Sakura Taisen Super Talk Show
"Glory to Dreamcast" / Sega Game Jam 2
March 30-31, 2002
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Guests:
  - Yokoyama Chisa (Shinguuji Sakura)
  - Takano Urara (Tachibana Maria)
  - Nishihara Kumiko (Iris Chateaubriand)
  - Fuchizaki Yuriko (Li Kohran)
  - Tanaka Mayumi (Kirishima Kanna)
  - Ikura Kazue (Reni Milchstrasse)
  - Shimazu Saeko (Glycine Bleumer)
  - Kozakura Etsuko (Coquelicot)
  - Takamori Yoshino (Kitaooji Hanabi)
  - Hidaka Noriko (Erica Fontaine)
  - Suyama Akio (Oogami Ichiro)

This is the March 31 report.

This time, the first part of the Glory to Dreamcast segment was the talk 
session with the Sakura Taisen cast.  Yokoyama Chisa and Nishihara Kumiko 
were crowd favorites.  Unlike 3/30, Takano Urara wore a Shimazu Saeko-like 
suit outfit.  Fuchizaki Yuriko did not look as nice as she did on 3/30; she 
wore a schoolgirl-influenced outfit.  Hiroi Ooji acted as the emcee; producer 
Ooba Norio also attended.  Tanaka Mayumi did not do her silly bowing thing 
this event.

Had Inoue Kikuko (Lobelia Carlini) been there, the entire Paris Hanagumi 
would have been assembled, but she could not be there that day.  Hiroi had a 
message from Kikuko, saying she was sad because she couldn't be with them.  
(The interview would have been much more interesting had she been around, in 
my opinion.)  Chisa spaced out momentarily, and Hiroi had to get her 
attention.  ^_^;

The first question was to ask each person's opinions on ST4.  

Yokoyama Chisa didn't really talk about it, but talked about seeing Segata 
Sanshiro at yesterday's event.  She apparently got to do a commercial with 
him for Sakura Taisen, after confirming with Sega.

Takano Urara recently had an interview, asking which song remained with her 
the most and left a deep impression.  She said "Only Man," which was a song 
from ST1.  She knew that there were many fans who had continued to play since 
the first game, and decided that ST4 is good to bring back memories.

Nishihara Kumiko can't find one word to describe all the memories she's had, 
but yesterday, all the seiyuu decided to go out for dinner.  All of a sudden, 
Kumiko remembered, "Kyou no gohan wa nani ka na~!"  (What shall we have for 
dinner?)  This is a scene from ST4 where the Hanagumi is in the dining room, 
wondering what to eat, and this is what Iris says.  Then...

Kazue: We all ate yakiniku. 
[everyone begins to laugh]
Mayumi: (does a rolling motion with her hands)
Kumiko: (laughs in surprise)  I got drunk yesterday... I'm sorry!
Hiroi: Nishihara-san... we're talking about memories of ST4, not yesterday.  
^_^
Kumiko: I'm sorry!  I'm sorry!  ^_^;

Next, Fuchizaki Yuriko talked about overhearing Hiroi saying that the seiyuu 
would say their thanks to their fans.  Yuriko wondered about this, but then 
remembered - and she said this in a very smooth, Tomizawa Michie-mimic voice 
- "Minna-san, arigato," and then began to hum a bit of Sumire's retirement 
chacha song, and said that this brought memories of the retirement.

Next, Tanaka Mayumi spoke about the live plays.  Everyone else wore a wig, 
but she had to dye her hair red for Kanna's role.  She had to shampoo every 
time afterwards, and was always the last to go home, and told Hiroi that this 
was very sad.  She also said that in terms of art and design, it looks like 
Kanna's hair has changed the most.  However, she said this oddly, and said 
that "Atama ga hen" for Kanna, making everyone laugh, and then quickly 
corrected herself, saying that she meant art-wise.  

