燃えないゴミです

Q: For the people who have never listened to OLDCODEX, is it because there is a painter in the band? Or is it because you have grabbed the chances of singing anime theme songs? We think that there are still prejudices like these.

YORKE: I don’t really care [about those prejudices] at all. Watch the live, as we say. This is because we have strong feelings to convey. Whatever happens, we always do our best and that will never change. If we don’t give up those feelings, we will be able to send our message and feelings. I believe that these feelings we have are overwhelmingly strong.

Ta_2: Public image is something that is in our hands so we think carefully on how to approach people in order to change their image to us positively. In a way, I feel thankful that there are nemeses around us. This is why I never get tired of everything I do for OLDCODEX. I give my whole soul in everything yet I don’t know how something will end up. For example, when I got into a magazine, my mind got messed up while thinking about those people who stereotype our band. I would like to surprise them and tell them that “we are this kind of band”. I’ve always wanted to do that (laughs).

YORKE: There’s one thing about being stereotyped: Ta_2 also works as a voice actor, right? I get annoyed whenever they think of us as a seiyuu band or recognize Ta_2 alone. I know Ta_2 does his jobs with pride. As for me, they refer me as “Oh, there’s a painter” or “That blond with a bad attitude” (laughs).

Ta_2: The feelings are mutual. I know since I watch what YORKE does. There are people who deny his style of live painting without even understanding it so I can feel his rage (laughs). In my case, I just always think that I have an extraordinary job.

YORKE: Ta_2 himself has changed. He is able to make two faces in a good way. (T/N: Two faces most likely mean the attitude or personality he shows depending on the person he talks, esp. both on his VA jobs and his band activities). Actually, Ta_2 used to tell me, “Let’s create a band that only the two of us can do!” Seeing Ta_2 being able to be coexist [with me in the band] is amazing. This is because it is tricky to do two different things at the same time. Specifically, activities where either there’s a script that is read or does everything from scratch (T/N: The former probably talk about the VA jobs and the latter talks about music). This is why I have to do better as an artist. In spite of this, I’ve always been curious on why we never got annoyed at something at the same time (laughs).

Q: So are you at the point where you stop caring about what people say about you? (laughs)

YORKE: Being dissed isn’t something I take negatively. Rather, I learn something important from it. Ta_2 and I are similar when it comes to this, aren’t we? There’s a video where I was sitting with my feet on the sofa during an interview. People commented, “That blond guy has a bad attitude”. I am like that naturally so I wasn’t conscious about it. It was a waste [of time] to be embarrassed after being misunderstood. After that, I decided to approach that in a different point of view: I realized that I have to be more cautious and careful next time.

Q: For YORKE, the reason of joining OLDCODEX is because of writing the lyrics as well. Missing a main composer, Ta_2 has also worked on compositions for years.

YORKE: I started writing lyrics from “Catalrhythm”. At first, I had the same feeling [about writing lyrics] as when I paint. But unknowingly, I encountered a lot of new words. That’s when I realized that I need to face these words I am learning in order to express what I want to say about OLDCODEX. I still need to get into writing lyrics. As we wanted to speed up our activities (T/N: he used “speed” in English, in this case he wants to increase their activities), there has been an increase of our releases in a short amount of time that’s why sometimes we feel the need to rush to catch up. I don’t even think of spilling some paint when I write lyrics because painting is something that I can always do.  I can gain experience in writing lyrics and how it is done. The more I get experiences, the more I am able to write. There are still things that I want to convey so I want to continue writing. Also, seeing how we respond to each other: where Ta_2 creates songs and I write the lyrics, the process of making music together is fun.  Finally, during the recording, Ta_2 suddenly told me to sing some parts of our song, “reel”. After hearing the song, I realized that it was almost me who was singing (laughs). It’s interesting to have a catch ball-like game with Ta_2 as it feels like it changes every time I catch it (T/N: He used “catch ball” in terms on how they respond to one another).

Ta_2: For me, the change in making songs was really huge. I was able to obtain a lot of things from making them. I guess it was because of having more challenges in facing myself. While I make songs, I think in a certain way. For example, when I notice things I don’t like on the song, I’ll rather change or let it remain for a while as I might like it later. I am able to see a lot of things. There are times that I suddenly have the feeling of changing a song. The more I make songs, the more I find it fun, especially when I try to figure out if I am being honest to myself or not.  

Q: Weren’t you honest?

Ta_2: Without knowing, I built a wall, or an armor in my head. I could honestly put everything into songs but as time went by, I had this desire of putting my overflowing emotions which affects the music [I create]. Although I know that I’m not the type of person who “wipes someone’s rear” (T/N: conforming to others), I realized that I wasn’t being honest to myself during those times.

