June 2019 Famitsu seiyuu interviews

Interview with "iM@S Mirishita"'s Azusa Tadokoro (Shizuka Mogami). "With Mogami-chan, as we walked together, grew together with me as a partner."


On 29th June, 2019, "The iDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days" (henceforth Mirishita) celebrated its 2nd anniversary. To commemorate such an occasion, we interviewed Azusa Tadokoro, who plays Shizuka Mogami. She told us about her memories so far, such as how she played Shizuka via her feelings of "love", and an unexpected moment during the Live that she never imagined would occur.


Tadokoro-san speaks about her passion for Shizuka!
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- Tadokoro-san, who is Shizuka Mogami to you?

Tadokoro: She's my partner who grew with me, walking with me even when I didn't know right from left. Now, whenever I hear my performance from 7 years ago, I felt "Young!" in many ways (laughs).

- It's been 7 years, huh. When you play her role, what kinds of things do you need to be aware of?

Tadokoro: At the very beginning, I tried my best to speak in a more adult-like manner. This frantic attitude, which is the part Mogami-chan was trying to get across, was likely one of the reasons why I was chosen to be her seiyuu. But, since I've grown in the last 7 years, if I try to act adult-like I tend to overdo it, so I try to act more naturally. Also, in the past I had to really go all-out with my performance, but now I can be a bit more flexible and can now consider Mogami-chan's personality and feelings when I perform, such as "What is Mogami-chan feeling right now?"

- I understand. So,what does Tadokoro-san think about Shizuka's personality?

Tadokoro: She's excessively serious, I feel because there's somewhere that she's trying to achieve as soon as possible. She loves idols very much, so she wants to achieve her goal of becoming the Top Idol really quickly. But, her pure feelings are very strong, and she can't afford to have those...that's what she says. I think that part of her is adorable. (laughs)

- Shizuka, anyway, her straightforwardness is still charming. Having participated in "The iDOLM@STER Million Live!" (henceforth Million Live!) for the past 7 years, throughout the various experiences you remember, which one is the one that left the greatest impression on you?

Tadokoro: The thing that left an impression was a "programme", when I went to Hawaii with "MiriRaji"[1]. I remember continuing the program for a long time, but we got to go to Hawaii! When doing jobs for "Million Live!", I went to Singapore and Taiwan, but this was the first time in my life that I left Asia, and I was really excited.

[1] A web radio show held every Thursday on Nico Nico Douga, hosted by Azusa Tadaokoro, alongside Haruka Yamazaki (Mirai Kasuga) and Momo Asakura (Serika Hakozaki).

- Incidentally, did you look up any tourist attractions in Hawaii?

Tadokoro: I absolutely did not (laughs). So, please let me know if you have any recommendations!

- You could go see the volcanoes (laughs). From now to the past, do you have any strong recollections during the Live performances?

Tadokoro: Performing as a guest member from "Million Live!", I won't ever forget the 8th "iDOLM@STER" Live. All of a sudden, I was singing in a large place like the Pacifico Yokohama, and I was so nervous so I panicked. I enjoyed singing, but I had stage fright since I wasn't used to singing in front of so many people, and my hands, feet and voice were constantly trembling.

- So, how did you overcome that?

Tadokoro: I haven't overcome it yet (laughs). I feel like the pressure each Live is shortening my lifespan... Truth is, during "Million Live!"'s 5th Live, I was feeling so tense I couldn't bear it, so before I sang "SING MY SONG" I approached Ueshama (Reina Ueda, who plays Umi Kousaka) for help. But, on the contrary, I felt my heart became too relaxed, and I made a mistake. I realized that it would be better to carry it alone rather than forcing it out (bitter laugh).

- It's tough finding a balance. However, Tadokoro-san, you'll be performing in Fukuoka for the 6th Live on the 29th and 30th. Please tell me any highlights.

Tadokoro: I'd like you to pay attention to D/Zeal's [2] performance. However, there are many more surprises, so look forward to it.

[2] An in-game unit comprising of Shizuka Mogami and Julia (portrayed by Aimi).



Tadokoro-san is attracted to the "Onee-san" Idols?
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- Now let's talk about the game, please tell me your honest opinion of Mirishita, which is about to celebrate its 2nd Anniversary?

Tadokoro: It's going by so fast! I remember talking about it in MiriRaji, the evolution of the Live scenes are amazing. Over these 2 years the changes have been really surprising, and I can feel the enthusiasm from the staff.

- Do you have any memories recording for "Mirishita"?

Tadokoro: For me the most memorable one was recording for the "Harmonics" event. Mogami-chan was really troubled, but it was a really passionate story so it was a lot of fun to play, and I empathized with Mogami-chan at certain parts.