Also, she pointed out that she was indeed standing... when she stood, she was 
slightly taller than the others while they sat!  Then Mayumi said there was 
one person in particular who she wanted to stand, and Ecchan (Kozakura 
Etsuko) immediately responded, "Oh, it's me, isn't it?" and came out front.  
Mayumi was happy to find someone shorter than she was.  However, Kumiko and 
Yuriko suddenly came out and stood next to both Mayumi and Ecchan (Mayumi: "I 
didn't ask you two to stand!").  ^_^;  They're huge compared to both of them! 
 (Especially Kumiko...!)  

Next was Ikura Kazue.  She said her favorite memory of working on this was 
that everyone worked well with each other.  She was going to pass the mic, 
but then Mayumi interjected, "You're not Reni, you're Ikura Kazue!  So speak 
some more!"  Kazue then said that her favorite song was "Tsubasa," which was 
performed by Kohran and Iris.  It was her very favorite song.  Mayumi asked 
if she liked any of the songs she sang, and while Kazue said they are fine, 
there was always songs she could listen to over and over again without 
getting sick of it.  Originally, it was "Sound of Music," but "Tsubasa" 
replaced it.  (Yuriko and Kumiko were very happy.  ^_^)

Next was Shimazu Saeko.  She said that her memories may not have been a lot 
like the Teito Hanagumi, since she only started since ST3... suddenly, she 
paused, and she got very emotional and was actually crying, while Ecchan 
comforted her.  Mayumi said that there *are* people out there like Saeko who 
enjoyed "Sakura" a lot!  Saeko then asked the crowd if they liked "Sakura," 
and received a warm response.  Then Saeko said loudly, "Watashi mo daisuki!"  
^_^

Kozakura Etsuko loved the live performance.  Before they performed, she 
watched the "Teito Hanagumi senpai-tachi" perform, and was amazed at it.  She 
was very nervous, wondering if she could do it, but she managed to have fun 
at the end.

Takamori Yoshino agreed that the show part was great, and even now, she can't 
believe she did it.  She said that she never knew that kind of great feeling 
that comes from the live performance and also from the audience during the 
performance and was thrilled to be a part of the show.

Hidaka Noriko too was impressed with the show.  It was something she had 
never done before, because behind the mic when doing seiyuu work for anime, 
she was focused, and it was fine.  However, the singing-dancing thing that 
comes from live performances was very interesting.  She said hearing 
Kikko-chan (Inoue Kikuko) as Lobelia made her sound so gallant and brave, but 
seeing her dancing was another ordeal.  ^_^;  Also, Yoshino had to practice 
walking in part of the dance, and the dance instructor kept poking Yoshino's 
butt to get it right...  Noriko knew everyone pretty well, but through this 
experience, she also learned new things about everyone, too.  She valued her 
time with ST3 and ST4, because she got to be closer with the other cast.

Also, Noriko made a self-discovery of her own.  She had always wondered why 
she was Erica, and had been playing ST3 and ST4.  In ST3, she had always 
tried to get Glycine to like her, but it never worked.  ^_^;  Also, Noriko 
adores Maria a LOT from the Teito Hanagumi, but again, she could not get 
Maria to like her in the game, either!  ^^;  She reflects to an event in ST4, 
where Glycine and Maria are talking by the stairs about leading each of their 
groups.  Noriko chose the choice about taking care about the "problem 
children," (any of the girls who caused trouble/recklessness, like Erica, 
Lobelia, Kanna, Orihime, etc.) and lost points with both girls.  Noriko 
realized that since Erica was a problem child herself, this was why she 
answered it this way.  ^_^

The next part was a talk session.  The first topic was, "Dreams You Had When 
You Were a Kid."  (Dreams meaning future-wise, and career-wise.)

Chisa said that when she was in kindergarten, she wanted to be either a 
singer or a professional gymnast.  In elementary school, she saw a comedian, 
and decided she wanted to be one.  Then at the end, she had a blonde-haired 
teacher, and wanted to be a student in that person's class.

