Turn A Gundam Episode 10 Audio Commentary

Turn A Gundam episode 10 audio commentary

The Turn A Gundam BD BOX 1&2 include select episode commentaries by various voice actors & actresses. This ep's features Akino Murata (Sochie Heim), Tetsu Inada (Harry Ord), Jun Fukuyama (Keith Laijie), and Setsuji Sato (Joseph Yaht).

-Feez

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00:00

Akino: Welcome to the audio commentary for Turn A Gundam Episode 10: Visit to a Grave!

[clapping]

Akino: I'm Akino Murata, the voice of Sochie Heim.

Tetsu: I'm Tetsu Inada, the voice of Harry Ord.

Jun: I'm Jun Fukuyama, the voice of Keith Laijie.

Setsuji: I'm Setsuji Sato, known for the famous line "I'm Joseph Yaht!".

*laughs*

Tetsu: Is it that famous?

Setsuji: I don’t know…

Ryota: And I'm the moderator, Fujitsu Ryota.

Tetsu: You know, I'm already having fun being here today.

Jun: It's like a school reunion.

Tetsu: It sure is.

Jun: And this group of people is rare.

Tetsu: Our characters had little to no interaction in the show.

Jun: I had almost none with most people!

Tetsu: Yeah, you were just baking bread!

Ryota: We are now at the opening sequence. I’d like to question the two gentlemen new here. Mr. Sato, can you tell us the history behind acting Joseph?

01:00

Setsuji: History... Can I say the actual history?

Tetsi: Go ahead.

Jun: We can insert beeps if it's no good.

Setsuji: Well, Tomino's daughter was a member of my theater company, but she was in the directing department and not in acting. Maybe he saw me and others like Romi and Rieko on stage and later decided to invite us to audition for Turn A.

Ryota: What character did you audition for? Was it Joseph?

Setsuji: I think it was a scene for Keith, Fran, and Loran. I don't remember that much but I think I auditioned with Jun. I was on Loran or...

Jun: I only auditioned for Loran.

Setsuji: Then I might have auditioned for Keith.

02:00

Ryota: I see. In these commentaries, all the old memories resurface, eh?

Tetsu: Yeah, I'm starting to remember things.

Jun: I did awful at the audition.

*laughs*

Tetsu: Same for me. I didn’t audition for Harry, but Phil Ackman!

Jun: I think I can understand that.

Tetsu: It’s kind of the Phil Ackman-type characters I’ve ended up acting in the long run. Compared to my body, I had a rather thin voice at the time. So, an acquaintance who only knew me by face recommended I audition for Phil.

Jun: Come to think of it, nearly everyone ended up acting different characters than who they auditioned for.

Tetsu: It might be an outcome of shuffling.

Akino: I only auditioned for Sochie!

Jun: Good to hear that.

Setsuji: You look very alike!

Akino: I was told the same thing earlier and was even recommended to cut my hair short.

03:00

Tetsu: She always had short hair.

Jun: Here comes Joseph.

Setsuji: Oh, stop it!

Jun: It's refreshing to hear again.

Setsuji: I can't act the same way again.

Jun: Yes, I think it’s the same for us all.

Tetsu: When we do recordings for games, I try to copy myself from back then and think to myself “… was it like this?”

Setsuji: I mean, "Lighting sword?"

*laughs*

Tetsu: You can still do it!

Setsuji: I’ve gotten old.

Tetsu: My voice has simply become broader and deeper.

Setsuji: It's often been said Harry's attirewas a reference to the Hanshin Tigers (Japanese Baseball team), but Joseph’s fashion sense was simply awful. I mean, what is with the pink blouse?

Jun: He is also wearing a choker ring. What ethnicity is he?

Tetsu: It seems like something ladies would wear.

03:55

Ryota: Examining Joseph's design, he appears to be from a southern region and is ethically different than Loran or the people of Ameria. Where you told about any of this?

Setsuji: No, I was just told to act gruff.

[Joseph Yaht: Co-m-pu-ter]

Tetsu: Here's his line, "Co-m-pu-ter".

Setsuji: I was cutting edge back then. Just like today how we have "O-mo-te-na-shi". [Japanese spirit of hospitality and customer service]

*laughs*

Tetsu: Did you intend that?

Jun: They stole it from you?

Setsuji: "Co-m-pu-ter", "O-mo-te-na-shi". I should aim for the next big word.

*laughs*

Ryota: It’s written in the character detail that Joseph was originally supposed to be a villain or rival to Loran.

Setsuji: Ah yeah, I think that may have been the initial plan. Maybe I just wasn’t good enough to pull it off...

Tetsu: Really?

Setsuji: So they might have had to change plans!

Tetsu: Well, most of the characters changed from what was in the original script. My character did as well.