- Do you play "Mirishita"?

Tadokoro: I'm continuing to play Mogami-chan's events really seriously (laughs). Right now, I have all of her cards except the "Three Sisters Cafe" card!

- Wow! By the way, what's your favorite song?

Tadokoro: I really enjoy "Last Actress", it's a great song that I'll never get tired of. I also like all the Fairy songs.

- So, what other idols do you like apart from Shizuka?

Tadokoro: I like Fuuka (Toyokawa) and Rio-nee (Rio Momose). I really like Fuuka-san's voice (laughs), and as for her personality, it's quite good, but she has really cute reactions whenever she's messed with. As for Rio-nee, at first glance she seems like an adult, but her pureness and confidence trying to get herself out there is really cute in a way too.

- I'm interested in those two as well. One last message for the Producers, please!

Tadokoro: As the game keeping evolving, songs involving Mogami-chan, such as group and solo songs will be implemented, so I would like to look forward to future developments together with you!


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Interview with "iM@S Mirishita"'s Shiina Natsukawa (Anna Mochizuki). "Growing alongside Anna, she has become an irreplaceable presence"

On 29th June, 2019, "The iDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days" (henceforth Mirishita) celebrated its 2nd anniversary. To commemorate such an occasion, we interviewed Shiina Natsukawa, who plays Anna Mochizuki. The gap of her "On" and "Off" modes, characteristic to Anna's charm, and her unexpected similarities to Natsukawa-san!?


The key thing to be aware of when playing Anna, is to know how important the "gap" is
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- Natsukawa-san, who is Anna Mochizuki to you?

Natsukawa: Since it's the role I got immediately upon my debut, since we've grown together, she's definitely an irreplaceable existence. We experienced many "first times" together. The first time I stood on stage, was during "iDOLM@STER"'s 8th Live Tour performing in Zepp Fukuoka, and I also gained experience recording songs and for the game through Anna.

- Having walked together for so long, what do think the charm of Anna is?

Natsukawa: It's her "dual-sided character". The "On" mode of Anna on stage, and the "Off" mode otherwise, it feels like I'm portraying two very different characters. However, both Annas want to "shine brightly as idols", which is a consistent belief at their core, which is something I really respect.

- So when you play Anna, what are the points you really need to be aware of?

Natsukawa: Whenever I play "Off" mode, I need to be extra-sensitive. In addition to being really quite, when first starting out with the Producer, there's this really subtle distance between her and her companions in the Theater, and you can feel this sense of shyness towards strangers, so I'm always thinking about how to express that in my performance. "Off" mode Anna is her natural stance, so for this part I want continue to pursue expressing this part of her without compromise. Also, inside and outside her speech has a lot of this "gap" incorporated in her character, and it's my interpretation of it that I incorporate in my performance.

- Certainly, there is this unique "gap" of hers. Do you remember the initial recording?

Natsukawa: Thinking about it now, back then there weren't a lot of high school students with their feet on the ground, and there might have been an enthusiasm to be forward, but I felt it was better to play "On" Anna with a lot of vigor. On the staff's side, the direction was "We'd like you to give a life-sized performance!", and I was allowed freedom for that. I was much closer to Anna's age back then, but since we're approaching 7 years of growing now, I try to get nearer to how it was back then.

- I understand. When Anna joined the cast of "THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE To the other side of the sparkle!", how was that recording like?

Natsukawa: That was the first time I had to dub over an anime. I had very little experience in dubbing, and it was the first time I met with the 765 Pro senpai, so I was really nervous. All of us "Million Live!" folks were really nervous, and all the senpai actively worked to relieve the tension by talking to us, so there was a really friendly atmosphere. Thanks to that, I was able to perform as I had practised. It was a very good study and experience, and it's stuck with me until now.

- You were pretty nervous. So then, did you have a moment where you went "I understand Anna!"?

Natsukawa: Around 2 to 3 years since I started playing Anna, there was a moment during the Live where I saw the Producer's response and I got the feedback of "it's good if I played it like this". However, when "Mirishita" debuted, and her growth reset, once again I had to play Anna at the time of her debut, and it was quite difficult to revive the emotions and performances of back then. Not to mention the quality of the voice has grown, and the things that I've experienced with Anna are things that the Anna of "Mirishita" has yet to experience.

- "Mirishita" also depicts her meeting with the Producer. It's one thing recording for the game, but for the dramas in the CDs, is there anything you need to keep an eye on when recording with other cast members?

