#i think the aoba johsai matches are about suga influencing kageyama. i think the other matches are about kageyama influencing suga

[runayachi]

i know that we love to talk about how much kageyama learned from suga, but it's important to remember that it went both ways, because suga learned from kageyama as well.

when we first meet suga, he's (quietly) shouldering the blame for asahi and noya leaving. kageyama shows up, and suga's relieved that there's a setter better than him because he won't have to handle that responsibility of guiding the ace, of getting the ball to his spikers. he thinks that maybe he can fall back into the shadows, because karasuno has a genius setter now, so what use would they have for a regular one?

and yet.

kageyama wants to fight suga for the position. "the gap in experience between us isn't that easily overcome!" "suga-san, you better not be doing this to give me the position." he knows he's good. but he still respects suga, as a senpai, as another setter, and kageyama knows that he has shortcomings in areas that suga excels at.

and he says as much to suga. and suga promises to fight him for that starting position.

by the time the shiratorizawa match comes around, suga has gained so much more confidence. but he admits that he's still scared of being blocked and he does not have the same unwavering faith in his spikers (in himself) that kageyama does. he acknowledges that it is a relief having kageyama there.

and yet he steps onto the court anyways.

because suga doesn't give up. even when he's scared (not anymore).

and what happens is this: suga goes to spike (something he is terrified of) and tendou blocks him. and suga simply promises to do it again. and when the time comes, suga runs forward without hesitation, and tendou leaps to block him, because to him, the ball has to be going to suga.

(and then it doesn't, and tendou realizes he was wrong, and suga's smiling and promising to do it again.)

when we first meet suga, he's relieved that there's a better setter than him.

in a few months' time, that is no longer the case.

[engekihaikyuu]

Engeki Haikyuu feature in Sparkle Magazine!

The scans can be found in these 2 posts: (x) (x) 

Highlights from their special interview include:

Kenta notes that for the past two years, he and Tatsunari have been together nearly constantly (with barely two weeks being the longest time they go without seeing each other).  

Tatsunari reveals that when they go for their very first dress rehearsal in the theaters for any show, he recommends skin-ship with your co-stars to heighten your senses regarding one another.  He says it helps everyone go into the performance with a fresh feeling as you take in everyone’s determination and passion as well as their physical conditions.

Hiroki tells us that with the length of time they’ve all spent together, everyone in the company has become very perceptive and aware of each other’s personalities and tendencies.  For example, when one member is feeling down, there will always be at least one or two people to notice that and someone who knows how best to talk to that person and where to best take them.  In particular, Kenta keeps particular note of everyone this way, like the amazing cast leader that he is.  

Kousuke tells us that what he loves about this cast is how well they can communicate with one another.  As they all work together to make a singular production, yes, rivalries develop among them, certain obvious senpai-kouhai relationships take form, but he never feels like he can’t ask for help, and he never feels like he can’t say what’s on his mind if he has a suggestion to give.  

Allen thinks of the staff for Engeki Haikyuu as parental figures for the entire production and that they’re always very warm and easy to talk to.  For example, when the actors need to know better the exact details of the projection mapping and how it’ll look all put together, they’re always as helpful as they can be.  Even though he’s only been around since the re-run, he doesn’t feel distant from the rest of the cast or the staff and he’s very grateful to everyone.  

When asked what each of them would like to improve: Kenta said that he wants to get better at laundry and at cooking; cooking especially.  He thinks it’s super cool when a man can have friends over and be like, “Just wait a bit,” and then go to the kitchen to make them a meal like pasta.  

Tatsunari wants to stop overthinking things, which he has a tendency to do.  For example, he worries about babies knocking over glasses in restaurants.  He wants to be able to maybe just take action (like grabbing that cup and moving it out of their reach) instead of worrying too much.  

Hiroki sometimes feels like he gets carried away with his emotions and is easily influenced by the moods of people around him.  So he wants to be able to just relax, keep things in perspective, and be a little calmer overall.

