"Hearing your story brought tears to my eyes...!" Kaori Ishihara & Shuri Miyumi Interview Right After Taking the Stage at the Umamusume 7th Event!

"Umamusume: Pretty Derby 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR 'THE STAGE' in TOKYO" was held on June 20 and 21. On DAY 1, Kaori Ishihara (voicing Almond Eye) and Shuri Miyumi (voicing Forever Young), who both featured on the key visual, delivered spectacular performances. Songs focusing on the bonds between the Umamusume were proudly delivered to the Trainers at the venue.

In this article, we interviewed Kaori Ishihara (Almond Eye) right after the DAY 1 performance, along with Shuri Miyumi (Forever Young), for whom this show marked her very first time taking the stage at a numbered event. We asked the two, who had just finished an impressive performance, about their impressions of each other and their thoughts on the concert.

——Ms. Ishihara, this is your second time taking the stage. How do you feel after finishing the 7th Event?

Ishihara: Personally, I'm not the type who has had many experiences working hard towards something together with peers, but through the previous performance, everyone taught me how wonderful and fun it is to combine our strengths.

This time, the nervous feelings from that time crossed my mind again, but when I saw everyone's faces, I thought, "Enjoying the present moment is what's most important." I wanted the members who were performing for the first time to feel that way too, so while encouraging those who were nervous, I was able to shift my own mindset that way as well.

Actually taking the stage was truly fun, and especially on DAY 1, Almond Eye's songs came one after another towards the end. Although it was a high hurdle for me, by overcoming it and moving forward, I felt as if I was personally experiencing how Ai-chan, who was implemented in the game, holds hands with the Trainer and moves forward.

When I finished singing "Glory Eyes" with those deeply linked feelings, it was the best live performance ever, leaving me with nothing but the feeling of "I did it! That was so much fun!"

——Ms. Miyumi, this was your first time performing, and Forever Young was selected for the key visual alongside Almond Eye.

Miyumi: It really was my absolute first time taking the stage, and even singing and dancing on a big stage was a first for me, yet I was entrusted with the major role for the key visual this time. Forever Young is a very dignified and cool girl, so I practiced with the desire to be as dignified as her, not losing to Yan-ko, and to enjoy it rather than be nervous. However, right before going on, I still got incredibly nervous.

Kaori-san... Ms. Ishihara gave me a big hug and said, "It's okay, enjoying it is what matters!" That really made me realize that the feeling of enjoyment is what's important. I also got to practice a lot with the fellow Umamusume cast members who were announced at the 5th anniversary and made their first performance together. I welcomed the actual show filled with excitement to create something as one with everyone and deliver it to the Trainers.

For the first song, there was the introduction line, which made me nervous, but from the second song onwards, I spotted the Trainers supporting us with penlights and towels, and I was able to enjoy my time on stage!

Ishihara: I knew how incredibly hard she had been working, so hearing her story just brought tears to my eyes...! Like, why am I the one crying? (laughs). I had heard from the instructors that the first-timer group made time on their own to practice and build teamwork, and I thought that was so wonderful. It truly touched my heart. It was deeply moving.

Miyumi: Thank you so much!

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