decided to come by!

Panel 3 Sugihito: Ah, by some chance! Sugihito: Are you possibly Amuro Tooru-san?

Panel 4 Sugihito: My only good point as a brother is that I’m not much of a bother… I’m Enomoto Sugihito!* Sugihito: Nice to meet you!

*TN:  For the pun, he explained his own name (Sugihito) by saying his personality is not too forward and kind-hearted (de"sugi"zu "hito" ga ii).

Page 5 Side Text: [Character] Enomoto Azusa: A waitress working at Café Poirot. She is the café’s poster girl and Amuro’s senior at work. Age: 23

Panel 1 Azusa: Stop with that, it’s embarrassing!

Panel 2 Sugihito: As opposed to my little sister… Sugihito: I’m a mister... Azusa: Eep, stop it!

Panel 3 Sugihito: Thanks for taking care of my little sister!! Rei: No, I’m the one who’s being taken care of!

Panel 4 Sugihito: I am told you're the apprentice of that great detective, Mouri Kogoro-sensei... Rei: Yes! Kogoro: Bwahahaha (heart)

Panel 5 Sugihito: Which means... Sugihito: That also includes that, right? 

Page 6 Panel 1 Sugihito: Could you please teach me! One of the bad puns passed on to you by Mouri-sensei!

Panel 2 Azusa: I’ll get angry at you! SFX: slap

Panel 3 Sugihito: ow ow ow

Panel 5 Sugihito: ...Handsome...a ham sandwich made by a handsome man... SFX: mumble mumble Sugihito: Ham...hamsome...

Page 7 Panel 1 Sugihito: Excuse me, I was talking to myself...

Panel 2 Sugihito: I’m sorry, Amuro-san...for taking up your time after work! Sugihito: Your ham sandwich is the best!

Panel 3 Sugihito: There’s nothing quite as reassuring as being able to ask for the opinion of a private detective!

Panel 4 Azusa: Sorry for the wait!

Panel 5 Sugihito: Here he comes-! Taii!

Page 8 Panel 1 SFX: jump

Panel 2 Sugihito: Taii! It’s big brother! Big brother Sugihito!

Panel 3 Sugihito: I’ve caught you--!

Panel 4 SFX: twitch

Panel 5 Taii: Meooow Sugihito: Whoa!

Page 9 Panel 1 Azusa: My brother said I should leave Taii with him whenever I won’t be home for a while... Azusa: But Taii isn’t taking a liking to him at all...

Panel 2 Azusa: He said he’s been trying some methods he researched on the internet, such as speaking with a high-pitched voice and lowering his gaze, but... Sugihito: C’mere～ Taii～

Panel 3 Rei: Well, it is said that cats generally don’t like the smell of men who are not their owner... Sugihito: Is that so!?

Panel 4 Sugihito: Ahh...

Panel 5 Rei: Smell, is it? Smell...

Panel 6 Azusa: Sugihito, thank you for offering... Azusa: But your tournament is close, right? Azusa: Go home quickly and rest! Taii: meow Rei: Tournament?

Page 10 Panel 1 Sugihito: I do clay pigeon shooting as a hobby, but… Sugihito: I’m not sure if I’ll be able to compete...

Panel 2 Sugihito: Since, unfortunately, I hurt my side recently... ow ow... Azusa: Are you alright?

Star: Reference to “Detective Conan” volume 82

Panel 6 Rei: Well, as a last resort, means such as cat powder*...also exist— Azusa: Ah, you're referring to that time when a bunch of people claiming to be Taii's owner turned up! *TN: Cat powder, also known as “silver vine”, is a stronger alternative to catnip.

Page 11 Panel 1 Rei: On the contrary, is there anything he hates? Especially concerning smell...

Panel 2 Azusa: Taii dislikes the refreshing smell of menthol, Azusa: like Azusa: toothpaste and chewing gum...

Panel 3 Sugihito: What about the smell of a poultice or things like that? Azusa: That’s right, he doesn’t like that too... SFX: swish swish

Panel 4 Sugihito: I have quite a few of them applied though...

Page 12 Panel 1 Rei: Like any animal, cats also don’t like irritating smells...

Panel 2 Rei: Apparently there are some cats who come close no matter what, as though a habit… Rei: But Taii must have been put off by the menthol-like smell…

Panel 3 Azusa: As expected of a detective! Rei: No,

Panel 4 Rei: I just happened to remember - what I learned when Mouri-sensei recalled what happened with Goro-chan...

Panel 5 Rei: But, I’m glad I could be of help! Kogoro: Atchoo!

Panel 6 I felt an acute need to hug this cute Taii～

Bottom Text: Next time is a daily life (tea time)...of going fishing by the sea!?

Side Text, right: Isn’t that great, big brother...!

Side Text, left: Continuing in issue 46

[rumasaca]

Question: Some headcanons on the difference in behavior from Amuro/Rei/Bourbon? Like, for example: Who is more Arrogant? Silly? Flirty? Loud? Sarcastic? Idk, what ever you can think off xD Because I have the feeling all his personas are so different from each other. And I love HC ❤ [I'm sorry, I will send this ask to 2 more people, I need more hc in my live and couldn't decide to who of you three I should send it too ;^; and I call him Amuro even when Rei is his true name, I'm so used to Amuro]

Ahahahaha awwww thank you for the ask anon

Also SORRY anon because I’m fairly certain you wanted headcanons of Rei in different specific situations that were probably meant to be mostly silly.  I am not terribly good at being silly sometimes so instead I wrote a 800 word summary of my disorganized thoughts on how I interpret Rei and his different personas.  I apologize for being a Mood Killer in this case and I hope you will accept this offering as an apology.

Hmmm… To be honest, I think Amuro and Rei as personas are fairly similar to one another in terms of their speech patterns and everyday demeanor; it’s really difficult to maintain a persona completely different than your normal demeanor for long periods of time.  With Amuro, he has to go to work most days with Azusa, and he’s keeping a constant eye on Conan and company, so he’d pick something that’s more on the affable side to seem less suspicious, but also something that’s difficult for him to slip up on.

Date calls him a gentleman, and I don’t think he’s acting in that case, so I’d probably conclude that Rei is like Amuro, but with a much harder slant to his character.  One of the ways you can catch when Rei is acting is when he does something more characteristic of his true self as Amuro before realizing it and pulling back.  The two examples I’m thinking of are his intro case and the rock star case: in the former, the part where he dodges the husband’s fist before stepping back and pretending he’s afraid of violence, and in the latter, the one part where he makes excellent deductions before just stepping back like “Well I’m still learning to be a detective!!”

Rei is determined, calculating, and probably fairly arrogant–I say “probably” because I peg the whole case with him and the FBI agents as exaggerated acting, not false in how he feels but definitely scaled up to prepare for Vermouth’s gig.  He’s definitely confident in himself and his own abilities, and he’s willing to take great risks based on them.  He does what he thinks is right, and sometimes that means taking judgments on whether the ends justify the means (see: again, the case right before he confronts Subaru).

Amuro, naturally then, is him more laidback and polite–he pretends to be opposed to violence, and he keeps his personality nontheatening and easy to overlook.  He defers a lot to his supposed superiors (like Kogoro), too, and he generally follows the path of least resistance.  I also doubt he’d ever talk badly about anyone who wasn’t Shuichi, haha.  So, if you ask me, he’s most likely to be intentionally silly as Amuro.  (See: calling Kogoro Mouri-sensei.  I’m pretty sure Rei likes messing with Kogoro a little bit.)

Bourbon strikes me as an aspect of Rei’s personality that’s been magnified and intensified–Rei acts a lot like Bourbon when he thinks he’s around Shuichi, like the rock star case, in which he has no incentive to be acting like Bourbon specifically.  Which leads me to think that the murderousness at Shuichi there is all Rei.

In general, Bourbon’s speech patterns also match Rei’s in my mind, but he adds in a lot of venom behind his delivery (affably evil, if you would).  He’s trying to embody a manipulative, cunning villain who just happens to talk politely–and his personality as Rei is far from that, but not too far.  Generally speaking, undercover agents need to understand the people they’re pretending to be, and Rei has to be the same way–so rather than shying away from Bad People And Things, I see him as more of a person who understands them and how they work, and Bourbon is mostly pretending to embrace that understanding.  (Possibly because he’s had a past with them?  Who knows what his relationship with Elena was all about?)  And actually embracing it, in many ways.  See: his original decision to hand Shuichi over to the BO to get into their inner circle.

