[JO1] Pash! 220309

Kimata Syoya (voicing Nanbara Kousei) x Ohira Shosei (voicing Azuma Masaki)

JO1’s Kimata Syoya and Ohira Shosei, who are mainly active as artists, will appear in Gunjou no Fanfare as voice actors. They will voice the members of the idol group the protagonist, Yuu, used to be a part of. PASH! hit these two directly with an exclusive interview. We also asked them about the interesting theme song.

JO1 PROFILE
JO1 is an 11 member global boygroup chosen by about 65 million votes from the viewers of “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”, a survival audition program that lasted about 3 months. Since their debut single “PROTOSTAR” all of their singles placed 1st in the Oricon weekly single ranking and their 5th single “WANDERING” surpassed half a million sales. Starting March 11 their movie JO1 THE MOVIE “Mikansei” -Go To The TOP- will be shown in the cinemas.

Ohira Shosei
Born 2000.4.13. Blood type A. From the prefecture of Kyoto. 177cm. Usually in charge of rapping in JO1.

Kimata Syoya
Born 2000.4.5. Blood type A. From the prefecture Aichi. 172 cm. JO1s subleader and in charge of rapping.

Syoya is someone who is passionate, has compassion and stays persistent until the end - Ohira

I think Shosei is the one in JO1 who is the most suited for the entertainment world - Kimata

We practiced together and were able to enjoy the actual recording.

How do you feel after finishing the recording?
Syoya: I thought I would be nervous, but the enjoyment was actually bigger. I’m already used to the recording booth, so I was able to focus at the recording site for anime, too.

Was there some advice from Ohira-san who already had voice actor experience through “Poupelle of Chimney Town”?
Syoya: He told me that “It’s better to practise saying your lines while watching the footage” or how to hold the script.
Shosei: Back during “Poupelle” this was difficult for me and I wasn’t able to do so. But Syoya was able to do that already since the rehearsals, which is really amazing.
Syoya: Oh~ (shyly laughs)
Shosei: The recording today was so much fun for me, too. Compared to “Poupelle”, my nervosity has calmed down a little and I was able to tackle it with confidence. Back then I felt like I was doing it while being lost, but this time I feel like I was able to bring out my own color.

How did you prepare for the recording?
Shosei: We went together to the lessons and practiced talking smoothly and the dialogues together.
Syoya: (There are scenes when) Shosei’s voice overlaps with Yuu-kun’s one and he has some quite difficult lines. This is difficult to practice when the other one isn't there, so we practiced the dialogue with me reading Yuu-kun’s lines.
Shosei: Also, Syoya taught me the intonation (laughs)
Syoya: Because from time to time you talked in your dialect? I had no other choice
Shosei: Fufufu because I often talk in dialect.
Syoya: Yet during the actual recording it didn’t come out even once?
Shosei: Yes.
(both nod at each other with a grin)

Was there some incident during the recording?
Syoya: There wasn’t anything, right?
Shosei: It’s rare that nothing happens.
Syoya: We were just enjoying playing these roles. I might have had some bumpers while reading the script, but… But I didn’t care much about it and enjoyed it.
Shosei: If I had to mention something, it would be the sense of speed, I guess? Like reading more slowly.
Syoya: We talked with the staff about reading our lines too fast or too slow. However, this time we were able to act while looking at the storyboard and they adjusted the pictures afterwards which made it easier in my opinion.

Is there something the directors told you after the recording?
Shosei: They praised us that we did better than they expected.
Syoya: They said that they expected us to struggle more.

I think there was quite some determination (in Yuu) to leave the group.

Please tell us how you felt when it was decided that you will join the cast.
Shosei: I always wanted to work as a voice actor, so I was really happy about this opportunity.
Syoya: I was also interested in being a voice actor, so I always wanted to try it. I was surprised that my first chance to do so is together with such an amazing cast and staff.

What is the charm of a story taking place at a horse racing school?
Shosei: The main character Yuu left his group and moves forward on his path alone now, right? If I think about leaving JO1 and working hard on my own like Yuu does, I realize how much determined he was. That’s why I think this anime encourages people who are chasing their dreams.
Syoya: If your resolve isn't strong enough, you won’t be able to do so, right?
Shosei: Yes yes. I think if your corresponding feelings are not strong enough, you won’t be able to do it.
Syoya: I feel that through this anime I was able to experience a world that I wouldn't be able to experience through my work as JO1. I also learnt new things about horse riding schools, so it was a big lesson for me.

If you would try riding a racing horse, do you think you could do that well?
Shosei: Eh~ No way! hehehe (laughs)
Syoya: I rode a horse once when I was a child, but I remember it being very difficult.
Shosei: Eh? I haven’t even rode a horse in my life, so it seems difficult.
Syoya: But you touched one some time ago?
Shosei: That’s right. When we filmed the PV for “We Alright”, there was a horse barn backstage…
Syoya: No, this could cause a misunderstanding!
Shosei: But it really looked like a horse barn (laughs) They did not appear in the PV, but the horses were quite close to the dressing room, so we were allowed to touch them.

Please tell us what is the charm of your roles and where you could relate to them.
Shosei: Azuma Masaki who I play is calm and like their leader. There is a scene when he stops a fight, but we as JO1 didn’t have such huge conflicts yet, but we sometimes argue about performances in a mild way, so in a way I could relate to him.

