Saki Fujita Interview: Comptiq Janurary 2018

The following interview was conducted in the Comptiq Magazine January 2018 edition (released on December 10th, 2017) in which seiyuu Saki Fujita discusses her involvement with KanColle.

Within this 2 page article, Saki Fujita does an interview and talks about her experiences and impression of the characters she has voiced as well as discussing her progress in the Fall 2017 Event.

Introduction

Saki Fujita provided a chilling performance as Fusō & Yamashiro as they were facing their decisive battle. We had her talk about the feelings she put into her lifelike acting and the new shipgirl "Suzutsuki", among other things.

Saki Fujita interview
Her feelings for Fusou, Yamashiro and the Nishimura Fleet

Recording the Fusō sisters' new voice lines with their "feelings" in mind!

Japanese English
Page 1

扶桑、山城が中核を担う西村艦隊が活躍するとうたわれ、そして「決戦前夜ボイス」も実装されました。 追加ボイスについて、どのような思いで収録に臨まれましたか?

藤田:「艦これ」に関わるようになってから、自分の担当艦のことや史実を少しずつ勉強しまして、
西村艦隊が大好きになりました。私の演じている艦娘はもちろんみんな好きですけど、
手のかかる子ほどかわいい理論で。とくに山城には、幸せになってほしいなとずっと思っています。
だから今回の秋イベントで、西村艦隊にスポットがあたったのが嬉しくて。
「不幸な歴史を越えていこう!」って気合を入れて演じました。
現実の歴史は決して覆ることはありませんけど、
歴史を追体験しながらそれを乗り越えられるよう努力できる、
そんな物語性がほかにはない「艦これ」の魅力のひとつだと思います。
艦娘自身もきっとそう思っているはずなので、彼女たちの想いを汲んだお芝居ができるよう、
心がけました。

――――扶桑などが所属した西村艦隊の実際の歴史を調べたそうですが、どんなことを感じましたか?

藤田:今とは時代背景が違うので、あまり軽率なことは言えないんですけど……。
艦娘を演じる声優として率直に感じたことを言うならば、つらい状況下で出撃し、
姉妹艦や仲間たちが沈んでいくのを目の当たりにしながら自分も沈んでいくなんて、
とても無念で、やりきれない気持ちだったのではないかと思います。
だからこそ「艦これ」で生を受け、喜んでいるだろう艦娘たちのために、
私も「みんなから愛される子になるように演じてあげたい」と思っています。

――――今回の収録で、特に印象に残っているボイスは?

藤田:扶桑と山城の掛け合いを収録できたことは嬉しかったです。
ゲームの収録のときって普段はひとりずつ別録りをしているんですけど、
掛け合いの部分はそのまま通しで演じました。
秋イベントをクリアされた方は分かると思いますけど、扶桑と山城って姉妹ですけど、
同じことを成し遂げてもけっこうリアクションが違うんですよ。
性格の違いをきちんと出していこう、ということにはこだわりました!

――――この秋には、不知火の「秋の私服mode」も実装されました。 不知火の私服姿のイラストを見たときの感想を教えてください。

藤田:艦娘の私服って、なんだかおもしろい発想ですよね。
不知火の私服は、ひと目見て「それっぽい!」と思いました(笑)。
ジップパーカー……似合いすぎです!
表情もいつもの鋭い眼光ではなく、ちょっと素っぽい柔らかさがあって。
無防備な感じが、本当にかわいいです。
ほかの陽炎型の艦娘の私服も、見てみたいですね。
勝手な想像ですけど、陽炎はそのとき流行のファッション、黒潮は意外とガーリー系?
雪風は清楚系のきっちりした格好というイメージでもおもしろいですね。
時津風は……(笑)。

---- The fall event "Showdown at Operation Shō-Gō! Battle of Leyte Gulf (Part 1)" was announced as an event where the Nishimura Fleet, with Fusou & Yamashiro at its centre, would play an important role, and they even added "Eve of the Final Battle" voice lines. What was going through your head as you were tackling the recordings of those new voice lines?