Natsukawa: Unlike when I'm recording alone, there are a lot of changes made to tone and rhythm when Anna is speaking in dialogue. By myself, the length of my lines are very long (laughs). But, since that's something distinctive to Anna, I try not be conscious of the fact that it's a dialogue, and treat it as if I am recording by myself. After all, aside from Anna, there is really nothing else.

- It's interesting that you're not conscious about it. So, do you think there are any ways that you and Anna are similar to each other in?

Natsukawa: We have a lot of common points, such as us both liking games, and are the indoor-type (laughs). It may not be really obvious compared to Anna, but I also have my own "On" and "Off" modes. I'm not really aware of it myself, but I'm surprised by the people who aren't aware of my energy conservation normally.

- I'm really curious about that now (laughs). Is there any moment in time where you switch completely between "On" and "Off" like Anna does?

Natsukawa: With my stage makeup on, it's like you can hear a switch go off. Physically, I've become a completely different person (laughs). That's why the tension goes up all in one go.

- It's like an image of you transforming (laughs). Continuing on, having worked in "Million Live!" for 7 years, which moments have left an impression on you?

Natsukawa: The "Million Werewolf Game" in the 2nd Live Blu-ray was a lot of fun! Around that time, it was common for us to play board games after Live rehearsals led by Pyon-san (Haruka Yamazaki, who plays Mirai Kasuga). The staff looked at that and they decided to hold the "Million Werewolf Game" right there, and I could feel the love of the staff. For "Million Live!", I feel there is a good distance between the staff and the cast, so they can tell what we want to do, but I think the best thing that came out of this was the "Million Werewolf Game". Back then, I was forced to retire early, so I want my revenge (laughs).


What happens behind the brilliant stage is much tougher than you might imagine!
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- The other day, you appeared in the Sendai performance of "Million Live!"'s 6th Live Tour.

Natsukawa: For the first time, we were split into teams of Princess, Fairy and Angel, and I feel like we gained a strong sense of solidarity. Of course there was the outfits, but even through the songs and the MCs and the strong incorporation of team colors, at that time I could feel the direction of "Mirishita"'s Anna.

- The costumes and the setlist were wonderful!

Natsukawa: I thought everything was gorgeous. I especially thought the outfits of Piko Piko Planets was amazzing. They also wired some decorative lights, so I had to be careful not to wear it alone, or to get disconnected, so behind the scenes it was a lot tougher than you can imagine, but since the Producers enjyed it, it was good. Especially on the first day we had a role to play in a surprise, so we had a big responsibility.

- In the setlist, there were also covers of 765 Pro All-Stars' songs.

Natsukawa: Yes. There should have been many Producers of "Mirishita" there, but during the verse of "Smile Taisou" with the "Taisou Lecture" and the "Ahahaha", there was so much excitement in the venue, and I was really surprised. Once again, I felt that the Producers are really amazing.



Natsukawa-san's favorite idols, are those that are like her sister
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- There were many songs shown off at the Live, but what songs do you like that don't involve Anna?

Natsukawa:  I like "Hanazakari Weekend" and "Getsuyoubi no Cream Soda", because they allow me to feel the atmosphere of music such as disco sound and retro-pop. I really like the outfits of the unit "Jelly PoP Beans", and really want to see them in a Live.

- I see. Do you normally listen to this kind of music?

Natsukawa: Yes. I really like Kayako Yoshizawa, especially her song "Getsuyoubi Sensou" since it has a retro-pop image, and I always sing it at karaoke. Also, I really like the opening theme of "Arakawa Under the Bridge", "Venus to Jesus".

- In a way, I feel like I understand your preferences (laughs).

Natsukawa: I also really like French pop and jazz. The variety of songs in "Mirishita" is great, so I would like to sing more types of songs. So far, Anna tends to sing more orthodox idol songs in units, but in her solos she sings in EDM-style songs, so I'm privately looking forward to that!

- By the way, who is your favorite idol besides Anna?

Natsukawa: It would have to be Yuriko (Nanao). Anna and Yuriko's relationship, to me is a very exciting one. We've been in the same CD series and have done duets to gether so often, so their relationship has a deep emotional attachment for me. There's also Momoko-chan (Momoko Suou). She kinda precocious, and has that tsundere feeling that's very similar to my own younger sister. Since I love my sister very much, it makes me feel excited.

- You must feel very close to your sister. Please give a final message for all the Producers!

Natsukawa: You may have loved them for a long time, or you may have just discovered them, but since there are so many characters, there each have their own stories to tell, so have fun producing your favorite idols. If possible, if you don't skip the voices and watch our full performances, I would be really happy. Finally, please keep supporting Anna!