2020 Interviews

Interviews with Nakajima Megumi, Suzaki Aya and Moriyama Yurika: Famitsu Weekly May 28th, 2020

Introduction

Scoring a direct hit with the voice actors of Mikuma and Mogami!

Enquiring about the memories on the 7th Anniversary

In commemoration of the 7th anniversary, we printed Mikuma and Mogami on the front cover, and interviewed Miss Nakajima Megumi and Miss Suzaki Aya! We asked them about their memories, first impressions of Mikuma and Mogami, as well as how they felt about the performance in a Q&A style.

Nakajima Megumi

Born 5th of July. From Ibaraki Prefecture.
Had her voice acting debut as Ranka Lee in Macross F, and done many other performances in various works since then.
She's the voice actor behind Kinugasa, Mikuma, I-58, I-168 and Hatsuzuki in KanColle.

Q1: We're printing Mikuma and Mogami on the front cover of the KanColle 7th Anniversary Special Edition of the weekly publication of Famitsu Magazine. What do you think?

A1: I'm very happy about it being on the front cover! What kind of illustration will it be? I'm really looking forward to seeing it in person!

Q2: What is your first impression of Mikuma?

A2: When I first saw the illustration for Mikuma, I got the impression that she was a calm, composed and sweet character. However, upon reading her lines and seeing «Kumarinko» jumping out at me... It really took me by surprise! *laughs*. Now it's one of my favourite lines.

Q3: When you voice acted for Mikuma, what points did you mainly focus on?

A3: I feel that I had to give importance to the side of Mikuma that is a girl that waits quietly, has a calm feel to her and acts dignified, while at the same time would say «kumarinko» in a mild-mannered yet confident manner. I acted while thinking it would be nice if there was a slight gap.

Q4: Inkluding Mikuma, you've done the voice acting for 5 ships. What was something you really had to focusing on in order to act differently between the 5 ships?

A4: Even in the casual voice lines, I feel like there is a story and a background waiting in the individual shipgirls, so I felt like I had to put importance on each line, always.

Q5: Of the shipgirls you've voice acted for, which one left the biggest impression?

A5: All of them left an impression, but of the ones I have gotten to voice act for, the one that surprised me most was Hatsuzuki. She is the one type of character I have had the least chances to act as so far. I distinctly remember desperately struggling and trembling excitedly when recording her lines.

Q6: In relation to KanColle, what is the event or instance that left the deepest impression?

A6: Just choosing one is difficult! I have plenty of memories, but I can't forget the feeling when I could go to the Zuiun festival with everyone. I got excited when I got to lead in the Zuiun Ondo we held outside. That, as well as the corner we had where we made sandwiches is for some reason the the moments that have left the deepest impression.... *laughs*

Q7: A celebratory comment for the 7th anniversary, and a word of inspiration for the 8th year please!

A7: Congratulations with the 7th anniversary! To all the admirals, thank you! Not to mention the game, but there has been a lot of (IRL) events as well. It's made for seven years full of memories. I hope that all the admirals will continue to enjoy the KanColle world to its fullest for the 8th year, as well as many years later! And I want to wear Mikuma's clothes again!

Suzaki Aya

Born on December 25 in the Ishikawa prefecture.
Has lent her voice to countless works, including Idolmaster Cinderella Girls (as Nitta Minami).
Voices the 7 ship girls Akatsuki, Hibiki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Mogami, Hōshō, Aoba in KanColle.

Q1: The cover of the special Weekly Famitsū issue celebrating KanColle 's 7th Anniversary is featuring both Mikuma and Mogami. What was your reaction to that?

A1: I totally didn't expect Mogami to be on the cover as well! I was surprised, and honestly really happy. It also reminded me of when I met Nakajima Megumi, who voices Mikuma, at the Naval Review in 2017 and we did a photo shoot together. Good times. I'd love to record some dialogues between the two sometime.

Q2: What was your first impression of Mogami?

A2: Based on Shibafu's artwork, I thought she was an honest, simple, natural cutie. She also seemed like a klutz to me.

Q3: What did you pay attention to when playing Mogami?

A3: I still remember that since I had a lot of roles I came up with an individual tone and mood for each of them before going to the recording studio in order to better distinguish the ship girls from each other. My plan was greenlit, so the recordings themselves went pretty smoothly. Among the girls I voiced Mogami stood out as the boyish one, so I focused on that during the recordings while still trying to portray her cute side.

Q4: With Mogami you're voicing a total of 7 ship girl. What do you pay attention to in order to distinguish them?