Q: Maybe your desire to be honest on your music is strong.

Ta_2: That’s right, because the honesty of our predecessors in making music is in my heart.  I had to think about these people in order to pursue the things they were able to do. Of course, the way and manner of expressing myself will be original and different from theirs.

Q: Now that we’re on the last part of this interview, we would like you to tell us your experiences in OLDCODEX with YORKE being a member for 5 years and Ta_2 being there since the formation (6 years).

YORKE: It was that time when I was heading to OLDCODEX with my full power. With that power, I had this feeling that I had to support the kind of life I’m choosing for the sake of the future. Recently, there has been a retrospect of the things I did and I am trying to praise my past self because of that. This is often happening lately. Before, I was very negative and thought that I could do more. I often try to console myself not to give up. Now that I’ve let these thoughts out by looking back at them, there are times that I shed tears about it. It feels like something isn’t enough yet. Although, isn’t it cute that we’re still trying to be cool about it? (laughs) Ta_2 is also the same.  We shouldn’t forget how he tries to be cool about this kind of feeling. No matter how long it has passed, [remembering] the embarrassing past is just alright. At that time, we were really doing our best and it’s something that we couldn’t laugh about. We would become empty if we didn’t take ourselves seriously especially that we were living on the edge. However, for the past five years, we were able to build ourselves up with our body and blood. This is something that I can say with confidence. It is exciting to look forward to our future. Perhaps, these are the things that are worth sharing in a magazine where we are featured today.  

Ta_2: So, now that we’re featured in a magazine, I wonder why we are still trying to act so cool (laughs).

YORKE: But [past experiences] were a different way of trying to be cool (laughs).

Ta_2: There might be people who’ll think that there was something wrong before (laughs).

YORKE: I think there’s no problem with that.

Ta_2: At that time, we were just doing our best.

Q: Go on.

YORKE: Yes, yes. If I were alone in all of these, I wouldn’t have been able to reveal myself this much. The challenges had also increased. Before, I used to care less on everything I made. There was even a time where I was always wearing the same jeans which I considered my battle outfit. I wore them always to the point that they were already getting ripped. Now, thanks to Ta_2 that I already know how to value clothes (laughs).  Since I decided to join OLDCODEX, this group has totally made me fully express myself. The feelings for the things I got through this band got real, so I wasn’t afraid about the things that I lost. Although there were regrets, I slowly threw them away. The only important things are the ones which remained. Compared to the resolution [for the future] which I did 5 years ago, my resolution now is much stronger. It’s on a level where I even ask myself a lot if I’m really prepared (laughs). But during that time, I was really doing my best yet the way I prepared for this was so little that time. I hope I’ll feel the same way five years from now. (T/N: He’s most likely pointing out improvement especially towards his resolutions, or goals in life as part of the band).

Q: That resolution which you are talking about: is it a resolution that you’re going to lose or throw on purpose?

YORKE: I think it’s both. Also, it’s a resolution where I am ready to face my new self which I was afraid of. I was scared of becoming famous as I wasn’t really interested. When the invitation to become a band member came, an adult whom I trusted told me advices yet I didn’t listen. However, seeing Ta_2 being a part of the band made me thought that it is possible for us to be together. Recently, my ability to stand alone as OLDCODEX’s YORKE has become stronger. This is why I am looking forward on how we are going to make it.  

Ta_2: When I started as OLDCODEX, it started to feel like my [figurative] handcuffs were slowly getting removed. If I try to put it in simple words, it’s more of a “Goodbye, weak self. Hello, strong self” feeling. Then, it’s becoming common to us seeing people who refused us. It’s as if there’s a question mark written all over their faces (laughs). They’re like, “The rules we do here are more important”. They think that there is a need to adapt in the rules of the society and when you couldn’t conform, there are these kinds of reactions. That’s why we have music, the most important thing [to us] is always inside of us. So far, we have been trying to balance our lives in spite of being surrounded by a lot of people. Thinking about these circumstances, I think that it is difficult to impress people unless they are crazy (T/N: used いかれてる) (laughs). Therefore, I would like to go deeper into places which I haven’t seen yet. Surely, there are things that I still don’t know. Even though I make “such things” like songs, those “such things” are going to be the topic that I’ll always talk about. I think there’s something more and deeper than that. This seems to be a greediness or only thinking of getting good things, and people around me might think how troublesome I am (laughs).

YORKE: But isn’t [being troublesome] better? (laughs).

