Keisuke Kuwata’s Anime Theme Song Realized via a Passionate Letter from the Staff! Anna Nagase Reveals Behind-the-Scenes of "Akane-banashi" Production

On Friday, April 3, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., "SHIBUYA ANIME BASE" (#ShibuAni) Episode 81 was broadcast live on the "ABEMA Anime Channel." This episode was the first to be broadcast from a brand-new studio, featuring rising voice actress Anna Nagase as a special guest. The program offered a wealth of information on new spring anime and a segment delving into the guest’s personal life.

At the start of the program, Nagase appeared as the first guest in the new studio, exclaiming, "I was so happy that I practically skipped my way here!" For Nagase, who is 21 years old and has been a voice actress for six years, fellow voice actor Shugo Nakamura, with whom she has previously worked, offered high praise, saying, "She can deliver such raw, realistic performances. I truly respect her." Regarding her own history with anime, Nagase mentioned, "When I was little, I loved overseas animation like Cartoon Network," while confessing a recent obsession with Sea’s Darkness, Moon’s Shadow, based on the manga by Chie Shinohara. Despite the work being from a completely different generation than her own, she passionately spoke about her niche love for the series, saying, "Toshihiko Seki is so cool as the upperclassman character," much to the surprise of MC Yuki Iwai (from the comedy duo Haraichi) and the rest of the cast.

Next, the program featured a major special on the highly anticipated spring anime Akane-banashi, which began airing the following day, April 4. Nagase, who plays the protagonist and rakugo storyteller Akane Osaki, spoke of her joy upon being cast. However, she also confessed to the immense pressure she felt: "During the audition, I was told that rakugo was absolutely mandatory and that I had to attend every single training session. I wondered if I could really do it." She revealed an extraordinary dedication to the role, explaining that an impromptu "koza" (rakugo stage) was set up in the recording booth so she could record her rakugo scenes while sitting in the formal "seiza" position on a cushion. Furthermore, a questionnaire from the series' rakugo supervisor, storyteller Kikuhiko Hayashiya, was introduced. He praised her, saying, "Lately, when she stands in front of the microphone, she has truly become the dignified 'Akane'." On the other hand, regarding Hayashiya’s comment that his instructions "sometimes take on a bit of a sadistic streak," Nagase showed her competitive side, remarking, "When he says that, it just fires me up and makes me want to show him what I’ve got!"