A4: For each character I take one or more voice lines that I think represent them and their quirks the best and work from there by coming up with their personalities and way they speak. For example, if you look only at the stature or overall character design of Akatsuki and Ikazuchi, they're not really that different. However, Akatsuki talks like a precocious kid, yet I changed the tone of her voice to make her sound like a spoiled child because I figured it was cute. Ikazuchi seemed strong-willed and reliable, yet I felt like she was lacking some sort of open-mindedness, so I added that as well. I feel like the real fun of voice acting lies within trying to figure out how to flesh out the lines beyond the paper they're written on.

Q5: Is there anyone among the girls you've voiced that's left a particularly lasting impression?

A5: I love all of them equally, so they all have. But if I had to choose, I'd say the four DesDiv 6 girls. The anime had an episode that focused on them trying to make curry, for which they wanted me to ad-lib a lot of lines, which was super tough to get right *laughs*. My performance of "Morning at the Naval Base" at the Naval Review also left quite an impression. The intervals are already set in stone while singing, so getting the voices of these four right on top of that is quite the Herculean task. I have to express them via small nuances or the volume of my breath after all. So many things I hadn't done before, but I somehow managed to struggle through anyway. I really don't know whether that's because of my skills as a voice actress or just dumb luck, but either way I had lots of fun.

Q6: Any particularly memorable events that are related to KanColle?

A6: One thing that's still fresh in my mind is that "Grand Abyssal Circus" where I had to perform in a Mogami costume. First we got figure skating, now a circus show. The scale of KanColle collaboration events never ceases to impress me. It gets me excited every single time! I was nervous, but still a very precious experience for me.

Q7: Now would you be so kind as to give us a comment about the 7th Anniversary and your hopes for the 8th year.

A7: Congratulations on your 7th anniversary, KanColle! To think that we're already in year 8. I think it's all thanks to all the admirals out there who continuously and steadily keep on expanding the world of KanColle. We've made so many friends on the way. I'd love to see everyone gather for another Naval Review! I hope you guys continue to enjoy KanColle!

Moriyama Yurika

Admiral voice actor talk!
The Second Strike, Moriyama Yurika

Secondly, we have Moriyama Yurika, who have been an admiral since before they started voice acting for KanColle. They were kind enough to talk about their beloved Haruna and the shipgirls they voiced.

Moriyama Yurika

Born 11th November. From Mie Prefecture.
Has appeared in the likes of the TV Anime “Aikatsu Friends!”
She has the voice of L.d.S.D.d.Abruzzi, Grecale, De Ruyter and Hirato in KanColle.

Q1: As a voice actor, as well as an admiral, thank you for your hard work! Miss Moriyama, could we please get a short introduction of the shipgirls you have voiced?

A1: Grecale is a tiny devil, the second of the Maestrale class destroyers. Contrary to expectations, she's not precocious, and seems more like the type to sulk if she doesn't receive attention from the admiral... But on the other hand, it's an age appropriate aspect, which makes her seem cute!
L.d.S.D.d.Abruzzi is Luigi di Savoia Duca Degli Abruzzi... a shipgirl that has a characteristic very long name! She's a steady Italian big sister light cruiser that loves her little sister. Because she has experience as an actress, she has this elegant and graceful aura, but the truth is that she is a little bit of a bad drunk, and I find that type of personality gap charming!
Hirato-chan is a small, cute looking coastal defense ship. She's very quiet, small bodied, reserved character that always appears to do her best, giving her an admirable and dreamlike feel. However, somewhere deep inside, there is an unusually big fighting spirit asleep!
Lastly, De Ruyter with her «I see, I see!» stock phrase, is a meek, cute, Dutch light cruiser! She's able to come in contact with others directly. She's the friendly and sociable heroine! I personally want her as a friend! *laugh*

Q2: Since you started voice acting as shipgirls, what is the thing you've managed to do (in relation to KanColle) that left the biggest impression?

A2: Oh, there's plenty, but I still remember the moment I for the first time managed to get a shipgirl I had voice acted as, myself. Of the shipgirls I've been responsible for voice acting as, Abruzzi was the first one I got my hands on. The first time I deployed her, a shipgirl I myself had blown life into, next to my beloved Haruna I froze in front of the screen thinking «A day like this really exists!» *laughs*. Before entering the training school for voice actors, I always hoped that “when I become a voice actor, I really want a role in KanColle!”. I kept wishing for that, playing KanColle, researching my seniors voice actors' performances and going for auditions, day after day. I may even have sent my office manager a picture of the character I voice acted as and writing “Please look!! This is the character I performed the role as!!”, just to share my feelings with someone!
Afterwards, while my heart was pounding from excitement, the still newly arrived Abruzzi whiffed her shot against an enemy ship, and then when Haruna cleaned up I kept thinking things like “As expected!! Well done senpai!!” and falling in love all over again! *laughs*. I've received messages like “I see you're keeping at it with KanColle!” and similar at an increasing rate from a lot of people recently. Seeing those messages really makes me feel that I really did have a role in KanColle.
When I got called out to do more lines for Hirato and De Ruyter I was so happy I almost jumped from my seat! Thanks to KanColle, every day feels very fulfilling.

