2nd Page Hinatazaka46's Nao Kosaka & Kaho Fujishima Take on Their First Voice Acting Challenge! What Was Completely Opposite During Recording? Interview for 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea' | VOICE ACTOR

——That's a point of interest for fans too! Were there any memorable episodes during recording?

Kosaka: I realized that Fujishima becomes more active when she's nervous (lol). This was the first time I'd seen Fujishima being this active (lol).

Fujishima: I was even more restless than usual, standing up and sitting down, unable to settle down (lol). I'd also rarely seen Kosaka-san nervous, so when I spoke to her, she said, "I'm nervous too." Come to think of it, she had been frozen in place the whole time (lol).

Everyone: (lol)

Kosaka: Completely opposite ways of being nervous (lol).

——By the way, Kosaka-san had already watched the TenSura series, and Fujishima-san watched all the series episodes after joining this project, right?

[Photos/Images] Hinatazaka46's Nao Kosaka & Kaho Fujishima Take on Their First Voice Acting Challenge! What Was Completely Opposite During Recording? Interview for 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea' 3rd

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Fujishima: After receiving the offer, Kosaka-san immediately sent me recommended TenSura episodes through our manager, and I watched them exactly as recommended.

——That's a perfect 100-point action as an anime fan (lol).

Kosaka: Of course, it's fine to start from 'Tears of the Azure Sea,' but I thought it would be better to know the relationships between Rimuru-sama and the other characters who have appeared so far, so I told her she absolutely should watch up to the third TV anime season (lol).

I also rewatched TenSura myself, paying attention to everyone's performances. I listened carefully to various aspects like how voices are used in everyday scenes and in tense situations, and built up my feelings about the work of being a voice actor within myself.

——What other preparations did you make before actually performing?

Kosaka: I had never started from the point of creating a voice within a role before, so I thought I first needed to get used to hearing my own voice (while acting). While thinking things through myself, like "let's make this part a bit gentler" or "let's try this part more powerfully," I repeatedly practiced by recording with a voice recorder and listening back.

Fujishima: Even though it's acting with voice alone, I practiced in front of a mirror, changing my voice tone while incorporating facial expressions. During regular recording sessions, I sometimes receive guidance to sing with expressions as if I'm really performing live, and I applied that approach here.

——After this first voice acting challenge, are there any types of roles you'd like to try in the future?

Kosaka: Through this recording challenge, while feeling respect for voice actors, the first thing that came to mind was a slightly villainous character. I'd like to try playing a role with two sides to their personality through voice.

Fujishima: I'm the youngest sister of four siblings, so while not exactly a mischievous character, I'd like to try a role that's a bit sister-like and energetic (lol).