Tell us your impressions about the story.
I first read the story at the audition. I got so into the story that I kept reading on, forgetting that I was reading it for the audition. It’s not too heavy, not too light, filled with comedy, and an abundance of characters. It’s so well balanced that I’ve been very into it. I’d tell myself “I’ll stop here,” but then I’d get so curious about the next part of the story that I read on. It’s that kind of story for me.
Tell us about your character Yor Forger.
I feel she’s very pure and hardworking. She works an underground trade as an assassin, but when we learn about her background, I feel that she’s very straightforward despite her trade. She’s someone with good qualities.
Tell us how you feel about Anya Forger.
She’s a cute girl with the best expressions. But since she has a certain ability, I feel like she’s always scheming something (laughs). It’s very precious that she thinks and acts in her own dubious ways to help her parents.
How about Loid Forger.
He’s the first person introduced in Spy x Family but I gotta say, he’s kinda different. He’s done his previous missions in a very cool demeanor. You can tell that he’s got wit. But as a reader, I can tell that he’s sort of losing his edge, but I find this new aspect of him very adorable. I’m not sure if this is intentional, but these two sides of Loid makes him so engaging.
Did you learn anything new as you portrayed Yor?
I realized this as I read the manga but, the things they say in their minds are different from what they actually say out loud. This series really likes to point that out. I think it’s cute that Yor’s inner thoughts aren’t so different from what she says out loud.
Like, even though she’s in conflict by the fact that she’s an assassin by trade, she always has some kind of uncertain feelings about it. But she’s very straight-forward as a person. Like, whenever Loid speaks about circumstances (lies for the sake of his mission), she feels that he’s a very good person. And you can see that in her facial expression.
What’s the atmosphere like at your recording sessions?
(During COVID) we managed to record together. I’m actually there in person a lot so I got to record with people my character exchanges dialogue with. And we made a lot of good progresss.
Did the staff give you any recording advice?
Yor appeared in the second episode, but I got a lot of advice from Kazuhiro Furuhashi (the Director) and Shouji Hata (Audio Director). For example, in the scene where we see Yor working at city hall. They wanted me to deliver my lines with a less up-and-down beat. They also wanted me to try different lines deliveries during the assassination parts.
I’m able to channel my inner-Yor alongside the directions of the staff members. Together we bring the character more substance.
Tell us about your co-workers.
I’ve worked with Takuya Eguchi (voice of Loid) and Atsumi Tanezaki (voice of Anya) before. But this is the first time we’ve ever been “family” so I feel like we started anew.
I found our dubbing sessions together very relaxing. Those two always express their lines so wonderfully. We also change and reinvent things together. I’m so excited to see how the Forgers will develop in the future.
This series depicts the relationship of the Forger family. Are there any words spoken by your family that have made an impression on you?
I think it was when I was 20 years-old. I think it’s because he was too embarassed to tell me in person that he sent me a text.
It might seem insignificant to others but he told me: “Things happen in life. There are ups and downs, and slopes we call obstacles. There’s no getting around them. But you’ll find that things are okay if you realize that they’ll always be there.” It was really something my father would tell me.
My father never thinks deeply abou things. He believes that “if you think everthing happens for a reason, then you’ll be fine when things go downhill or if the inevitable happens”.
Tell us what you find important in playing Yor.
What I find important in playing Yor is ensuring that I “move my heart”. I’m not sure whether or not our viewers will see this, but I find that it’s at least important to me. In order to continue on in this role.
Just like Yor, I need to make sure I listen to my heart. But there is always without a doubt, times when I’m swayed by something else like the words I exchange with people or things I see. There’s a good and bad to all of them, and I’m the type to be easily swayed. But I want to cherish each and every one of those moments. And it’s that part of me that allows me to play this role.
Someone I used to work with once told me: “I bring out what drives my heart. Doing so allows the people around me to feel what I feel, and to be driven by what swayed me.”
When I heard that, I felt that it would be wonderful if something like that ever happened. I would be honored as an actor if what moved my heart would move others as well.
Source: Animate
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