That being said, most undercover agents also need something concrete to ground them, usually some sort of morality-related thing, and it’s usually religion, or their family, or something like that.  He’s got none of that in any persona, the closest thing being his own sense of justice and determination to see the BO obliterated off the face of Japan.  So perhaps that’s why he’s so prone to slippage and forgetting his real targets, as Shuichi puts it.

Honestly, I think Rei has a lot of honor too–he’s mad in movie 20 when Shuichi seems to be implying that he doesn’t trust Japan’s police, and he’s mad at the FBI for figuratively stepping on the PSB’s toes.  A lot of his strongest motivations are extremely personal in nature.  (Cough, cough, Akaaaaaaaaaaaai!!!)

ANYWAYS, I probably have more to say on this subject, but I can’t really think of anything right now, haha :’D  That’s most of my thoughts about Rei!  If we’re not talking about Gundam crossovers and parallels anyways because I could write entire essays on that.  But this is kind of way too long as is.  It’s basically my personal interpretation of Rei!

[retardsareadorable]

Catalpa

"My name is Azusa Uzumaki. I have many likes such as pudding, reading and my little brother. My dislikes include loud persons, natto and any type of bug in general. My dreams for the future... I do not know what I want exactly." It was the most the young girl had spoken ever since stepping into the training field. To Masaki, that's the most he has heard the red haired girl speak throughout the most of their time in the academy.

Upon hearing he would be on a team with 'loner Azu', the boy had been a little wary. As her nickname would have it, Azusa kept to herself and didn't speak unless spoken to. Not many of the students approached her because of the sharp look her blue eyes would have - it made her unapproachable, really - and the fact that she just seemed to not want anyone to do so.

"Alright," says the man that had introduced himself as Shu Hamasaki and their sensei. He didn't look like much - to Masaki, anyway - with wavy black hair and eyes and a tall yet thin frame. He gestures to the boy that sits besides Masaki with his hand. "Why don't you go next?"

"My name is Hotaka Adachi, nice to meet you all," He smiles, tilting his head to the side and Masaki wonders what color are his eyes seeing as the boy has never once opened his eyes before - how does he see anyway? - which the twelve year old had always found weird. "Let's see... my likes are learning new things, spending time with my family and lots more. I don't particularly like cold weather but I will risk the cold if need be um... there are a lot of stuff I don't like that I can't think of them at the moment, forgive me. My dream is to become a respectable leader for my clan."

Shu nods before looking to Masaki and gesturing for him to go next.

"I'm Masaki," the boy introduces, frowning slightly. "I don't have a last name. My likes would be any sweet food, making traps and helping out at the library. I don't like spicy foods or the written tests that Haruka-sensei used to give every Friday. I don't know what I want for myself in the future."

"Okay," clapping his hands together once, Shu gives the three a slight smile. "Now that we know each other's names and so on, I think we should focus on trying to become a better team. With that said, tomorrow we will be taking a mission so as to feel each other out. Congratulations on passing the Genin Exam once again and you're dismissed for the day. We will meet at the academy tomorrow for nine in the morning."

___________________________________________________________

*Hides behind Mulan story book* I don’t know where this came from, I swear! 

Here’s a draft I’ve been working on for awhile now though. I don’t know if I’ll even continue this because the Naruto verse has always been one scary place I am hesitant on writing about. 

Any who, enjoy?

[letsplaystarrysky]

Starry★Sky in Summer -Azusa- 7/14

We join the kyudou team today in the midst of practice.

I do appreciate this artist’s talent for artistic angles.

Eventually Kanakubo calls for them all to take a break, then heads for the door. Azusa asks where he’s going. He says he just has an errand to run and Tsukiko volunteers to go if he’s thinking of buying snacks. Azusa offers to help too but Kanakubo, while thanking them for the offer, says he just has to talk with Haruki-sensei about something.

After he leaves Tsukiko comments to Azusa about the heat and curiously doesn’t receive a response. She finds he’s wandered over to look at the school’s past awards hanging on the wall. What’s up?

He says he’s been curious about something for awhile now. The trophy…

Miyaji overhears this and awkwardly says that uh, he won that… with Tsukiko helpfully adding that he won it last year.

Miyaji winning an award doesn’t surprise Azusa though. What he’s curious about is the fact that Miyaji won an award, ergo, there was already an award winning archer on the team… so why don’t they also have a trophy for the group competition?

Miyaji: ...um…

Tsukiko: ...well…

Unfortunately, the 3bakas can smell an awkward conversation at 100 paces. They come over to ask what’s up. Azusa ignores them and straight up asks Miyaji and Tsukiko why. He knows that Miyaji and Kanakubo-buchou are good archers. It doesn’t make sense to him.

Oh wait.

The baka trio quickly realize this isn’t the fun kind of awkward conversation and join Miyaji and Tsukiko’s game of hedging around the answer. That’s uh, well, you know, Buchou… uh…

Azusa: What? Did he forget his bow?

No, that’s silly.

Azusa: Okay, then, was he sick or something?

Well, uh, how can they put it?

Shiratori is the first to try and tactfully put it to words: Buchou doesn’t really do...very well...under pressure...you see…

As it turns out, at the previous year’s tournament, once they got there and changed...the pressure proved too much and Kanakubo fell apart. Put simply…

Miyaji: Like you just said, Buchou has good skills in practice.

Azusa: Well yeah, that’s why...oh, I get it. “In practice” is the key…

It’s true. If I recall correctly there’s official artwork of him carrying medicine for an upset stomach. But yeah, the previous year, Kanakubo fell apart in the competition and cost them the win in the group competition. Not only that but the third years last year weren’t all that great either so the entire team was basically riding on Miyaji’s still-a-beginner skills. But this year they’ve improved and also they have Azusa, right?

Still, they all hope they can win. It’s thanks to Kanakubo that they’ve come to like kyudou and it pains the team veterans who were around the previous year to think that the same thing could conceivably happen this year. They want Kanakubo to do well.

Azusa listens to all this in mild surprise.

Which for him is kind of a big reaction, all things considered.

Tsukiko and Miyaji quickly try to put an end to the conversation but it’s too late; Kanakubo has already come back and overheard the end of it. He apologizes for making them all worry.

Azusa asks Kanakubo directly if he really is that weak under pressure. Kanakubo admits that yeah, he always has been, though he wishes he could get over it. For himself and also for the team.

Azusa looks surprised again, and it just occurs to me how important this is for his character development. One of the other side effects of everything coming so easily to him is he’s never had to deal with a gap in skill and confidence, and it’s probably something that never really occurred to him. Tsukiko and Miyaji have talent and work hard, so naturally they do well. But Kanakubo also has talent and works hard...but still can’t compete because of the pressure. Pressure that Azusa’s never even felt. I think it rattles his world view a little bit.

This really is the best written game out of these first four.

Just sayin’.

And I don’t even really like sports anime!

The team comes together to encourage Kanakubo. They think he’s a good archer and all that he does for them as a team leader is very important to them. Azusa chimes in that he respects Kanakubo and thinks his form has its own unique colour to it.

Tsukiko is so overcome with emotion at this display of afterschool special camaraderie that she has to say something too.

That something comes out as;

Tsukiko: Buchou...I also love you...

“Huh?”

Tsukiko you goof, are you in the wrong route?

Tsukiko’s brain still hasn’t quite caught up with her mouth and my heart goes out to Kanakubo when it’s not his route in this scene because it’s so unintentionally mean. Same goes for Miyaji. In any route Azusa just gleefully comments on how bold she is. He then happily points out that she never finished her sentence.

Tsukiko: Huh?

Azusa: You meant to say, “I also love your form” and respect him as an archer, right?

It slowly dawns on Tsukiko that oh crap, he’s right, she did stop speaking at the most awkward of times. She quickly tries to rectify the situation but there’s really no graceful way to go about it.

Tsukiko: That’s not what I meant!

Azusa: >:D Oh, so you don’t like him?

Shiratori: Wow, that’s harsh.

Tsukiko: No, I do, but I don’t mean like...

Kanakubo laughs and rescues her like the smooth not-getting-the-girl-this-time sempai he is and tells Tsukiko he understands what she means and is happy to hear it.

The guys all start teasing each other about their collective reactions to the misunderstanding, with the most mileage gotten out of teasing Miyaji because teasing Miyaji is always fun. Azusa also has lots of fun teasing Tsukiko, who is holding the shoujo protagonist ball and doesn’t clue in to any of the talk about how half the team has a crush on her. Seriously.

