#does this for mamochan and suzuken

[kido-teiraa]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These special talk with the 3 main cast

(link to original) Reinhard (Miyano Mamoru), Yang (Suzumura Ken’ichi), Kircheis (Umehara Yu’ichirou)

The main cast “Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These” are about to have their first talk together. Reinhard (Miyano Mamoru), Yang (Suzumura Ken’ichi) and Kircheis (Umehara Yu’ichirou). This is their recounts of the audition and their thoughts about the characters they face.

> Please tell us what do you think of the anime adaptation of “Legend of the Galactic Heroes”

Suzumura: Surprisingly before this, there has been rumours of an adaptation of “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” in the industry. In the Ishiguro-directed “LotGH”, during that time, there was no voice actor who hasn’t done a role in it, because lots of voice actors appeared in it, and it was called “Legend of the Galactic Voice Actors” (t/n: he said Ginga Seiyuu Densetsu) and to an extent, its a legendary-grade work. That was before I heard of an anime adaptation, and I thought it was cool and astonishing, but it [the audition] caught me off-guard until I can’t think, “Who else would do it, this is a mess...” is what I thought. (lol)

Miyano: I was a child when the Ishiguro-directed work was released, and I didn’t watch the contents of the work, with a legendary-grade title like “Legend of the Galactic Heroes”, of course I knew what it was. Like what Suzumura-san said, I also felt like the industry has gotten noisy with people saying “Reinhard is Miyano-kun right?�� At that time no one told me this was coming. (lol) After a good amount of time had passed, I thought no one else is going to do this role, so I accepted it.

Suzumura: I thought the same too. Until the audition came, I thought no one else is going to accept the role during that time.

Umehara: I’m the same as Miyano, until the time I accepted the role in the audition, I have heard of “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” just in name only. I wasn’t even born when the original side stories were released. 

Suzumura: Eh? For real? As for me, even though it was just one time, I appeared in the Ishiguro-directed work. (He appears in episode 7 of Gaiden 2 “Spiral Labyrinth”)

Miyano: Is it true?

Suzumura: It was when I was really young, though it was a nameless role.

> What do you remember during the time after the recording? 

Suzumura: I heard this from the guys at the office, even though it was a nameless role, I thought, “I was in “LOGH”! My name should be in the credits for “Legend of the Galactic Voice Actors” !” I was really glad. But, I went to the studio and none of the “Legend of Galactic Voice Actors” were there, no one was recording (they were recording in separate rooms) (laughs). A few decades later, last year at the announcement event, I had a chat with Horikawa Ryou (Ishiguro-directed Reinhard) and he told me; “ “LOGH” will always surpass with you.” , it was a big shock for me.

> At that time, Sakurai Takahiro also made an appearance too.

Suzumura: Ah, that too! After recording, I think was with Takahiro. Furthermore, now we record “Die Neue These” in the same studio.

> Tell us your thoughts when you accepted the auditions for “Die Neue These”.

Miyano: When I received the news about the audition, I said, “Ah-! It’s that rumour-!” (laughs) After that, I went and read the original novels, the works are incredibly amazing that it made me look forward to the auditions. During it, Tada (Shunsuke) and Mima (Masafumi) who was the sound director, they were quite stoked. It a work where the actor who will definitely grow together [with the character], I feel like there’s a lot of people who want to experience this, no matter what form it will be in, it would be nice to participate.

Umehara: When I accepted the role, I didn’t really think much about it. I thought the veterans will definitely tell us the ways to do it, and we will make the most amazing work. 

Miyano & Suzumura: Ahaha (laughing).

Umehara: After that, I can’t believe it... (laughs). For the audition, at first it was a tape audition. After that, it was a studio audition. Then, I had ANOTHER studio audition.

Suzumura: You had to do that? I didn’t even do it at all.

Miyano: You didn’t need to do it for Yang Wen-li, huh. Reinhard and Kirchi needed to be discussed a lot, so we had to do lots of auditions.

Suzumura: As for me, if i didn’t accept the role of Yang, I wouldn’t know.

Umehara: Because of that, at the last audition, me and Miyano ended up getting together and accepted the role.

Miyano: That’s the sort of combination we went with. Each group has its own battles.

Suzumura: So you mean, Miyano-kun and Umehara-kun got into a team during the auditions?

Umehara: Yes.

Suzumura: That’s interesting! I may be nervous, but its good to know that I’m not alone in this. 

Umehara: Miyano-san said its been a while since he played a part with all his might and Mima-san gave us a starting point, I was really nervous.

Miyano: When I was at the audition hall, that time, me and Ume-chan were sitting on a sofa. I thought at that time, he looked cool. Then I heard him say “Actually, I’m pretty nervous,”. I said, “Really? You’re not lying?” (laughs)

Suzumura: Appearances can be deceiving (laughs)

Miyano: Certainly, while waiting he sounded like he was mumbling, that’s definitely nervousness (laughs)

Umehara: I was absolutely nervous (laughs). But, the audition was really fun. I thought, I really want to do more of this role! I was so glad I got accepted for it.

Miyano: There was a really, really slim chance to get the role at the audition.

Suzumura: That’s nice. As for me, I just needed to do a tape audition. Once, my manager gave it a look too, he said “Because the scene should be like this, you should say the line like that,” and make it look like I made it. Deep within my heart “I can’t do this, I’m not suitable for this role.” is all I thought until I submitted my tape. After that, I was surprised to get an immediate reply. It took around 2 weeks or so? I heard a rumour that the audition for Reinhard took an entire year, so getting a quick reply came off as a surprise. I’m really glad though.