By the way, who in JO1 has a role like Masaki?
Syoya: Shosei is also the type of person who says “Stop it Stop it”. That’s why I think he fits that role. My role Nanbara Kousei is a character who jokes around and you can feel his youth more compared to Masaki. He has lines where he teases the main character Yuu and since I usually do such things, too, I could relate to him on this point.
Shosei: Not only their joking side, but both Syoya and Kousei are also similar in regard to them thinking about things thoroughly and being passionate.
Syoya: Yes, that’s right!
Both: (laugh)

What do you think about the character sheets?
Syoya: It was decided from the start that Shosei would play Masaki and I Kousei and I feel that they assigned us the roles fitting to us. Hence, I became even more attached to them.
Shosei: We could get into the roles more easily (because of this).

What did you keep in mind while you voiced your role?
Syoya: The director told us “I want you to voice them based on your own natural voice”. Thus, we understood our characters like this and prepared our parts, with our voices being quite close to our usual ones.
Shosei: There was the wish to bring ourselves into the characters, so instead of making a huge change in our normal voices, we tried to make our voices suited to the characters. This is what we thought about when we practiced together.
Syoya: It was difficult to act with your normal voice so that it won’t feel off in the animation.

During the interview, there was a moment when Ohira-san discovered a pen-shaped voice recorder and was surprised “You can even record with such a small thing!” Meanwhile, Kimata-san was also a moodmaker who always seemed to enjoy himself as he noticed the equipment in the recording booth and tried to imitate a robot. Seeing how Ohira-san smiled at Kimata-san shows that the two of them are close friends. The interview was a short, but heartwarming and fulfilling one, as Ohira-san made himself shorter while his make up was fixed and Kimata-san hummed something.

The opening song is a refreshing song that moves you

Congratulations on half a million sales for your 5th single “WANDERING”!
Syoya & Shosei: Thank you very much!
Shosei: This was truly thanks to all JAM!

I’m looking forward to JO1’s future activities. You are in charge of the opening song “Move The Soul”, What kind of song is it?
Syoya: When I first got the demo, I felt it’s a really mature song. There is a point when you have to breathe in while singing “eh” (*in this moment Kimata-san actually showcased this). This time I’m not in charge of the vocals, but our vocalists struggled to complete it. I recently listened to the completed sound and I feel it turned out to be a stylish song with a high quality. It’s a song that makes people excited, passionate and moves them.
Shosei: It’s a song with a dashing feeling. And for the first time, the parts change line by line. That’s why it felt new to me. I’m sure that the listeners will enjoy this But I feel it’s going to be a song that’s difficult to sing alone at Karaoke (laughs)
Syoya: At least sing it with two people (laughs)
Shosei: I think it’s even better to gather 11 people to sing it.
Syoya: For the ending song Sho-kun and Junki-kun are in charge, but we haven’t been able to listen to the demo yet. It seems like they prepared it in secret.
Shosei: We are also looking forward to listening to it.

Both being jockeys and idols require to have unique weapons and skills, but where do you see those in each other?
Shosei: Syoya has a young side fitting to his age, but he is passionate in what he does, he has compassion and stays persistent until the very end.

Kimata-san declared himself as the subleader, but is there some episode that makes him feel like one?
Shosei: Ah… Please let me think of that for a bit (laughs)
Syoya: There is none?
Shosei: No no! (directly) There is one, I’m sure! Kimata has a wide knowledge of music, so during the directing… how to say it…
Syoya: No, according to my memories, I might have called myself the subleader, but I haven’t done anything subleader like (laughs)
Shosei: But when there is something on everyone’s mind, Syoya makes sure to speak up about it.
Syoya: Sure, I might do that. I think Shosei is the one who is the most suitable for the entertainment industry out of JO1. I have been saying that quite often, but it’s the first time I said it while Shosei is present.
Shosei: Wow! (laughs)
Syoya: When I thought who could be that in JO1, Shosei was the one coming into my mind.
Shosei: Why?
Syoya: I’m not sure…?
Shosei: Everything is fine.
Syoya: What I just wanted to say disappeared from my mind.
Shosei: Fufufu (laughs) If you remember them, please.. I’m curious!
Syoya: Right, Shosei knows how to show himself. Like the way he shows his performances, the way he responds well to the staff, the way he easily gets along with co-stars including comedians and so on. He is someone who can gain the trust of others well.
Shosei: Fufufu, oh!
Syoya: I think this is something really important. Since about the time of our 2nd single “STARGAZER” I think Shosei is the most skilled one in JO1 in this regard.
Shosei: Since so long! Eh~ Thank you so much!

It was their first appearance in this magazine. Despite their extremely tight schedule for the recording and the interviews with various companies, they always looked each interviewer in the eyes and greeted and exchanged a few words with them. They made truly incredible responses. PASH! would like to cheer for JO1-san’s future activities.

Kataoka PD speaks:
A secret story from the recording
When it was decided that JO1 will be in charge of the opening track, it was also the time when we thought about the casting for the idol group Yuu used to be a part of. Then I throw out the question “Are there any JO1 members who can be voice actors?”, I received the names of both Ohira-san, who had experience already, and Kimata-san, who didn’t have any yet, but who was willing to practice and take on the challenge. However, their roles have appearances after the first episode, too, and their lines are quite a lot. Hence, I was worried it would put a burden on them, but both of them practiced with a huge enthusiasm and they did so well in the recording that we finished it before the scheduled time. I’m looking forward to them going out into the world also as voice actors! (By the producer Kataoka Yuki)