Okay enough teasing, and breaktime is over. Kanakubo says it’s time to get back to practice. Tsukiko hops eagerly to get ready for Interhigh. When Miyaji comments that she seems positive about it, her response is of course, because…

They have the strongest rookie on their side!

They have a reliable vice-captain on their side!

She believes in Buchou!

Not hard to know what to choose here.

“You mean me?”

Oh, my bad, 最強のルーキー actually translates to “the cheekiest of brats”, this is what I get for using Google Translate.

Inukai is impressed with Azusa’s cheeky confidence, and Azusa says of course he feels confident. He has to live up to Yahisa-sempai’s expectations, after all. He sidles up to Tsukiko and slyly accuses her of raising the bar for him, but that’s okay, because he likes a challenge. But if he wins Interhigh, she’ll give him a reward, right?

Huh? A reward?

The 3bakas accuse him of getting ahead of himself. Kanakubo good naturedly tries to get the whole practice part of “let’s get back to practice” back on track.

Azusa says okay fiiine, and goes to do just that, getting one last jab at his teammates: it sure was amusing watching them freeze like that when Tsukiko said her not!love confession to Kanakubo. Tsukiko doesn’t know how much they all love her. He gets it though, he confesses with a grin, he was kind of jealous for a moment there himself.

[azusa-mefu]

Mieruko-chan

I mentioned in my last post that I was looking for Mieruko-chan. I actually heard about it a while back, but I didn’t get around to checking it out until...maybe last summer? Anyways, I found it interesting, and now we’re doing a review!

TW: ghosts, death, demons

General: One day Miko wakes up and suddenly she can see supernatural creatures that the people around her can’t see! But instead of becoming a cool sorcerer or exorcist, she decides to pretend it’s fine and carry on as if she doesn’t see them, but this lead to some pretty wacky hijinks.

Story: A pretty interesting premise! I don’t actually think I’ve seen a supernatural manga protag just decides to...not. It’s made funnier when there are other people with spiritual capabilities(albeit they can’t see it as clearly as her in some cases) who actually try to deal with the ghosts, but then they see Miko just trying to be some dude. Instead of driving the story by seeking out ghosts, Miko is driving the story by trying to avoid/stop seeing them.

Visuals: Hm...I don’t know how to describe this, but the artstyle reminds me of older anime, with how the eyes and faces are drawn. It’s a very charming artstyle, which makes the contrast of how the ghosts are drawn that much more stark. Speaking of, the ghosts.  Image below. 

That’s just one of them. Boy, are they drawn in such a creepy but intriguing manner! You could probably show me a picture of them without context and tell me that it’s fanart of a Junji Ito monster, and I might even believe you. I don’t know what the mangaka is doing but holy heck are they good at freaking you out with designs. Some of the ghosts show how they died, which is also depicted horrifyingly. Overall very good in both cuteness and horror.

(Romantic) Relationships: I’m pretty sure this manga isn’t marked as shoujo ai or yuri, but Miko and her friend Hana have a fair bit of tease. They’re seen to be really close and care about each other, and a lot of the early chapters are them hanging out while Miko tries to ignore the ghosts. Later on, Miko also prays to get rid of a ghost following Hana(which ends up getting her into a contract with consequences) and even sacrifices a protection charm so that a ghost(pictured above) doesn’t drain Hana’s life force. In fact, there’s quite a few chapters where Miko puts herself in danger with the supernatural to protect Hana instead of continuing to ignore them. Later on, we also meet Michiru, who...I’m not sure she’s human, since she has some tentacle head thing going on when we see through Miko’s POV. But she takes quite an attachment to Miko and even enters her house at night to leave a pudding cup. Looks like it’s a yandere thing, but again, I’m not sure if she’s human, so we’ll see how it ends up panning out.

Overall: I like this manga a lot, and I actually recommend both the manga and anime, since the voice acting really adds another layer of “scared shitless”. It’s got cute, it’s got scary, and it has a few heartfelt moments that I don’t wanna spoil. All I will say is that it did make me a little misty eyed. If you’re easily scared, I wouldn’t read this at night. Otherwise, it’s worth checking out!

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers GRAND EDITION for Switch ;; More, Blood ー Azusa Maniac [04]

ー The scene starts in the infirmary

*Knock knock*

Yui: Excuse me.

Sensei...Huh? He’s not here?

Sensei, are you absent?

ー She walks around

Yui: He really isn’t around. Hmm...That’s a bit troubling.

Azusa: Yui-san...Is something wrong?

Yui: Ah, Azusa-kun...! You came looking for me here?

Azusa: Yeah...Because you were nowhere to be found.

Yui: Actually, my bandage has become loose, so I was hoping to get it fixed...

But it seems like the school doctor is absent right now...

Azusa: Aahーー The wound on your hand?

Yui: Yeah. Because of the location, I can’t wrap it around by myself very well...

Azusa: I’ll fix it for you.

Yui: Eh? You will?

Azusa: I’m...pretty skilled at applying bandages, you know? So let me handle it. Please? You don’t mind, do you?

Yui: ...Well, I’ll leave it up to you then.

Azusa: While we’re at it, let’s swap them for a new set of bandages.

*Thud*

Azusa: Show me...your hand.

Yui: Ah, yes.

*Rustle*

Azusa: Fufu...Seems like it’ll scar nicely.

Yui: Eh?

( Was that a slip of the tongue? Usually you’d say it’ll heal nicely, right...? )

Azusa: Does it still hurt?

Yui: Yeah...You’re always using your hands, so it takes a while to heal as well...

Azusa: I see...I’m glad. Aren’t you happy?

Yui: ( Azusa-kun really says the weirdest things... )

*Rustle*

Yui: ( However, he really is skilled at applying bandages. His movements are smooth. )

Azusa: There, all done.

Yui: Thanks!

Selection

→ You’re good at this (❁)

Yui: You’re very good at wrapping bandages, aren’t you?

Azusa: Fufu...Bandages are my friends after all...

Yui: ( Speaking of which, those wounds on Azusa-kun’s arms shouldn’t be left as is, right...? )

Uhm, Azuーー

Azusa: Say, why is this white color of the bandages...so beautiful?

I wonder if it’s because...it makes the deep crimson of blood...stand out the best?

Or because it tells you where it hurts...?

→ You’re very dextrous

Yui: You’re very dextrous, aren’t you?

Azusa: Dextrous...? I don’t really...get what you’re trying to say?

Yui: You’ve never thought so yourself?

Azusa: Not really...It doesn’t interest me after all...

Yui: But it’s a good thing, you know? It means you can make lots of things exactly like you want.

Azusa: A lot of things...exactly like I want...

Azusa: Fufu...I just thought of a great idea.

Yui: Uhm...And that is?

Azusa: You...praised me just now, right?

Yui: Yeah, that was my intention.

Azusa: I want to do something for you in return then.

*Rustle*

Azusa: Not only can I please you that way, but it’ll only make you want to praise me even more, no?

Yui: ( Eh? A knifeーー!? )

Azusa: Soーー

*SWOOSH*

Yui: !!

*Thud*

*SHATTER*

Azusa: Why...? Say, why did you dodge?

Yui: I’m the one...who wants to ask that question. Why would you suddenly try and cut me with a knife?

Azusa: Didn’t I tell you? I want to...make you happy.

I want to...give you some fresh wounds.

Yui: T-That wouldn’t make me happy...

Azusa: Ah, but...To ensure it leaves behind a nice scar...I should probably stab you instead, huh?

I see...You knew cutting wouldn’t do the job...So that’s why you dodged just now, didn’t you?

Yui: N-No...

Azusa: This time I won’t get it wrong...And stab you without fail, okay?

ー He approaches her

Yui: A-Azusa-kun...

Azusa: Oh come on, you have to keep still. I can’t aim very well like this...So it’s hard to make a clean wound.

Yui: N...No...Stop!

Azusa: I’ll...patch you up again afterwards. I’ll do an even better job than earlier, so please look forward to it?

Yui: Azusa-kun, listen to me. Please don’t stab me. Please? I’m begging you...!

Azusa: Don’t worry. I’ll make it hurt tons...giving you plenty of pleasure...and then I’ll apply the bandage afterwards, okay?

Yui: I’m serious, cut it out!

Azusa: Eh? Does that mean you want me to cut you instead after all...?

Yui: I don’t want either!!

Azusa: ...

Yui: I’m serious. Please...

Azusa: You don’t...want this? Is that why you look as if you’re about to burst out into tears?

Yui: ...

*Rustle*

Azusa: ...I see. You’re not...in the mood right now, huh? In that case...Let’s keep this for another time.