05:00

Ryota: What was it like for Harry?

Tetsu: Well, for instance, Harry was originally intended to be a villainous character who lives for and manipulates women. But instead he ended up being a fine gentleman.

Ryota: It seems a lot of characters were changed for the better.

05:30

Tetsu: Back then the atmosphere and world felt very natural to act in. I was simply just trying to do my best, but I can't pull it off in the same manner nowadays. What I thought about Harry was that he was mature, so I tried to show that in my acting. However, once Tomino told me Harry was only "acting like a mature person", which is something I wish I'd been told earlier! Even if I was inexperienced at the time.

Ryota: Setsuji, is there anything in particular you recall about the recording sessions?

Setsuji: It's not about the recordings but can I say something else?

Ryota: Sure.

Setsuji: Back then, Tetsu and I often went to watch pro-wrestling.

Tetsu: We did.

Setsuji: And there were other pro-wrestling fans too, like Kumiko Watanabe (Fran). So one day the three of us got together to watch before a recording session. At the time Yamato Damashii (Japanese spirit) or NWO...

07:00

Tetsu: It was Yamato Damashii.

Setsuji: Yeah, that was hot at the time.

Tetsu: You’ve really derailed from the main topic!

*laughs*

Setuji: I’ve been wanting to say this! So the three of us were wearing Yamato Damashii shirts at the recording. But the next day I didn’t feel it was appropriate attire and didn’t wear it.

Tetsu: You betrayed me!

Setsuji: So, Tetsu and Kumiko ended up looking like a couple in matching outfits.

*laughs*

Tetsu: It was just the same t-shirt! Everyone was asking “what happened to the two of you?” You really got me!

Setsuji: I had to bring this up.

Tetsu: What the heck!? Why!?

Jun: Because it’s important!

Tetsu: ...While we’re on the subject, Noriko (Miashei’s seiyuu) got interested in wrestling because of us and accompanying us too.

08:00

Setsuji: We were a friendly bunch. Remember the time there was a local festival after a recording session?

Tetsu: I remember that!

Setsuji: We caught goldfish.

Tetsu: And handed all of them to Koyama. He had an aquarium in his house.

Akino: Was that a different day than when we went boating and to karaoke?

Tetsu: I think it was a different day, but it’s hard to remember exactly.

Setsuji: We were a young and jolly team.

Tetsu: There was a festival held at a playing field near the studio once. We’d record in the same studio we’re in right now. I wonder if it was coordinated like this on purpose for the occasion.

Setsuji: We’re totally off-topic now.

Jun: We are.

Setsuji: "I am going to be a great baker!"

Jun: I am!

Setsuji: Yatte Yarute!

Tetsu: Yatte Yarute! Hey, stop bringing in pro-wrestling phrases!

(Yatte Yarute! is a famous line meaning something like "I'm going to do it!" used by pro-wrestler Shiro Koshinaka)

*laughs*

Tetsu: I bet that's how you felt though, no?

Jun: I did! I was simply trying my best but they made me say that line a lot! I had to put effort into it.

Tetsu: It was something you couldn't control.

Jun: It was what I had to do.

09:00

Setsuji: Jun was the youngest among us.

Jun: Yes, I was only 20.

Setsuji: Everyone picked on you.

Jun: They did. So I tried my best to stay humble and quiet but it seems I failed.

*laughs*

Tetsu: Even if you were inexperienced as a voice actor, you still had a good number of lines. It was similar for me too--it was my first time acting so regularly for an anime. A lot of us had little experience and had just started our careers, so we were not used to recording so regularly. It really shaped the atmosphere at the studio.

Setsuji: I bet the veterans at the time must have looked at us and though “what are these people even doing?”

9:50

Tetsu: They were very kind to us. Sokabe (Miran Rex) once told me “you did well voicing Harry. But you are just one soldier from tomorrow, so keep it up.”

Seteuji & Jun: Hmm...

Tetsu: I couldn’t tell what he meant at the time, but now I interpret his words as “even if you did a great job, don’t act high-and-mighty”, or maybe he intended it as “you are still young”. Regardless, I still his words close to my heart and try not to act cocky.

Jun: Nowadays it is very rare for veterans to approach us and discuss our acting careers.

Tetsu: Indeed.

Jun: That was a precious time.

Tetsu: Nojima (Lord Borjarno) always came with us for lunch.

Jun: Yeah! I remember him telling me "I am amazed how fast you can talk!"

*laughs*

Jun: While others would say “you talk way too fast”. He was the only person who took it in a positive light.

Tetsu: He complimented you.

11:00

Jun: He was impressed because it was something he couldn’t do!

Tetsu: They were very nice to us.

Jun: They sure were.

Tetsu: I was a fan of Jackie Chan and it was my childhood dream to meet Hiroya Ishimaru.