Ta_2: It’s okay [for you] since we’re partners (laughs). OLDCODEX can’t be done without the two troublesome members after all (laughs).

YORKE: I used to calculate the circumference rate by chance alone (T/N: 円周率 literally means “circumference rate” or “pi”. He’ll be explaining the figurative sentence on the next question!). Thinking that someday, there is a possibility for me to be somewhere—probably when I reach 30. I’ve been trying to do this faster with Ta_2, but I don’t think I’ll find the answer (laughs).

Q: What do you mean by “circumference rate”?

YORKE: Until now, mathematicians still try to calculate the exact number of the circumference rate. Earlier, Ta_2 mentions those “such things” that he want to know deeper. That’s correct. As for the “circumference ratio” that I mentioned, even though we can all derive it [to 3.14], there is still something more to it.

Ta_2: If you calculate while thinking that the theory of relativity is perfect and then Higgs’ new discoveries come out, you have to rework on calculating the formula. (T/N: LOL they are talking about science XD)

YORKE: I think that being able to carry on the research by calculating formulas involving that theory is something that can make [me] happy, because there is still a continuation. When I paint a picture, there’s this feeling where I tremble every time an artwork I draw comes to an end. End seems to be inevitable. We fear this and I am honestly afraid to see something ends. However, the two of us still search for more answers together, whether these answers exist or not.  

Q: This is the first time that you have been featured in a music magazine. Your ZEPP tour was sold out in various places, your second 2-day Budoukan live has been announced, and your overseas performance has also been confirmed. Have you ever imagined coming this far?

Ta_2: We were only in a free [news] paper before but it’s the first time to be in a music magazine.

YORKE: Ever since Ta_2 has invited me to become a member of OLDCODEX back in November 2011, I had a vague feeling that this band will grow. We have come together and now we are able to naturally accept it even if our scale gets bigger.

Ta_2: The fact that we notice how our band activities increase makes me really happy. Being interviewed like this probably gives us the same feelings when we perform during live concerts. Whether there are a lot of “Audience” or not, I seriously do my best. No matter how this interview is handled, I want to send my message off. Speech and music are as infectious as viruses. Being in this situation [interview] is now amazing because I came along with my partner and we never thought that we’ll do this kind of thing. In some degree, it is mysterious that we are able to do it excitedly as time passes by. I have various troubles but I move forward without giving up.  

Q: In a good way, the relaxed feeling is certainly missing. Have you ever had thoughts about your band growing within a short amount of time?  

Ta_2: We were able to accept it. It’s a big change and it’s lucky to be in this position at this period. We make songs, YORKE writes the lyrics and I shout these lyrics (T/N: Tatsu used the actual word, “SHOUT” in English). Then, we release the CD.  The one-man live isn’t only a home ground but it’s more of an event. We were given opportunities to perform in venues where people do not know us. We slowly received the stimulation from those audience and unintentionally, we were able to get their attention hence, the good vibes during the performance. Even though we knew how careful we were during the performance, somewhere, we were still trying to humble ourselves by being conscious of our performances, mistake-free or not. This has made us continue walking step by step to the path that we’ve been to without making mistakes. Until now, I’ve always let my right hand and my right leg out at the same time. Now, I was able to know which limbs I should put out (laughs). (T/N: This was the literal translation of what he said in the interview. Probably he was being figurative about this in relation to the previous sentence regarding walking to the path). I don’t know why, but I can see myself knowing how to properly walk in the path which I’m heading to in the future.  

YORKE: Personally, I’ve changed especially the way I perceived things. Before, Ta_2 was afraid of becoming big. I thought it would be okay if we would become big but now that it is actually happening, I encounter various problems. If you get conceited, you’ll get humiliated. If you get full of yourself, you’ll become envious. The increase of problems has made me face them well and I really appreciate it. If the light gets stronger, the shadow gets darker, right? Being a band is the same. When you see a strong shadow, you tend to be negative, but on the contrary it makes me want to catch the stronger light more. Furthermore, what I would like to happen is for the staffs around us and the band members to see more of us (OLDCODEX). It different from a responsibility for me but I am looking forward for this to happen.

Q: Is this for you to become more suited of the band?

YORKE: There are a lot of topics that are given for you to become as such. It makes you feel excited in spite of this age. We shouldn’t go backwards.

Q: Without being conscious about it, is your shadow being pulled rather than the light?

YORKE: Yes, that’s how it is. That’s why I never had an attitude of “It’s okay since I’m still young.” Because of this, I was able to endure various things.