Yui: Y-Yeah...

( Thank god...I agreed to his ‘next time’ though. But I guess I’m out of the woods for today at least? )

Azusa: ...I’m thirsty.

Yui: Eh?

Azusa: I wonder if it’s because...I thought very deeply about how to please you? I’m totally...parched...

I want to...suck blood...Your blood...Say, can I? You don’t mind, do you? I can have a sip, right?

*Cling*

Yui: Kyah!

Azusa: Nn...!

You...Your throat’s thin as well...But so is your shoulder...Nn...

However...The blood still comes oozing out...Nn...Nn...It’s so sweet...and smells wonderful...Your blood...

It’s so good...Too good...Nn...I feel as if I might just end up sucking you dry down to the very last drop...

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

<- [ Maniac 03 ] [ Maniac 05 ] ->

[ayuuria]

Yashahime Translation: Real Sound Film Department Interview with Tadokoro Azusa

Please do not repost this translation without my consent! This includes screenshots of any type and amount. If you wish to share this translation, simply link to this post.

For more information regarding the use of my translations, click here.

Tadokoro Azusa, Her Thoughts on the “Inuyasha” World That She Admired. Reading the Script for Episode 1 was “A Very Surreal Feeling.”

“Hanyō no Yashahime”, which depicts the next generation of the anime that is Takahashi Rumiko-sensei’s original work, “Inuyasha”, is currently being broadcasted on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV every Saturday from 17:30 (5:30pm on the 12-hour clock).

The protagonists of this work are three half-demons who carry the blood of a demon and a human, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. Towa and Setsuna are Sesshōmaru’s twin daughters. Moroha is the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome but she grew up without knowing the face of her parents. What exactly happened in the feudal world that was supposed to have become peaceful after the permanent destruction of the Shikon Jewel. The mysteries are slowly being revealed and the story is visibly becoming more exciting.

This time, the Real Sound Film Department interviewed the voice actress who plays Moroha, Tadokoro Azusa.

(There is a video comment at the end of the interview)

When I got the role, I felt like “I had ascended to heaven.”

— Tadokoro-san, you play the role of Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, Moroha, and “Inuyasha” is what got you interested in voice acting correct.

Tadokoro Azusa (shortened to Tadokoro from here on): That’s right. It was a work that I loved, so my hands were shaking when they told me about the audition. That there was a new development in “Inuyasha” and that Inuyasha and Kagome had a child really surprised me.

— How did you feel (your) audition went?

Tadokoro: I acted with the intention that I put my all into it, but because I absolutely wanted the part, I felt nervous afterwards. That’s why when I got the part, I couldn’t believe it. I felt like had ascended to heaven.

— We heard that you jumped into a well before, thinking you might be able to go to the feudal era.

Tadokoro: The well was already buried so fortunately I wasn’t injured, but I really went for it (laughs)

— Now, you have time traveled to the modern era via the Tree of Ages’ passageway as Moroha, but were there any scenes that moved you deeply as you were acting?

Tadokoro: I don’t have a specific scene, rather it’s the episode 1 script. After watching the completed anime on screen when I was young, I was deeply moved that I was reading a script that had the lines spoken by characters from “Inuyasha”. I watched (the episode) on air in real time at home and hearing the voices of Inuyasha and the others on TV brought me be back to my younger days. Then hearing my voice afterwards. It was a very surreal feeling.

— Among them, we heard that Sesshōmaru was your favorite character. What was his appeal?

Tadokoro: First, Sesshōmaru has an overwhelmingly pretty face (laughs). At first, he seemed level-headed and hated humans, but after meeting Rin, you could see kindness slowly come through. I get wild ideas that for the few words he speaks, maybe this is what he was thinking? However periodically, he’ll say things clearly like “There’s nothing worth obtaining in exchange for Rin’s life” and I think that’s wonderful.

— Also, you decided to become a voice actress after admiring Yajima Akiko-san who did the voice of Kohaku in “Inuyasha”. Please tell us why you were taken by Yajima-san’s acting of Kohaku.

Tadokoro: Because Kohaku had to go through a lot of painful things, he came across as being absurdly prone to sacrificing himself. With Yajima-san acting as that Kohaku, it was as though there was more sorrow mixed in. It was a voice that made me go “I want to help him!” as I watched.

— Do you have any aspects that were influenced by Yajima-san?

Tadokoro: The biggest reason why I was drawn to Yajima-san’s voice and acting was because even in a normal everyday conversation, you could tell what sort of life that child went through. I thought I wanted to become that kind of a voice actress and when I met her once, I asked “How do you take on a role that has a thought process that you don’t understand?”

— What was her answer?

Tadokoro: “You know, I don’t know myself” is what she said. Because you don’t know, you continue to think about the feelings of the character you play and try to act in the same way. Actually, when Yajima-san played the role of a child from a wealthy family, she apparently stayed in a very expensive hotel for a week (laughs). Not only was I moved from seeing her acknowledge what she didn’t know and attempt to get closer to the role, I thought I should also understand the feelings of the person I’m playing without giving up.

Geeking Out During Recording

— The character you play, Moroha, is very expressive which makes her cute. If there is anything you are careful about while playing Moroha, please tell us.

Tadokoro: Thank you! Because she didn’t have an easy upbringing at all, she’s a very uncouth child. I’m conscious of that liveliness that always seems like it’s about to go off. It’s just that we purposely haven’t been told what’s going to unfold in the future actually, so it’s difficult in that sense. Not to mention Moroha’s emotions are constantly changing, so it’s hard for me to keep up (laughs). She gets interested in all sorts of things which seems hectic.

— However, it seems as though Moroha is the bridge that connects Towa and Setsuna.

Tadokoro: Yes. But in the end, those two are love dovey with each other so it’s sometimes lonely being left out (laughs). Moroha may seem like the type that acts recklessly at first glance, but she’s actually smart and surprisingly the most proficient in battle amongst the three of them. That sort of gap is charming. Plus, she has that sort of adorable idiocy like Inuyasha and Kagome’s cleverness, so I think that’s very powerful!

— Please tell us what you think of Towa who is played by Matsumoto Sara-san.

Tadokoro: While being a half-demon, Towa was separated from Setsuna when they were young and grew up in the modern era that she time travelled to. Furthermore, this time, she returns to the feudal era with Setsuna and Moroha, so I think she’s a complex character whose emotions are heavily swayed. From that Towa, I can feel Sara-san’s true sincerity or rather everything Towa says is what she truly feels without any ill-will which I think is cute.

— How about Setsuna who is played by Komatsu Mikako-san?

Tadokoro: Setsuna’s charm that Komatsu-san plays is her sharp appearance. I can slightly feel that cool face of Sesshōmaru’s after all; on the other hand, she exudes the cuteness of a girl. Through Komatsu-san’s acting, I think it’s wonderful that her cuteness of worrying about Towa, despite everything, comes through.

— What is the atmosphere like during recording?

Tadokoro: The three of us love “Inuyasha”, so we geek out! Since we also don’t know what’s to come, we speculate things on our own like “This might actually end up like that” (laughs).

— Every time an episode is broadcasted, there’s a lot of speculation that rouses social media as well. Please tell us what curious viewers should take note of going forward.

Tadokoro: If there are unexpected developments like “It’s come to that!”, then there will be developments that will make "Inuyasha” fans glad and at ease. The mysteries will slowly be revealed, so please don’t miss each episode.

— Within that, what are points to pay attention to for Moroha?

Tadokoro: Moroha’s past and the environment she grew up in will be revealed in a certain episode, and I think it will be an episode that will make her more endearing.

— Including the numerous roles you had outside of “Hanyō no Yashahime” and your singing career, I’m sure 2020 was a very busy year for you but looking back, how was it?

Tadokoro: With circumstances changing daily from the COVID crisis, I’m truly happy and blessed that I was able to expand my world in a new way. That’s why each job felt even more precious to me. I once again feel that I need to be serious about continuing (work) into next year and the year after that, so I feel pressure. It’s a feeling of “I can’t die out from here!”

— The state of the world was heavily shaken.

Tadokoro: You’re right… it would be great if we could all record together like before.

— Tadokoro-san, you turned 27 back on November 10th. What’s your goal for the new year?

Tadokoro: There’s my self-produced album, ‘Waver’ coming out on January 27th and my current goal is to become able to put into words how I think and feel.

— For example?

Tadokoro: For example, in daily life, to casually doubt something on TV or something a person says like “Is that really right?” or (say) what I was thinking. In a way, I put my current thoughts into songs which I compile into an album.