Kousuke used to just eat whenever he got hungry, even in the middle of the night.  This sometimes resulted in him eating 4 or 5 meals a day, which he knows isn’t great for his body, especially eating super late at night.  But after working on his first leading role at the start of this year, he suddenly started eating 3 regular meals due to his schedule with that play, so he’s thankful that theater can help organize his life.

Allen has a bit of a sweet tooth and loves pastries, so he’s trying to cut back on always eating them.  He normally tries to avoid eating them all the time, but a lot of times when he goes to the convenience store, he can’t help himself.  At the very least, on days when he does that, he makes sure to go for a run to make up for it.  He thinks it’d be too sad to give up sweets completely, but he’s trying to avoid over-eating them.

In the group stage of the interview… 

When asked about the Revival production in fall of 2016, Kenta tells us that although the physicality of the show can be quite taxing, the Revival was easier on him in a lot of ways because he wasn’t alone on stage as much.  When he’s on stage with even at least one other person like Tatsunari, it takes the pressure off.

Tatsunari loved Asahi’s spotlight scene during the Datekou match where he makes his breakthrough as Karasuno’s ace.  He gets goosebumps from it.  

Hiroki thought it’d be rough for them to have as long a run as they did in Tokyo, but in the end, he thinks that was mostly a personal battle and not one everyone else felt.  

With 29 total cast members, there were so many elements that could change from show to show.  For Allen and Kousuke, who served as observers and commentators for the second half of the show, they could directly see all of the little changes and adjustments that occurred in each show.  Kousuke enjoyed seeing people run around backstage in their respective team colors.  For both Allen and Kousuke, they thought carrying around the railing was super tough.  LOL

Sometimes, the director’s notes are impossible to understand until they start working on it.  Like when he wrote, “that ball goes up higher and higher and then becomes the world.”  Kenta was definitely confused when he first read that in the script.  

As actors, because the entire cast of Karasuno has been present for every show and have worked all together, their volleyball skills and their teamwork has improved steadily.  For Aoba Johsai, who did not feature in the Revival production, excepting Allen and Kousuke (who also didn’t play any volleyball), they think it will take some work to show on-stage that Seijoh is meant to be the more powerful team when they haven’t been given as many chances to play together as a unit.  But even so, Allen’s looking forward to it.  

As Allen made these comments, Hiroki realized that joining that Karasuno teamwork will be a challenge for him personally as his character Suga hasn’t appeared in nearly as many matches as everyone else.  Tatsunari ‘reassured’ him by saying that the matches are super tough.  To which Hiroki responded, “Oh no, what do I do.”

Tatsunari describes rehearsals like being at the zoo.  It’s as lively and as exciting as the zoo, and they never really know what’ll happen on any given day.

Tatsunari is very excited about the move to a bigger venue in Tokyo Dome City Hall, which will give many more people the chance to see the show.

Hiroki will do his best to not lose to everyone.

Kenta then noted that during the Revival production, Shouhei and Justin often used to say that the matches were fun and that it was fun putting that choreography together.  Hopefully, Hiroki can latch onto their enthusiasm and not get too discouraged.  To which Hiroki replied that he would do exactly that and work hard without complaints.  Kenta quickly followed that they needed to get that in writing.  Or that if Hiroki does start to complain, he’ll have to bring this Sparkle magazine to rehearsals to show everyone.

Allen thinks it’ll be interesting to finally have Kousuke (Oikawa) in the match from the very beginning to the end, and he feels the pressure to display their relationship as one that says, “He’ll know what to do even if I don’t say anything.”  But he feels their off-stage relationship is starting to get to that point anyway.   

Kousuke more than anyone else wants to play through a match from beginning to end in its entirety.  

Kenta’s closing comments for the interview came from the Director, Kinoshita Worry.  During a meal with Kenta, Tatsunari, and the Director, he said, “I’m gonna tell you something good and you can’t tell anyone else.”  So of course Kenta tells us exactly what it is.  But the keyword for the next play is: “entrust.”  Pay special attention to how the setters Sugawara, Kageyama, and Oikawa entrust the ball to the others to make the play.