Ta_2: Ever since I met YORKE, he has always spent his time on his responsibilities on stage every day.  Rather than wasting his time, he often let everything inside him. This is why I think that I have to know how to live in a film-like situation.

Q: When you talk about “film”, are you talking about photographic film?

Ta_2: It’s film as in the movie. No matter when they will cut the movie, it always looks amazing.  At the end of the film, one will always feel how stronger this person gets thinking, “I’m standing here”—a kind of thinking that happens no matter how big or dark the shadow will be.  

YORKE: As soon as we get on the stage, we’ll eventually know the meaning of yesterday as well as the day before it. That means, we still need to reevaluate our performance from the day before yesterday and yesterday. We have to prepare every day. Since the spotlight is starting to become brighter, there will be times that Ta_2 and I glow on stage. It is only the two of us who understand when shadows get darker. Hence, it is something that we face by ourselves.

Q: From which point did you start to feel your shadows getting darker?

YORKE: Ta_2 said that he’s been noticing it for a long time now. Although, I’ve only noticed it recently.

Ta_2: In the beginning, comments about our improvement have started to surface. Because of that, I became cautious.

YORKE: I clearly remember how Ta_2 got somehow irritated at that time. I thought that this is something that is inevitable yet the things we have been doing all this time remain constant. However, there will be some things that will surely change. For example, the style has changed from five years ago when I entered. In spite of this, the things that we are sending to the audience are becoming more powerful.  

Q: Is Ta_2 aware of the success in the music scene whenever he holds the microphone?

Ta_2: I wasn’t aware at all. I thought we’ll be able to spread our music even though we are no different from other bands. Looking back, there were negative criticisms directed to us and it was in order to crush our music. Until now, I still think about it seriously (laughs). It was worse when I first started, but I was able to learn things in this scene. Somehow, I was able to realize that there are ways to succeed here (laughs). At first, I was alone. Then, I was able to encounter a good partner, band members, staff, and the “Audience”. There are good people who surround me and are connected through music.  

Recently, I have moments of how I’ve always wanted to be in a band from the beginning. When everyone is recording, when everyone is performing, when everyone is checking the equipment and rehearsing—it’s the kind of scenery which I couldn’t describe in words. There’s a different feeling in spite of being satisfied. It’s as if I was able to have a grasp of something that is good and I like that kind of feeling.

Q: Was the decision to make YORKE as a member went smoothly? Having a member who is a painter at the same is a challenge, and the fact that working as a painter/artist will be different compared when you were focused on it alone. Were you able to prepare for it?

YORKE: Since I was thinking what kind of contribution I shall make to the band, it took me a while to decide. I wanted to protect my identity while being a member of OLDCODEX. That is something I never had in my life as I was always alone in doing something. However, I was prepared when I entered the band. Actually, I haven’t done any expressive activities recently outside OLDCODEX. In spite of this, I never imagined myself doing something alone within five years that’s why I wanted to go ahead with OLDCODEX. Because of my friends, I was able to change my mind and was able to believe in the things which I could do.  

“Being a voice actor is a dream job”

“A voice-actor who lives to experience various things is a dream job.”

 There are times that I like my own voice and there are times that I don’t. Due to my high-pitched voice, I usually get offers to voice cute characters specifically a young boy or an animal. A good example for this is Yagami Taichi from Digimon Adventure. I have, however, this feeling of envy whenever I work with someone who has a deep or dandy voice.  Also, the volume of my voice is small whenever I casually talk. In this interview, I try my hardest to raise my voice’s volume but sometimes I’m still having difficulties in conveying what I want to say. That’s why I want to become someone who can briskly talk (laughs).

 Ever since before, I’ve been really shy. Little by little, I’ve been trying to overcome it at work but I still get nervous whenever I meet people for the first time to the point that my voice gets raspy (laughs). Initially, I entered this industry without understanding its fundamental aspects. I was in the company for 2-3 years yet I was having difficulties in talking to the staff. In order to get opportunities, I wanted to understand myself more, but I couldn’t. When “Monster Hunter” was released, however, I started to mingle with my managers. After that, I was able to get along well with many people. That’s why I am really thankful to the staffs that time (laughs).

Through my voice, I am able to experience not only to play various characters but also to experience their way of living. This is like a dream job. Even though you can’t go back to being a high school student in real life, I can get back into that kind of life through the characters I play. This isn’t only through male roles, but I can also play animals, fairies, and other non-human roles. Some things that you can’t experience every day happens in anime and I think that it’s fun. Every time, I try to think about the character’s charm, way of living, how did this character become like this, and what kind of personality does the character have. It’s as if I’m trying to look at the backbone of the character. It is difficult to explore by yourself but it ends up being really fun.