— You have stated that since the time of your debut you’ve always wanted to try playing a “young male” role, and lately you’ve been able to play a lot of young male roles, including Ryouma from “Kamisama ni Hirowareta Otoko” (By the Grace of Gods). Now once again, are there any roles you would like to try?

Tadokoro: I like foreign dramas, so I’d like to take on the challenge of dubbing a person who appears in a Western film.

— I think fans will look forward to the future development of “Hanyō no Yashahime” and your work.

Tadokoro: I would like everyone to wait while being excited. There are lot more things I want to say about “Hanyō no Yashahime” but it will get more exciting from here on, so please look forward to every episode. And I, Tadokoro Azusa, will keep pushing forward without coming complacent. Fans, please watch over me!

[ayuuria]

Yashahime Translation: Animage Plus Editorial Department Interview

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Jaken is the Mother Theory!? We ask Matsumoto Sara, Komatsu Mikako, and Tadokoro Azusa About “Hanyō no Yashahime”

The TV anime currently broadcasting, “Hanyō no Yashahime”. Continuing the world of “Inuyasha” in the same style, the new development in the Inuyasha world depicts the struggles of Sesshōmaru’s twin daughters, Towa and Setsuna, and Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, Moroha, as they travel all over the modern and feudal eras. Now, right after the broadcast of episode 14, we had the voices of Towa: Matsumoto Sara-san, Setsuna: Komatsu Mikako-san, and Moroha: Tadokoro Azusa-san, talk about the appeal and the behind-the-scenes of the work.

— What did you think when you first found out that a new story about Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru’s daughters was being created this time?

Matsumoto: When I found out it was being created, 1. the shock was huge… The fact that the characters I watched when I was little “had children” was a shock and I started thinking about all sort of things like how were they born? (laughs).

Tadokoro: I was really surprised as well! I knew that “Inuyasha” had wrapped up nicely, so to think that there would be a new story to continue that. I could see Inuyasha and Kagome having a child but I thought “Who would Sesshōmaru have a child with?” Before I prepared for the audition, I was looking at the character designs like I was lapping it up, wondering whose child it was (laughs).

Komatsu: At first when I saw the title of the work, I thought “there’s now a work with a name like “Inuyasha”” but I was surprised that it legitimately inherited the world of Inuyasha (laughs). On top of that, I was astonished that the story was set to be about the children of Inuyasha and the others. However, Miroku’s (and Sango) children were depicted in the final episode of “Inuyasha, The Final Act”, so it certainly seemed feasible. The feeling of joy and excitement I felt that I could touch the Inuyasha world I enjoyed as a child all over again was big.

— During the COVID crisis, I’m sure you are unable to record normally by any means so what is the recording site like?

Matsumoto: There are a lot of scenes where the three of us interact with each other, so a lot of the time, the three of us are together during recording. Though we’re in this situation, they’ve come up with a recording order that allows us to record with people we interact with as much as possible.

Tadokoro: Conversely, we don’t get to really meet if we don’t interact.

Komatsu: Moroha has a lot of individual scenes, so there are times where we don’t meet at all on those occasions.

Tadokoro: There are many times where Moroha is with Takechiyo and Jyuubee-san so on those occasions, I don’t get to see the two of them (Matsumoto and Komatsu) which is lonely…

— Seems like a harmonious recording site.

Matsumoto: Yes. The atmosphere in the recording (studio) is great and we do things together like go to the “Inuyasha” Collaboration Café after we’re done recording. It’s like we’ve joined the Inuyasha family which I’m grateful for.

— With each of you playing Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha, what sort of characters are they?

Matsumoto: Unlike Moroha and Setsuna, Towa was the only character that grew up in the modern era, so I thought that Moroha and Setsuna, who grew up in the feudal era, would criticize her like “you're too weak” or “you’re too soft” and Towa would deny that like “That’s not true!”. However, she surprisingly accepts things and I thought she was a very flexible child at her core.

Tadokoro: How to put it? Moroha seems stupid at first glance. Even sound director Nagura Yasushi-san told me “Please act more stupid” (laughs). She has an innocent side that acts before thinking, but she has a surprising side to her like how she’s managed to live on her own under fairly difficult circumstances, exceling in battle, coming up with the best plan among the three, and giving out orders like “You go there”. I think she’s a character you can’t take your eyes off of or rather the more you get know her, the more you like her. Not to mention, her emotions and facial expressions change constantly to the point that it’s hard for me to keep up. It’s an aspect that you never get tired of watching.

Komatsu: Setsuna is the opposite of Towa. While her calmness and her speaking mannerism makes you think she strongly inherited Sesshōmaru’s blood, there was a time when she grew up in a village, so she understands the human heart which I think makes her differ from Sesshōmaru. In regard to Towa, even though she (Towa) lives a soft way of life opposite to her which she finds annoying, she sways because she acknowledges that she (Towa) has a charm that she doesn’t have… I think she’s a girl who clearly displays the realistic swaying of a 14-year-old girl’s heart. Also, she does properly take part in comedic scenes, so she surprisingly gets into the mood. She’s the type that can read the mood (laughs). I wonder if that’s influenced from being raised in a village.

— While acting your respective characters, what aspects were easy and difficult to empathize with?

Matsumoto: To be honest, from the time of the audition, I never found it difficult to play (Towa). It’s like Towa’s thoughts smoothly came into me, even without thinking too hard on it. I don’t really struggle; on the contrary, there are a lot aspects that I empathize with.

Tadokoro: Since the time I received the first documents, I had this big idea that Moroha was the type to move like this. But I didn’t think she would feel down and seclude herself so easily just as I do… That’s why carrying her energy is hard work (laughs). Hence, I make large movements with my body when I act. When Moroha keeps walking with big steps, it’s an image of really using one’s body, so I move while trying to be really expressive. It’s like I’m trying to take a bite into Moroha’s vitality!

Komatsu:  Setsuna is the opposite of Moroha, so it’s like I talk without moving. But if I just quietly talk, you can’t feel the pressure, so I keep in mind putting in a little pressure. A pressured voice that’s like even though it’s not a loud voice, you lend your ear to it without realizing it which is the type of voice I think Sesshōmaru has, so I stay conscious of that.

— Is it like putting dignity into your voice?

Komatsu: You could say that. In terms of what was difficult, at the first recording, my voice became similar to Towa’s that they pointed out that it would become hard to tell which one is talking.

Matsumoto: Oh yeah! That did happen.

Komatsu: Towa and Setsuna are twins so if we’re talking feasibility, then it’s feasible but as a character you need to be able to differentiate them… Hence, I figure out a way to project my voice so that the difference in the environments that they grew up in comes through.

— Not only do they have to be similar, but also different which seems hard… What do you think of each other’s acting?

Matsumoto: The documents I received before the audition was the character design that Takahashi Rumiko-sensei drew and a simple correlation diagram, so it was a mystery as to what sort of people these characters would be once each of them had a voice breathed into them. However, come the start of recording, I was like “I see! I get it, it would be like this!”. During the recording itself, I’m desperately catching up to the other two so that I don’t cause any trouble for them. I receive so much from them each episode.

Tadokoro: When I auditioned, I did the other two besides Moroha but to be honest, I couldn’t imagine what Towa’s and Setsuna’s voices would be like. However, when they had me actually record with the two of them, I was like “This is it! This is all it can be! I saw the answer!” (laughs) Towa is a character that doesn’t fit in with either the modern or feudal eras and wavers a lot, so she makes statements that are off which makes her role difficult. With Sara-san’s sincere and honest acting, I would say it makes me think that Towa has her own beliefs that allows her to say and act the way she does. I like Sara-san’s honest acting with her personality mixed in.

Matsumoto: No no, not at all! Thank you… …

Tadokoro: I understand this because I auditioned for Setsuna as well, but even though Komatsu-san is a woman, I think it’s amazing that she is able to make Narita Ken’s (the role of Sesshōmaru) acting come through. However, I can feel Setsuna’s 14-year-old cuteness, which makes me think that Komatsu-san’s extensive skill is amazing.

Komatsu: Naah!

Tadokoro: No, that is Komatsu-san’s skill! Every time, I very much feel that I have to keep up with the two of you. I always go home feeling discouraged.