Fujita: Ever since I got involved with KanColle, I took it upon myself to gradually learn more about the ships I voice and their historical backgrounds, and I grew really fond of the Nishimura Fleet. Of course I love all the shipgirls I voice, but I find it cute just how much of a handful they are in particular.
Yamashiro especially is someone I've always wanted to become happy. That's why I was so overjoyed when this fall event would be the chance for the Nishimura fleet to be in the limelight.
So I was like "Let's overcome this disastrous history!" when I voiced them.
Actual history can never be changed, but I think one of KanColle's unique charms is its capability to create a narrative that allows one to relive history all while being able to overcome it if you try hard enough.
I think the shipgirls themselves would agree with that sentiment, so I tried to create a performance that was filled with their feelings and emotions.

---- What was going through your head as you were looking up the actual history of Fusō and the other members of the Nishimura Fleet?

Fujita: The historical context is different from today, so I can't really say anything without giving it some thought, but... If I had to say what I felt as the voice actress of these shipgirls, then, frankly speaking, I think I'd feel dejected and regretful having to sortie under such harsh conditions, only to be forced to witness my sister ships and comrades sink right in front of my eyes as I myself sank.
That's exactly why I want to play them in such a way that they're loved by everyone, now that they've been reborn, surely happily, in KanColle.

---- Are there any voice lines that left a particularly lasting impression during the recent recording sessions?

Fujita: I was glad I could record a conversation between Fusou and Yamashiro. When we record lines for the game we usually record each of them separately, but this time the conversation lines were performed together. I think those who've cleared the fall event will probably understand what I mean when I say that, even though Fusou and Yamashiro are sisters, their reactions to accomplishing the same thing are vastly different.
So I made extra sure to properly express their different personalities!

---- We also got Shiranui's "Casual Autumn Mode" this autumn..
Please give us your first impression on Shiranui's casual seasonal.

Fujita: Shipgirls in casual clothing is a kind of funny idea, that's for sure.
As soon as I took a look at Shiranui's casual clothing I thought "Yep, that's like her!". (laugh)
That hoodie... it just suits her so well!
And her expression doesn't feature that usual piercing glance but instead a little bit of a plain softness to it.
Her unguarded look is really cute.
I want to see the other Kagerō-class shipgirls in casual clothes.
To let my imagination run wild for a moment, I guess Kagerō would wear something that's currently in fashion, and Kuroshio maybe something surprisingly girly?
And it would be pretty hilarious if Yukikaze wore a neat and elegant outfit. As for Tokitsukaze...... (laugh)

Page 2

――――秋イベントに合わせて、藤田さんが演じる新艦娘の涼月も実装されました。 演じられた藤田さんから見て、彼女はどんな艦娘でしょうか?

藤田:“第肆回「艦これ」観艦式”で歌わせていただいた
秋月型姉妹の「月夜海(つきよみ)」というボーカル曲がありますけど、
私の涼月のイメージはまさに、「月夜海」そのものなんです。はかなく美しく気高い。
だけど自分の周りにいる人たちが大好きで、愛情深い艦娘。
彼女の史実を知ったときはぼろ泣きしたんですけど、収録や観艦式で「月夜海」を歌ったときも、
涼月のことを思い浮かべて涙をこらえながら歌っていました。
収録の時はある種“正統派美少女”というお話を聞いていたので、
清く正しく、まっすぐな艦娘というイメージで演じました。
セリフが礼儀正しく家庭的で、愛情にあふれていたので、
そこを大切にしながら演じていたのを覚えています。

――――ちなみに藤田さんは、「さっきぃ提督」として「艦これ」で活躍されていますが、
秋イベントをプレイしてみての印象は?
(※編集部注※11月中旬頃インタビュー)

