Six Members of the Star-Studded Cast Take the Stage! TV Anime “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle” Episode 1 Advance Screening Stage Greeting

Earlier this month, a special screening was held in Fukui. Asked about her impressions of visiting the location, Yomiya smiled, “It was a really nice place. So peaceful…” Anzai, chuckling, added, “I actually took her to the biggest city in Fukui Prefecture, but…” Delighted by the praise for her hometown, Anzai was clearly pleased. Yomiya, a bit flustered, replied, “It doesn’t matter if it’s urban or not!” She also expressed her gratitude for being able to experience the warmth of the locals during an on-location feature that will be released soon.

Okubo and Hasegawa, who participated in the already released gourmet location shoot, enthusiastically shared, “It was delicious!” Hasegawa reported that during the shoot, “We’d travel, eat, travel, and eat,” drawing laughs when discussing her hearty appetite. She proudly declared, “I’m good at eating!” which had everyone on stage laughing. Amidst the laughter spreading throughout the venue, Okubo reflected, “It was my first time meeting someone who says they’re good at eating deliciously.” Hasegawa confidently replied, “I thought that could be my selling point. I ate a lot of delicious food, and I enjoyed every bite!” Okubo revealed that the shoot took an entire day, and since they play a basketball club duo, she was glad they could go together. The tone conveyed how much fun they had during the location shoot.

When Okubo and Hasegawa reported the foods they enjoyed in a group LINE chat, Anzai remarked, “While I was happy, I also couldn’t help but notice how brown everything was,” prompting some chuckles about the color of the gourmet food. Embracing the “delicious things are brown” philosophy, Okubo added, “I’d go to Fukui just for that katsudon. Please call me whenever there’s a Fukui feature!” showing how taken she was with the region. The location segment will be broadcast together with the main episode on October 7, and it was also announced that a full version will be released online.

Episode 1 is an extended premiere with all the characters present. The episode’s plot centers on “Saku receiving a request concerning Kenta Yamazaki.” Regarding highlights of episode 1, Iwami said, “The episode opens with narration by each of the characters. It was specially written by Hiromu-sensei, and the brilliant, sparkling words alone made it feel like a beautiful youth story had already begun. It was very exciting during recording,” she recalled, recommending viewers pay special attention to Saku’s interactions with each of the charming heroines. Sakata explained, “I was directed to have different ways of conversing with each heroine, so I made sure to portray those differences in my performance,” which Iwami emphasized could already be sensed from the very first episode. Yomiya added, “Honestly, everyone is so cute—there really isn’t any part that doesn’t deserve attention! Everyone is adorable all the time!” urging viewers not to look away and to fully enjoy the anime.

Sakata reflected on the recording sessions, noting, “Even though the atmosphere was friendly, the story itself is subtle and complex, so we were extremely focused.” What most stuck with him from the direction was being told, “Saku is so smart that he already knows what the other person is going to say.” He shared, “I was directed not just to respond, but to anticipate and converse with a sense of pre-established harmony, as if he could see ahead. That was a unique direction and really left an impression—it’s the result of Saku’s extraordinary communication skills!” For Hiiragi Yuko, Iwami recalled, “She’s bright and cheerful, and I was told to bring out that brightness, to act more energetically.” But Yuko is also capable of sharp insights and sometimes delivers surprisingly mature lines, so I tried to bring out different nuances in each scene.” The cast happily recounted that Fukui-themed souvenirs were often present during recording, which led to lots of eating and chatting. During episode 1’s recording, Okubo brought Habutae Mochi as a treat, and would also hand out items obtained through the collaboration, amusing everyone with her PR efforts and prompting shared laughter at the memories.

Okubo noted that the characters in the series generally share the trait of being smart. “Haru is intelligent, but her most distinct characteristic is her honesty,” she said. She recounted with a smile, “I was directed to portray her as the type of girl Saku would need, which was interesting.” She also mentioned her camaraderie with Hasegawa’s Yuzuki, “It doesn’t feel like this was our first regular series together…” Hasegawa smiled, “You were saying that by the second episode.” After the recording of episode 2, they even went out for a meal together, which Hasegawa recalled fondly, while Okubo boasted that even the location shoot felt like it drew on their natural chemistry. Hasegawa cheerfully added, “The compatibility comes through in our roles and our real-life friendship!” to great applause from the audience.

Okubo confided, “I’m gradually getting closer to everyone one by one!” On the other hand, Sakata was outed by Hasegawa as being somewhat withdrawn, often sitting quietly while the heroines’ voice actors chatted exuberantly. Okubo reenacted, “When the heroines all excitedly spoke, and we’d ask, ‘Right, Sakata-kun?’ he’d answer, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’” Sakata smiled gently, saying, “There were times when I’d pretend to read the script while listening to everyone’s stories. It was fun to observe.” With cast members complimenting Sakata’s skill at including everyone in the conversation, Anzai burst into laughter recalling, “It was funny when all the male cast members, including Sakasho (Sakata), shared stories about having head injuries that bled at some point in their lives. It was a really lively atmosphere!” Okubo observed that Saku and Yuzuki were especially intelligent characters, prompting Hasegawa to laugh and add, “I’m not that smart, so I had to really work my brain during our scenes together.”