Q3. KanColle has now reached the 7 year anniversary, and is now charging into its 8th year. What are some of the things you did to celebrate or mark this special day? Also, what would you like to do in the future?

A3: Well, as is customary, I'll celebrate with cake and presents. I love surprises and such, but I'm bad at keeping secrets. Even if I want to surprise someone I keep fidgeting and thinking “I want to show it to them now! I hope they'll be happy!” so... *laughs*. Yeah, because of that I just decided to give up with that and celebrate in a more straightforward way!
As for the present, I made an unique accessory. For my sister's coming-of-age ceremony I made an earring out of Japanese paper. From a standpoint of of celebration, as an Admiral this might be a wild idea but, I love strawberries, so a handmade cake with lots of strawberries on top made by the shipgirls is something I would love to eat! “Admiral Moriyama will be happy with this!”kind of chit-chat while making the cake, is something I would love to see from the shadows. And for the finish, Haruna handing over a present while fidgeting would be yet even better I think!

Q4: Moriyama, you've been a female Admiral from the start, furthermore, we know you've been a big fan of Haruna for a long time! Please let us know which 7 shipgirls you wish you could be friends with!

A4: Well, doing it from my own standpoint, and which characters I have emotional attachment to, if they were to enter in a kind of Hall of Fame... I'll make an exception for those shipgirls! I'll pick the ones that I naturally pick out for sorties a lot! *laughs*.
Haruna: Immovable! This is the unwavering #1! I fell in love with her visuals at first sight, and started playing KanColle. She was also the first battleship I got my hands on, that has be destiny *laughs*.
Inazuma: As well as being my starter ship, she is has a hard working, brave and cute!
Makigumo: She seems soothing! I would love to see her as she is running around, and listening to the pitter-patter of her steps!
Tama: I like her relaxed/laid back demeanor! I want to just feed her sweets *laughs*
Kongou: She always has a sunny disposition and is very lively, so it seems like one would be able to have a lot of fun with her!
Atago: She seems like she would give good and carefully given advice when you're worried!
Prinz Eugen: I want to go shopping and such together!

Q5: Since it's the 7th anniversary, please let us know your best 7 shipgirls that you feel like you can rely on the most!

A5: Kaga: I can't get enough of the “the I-can-do-it woman” personality. She seems like a person that would as a secretary promptly perform her duties!
Akagi: I think the way she can straight forward capture the enemy, makes her everyone's mental support!
Shigure: I'm always grateful for your help!
Kitakami: Thank you very much for always helping me!
Tone: I think she's always fighting in high and proud spirits, being an inspiration to others!
Isuzu: I love the way she destroys the enemy while she says “Everything is visible to Isuzu!”
Asashio: She's a person of firm character, always bringing the Destroyers together!

Q6: When we're talking about KanColle, we can't go without mentioning the C2 Agency (responsible for handling and managing events), and the events and similar they've held. What is your opinion on festivals you've joined, and what kind of festivals would you like to join in the future?

A6: On January 3rd I joined the Pacifico Yokohama New Year Live (C2 Agency's «Naval Base New Year Special Live! 2020») for the first time. It was my first time at a large scale event, and when I saw there was that many Admirals standing in front of me at such a big venue... I mean, it was my first time, so I was suuuuper nervous! My heart was racing in excitement already a week before the event.
My appearance at the event was a bit sudden, so I was very worried about how well received I would be. I was happy when I saw how warmly the Admirals greeted me with cheers. It was a great way to start the year for me! There's sure to be more festivals in the future as well I think, so I'm very excited for the coming event, and I mean that even as a fellow Admiral!
Also, in KanColle we have plenty of good food, like curry and saury. If we ever got a KanColle Food Big Meet event I would love to join that! I'll eat anything!! *laugh*

Q7: What kind of shipgirl would you like to voice act in the future?

A7: I would like to launch cool Carrier-based Aircraft, so a Carrier is something I would like to try one day. Submarines, with their sniper-like pre-emptive torpedo attacks are also very fascinating, but maybe a Battleship, a delicate girl with impressive and majestic rigging would be cool... Well, there's still a lot of ship types I'd like to try, so I can't pick just one! *laugh*

Q8: To wrap things up, do you have anything you would like to say to the readers of Famitsu or the other Admirals out there?

A8: I'm really happy that an Admiral like myself was able to become a voice actor and so nicely received as a voice actor for Kancolle during this prosperous 7th anniversary. Let's continue to enjoy KanColle 's breakthroughs together!

Credits

Translation for Nakajima Megumi and Moriyama Yurika done by Mrhawk76 a.k.a. Mistermixmaster
Translation for Suzaki Aya done by ?