Komatsu: I agree that Sara-chan’s personality comes through in her acting. Towa has a boyish impression based on her appearance, but she has a friendliness that I think would allow her to survive in any era. Sara-chan herself has that friendliness as well as strong communication skills, flat with everyone, and fun to talk to. Also, the large size of her conversation drawer gave me the impression that she was similar to Towa in that aspect. The acting for Moroha is like without a doubt she inherited the blood of Inuyasha and Kagome! The playful absentmindedness within Koroazu-chan (translator’s note: Koroazu is Tadokoro Azusa’s nickname) blends in with Moroha which makes Moroha appear cuter. That’s why I think even if she gets annoyed at Moroha, Setsuna will still go along with her. That is “Koroazu’s Magic”!

— We would like to ask regarding the work but did all of you have a scene that left a big impression on you as you were acting?

Matsumoto: Episode 14. It’s the episode where you learn why Towa and Setsuna got caught in the forest fire. It’s heartrending, fleeting, beautiful story where you feel a little sympathy for the mastermind who burned the forest… The scene where Homura, who burned the forest, took his own life tugged at my heart during recording and left a big impression on me. I was dumbfounded at what happened before eyes and it was an unforgettable episode.

Tadokoro: What made me think this was just like “Inuyasha” was how they thoroughly explain things during times like when they’re surprised, in a critical situation, attacking with their moves, or doing something.

Matsumoto: Oh yeah! That might be especially true for Moroha.

Tadokoro: You have to leave a surprised emotion while thoroughly explaining things, so it’s difficult. Despite struggling, I’m doing my best. But being able to do what my senpais in “Inuyasha” did now really fires me up! This time, I rewatched “Inuyasha”, and Miroku was explaining things while shouting so that must’ve been hard...

Komatsu: What I looked forward to was the episode with the night of the new moon since it’s something half-demons go through.  Also, the episode where Miroku appeared. I was glad to see the parent-child interaction between Miroku and Hisui. Being able to see the good side of Miroku not just secluding himself in the mountains was like falling for him all over again and an unforgettable episode.

— With the mysteries of the story gradually being revealed, it’s about time for the identity of Towa and Setsuna’s mother to be revealed but what did you think when you found out?

All: (clapping) There was a lot of applause.

Tadokoro: We weren’t told either, so I was wondering who it was.

Komatsu: We repeatedly talked about it, but among them came the “Mama Jaken theory”. We thought about a lot of things like how Jaken is certainly a good caretaker and he’ll make a good mom but if it was Sesshomaru and Jaken’s child, they would just be regular demons instead of half demons (laughs).

Matsumoto: When I browsed through Twitter, everyone was having fun investigating.

— So you surf (Twitter).

Matsumoto: I’m especially curious on broadcast days so I end up looking. Like I look through the tags. I check while becoming grateful that everyone is watching like this.

Komatsu: I’m sure everyone is doing all sorts of investigations, but Towa and Setsuna’s mother will be revealed soon so please look forward to it while waiting!

Matsumoto-san, Komatsu-san, and Tadokoro-san spoke to us in a good, fun tempo just like the three girls in “Hanyō no Yashahime”.  In the next broadcast, the identity of Towa and Setsuna’s mother will finally be revealed… …?! With that, you really can’t miss “Hanyō no Yashahime” going forward. Episode 15 is scheduled to air on January 16 (Saturday) from 17:30 (5:30pm on the 12-hour clock) on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV!

[ayuuria]

Yashahime Translation: Animate Times Online Interview

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Talking About Their “Love of the Work” For “Hanyō no Yashahime”! An Interview with Matsumoto Sara-san, Komatsu Mikako-san, and Tadokoro Azusa-san Who Voice the Half-Demon Princesses!

“Hanyō no Yashahime” has been broadcasting on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV since October 3, 2020 (Saturday). With the pasts of the “Yashahimes”, the daughters of Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha who appeared in “Inuyasha”, having been revealed, mysteries have become clear but conversely deeper… The surprising yet complex development has received a big response.

With that, we were able to speak with Matsumoto Sara-san (role of Higurashi Towa), Komatsu Mikako-san (role of Setsuna), and Tadokoro Azusa-san (role of Moroha) who voice the heroines!

As something that inherits the world of “Inuyasha”, the three play the Yashahimes while placing importance on the dialogue atmosphere of the (recording) site. They discussed a lot about the recording situation and their love for the work.

A Major Analysis of the “Yashahimes’” Charm and Explanation of Each Character

— To start with, what sort of impression did you get when you first found out that a new story about the daughters of “Inuyasha” was going to be created?

Matsumoto Sara-san (written as Matsumoto going forward): 1. The shock was huge. When I heard that the characters I watched as a child had kids, I was like “I wonder how they were born!?” (laughs).

“Inuyasha” is a work with a fantasy element to it, so it was to the point that I had this weird idea that they wouldn’t be born like how humans are normally (laughs).

I was also excited to see what sort of different things the children of the next generation inherited.

Tadokoro Azusa-san (written as Tadokoro going forward): I was also really surprised. It was a work that I loved, so I knew it had been wrapped up beautifully.

That’s why I was surprised like “To think there would be a new sequel story!” but at the same time, I felt happy that the story would inherit from “Inuyasha”. I can understand Inuyasha and Kagome-san having a child but Sesshōmaru-san?! (laughs).

Before I started preparing for the audition, first I wondered “Who’s child is it with!?” (laughs). I received the character design so that I would be able audition and Moroha’s character design was deeply moving. What physical appearance she inherited from both of them (Inuyasha and Kagome) was as and beyond what I imagined.

Komatsu Mikako-san (written as Komatsu going forward): When I was first told about the audition, I saw just the title and thought “I got something that’s titled like “Inuyasha”” (laughs).

Then it turned out to be a work that legitimately inherited the world of Inuyasha. Not to mention it was the story about Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru’s daughters. I was surprised but Miroku’s (and Sango) children were depicted in the final episode, so I thought “It’s possible!”.

I could see a continuation after that. As someone who read the original work, I felt nostalgia and happiness that I could touch a work that I enjoyed as a child all over again.

I was really excited that the world of “Inuyasha” that we didn’t know was about to be born and we could get to touch the Inuyasha world again.

— Could you please tell us about the charms of Higurashi Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that each of you play?

Matsumoto: Since Towa’s backstory alone was that she was raised in the modern era, unlike Moroha and Setsuna, I think she feels the closest to our “current” reality amongst the characters.

Since Towa’s thought process is based on what she’s seen in the modern era and influenced from being raised by Souta’s (Kagome’s little brother) family, there are scenes where she’s told “From a feudal era standpoint, you’re weak” or “No, you’re too soft” … I wondered “Will Towa be able to deny that in her own way?”, but she attempts to accept what they say like “Guu” (laughs). She’s kind at her core, so it felt as though she inherited that blood from her mother.

I think she’s a child that other people will say “She’s just like that person”.

Tadokoro: Moroha seems like a fool at first glance (laughs). She’s rather reckless to the point that even sound director Nagura Yasushi-san tells me “Please act more stupid”. Her facial expressions and emotions change constantly and it’s to the point that it’s hard for me to keep up (laughs). But that’s the part that I never get tired of watching.

She has a simple-minded side that acts before thinking, but she has a surprising side like how she’s managed to live on her own under fairly difficult circumstances, exceling in battle, working out a plan, and giving out orders. I think she’s a character that the more you get to know her, the more you like her.

Because she’s survived on her own, she has a noble, determined, adult-like aspect to her, but she also posses the innocence of a child so I think she’s a really cute.

Komatsu:  Setsuna is the opposite of Towa, who grew up in the modern era, in that she grew up in the feudal era. In terms of Sesshōmaru’s personality, she has his calmness and closely resembles his speaking mannerism, so you can feel she really inherited his blood.

But having grown up in a village and getting involved with the (demon) slayers on top of that, she can understand others (emotionally), so you could say that’s a direct difference from Sesshōmaru. I can feel a kindness towards humans or rather, a sense of humanity from her.

After meeting with Towa… While not having her childhood memories is a big part of it, Towa lived a soft way of life completely opposite to her (laughs) so she gets annoyed but because she acknowledges that Towa has an aspect to her that she (Setsuna) doesn’t have from that, it sways her in her own way.

There’s still the fact that she’s 14 years old so I think that she “properly displays the realistic swaying of the heart”. In contrast to staying composed in battle, I think she feels “So there’s that way of thinking too” from watching how Towa does things and her way of life. She won’t say it out loud though.

In scenes where “……” is written in the script, I think she’s reflecting on things first in her own way.

She does take part in the periodic comedic scenes (laughs). She surprisingly gets into the mood. She’s the type that can read the mood (laughs).