Urara said she wanted to be Peter Pan, and even tried to practice flying by 
jumping off the veranda, but did not get hurt.  Mayumi commented, "Definitely 
'Unbreakable.'"  (Referring to the Bruce Willis/Samuel L. Jackson movie.)

Kumiko wanted to be many things, like Himitsu no Akko-chan (an old anime 
magical girl heroine), but her biggest dream was to become a bride.

Yuriko wanted to be a waitress...  ^_^;

Mayumi said confidently, "Super model!" which caused many people to laugh.  
She was ready to pass on the mic, but Hiroi told her not to lie and asked her 
to tell the truth  ^_^;.  Then Mayumi did an impression of an elevator girl, 
and said that she had always admired the outfits they wore, and had wanted to 
be an elevator girl.  [Note: When I was little, I admired the elevator girls, 
too... ahh, I find that very weird now.  ^_^;]

Kazue wanted to be Janet Lynn, a figure-skater.  She was very cute, and Kazue 
wanted to be just like her.  ^_^

Saeko said she wanted to be a clothes designer, then later to an actress.  
(Speaking of actress... Saeko's normal voice is very high and almost 
cutesy-like.  HUGE difference from low-voiced Glycine!)  She said her dream 
to be an actress is true, now.

Etsuko said she never knew what she really wanted to be, and recently, she 
found a home video.  She saw herself reading blurbs from manga, and from an 
early age, it seems like she wanted to be a seiyuu.

Yoshino had been playing piano and wanted to become a pianist.  However, in 
elementary school, she decided she wanted to be a manga-ka.  She couldn't 
draw fingers well, however, and they always came out fat, so she gave up on 
it.

When she was little, Noriko wanted to be many things, like a stewarddess, 
nurse, and so on, but in 4th grade, she realized she wanted to be an actress, 
so she went to an acting school.

Ooba said he liked cars a lot.  Later, he wanted to be a thief.  ^_^;  Then 
Hiroi asked him about his first kiss... which Ooba had been hesitant to go 
over in yesterday's event for fear of his wife.  ^_^;  Mayumi asked him for 
the girl's name...

Next topic: What are you currently working hard at?

Chisa is currently working hard on rehearsals for "Sakura Taisen," and is 
also working hard at the wadaiko.  However, she just learned to play the 
shamisen.

Right now, Urara is not working hard at anything, and said she works hard at 
only a few particular things.  ^_^;  She starts to work hard last-minute.

Kumiko said she's on a diet.  [Diet??  -_-;  Futtotenai yo, Kumiko-san...]  
She got an exercise machine?  (Or one of those ab pad things?)  Hiroi 
pondered getting one.

Yuriko started off with, "To not let negative power..."  Hiroi didn't hear 
her and asked again, confused, and Yuriko collapsed onto the table, and the 
others laughed and helped her.  (Also, Hiroi called her "Fucchi."  ^^;)  
Yuriko said she was going to try hard and smile and not let her own problems 
show to other people.  Mayumi made another comment I didn't catch, and then 
Yuriko said as her ending comment, "I really want to get married!"  ^_^;  
(From yesterday's event.)

Mayumi said that she was working hard to maintain good health, and had to 
take some medicines.  

Kazue said that when she was a child, she wanted to be Janet Lynn.  Now she 
wants to be like Martina Hingis, the tennis player.  Hiroi heard that Kazue 
was a very good tennis player, and Kazue is also a good swimmer.  Kazue plays 
tennis frequently.  She also taught Mayumi's son how to ski up in Nagano.

Saeko is working hard to clear all the endings for all the girls in Sakura 
Taisen 4!  ^^

Etsuko is going to a shoe school (?) to design shoes for herself. 

Yoshino's is working hard to walk with her back straight, since she slouches, 
and is also working hard to prepare delicious food with squid (?).

