Harami 2nd Q&A - Anime North 2014

Harami 2nd Q&A
*feel free to correct/fill in the blanks if I missed anything. Both my memory and shorthand are terrible
* Kudos to the interpreter Rin

Q: How do you feel about Canadian water?
A: She prefers soft water over hard water. Canada' drinking water happens to be hard water. However, she was pleased to learn that Canada sells bottles of her favorite soft water.

Q: Favorite voice acting role?
A: Has an attachment to all characters she has played but particularly attached to Takane and enjoyed playing Yuuko as well.

Q: What do you think of Takane/Takanya in Puchimasu?
A: Says that Takane certainly has a different feel between series.

Q: Have you played/cleared any of the IM@S games?
A: Arcade - Yukiho. Kinda tough since she has to keep paying
SP - Iori, Yukiho, Ami/Mami
IM@S 2 - Unit of Takane, Hibiki, Chihaya
	- Got the bad end but to her she didn't feel like it was a bad end. She actually found the scene at the park and the song quite moving. Only found out it was a bad end when somebody told her.

Q: Can we get a Shijou?
A: "Keep this a secret. 'Shijou'" (In Takanya's voice.)

Q: Do you have sempai you really respect?
A: - Many of the IM@S sempai since she has spent so much time with them
- Others include Kuwashima Houko, Nakahara Mai, Ishida Akira

Q: If you got the chance to voice a character in a past series she has not voiced, who would it be?
A: Lacus Clyne in SEED/SEED Destiny.
- Quite fond of the SEED series and used to imitate Tanaka Rie back in the day

Q: Has Asami Imai been instrumental in inspiring you to pursue a solo singing career?
A: She has been to Asami's lives before and very impressed at how good she is. At the same time she feels she needs to work and try harder to catch up to her.

Q: What was it like recording the solo album?
A: The songs she's sung solo before were no problem, but the three new songs she recorded were tough to sing. Kaze no Orchestra in particular since it is sung in a higher key. Despite this, she still enjoyed it.

Q: How hard is it to come up with a voice for a specific character or character archetype?
A: Her process is she thinks about the character first, then refrences the visuals, then their personality.
- There are two types of recording - group and alone
- Finds it easier in a group setting because she can listen to what the others have to say and respond in such a manner fitting to the character
- For games she does recording alone and finds it a little harder. She has to imagine them instead.

Q: Do you often hang out with her colleagues?
A: - A lot of the time like dinners after recordings.
- Spent some time at a resort w/ Asami-chan (Imai) and Azumi
*Yes, she let Asami-chan slip out
*Not something you would normally call a sempai
[Crowd loses it]
[Embarassment intensifies]
- The only colleague she's ever slept over with was Asami Shimoda at Asami's place

Q: Does she have a particularly favorite memory in the course of her career?
A: - Has many favorite memories from over the years
- One that stands out is the Idolmaster 3rd Live where she debut.
- The audience didn't actually know she would be there performing so she was very nervous that they might not accept her
- However, they accepted her

Q: How have your feelings changed over the years about performing on stage?
A: - Scared at first but now even more afraid now that years have passed.
- She now knows what to deliver and anxious about matching that delivery each time

Q: I liked the song Koihana. What was it like recording it?
A: Found it hard to do since it was a very nice song in they style of a ballad she wasn't so familiar with. She really wanted to do it well and work on her voice to get it right.
- she mentioned Princess Snow White and Kazahana in reference to how she's had to perform for other songs, but she didn't say anything about Flower Girl for whatever reason.

**Unfamiliar territory. Those who know moon can clarify.**
Q: Regarding Takane's manner of speech, she tends to use the word "truly" (makoto) when addressing someone. What does she do in a situation when addressing Makoto since the "makoto" used sounds very much the same?
A: She said there's no difference in Japanese between the accents used for each word, so they sound the same, but to her it's about what she's feeling. Basically, if she wants to say makoto as in "truly" in a formal way, then she'll think about saying it that way, where as when saying Makoto as in the name, she'll think about it that way. (Thanks Anon)

Q: Which anime character have you played can you relate to the most?
A: Marielle from Log Horizon. She spoke her native dialect kansai-ben and is about as cheerful and happy as she is. Harami's parents taught her to always be positive and this is a trait she most identifies with Marielle.

Q: Did you ever think that the franchise would be what it is today?
A: She was never prepared for the scale of their performances - starting out she didn't know the 3rd live would be that big.
- Thanks all the producers out there for making the franchise what it is today
- Also heard that at the very beginning it was very tough for her sempai since it was smaller scale, they would have to finance their own costumes, etc.
- Listening to this she has also come to appreciate the hard work of those that came before her and is thankful for her sempai as well

Q: What is your favorite idolmaster song to sing/listen to?
A: Ready since choreography only comes at the end of the song so she is free to interact a bit with her colleagues and the crowd.

Q: Favorite male voice actor?
A: When she was in Junior High her favorite was Koyasu Takehito. She recalls once having his album but being unable to get it signed since she lived so far away from the signing events. She would buy magazines, cut out his picture, frame it, and sleep with it.

Q: Favorite anime?
A: Fushigi Yuugi. She was touched by it and would like to someday be in something to touch others as well.

Q: Do you have plans for a live outside of Japan?
A: Nope, Not right now. Though it is part of her dream to do this and she has some places in mind.

Q: If you weren't a VA, what other career would you pursue?
A: Scripting/Directing for variety shows. She has also worked in a post office before so really fine with anything provided her office mates were nice.

Q: With all the VAs also having singing careers these days, do you think singing well is a requirement for VA work today?
A: Not neccessarily. What matters still is the ability to act and a good singer might not necessarily make a good actor. What matters is how much you can characterize and express the character while singing.

Q: Favorite variety shows?
A: London Hearts and [program name escapes me]. Really likes shows produced and directed by the same people.

Q: What inspired you to come to Canada?
A: Always wanted to go overseas and was offered this gig from Anime North.
- Arriving here she was surprised with the love of anime and Japanese culture and really appreciates it.

Q: In One For All there is a scene where Takane says something to Hibiki that actually upsets her and has her run off crying. What do you think it was?
A: She remembers recording but since they are void of context does not remember this scene specifically. She only recently got a PS3 so now that it's been mentioned she's curious herself.