Tadokoro: You’re right! (laughs) She’s well rounded.

Komatsu: I’m thinking that being raised with people had an influence.

Placing Importance On the “Atmosphere” During Recording

— With times being what they are, we heard that recording is being done in small groups. Among them, it seems there are many times where the Yashahimes are the last to record, so how is recording like?

Matsumoto: Though we’re in this situation, acting is a living thing, so they’ve made it where we record with people we have interactions with as much as possible.

There are times where it’s only Azusa-san, the two of us (Towa and Setsuna), and then interacting with other casts members which is how we’ve been recording. The three of us interact a lot, so there are many times where we’re together.

Tadokoro:  Conversely if we don’t interact (in Moroha’s case), we don’t really get to see each other (laughs). There are many times where I record with the Takechiyo and Jyuubee-san team.

Komatsu: That’s right. There are many times where Moroha acts independently, so there’s a pattern of her getting left behind and we don’ get to meet. We’re like “Sorry Moroha” (laughs).

Tadokoro: …… It’s lonely (laughs).

Komatsu: (laughs) We’ve placed importance on scene changes while recording, but I’ve been able to firmly interact with the voice actors of guest characters that I may not have been able to meet with this kind of recording.

From that, I’ve heard voice acting seniors tell me “My daughter is enjoying the anime”. If we’ve been influenced by “Inuyasha”, then there are voice actors whose daughters are watching the anime, so there are times where we talk about our love for the work.

I think it’s a work that allows cast members to communicate with each other in such a short time.

— I could tell the three of you get along based on our current conversation, do you have many opportunities to talk to each other like for example, before recording?

Komatsu: We talk before and after recording.

Matsumoto: We do. Whenever we go to record, the script for the next episode is set out. When we arrive, first we sneakily read it and check with each other like “Did you read it?” (laughs).

Komatsu: While being perplexed (laughs). We all get along.

Tadokoro: After we’re done recording, there are times where the actors go visit the “Inuyasha” Collaboration Café. There’s a feeling that we’ve been accepted into the Inuyasha family for which we’re grateful.

– Are there not many times where you are motivated by each other’s acting?

Matsumoto: Hmm yes… The first documents I received was a character design done by Takahashi Rumiko-sensei and a simple correlation diagram. I was told “These three are who you’re going to be auditioning for” and I thought “When the Yashahimes get a voice and move, what sort of character will emerge?”.

But now that recording has started, hearing your (Komatsu and Tadokoro) voices and seeing your acting before my eyes, I’ve come to understand like “Aah, I see!”. However, at the beginning, I thought “in any case, I can’t cause trouble to the two of you”.

Komatsu and Tadokoro: No no no, not at all!

Matsumoto: No no no! (laughs) I thought “No, I’ve got to keep it together!”. I receive a lot from the two of you.

It’s just that, as mentioned earlier, there a lot of times where we’re moving independently from Moroha. But even if we don’t interact with each other, if we’re creating something serious, then Moroha’s scene will become more fun and vice versa. Even if they’re in different places, their emotions are still linked together is what it feels like a lot of the time.

There are lot of things for me to take in from going to the recording studio and starting the test (recording). “I’m receiving things (from Moroha and the others) like this so I have to work harder” is how I feel.

Tadokoro: That makes me happy. You see during the audition, I auditioned for the roles of the other two besides Moroha. But to be honest, I couldn’t picture the voice. When we actually recorded together, I thought (while smiling) “this is it” (laughs)

Komatsu: “This is it” (laughs)

Tadokoro: It’s not wrong to say that everyone fits their role perfectly… How do I say it? It felt as though I saw the answer like “Aah, it can only be this!”.

Towa spent her time in the modern era, but it was depicted as though she didn’t really fit in. However, she’s a character that really sways as she hasn’t gotten used to the feudal era either.

That’s why she makes remarks that are little off, but with Sara-san’s straight forward and honest acting, it makes me feel “Ah, Towa can say things because she has her own beliefs”.

Even though it’s a difficult role to play, the acting makes you want to be Towa’s ally and I really like it. Her personality is really mixed in.

Komatsu-san’s acting really has Sesshōmaru-san mixed in which makes me go “Wow!”. I think it’s really difficult to incorporate Narita-san’s (Ken) acting because she’s a girl. While bringing out that strength, there’s still the cuteness of a 14-year-old.

I also auditioned, so I truly felt how difficult it was. I think it’s Komatsu-san’s skill that brings out Setsuna’s broadness. She’s really cute when she shows affection (laughs).

Komatsu: I’m so happy, thank you very much! Just as Koroazu-chan (Tadokoro) said, I think each person’s character has their “personality” mixed in.

Towa has a sharp appearance and you get the impression that she’s boyish at first glance, but she’s very friendly. She could probably survive in any era. She probably likes people because she grew up with the Higurashi family.

She’s the same with demons in terms of killing of them, her thinking is “No, killing is wrong”. She’s good at fighting, but it’s as though she understands the weight of a life. That friendliness is something that Sara-san also has.

She has strong communication skills, flatly interacts with people at the (recording) studio no matter who it is, and she’s fun to talk to. It’s like she’s a drawer full of fun conversations, which I think is similar to Towa. If you look just at Towa’s lines, “What a bother” “What a pain” are straightforward but when you add that friendliness, it becomes softer.

I think Setsuna feels “It’s not bad” too (laughs).

Moroha’s acting of truly being Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter is straightforward, so when I first heard her voice I thought “This truly is it! This is Moroha!”.

I think only Koroazu-chan… can bring out Inuyasha’s crudeness and Kagome’s strong core and suppleness. Koroazu-chan’s sort of playful silliness overlaps with Moroha and makes her cute.

If Inuyasha’s character was the only thing inherited, she would simply be a crude girl, but she adds Kagome’s strength and cuteness. Because Moroha has something about her that’s a little off, Setsuna lets it slide as she talks (laughs). This is Koroazu’s magic!

To Setsuna, the two of them are “people she can love”, so even though she couldn’t straight out accept things in the beginning, she’s slowly coming to accept the three of them…. Well, they are relatives after all (laughs).

— Earlier, Matsumoto-san said she didn’t want to cause the two of you trouble, but did you feel that kind of strong pressure?

Matsumoto: Yes. It might be to the point that I’m pulling my cheek like “You’re just being soft!” but I don’t have much experience (in animation) ……

Komatsu and Tadokoro: No no no, not at all……!

Tadokoro: On the contrary, I’m the one who feels that “I need to keep up with the two of them”. I always go home feeling depressed (laughs).

Matsumoto and Komatsu: No no no (laughs).

— This has turned into a chorus of no’s (laughs)

Matsumoto: My heart really pounds. Every time, just before I go to record, I mumble to myself (in a somber voice) “Yeah… I’ll do my best today… yeah” (bitter smile).

When I actually interact with their (Komatsu and Tadokoro) acting, I feel uplifted like “Aah, right! That’s right!”. There are a lot scenes in the story too where I’m told “Get a hold of yourself!”, so it reverberates.

— Matsumoto-san, as both the character and yourself. During such scenes, is there anything that you are careful or mindful of?

Matsumoto: If I had to pick, I would say I’m conscious of not becoming too tense. Rather than creating the story from 1 to 10, getting pulled by the others, or conversely pulling the others too hard, I want to create the scene with the two of them. I’ve been careful of this even before episode 1.

Komatsu: At the beginning of the story, a lot of the times, Towa speaks first. In other words, with the first lines, Towa brings out the story’s energy.

I, on the other hand, have found that helpful. Like “Alright, Towa’s going to drag me around today too!” or “You can do it Towa!” (laughs).

Matsumoto: (laughs)

Komatsu: Towa and Setsuna are like “stillness and motion”. Towa’s an energetic child, so she puts her all into everything she does. She brings that energy at the beginning, so that pulls me along. Part of the (recording) site’s atmosphere.

Tadokoro: That’s true. When recording starts and I hear Towa’s voice, it feels like “Yashahime has begun!”

Matsumoto: That makes me happy, thank you so much! You’re always treating me kindly. It’s truly a state of “What can I offer?” (laughs).

Tadokoro: I’m glad that were able to do “And…!” (translator’s note: Like “On the count of three” or “1, 2, 3…”) together from the first episode. The atmosphere of the (recording) site is harmonious like "Let’s do this together!”. I’m a timid person so that’s saved me.

— I’m sure each of you feels an atmosphere that can only be felt at the (recording) site, but is there a sort of “Inuyasha”-ism in the air as well?