Noriko (or "Nonko-san," according to Hiroi) joined a sports club.  Also wants 
to prepare delicious squid food, like Yoshino (?).

Next topic: A book that moved you deeply?  (Or manga.)

This time, it started from Noriko.  Her mother recommended a book (I didn't 
catch the title). 

Yoshino enjoyed the manga, "Wata no Kunihoshi," by Oshima Yumiko.  She wanted 
to do the voice of Chibi Neko, and this is when she decided to be a seiyuu 
and entered seiyuu school.

Etsuko recently watched a documentary about Afghanistan in which Tsurata Mayu 
was in it.  She bought a book about this (?).  She said she can't remember a 
book from long time ago, and can only remember recent things - she can't even 
rememeber what happened the day before.

Saeko said she read the scripts for "Sakura" - not just Glycine's, but 
everyone's scripts, and this moved her deeply and gave her a better 
understanding.

Kazue said her favorite manga series was "Slam Dunk!" and read it many times, 
and liked Sendou-kun.

Mayumi said that books had not moved her as much as manga did, except 
"Shuukan Erotopia."

Yuriko liked "Garasu no Kamen" (Glass Mask), and other manga.  The book she 
constantly read, however, was "Les Mis," aka "Aah Mujoh."

Kumiko liked the manga "Candy Candy" and always wanted to be like Candy.  She 
also liked "Tori-atama" as a book.  She never remembered books as much as 
manga.  She is currently reading the book

Urara said her favorite manga was "Ashita no Jou," and one another one.  Also 
had interest in ghosts, and ghost stories.

Chisa's favorite manga were that of mostly boys, which included "Makaro ni 
Horenso," "Susume Pilots," and now is "Azumi to Vagabond."  She hates the 
"Kumo to Iito" story.

Suddenly, Hiroi said, "Oh?  Look!  Don't just sit in the crowd watching, 
Oogami-san, Matsubana-san.  Come up!"  He went into the side of the crowd and 
brought Suyama Akio, Oogami's seiyuu, and Matsubana (or Matsumoto?), one of 
the "Sakura" staff.

Akio was flustered, but introduced himself, as well as Matsubana.  Then Hiroi 
said that they need to do some explaining on their own, and posed the 
question, "What is your ideal girl?" to Akio, which ensued cat calls from the 
audience.  ^_^; 

Akio: Um, you mean as Suyama Akio, right?
Ooji: Of course!  We're not in any roles here!
Akio: Ah, OK.  ^_^;
Ooji: What, you want to answer from Oogami's point?  Who is it?
Akio: Ah... I couldn't... ^_^;
[at this point, the female seiyuu and the audience urge him on ^^;]

Akio answered (from his viewpoint, not Oogami's) that he wanted a kind girl 
who was very gentle and nice to him.

Ooji: Were all these ladies nice to you?
Akio: (shaky answer, laughing)  O-Of course.
Mayumi: Why are you trembling?!  Why are you trembling?
Ooji: Hey!  We're not playing around... you have answer straight-forward.
Akio: OK.  ^_^;;
Ooji: Now, were they nice to you?
Akio: (glances back at the seiyuu)  Th-they were... (breaks into laughter)
[the entire seiyuu cast gets mock-mad and yells out, "Nande?!"]

Then Saeko pointed out that Akio glanced over to the right side of the seiyuu 
particularly, and Hiroi said, "Oh, so the Paris seiyuu were nice to you?"  
^_^;

Afterwards, they asked Matsumoto what his ideal girl was.  Suyama was asked 
to sit next to Ooba.  After a bit more chit-chat, the seiyuu talk session 
ended and everyone left as "Yume no Tsuzuki" played in the background.  Hiroi 
and Ooba talked about the release of the OVA series (1 episode about Sumire's 
retirement and 3 about the Paris Hanagumi), as well as the Super Kayou Show 
on August 15-19 at the Aoyama Gekijou.

-- Mink