(Hiroya Ishimaru is the official Japanese dub-over voice actor for Jackie Chan. Also the voice of Kabuto Kouji!)

Setsuji: He voiced two characters in Turn A.

Jun: Agrippa Maintainer!

Tetsu: And in the first half of the series…

Jun: Who was he...

Setsuji: "Borjarno!" [imitating his voice]

Tetsu: What was his name?

Jun: I can’t remember exactly.

Setsuji: He wore a wig.

Tetsu: He was a member of Luzianna. [They’re talking about Mallygan]

Tetsu: Anyway, once we went out for lunch and, as a fan, I really wanted to talk about Jackie Chan, but I kept it all to myself.

Setsuji: Did you go to the restaurant at the studio?

Tetsu: Yes, the one that served hayashi rice. Never thought he’d care to join me.

12:00

Jun: That hayashi rice was delicious!

Tetsu: It sure was!

Jun: Too bad it has since closed down.

Tetsu: The pilaf was delicious too.

Jun: Every item on the menu was delicious.

Tetsu: Eating at the studio restaurant was something I always looked forward to.

Jun: I ate many large dishes.

Ryota: Meanwhile, the episode has come to the scene where Dianna and Kihel swap positions. There was a question I have here for Tetsu... “When did you think Harry noticed the two had switched places?”


12:30

Tetsu: I thought it was made clear in the 18th episode, after Kihel makes her famous speech. Harry walked up to Kihel and said “Dianna would have said it differently!” I was certain that was the point he must have noticed. But when I asked Tomino about it he told me “he doubted her so he tried to catch her off-guard, but she denies it so strongly Harry took it as a misunderstanding.”

Jun: Wow, what an honest person!

Tetsu: So he was not fully aware at the time. Which, of course, means my viewpoint and Harry’s were different.

Ryota: I’m sure he at least had some suspicions at the time.

Tetsu: He definitely had some clue of what was going on, I think. It was really fun to hear Tomino’s untold details on the characters though.

Jun: He generally kept those to himself and let us do our jobs freely.

Tetsu: Maybe he didn’t want us to conform to and fit his specific details. I think he liked our natural acting and wanted us to find our way by instinct.

14:00

Tetsu: When it was decided I’d voice Harry, Yumiko Nakanishi (Poe) and I visited the recording studio and Tomino explained to Yumiko her character and I thought “wow, he’s giving us a lot of information!” But when it came to Harry, he just said “For Harry, it's all written in the script.” That was it!

*laughs*

Tetsu: At first I felt maybe Tomino is just rough against men, but perhaps he really meant what he said. For example, Harry’s first line in the 4th episode is “The Earth’s rain is warm, isn’t it?” I tried saying it in a snobbish manner, but Tomino told me “he’s just an honest man who’s truly happy at the Earth's warm rain. He is a simple person.” So I’d read the script straight as-is, or try to at least.

15:00

Setsuji: I bet if someone said lines like that in real life, they’d be seen as a weirdo.

*laughs*

Tetsu: You haven’t said much at all, Akino.

Akino: Ah, sorry!

Ryota: Akino, do you have any memorable lines?

Setsuji: You're holding back, aren't you?!

Akino: Only so you guys can talk! Um, do you mean from this episode in particular?

Ryota: It doesn't have to be from the 10th episode.

Akino: It wasn’t actually a line but I’ll never forget Sochie’s emotions at the end of the show.

Setsuji: How about the line "Gavan~! He's getting hit!"

*laughs*

Tetsu: How about the scene with the wedding dress?

Akino: That was sentimental as well.

Tetsu: It was the final part of the first movie.

16:00

Akino: I was also bad at pronouncing "L". So it was difficult for me to pronounce “Lily-sama”.

Tetsu: Like "Didy-sama".

Setsuji: There were also Loran.

Tetsu: A lot of character names had Ls.

Ryota: Any particular lines you recall, Setsuji?

Setsuji: For Joseph, it’s not a certain line but when you learn of his history regarding Manuipich...

Ryota: Was it about Adeska?

Setsuji: Yeah, it was that part. He was often presented as a rough and rude character, but when talking to Mayalito you recognized that he had a kind side to him after all. It changed my view of him as a character... although, they went to the moon soon after and he didn't have much screentime after that.

*laughs*

17:00

Jun: I was running my business and attaining popularity while everyone was at the moon.

Tetsu: You were at quite the high position when we returned!

Jun: I even had a franchise chain by the end.

Tetsu: You had a sense of business.

Ryota: How about you, Jun? Any particular lines?

Jun: Like I said, I was just doing my best for the most part. But there was a scene where Keith sneezes in front of a grave that I had to retake ten or more time. They kept saying it didn't sound natural.