藤田:とりあえずE1が終わりました! スロースタートからブーストしていくタイプなので、
編成さえ決まればガンガン進めていきますよ!
今回は秋イベントの追加ボイスと一緒に深海棲艦も同時に収録したため、
「自分との戦いだな~」と、空母棲姫の悪夢がよぎりました(笑)。
でも決戦に挑む扶桑姉妹の決意を無駄にできないですし、
涼月のこともお迎えしたいので、絶対にクリアします!
ひとつ残念に思っているのが、今回提督の皆さんと決起をしていないんですよ。
提督の皆さんと交流できる場所が、もっとほしいですね!

――――最後に、コンプティーク読者の提督たちにメッセージをお願いします!

藤田:提督の皆さま、お疲れ様です!
今回のイベントはレイテ沖海戦をイメージしたものということで、
私自身すごく思い入れのあるイベントになりました。
史実艦を入れると有利になるようなギミックは以前からありましたけど、
今回は掛け合いとかも用意されていて、
イベントをプレイしているだけで艦娘たちのことがもっと好きになれると思います。
終了間近ではありますが、もし未プレイの方がいたらぜひ挑戦して、
涼月を迎え入れていただけたら嬉しいです。
これからも、「さっきぃ提督」としても「艦これ」を盛り上げていきますので、
よろしくお願いします!

---- Suzutsuki, the new shipgirl you voiced, was also introduced together with the autumn event.
As the one who voiced her, what kind of shipgirl do you think she's like?

Fujita: At the Fourth KanColle Naval Review I had the opportunity to sing the Akizuki-class sisters' theme song "Tsukiyomi", and that song pretty much encapsulates my impression of Suzutsuki. Fleeting, beautiful, sublime.
But she's a very caring shipgirl because she really loves the people around her.
When I found out what happened to her historical counterpart I cried my eyes out, and even when I was singing "Tsukiyomi" at the recording studio or the Naval Review I had to hold back my tears whenever I thought of what happened to Suzutsuki. Before recording her voice lines I was briefed that she's a "classical beauty" of sorts, so I voiced her as a pure, honest, and beautiful - an upright - shipgirl. Her lines were polite, familial, and full of love. I remember how I made sure to emphasize that as I performed them.

---- By the way, Fujita-san, since you are also active in KanColle as "Admiral Sakki"[1], what's your personal impression of the fall event?
(※ Editor's note: interview was conducted in mid-November)

Fujita: For now I'm done with E-1![2] I'm the type that starts slowly and finishes fast, so as long as I've decided on my fleet compositions I rush through everything!
Since I recorded the Abyssal ships' voice lines together with the autumn event lines this time, I thought "Aren't I fighting myself~?", which also brought back nightmares of the Aircraft Carrier Princess. (laugh)
But I don't want the Fusou sisters' determination as they're facing their decisive battle to be for nothing, and I really want to meet Suzutsuki, so I'm definitely going to clear it!
If there's one thing I regret though, it's that this time I didn't have a chance to get hyped with all the admirals out there.
I'd really love to get more opportunities to meet up with everyone!

---- And lastly, a message for the Comptiq-reading Admirals, if you please.

Fujita: Good work, admirals!
Since this event is based on the Battle of Leyte Gulf, it turned out to be one that holds a very special place in my heart.
Special mechanics that give you an advantage for bringing historical ships have been done before, but this we've also prepared special dialogue and more, so I think the shipgirls will grow on you even more just by playing the event.
I know that the event will be over soon, but if there are people who haven't tackled it yet, I'd be really glad if you tried anyway and managed to bring Suzutsuki home.
I'll continue to keep up the KanColle hype as Admiral Sakki, and thank you for your support!

Translation was provided User:Admiral_Mikado

References

  1. Admiral Sakki is Saki Fujita's KanColle playername.
  2. When the event concluded, Saki Fujita just barely managed to complete E-4 and obtain Suzutsuki.