> As you are portraying these characters, what is your character’s appeal point?

Miyano: Since its a big-scale work, and a drama between the story about people and their interactions, its a work that shows how people are. That’s why, if I don’t firmly understand the situation revolving around my role, I wouldn’t be able to approach it properly. Moreover, in my case, during the first time he fought against the opponent, I had to portray him [Reinhard] as a person who comes off as a leading figure, but I also thought of him as a person who doesn’t want to lose... From the start, Reinhard himself really doesn’t feel like losing, so I can’t lose either. That kind of feeling of is sort of troublesome, but I have the spirit for it. It will be commonplace to be unable to meet people in normal places because I’ll have the presence of a leader figure. Within that presence, I will stand out in the middle. It will need a lot of energy... Every time, I shall fight, so I can walk in the footsteps of the “Legend of the Galactic Voice Actors”, is what I feel (laughs)

Suzumura: Reinhard rises up the ranks at a young age, in contrast to Yang, who I feel like he gains more maturity every time he gets dragged into something. Since he is in the commander’s view, portraying this role was difficult. He sees things in a philosophical light a lot, and he shoulders other people’s problems onto himself too. But Yang, even though he gets involved in matters, I feel like I’m invading, though it’s really subjective. Although, I can’t do this without the view of a commander. He’s a character that gets himself in hard situations, I just needed to change no matter how many millimeters, as I wanted to find a way to capture that scenario, which is not at all wrong. With extremely high skills, wanting to be stronger, but wanting to do otherwise, but ended up looking like he’s weak, no one else could be Yang. Just around halfway, I couldn’t give up on not letting him exist was exceedingly hard. However, I decided to re-read the original novels, and within all the countless characters, I really love Yang Wen-li the most. It may have been difficult, but I think to myself that I really wanted to do this role. I was glad that I was given the chance and lucky to have it.

Umehara: In this anime, they showed Reinhard and Kircheis’s childhood years. In a way, it makes it easier to understand their relationship. Annerose (Reinhard’s sister) is considered to be their most important person, and that is the start of their sentiments.

Miyano: Yep yep. Everything we do is for Sister’s sake, that’s easily understandable.

Umehara: Agreed. That’s why, I thought of ways to portray him as a leading person that I wanted to do. After that, Kircheis will wait for the time when Reinhard and Yang will be equal in talent, but never in my own mind will I rise up to that level. I think there will be a time when Reinhard will wonder where I’ll [Kircheis] be when he needs my help. During the audition, we were instructed with the direction of “I wish to never lead and be in front of Reinhard. Even if I have to reprimand him, I wish to not be above him.” ‘So that’s his [Kircheis] identity’ is what I thought. Shortly after, I had a clear image of his personality and went though the script, and if i were to be accurate to the drama, “It’s not like that,” is what I felt towards the direction. Take for example, if Reinhard gets worried in one scene, Kircheis (from that scene) will be more worried before he does. The more I read about the person [Kircheis], portraying him is quite difficult. Even if I thought I portrayed him well in my head, I still feel he is hard to portray. (laughs)

Miyano: I feel the same way too. (laughs) After that, Mima-san said “It’s important for you two to have mutual trust in each other.” He always says it.

Umehara: He said that. 

Miyano: Every time, I have to make sure I got it right, “How is it?” (laughs)

Umehara & Suzumura: Ahaha (laughs)

> Lastly, give a message to the fans who are waiting for the airing of “Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These” please!

Miyano: It’s about to be the start of a new take on a legendary-grade work, and I am glad to get to put myself in such a project. It’s exceedingly profound, I thought the role was not going to require me to invest my entire being and concentration into it. Even so, I can’t be the only one doing it alone. Especially this time, it also has dramatic conversations, that I myself need to think it through, while lending the ways from the senior voice actors, I look forward to portraying Reinhard. I hope everyone can feel our seriousness towards this work in this, and please look forward to it!

Umehara: It’s a project where all the cast and the staff members are putting in all their efforts into making this real. Personally, the me right now is waiting for the time when I could be the best, is what i think about while i look forward to the [next] recording. Even if you wanna view it through the way the Ishiguro-directed work or not, this is the first time I am in contact with “LOGH”, our “LOGH” might be someone’s first viewing of “LOGH”. That really makes me happy, it feels like my responsibility. Many people will view this work, and personally I look forward for it to air. Please support us from now on.

Suzumura: Making a new “LOGH” makes one wonder how long will it take, everyone here understands that. That’s why, it’s amazing to think that everyone is putting in all their efforts in this, even the most meager of calories. No doubt, when they finished the Ishiguro-directed version, definitely, at that time, they used a lot of calories to make it. As for us, right now, we may be standing at the same starting point, we will never surpass the Ishiguro-directed version. Out of respect, now, we will do our best until our last bit of energy to make “LOGH”, and what work will it turn out to be, its what I want to show. Yet, there’s obvious differences that can be seen. Well, even if i said such things I get nervous, but this throbbing won’t stop (laughs). But, “LOGH” is a work that you need to have resolution and courage, and you can’t be unable to move forward. I hope that people who liked the Ishiguro-directed version will watch it too, and the ones who watched “Die Neue These” for the first time will think “I should watch the Ishiguro version” and do so, it will make us extremely happy. We will make a work with a lot of love poured into it, cheer and support us on.