April Famitsu Shiny Colors interview (Karin Isobe)

For the second person in our special interviews project, we have L'Antica's Kogane Tsukioka, played by Karin Isobe. We asked Isobe-san about her episodes meeying with Kogane, as well as talked about events which were highly memorable for her.
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A fateful encounter with Kogane


- You've been active as Kogane Tsukioka for about 2 years now, would you like to look back on that?

Isobe: The 1st year was my first year doing anything, so I went into that role with everything I had. In the 2nd year I could afford to be somewhat more flexible, and I feel that I could project a clearer, more precise appearance of Kogane-chan through myself. After being with Kogane-chan for 2 years, I myself was able to grow as well.


- You received the role of Kogane via the audition, right?

Isobe: Yes. However, originally there wasn't anything about Kogane-chan in the materials, so instead I was going to accept Mano-chan. After that, up until the audition I received additional information about Kogane-chan, and it was then that I fell in love at first sight. From there, I accepted both Mano-chan and Kogane-chan, but during the audition, the atmosphere among the staff was "her Kogane is really good".


- So, it was a fateful encounter.

Isobe: During the auditon, in addition to judging the lines and the songs, I also accepted interviews, but that time I talked more about myself rather than my role. "This is the first time I've really looked back on myself", I felt; this was an episode that left a deep impression on me.


- You said earlier that you fell in love at first sight, but what exactly attracted you to her?

Isobe: It was her appearance. I thought she looked really cute. Also, I feel that she's a good kid who's really good at being forward-looking and positive, even when I feel that she's down and depressed.


- Indeed, there are a lot of in-game episodes where she leaves a really positive impression.

Isobe: Even when I perceive it as negative, it's impressive that Kogane-chan can always be positive. When we first met I usually thought, "Why do you think that way", but now I can agree with "oh, that's right", and I think that I've synchronized more with Kogane-chan in that way.


- 2 years have passed, and both of you have grown together. When performing as Kogane, is there anything that you keep in mind?

Isobe: She's normally very clumsy, but during idol activities, she's a super cool girl. When playing Kogane in Lives, not only do I try to be cute, but I try to have a cool perfomance in mind.


- Speaking of Kogane, her Nagasaki-ben is impressive, but did you have any difficulty when recording it?

Isobe: I'm from Kansai, so I was really worried. But, during the first recordings when discussing with the staff, they gave me the following advice: "It's not really Nagasaki-ben, but rather a Kogane-ben that'll capture an image that the Producers will love". After hearing that I quite eagerly changed myself, so now when performing, I try to be more aware of the feeling of Kogane-chan as the cutest.


I want to show a new side of Kogane in the 3rd year!


- After 2 years of activity, has your relationship with the other members of L'Antica changed at all?

Isobe: I feel that L'Antica is a super-comfy and great place. It might be an exaggeration, but here we can talk about the good and the bad things to each other without hesitation; it's a "place to come back to" (laughs). We can talk about our troubles, but as a unit, we can discuss together more about what we want to do.


- Your memories with the members, particularly those that left an impression on you, please tell them to us.

Isobe: One thing that left a deep impression on me was when we when to Hatsushima, Atami, for the phototaking for the Summer Party in August 2019. Unfortunately on the day itself it started raining heavily, and we had to run around Hatsushima in the rain. Also, getting to huddle together and sleep in the hotel room was really fun (laughs).


- So, like the voice dramas, it really was like a training camp. Now, what are your future goals as Kogane Tsukioka?

Isobe: In the 3rd year, to show off that Kogane-chan does these kinds of things, has these kinds of expressions, I'll do my best to show off this new side to the Producers. Also, as the coolest unit in the universe, L'Antica, I want to work with the other units to aim for a new stage!


- So we should pay attention to L'Antica and Kogane Tsukioka in the 3rd year then. For you personally, what kinds of things do you dream about doing?

Isobe: I want to listen to and sing Kogane-chan's solo songs. When she sings her solo, what kind of song is it, what kind of expressions she makes, sometimes I imagine it. Maybe it's something completely different from the girl of L'Antica. Producers, what do you think? (laughs)