Setsuji: Can you do it here?

Jun: It was like *sneeze*.

*laughs*

Jun: The first time was like *[light] sneeze*, because I was intentionally holding back. So, I did many retakes.

18:00

Setsuji: He was told that it didn't sounded like a sneeze.

Jun: They said I was trying too hard to make it sound dramatic.

Tetsu: I'm sure it must have been hard.

Jun: When I was watching the episode broadcast, I was squirming at the TV because my voice acting sounded so dull!

Tetsu: But that was what Tomino wanted.

[hearing Harry's line]

Tetsu: Man, it's just too embarrassing to hear my own lines! I can't do this anymore!

Ryota: Harry was standing in the cockpit and putting one leg up as if it was a car.

Tetsu: He always liked to stick one of his legs out for some reason. Maybe that was his way of acting mature. Like a cool, mature adult to appeal to the viewers.

18:50

Setsuji: Here comes Sochie.

Akino: Yep.

Jun: It's been 15 years since we last got together, but man that year of acting really was fulfilling.

Tetsu: Yeah, most of us were just starting our careers. A few years later I encountered Tomino on the Seibu line and he asked me "Hey, are you still making a living out of voice acting?" I replied with "Yes, thanks to you," and I meant it. It is the reason I am still here right now.

Jun: He once asked me the same thing as well and also mentioned he thinks I'm doing good!

Setsuji: I would like to get asked that question so I can reply with a "No!"

*laughs*

Tetsu: Maybe he'll take you out for dinner instead. I bet he'd ask you "are you still getting hit?"

Akino: Yes, I am...

Tetsu: No, you're not!

*laughs*

20:00

Ryota: Setsuji is always saying punchlines.

Jun: We'd talk like this a lot after the recording sessions.

Tetsu: Koyama always made fun of us.

Jun: If he joins in on this commentary series, it'll be time for him to get picked on!

Setsuji: Is he scheduled to join?

Ryota: Not for now, I don't think.

Tetsu: So, maybe Akino and...

Akino: Don't make me part of this!

Ryota: Maybe in the audio commentaries for the latter half (BD BOX2).

Tetsu & Setsuji: "Cloud and wind"

*laughs*

Tetsu & Setsuji: And Setsuji copying the line.

Tetsu: "We have no assistance from the Militia!"

Setsuji: When Tetsu and I meet each other on occasion, we always use that as a greeting of sorts...

Tetsu & Setsuji: "We have no assistance from the Militia!"

Tetsu: That line is from one of the side characters Koyama voiced, like a Citizen A.

Setsuji: Yeah, it wasn't from his main character Phil, but I still remember the line itself.

*laughs*

21:00

Tetsu: He didn't say it like this though. He had much younger, thinner voice back then. Like "We have no assistance from the Militia" [imitation]. For everyone listening in, do check out some of Koyama's other anime roles!

Setsuji: Yeah that would be fun.

Jun: Before each recording session, Koyama would prepare like "pow! pow!"

Setsuji: he would slap his ass!

*laugh*

Jun: If we had to do a retake, he'd throw the script on the floor.

Tetsu: And take his jacket off. Serious mode.

Setsuji: What a great scene.

Ryota: How do you feel about this scene, Akino?

AKino: At the time, I barely had any room in my head to think about it. But revisiting it... it's moving.

Tetsu: You were not moved at the time!?

Akino: I don't mean it like that. It's just I was concentrating on doing my best.

Setsuji: I understand...

*laughs*

22:00

Setsuji: But we surely were.

Tetsu: Yeah, we were. But this scene is particularly moving, isn't it? A queen bowing in front of a grave in apology. You don't see this type of thing too often.

Ryota: Perhaps because it was Turn A Gundam.

Tetsu: Even though there were Mobile Suits in the show, they weren't really fighting a traditional war.

Setsuji: Perhaps because the people on Earth didn't necessarily see the Moonrace as the enemy.

Ryota: Maybe. In the 8th episode, where Loran gives a speech, it was quite moving for both sides. They wanted everyone to be in good relations.

23:00

Tetsu: It was not a who wins or who loses situation. Everyone just wanted peace.

Setsuji: Maybe that's why adults enjoy it.

Ryota: We are now reaching the end. I'd like to ask Setsuji - how do you feel about Turn A Gundam in your career?

Setsuji: As has been mentioned, Joseph was my first time acting in an anime. So it is very important to me.

Ryota: How about you, Akino?

Akino: It was my second time acting in anime and a starting point for me as well. I also loved this show as a viewer and would like to revisit it again.

Ryota: How about you, Jun?

Jun: It's simple. If I didn't have a voice role in Turn A, I wouldn't be where I am right now.

Tetsu: Same here. Goodbye!

*laughs*