Komatsu: The “Inuyasha” team already has something put together as the “Inuyasha” team, but I think that team feeling is something that’s carried on via the production team and cast formation.

Because it’s a work that we know and love from the start, there’s something like “a common interpretation” so the bonds are strong.

Especially Sara-chan, who thoroughly reads the script. She’ll clearly ask questions and doubts like “Would it be alright if we acted this part like this?” ####--.

Matsumoto: (as though panicking) What!? You saw……!?

Komatsu: Fu fu (laughs). The sound director and director Satō Teruo-san properly answer those questions and doubts. I think there are cases where asking those kinds of questions at a (recording) site to get clear answers can be hard and answering can be hard, but this (recording) site has room for discussion. Not only will they accept, but based on that, you can take a stance of “Let’s do that no matter what” which I really like.

— What a wonderful team.

Komatsu: Yes. It’s just as I said before, we all simply get along.

Matsumoto: I can really feel that. I can feel something like a “team spirit” from being able to communicate with everyone.

Tadokoro: But I feel like the two of you are creating that atmosphere. It’s like the seniors are also comfortable (laughs).

I’m the type that doesn’t talk much due to being nervous, but because people who voice the guest characters explain the work and come talk to me, I always feel a gentle atmosphere flowing.

Thanks to that, I’m able to talk to my seniors. I’ve come to call Koyama-san (Tsuyoshi), who voices Jyuubee, “Big Brother!” and Fairouz Ai-chan, who voices Takechiyo, immediately comes to talk to me. There are a lot of scenes where the three of us (Fairouz Ai-chan, Koyama-san, and myself) talk to each other, so creating that laid back atmosphere at the (recording) site really saved me.

The Explanations During Battle Really Hit Hard with the Feel of Inuyasha

— We would like for you to please tell us what scenes you played that left an impression on you and what scenes you found difficult.

Matsumoto: Episode 14. It’s the episode where you learn why Towa and Setsuna got caught in the forest fire when they were young…… Regardless of the fact that the enemy appeared, I felt sorry for him.

Komatsu: Ah yeah~ It was so passionate wasn’t it!

Matsumoto: Yes! There’s the scene where Homura, who burned the forest, took his own life and it tugged at my heart during recording.

When Towa became unable to move at sight unfolding in front of her, the feeling of Setsuna calling her back like “Get a hold of yourself!” is so heartrending, fleeting, and beautiful that I can’t forget it even now.

However, there is an intolerable truth that makes me furious……

There’s a scene where… just when we thought we found the culprit in that episode, someone was actually pulling the strings from behind and father was near that person. We also don’t know anything, so we were honestly like “Father what are you doing!”.

Everyone: (laughs)

Tadokoro: What made me think this was just like “Inuyasha” was that even when they’re surprised, in a critical situation, attacking with their moves…  or any scenes like that, they thoroughly explain things (laughs).

Matsumoto: That might be especially true for Moroha!

Komatsu: Moroha really does a lot of explaining (laughs).

Tadokoro: It’s like “This is what the seniors did!”. For example, when the enemy explains their attack (laughs).

Although, even without an explanation, you still have to project the force of the battle scene or sense of surprise. It’s hard on a technical level but when I think that “This is what our seniors did”, I get fired up. Like Miroku-sama talked a lot (laughs).

Komatsu: Yeah yeah, he gave clear explanations (laugh). For me… the episode I looked forward to like “As long as you’re a half-demon, there’s definitely going to be this episode!” was when Towa’s hair color changed in “Night of the New Moon, Black-Haired Towa” (episode 12). Also, the episode with Miroku and Setsuna.

Setsuna kind of forgot but she remembered like “Oh yeah, there was something like that”. Unable to withstand the seething blood she inherited from Sesshōmaru, the fact that it was actually Miroku who placed the seal surprised me. I thought there would definitely be episodes with the new moon and demon transformations like in “Inuyasha”, so I was looking forward to it.

The relationship between Miroku-sama and his son, Hisui, was good too. I fell for him all over again like “Look at you Dad! You’re not a father who just isolates himself in the mountains doing (spiritual) training!”.

The Existences of Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru Will Become Addictive

— We are going to change the subject a little bit, but was there a character that influenced you personally? Tadokoro-san, you professed that seeing Yajima Akiko-san’s performance as Kohaku in “Inuyasha” is what made you pursue voice acting.

Tadokoro: Yes. That’s why I would say Kohaku was the character who influenced me. Until then, I never paid attention to the person behind the voice.

However, coming in contact with the work “Inuyasha” left a deep impression on me of the amazingness of acting. Especially Yajima-san’s voice…… for example with daily conversation, it exuded the sort of life he had lived to reach where he was now. That was the moment I became aware of the work of voice acting, so I think Kohaku influenced me the most.

Komatsu: In terms of a character that influenced me, I would say Kagome. She was closest to my age when I was watching “Inuyasha” at the time and a heroine… I followed the story from Kagome’s point of view, and I thought “I want become a girl like Kagome!”.

She was a little strong-willed but optimistic, and she always faced people properly. Kagome has special powers but even when you took that out, Kagome herself is a very strong girl. I grew up thinking I wanted to become that kind of strong girl.

In terms of other girls, I would say Sango and Kikyō. I feel as though I was quite influenced by the girls.

Matsumoto: For me, the character named Riku in “Yashahime” is mysterious and I’m really curious about him as I act. There’s the fact that what he truly is still hasn’t been revealed yet… In “Inuyasha”, it was clear which characters were depicted as good or evil, so on one hand, I personally discovered that if you look at it from the opposing perspective “This is just another form of justice”.

However, you don’t know if Riku is a friend or foe. He’s a character that your eyes end up following. I think viewers are also going to get strung along.

— We asked a variety of questions today but lastly, could you once again tell us the appeal of “Hanyō no Yashahime”?

Matsumoto: It was the same in “Inuyasha”, but the depiction of going between the feudal and modern eras was carried over into “Hanyō no Yashahime”.

The work’s time setting is the same as “Inuyasha” so people who watched “Inuyasha” can enjoy it, and I think it’s easy for people who haven’t seen it to understand. There’s a variety of ways that people of all generations can enjoy.

I think there’s the appeal that you can casually enjoy the work, but at the same time, there’s a lot of things entwined at different places. I think there’s a lot of people doing investigations. I think it would be fun unravel things in your own way and then compare to the story afterwards.

You can fantasize who will get with who in “Yashahime” (laughs), it would be great if you can enjoy it in many different ways. It’s such an appealing work that I want to say, “Everything is appealing!” (laughs).

Tadokoro: I totally get the fun in investigating. They don’t really tell us much about the story ahead, so we just hype on our own with our imaginations. Because the world of “Inuyasha” was that appealing and filled with loveable characters, as fans, we’re curious to see what sort of lives their children will have.

Watching as an average viewer, everyone’s beautiful aspects, including the characters that make you go “are they villains?”, are appealing (laughs). Like I instantly liked Kirinmaru. His appeal is so great that you end up looking ahead so to say. You can’t overlook things because there’s a lot of mysteries, and that aspect of things getting complicated is a charm that I think is carried over from “Inuyasha”.

Komatsu: What “Inuyasha” didn’t have was “the girls are the protagonists”. Furthermore, though they are girls, the three are half demons that are not girly at all. There are no humans among the protagonists (laughs). If you think hard on that, that’s a fun aspect.

From the perspective of the generation that watched “Inuyasha”, in a sense, an Inuyasha world without Inuyasha and the others feels strange. Their daughters are the protagonists and the answer behind the question of why they can’t meet their parents is a key point of the story.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of cheerful dialogue among the three girls, so I think that enjoyment is one of the highlights. In a way, you could say it’s “a daily life of slaying demons”. If we were in this world slaying demons, it would be something like this.

Like “I slayed demons today too, but I didn’t leave anything to show for it! I don’t have money~! I can’t get a meal~!” (laughs)

There’s a joy that you can see the silver lining of “In order to live in that world!”. We’re part of the generation that wanted to travel to that era by jumping into the well in Inuyasha, so we’re grateful that we’re able to enter that world.

Also, every important point that smells of Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru will become addictive.

Tadokoro: The way they appear is good.

Komatsu: Yeah! Only their feet appear! (laughs)

Tadokoro: Just when I think “I want a little something of Inuyasha”, it shows up in a nice way.

Komatsu: Yes yes yes! And then periodically they show clear flashbacks of the past which I think existing “Inuyasha” fans find irresistible.

— We look forward to the developments ahead. Thank you very much!