 “My world has become broader after becoming an emcee for OhaSuta”

 At first, I had a glimpse of seeing myself being covered on TV. However, I never imagined that it would be an emcee role in OhaSuta. That’s why when the offer came, “Why me?!” was the first impression I showed (laughs).

When I tried the demo, I enjoyed and felt that another world has opened for me. I try to challenge myself in this field in spite of it being my weakness and it has led me to gain confidence. This is where I thought that it is important to experience a lot of things.

 A lot of people may think that working as a voice actor is fun and seems to be a stunning profession, but I want to let people know that voice actors try their hardest that their passion is felt through their blood.  I want people to realize that in spite of the fun times, there are also difficult times. Without attending a training school, I started recording my voice samples and sent them to the office. My mother supported me through all of this and that’s when I realized how important the cheer from the family is.

 If my parents were against this, I would have probably showed my strength more and tried by best to go through it.  Nonetheless, if people only look at this industry as a fun one, they will be surprised with the gap. This is why it is better to explore the industry properly in order to have a deeper understanding to it.

 “It is a mystery that I became the main character of ‘Digimon’ which I watched as a child”

I’ve been watching anime since I was little. During Sundays, I watch anime and tokusatsu series. Having that kind of hobby, I was really interested to “Digimon Adventure” when I was about in 2nd or 3rd grade. As I grew up, I have always thought that Digimon is cooler than any anime that I have watched. Even if I did not understand the message, it feels like the one which comes out from PC is real and I had this feeling of being an adult (laughs). Moreover, the cute characters which evolve become cool. Those scenes easily capture a boy’s heart. I remember having a Digivice before and often checked out my favorite characters while I was in the corner of the family restaurant’s cash register. I couldn’t believe it when I was told that I will play the role of Taichi Yagami, the main character, for “Digimon Adventure tri”. Until now, I felt strange that I was able to voice a grown-up Taichi whom I’ve always watched when I was a little kid. At first, it was really a pleasure for me to voice the character, but pressure was also there as I tried not to record the scenes half-heartedly. My heart was beating fast during the recording. When the first part was released and saw Taichi talking with my voice, I was able to feel the joy in doing that work. After that, I was able to continue working without being nervous. In order to create a role while leaving an emphasis of the elementary student Taichi, I reviewed the first series. It is difficult to play Taichi’s character that is similar to Toshiko Fujita. However, I would like to express how Taichi grew up along with Agumon and his friends in the Digimon World while its character in the original series still remains in the tri series.  With Takeru and Hikari being part of the main characters in Part 3: Kokuhaku, this part has become the most tear-jerker among the series of tri movies. Please check it on theaters. Taichi’s development as a person will also be coming out and the last part will be amazing. I think that people will be asking what will happen on the fourth installment that will surely want to watch it as soon as possible.

“Be honest to the feeling!!!” 

T/N: I love how the quote above and the title, “Challenger” are both in English. haha.

“Rather than focusing on ranks, winning or losing, I pursue my goals while being myself”

I think that being a voice actor is a fun work because you can do different things every day.  For example, I can be a kind person in the morning and a mad man in the afternoon. This is the world that I have always admired and luckily I am here and I can live every day. It is very fulfilling.

There were a lot of things to tackle. At first, I entered the vocational school with a thought, “I wonder who I will become if I don’t become a voice actor”. From the first day of school, I was worried if I could excel as there were a lot of people who were very unique. Then I realized that when you clearly understand your position being at the bottom, there’s a hunger for rising up. It’s a world where wonderful people come together. That’s why rather than focusing on rankings or win-lose situations, I just wanted to do everything at my own way. After all, this is a job wherein the salary is unstable. Keeping it permanently without screwing at it is the only thing that I can do. It was as if running on a marathon without a goal. It was painful but as I continue to run, that suffering became enjoyable.

Although I was often given a character with a higher voice at the beginning of my debut, new generations came out and I thought that I won’t survive by having this voice range alone. Because of this, I studied in order to widen my voice range. In 2013, I was able to be given a chance to voice a character with a low range of voice and that is Koikawa Shungiku of “Mushibugyou”. When I was able to pass the audition for that role, I felt how rough it was to open a very heavy door. Last year, I was given the role of Gouda Takeo in “Ore Monogatari!!!” and it was a type of role where I didn’t have my image as a voice actor attached.

 “I hold on to the feelings I have in my private life whenever I’m in front of the microphone”

Probably it was because I always transfer schools when I was a child that I am good at choosing my way on how to spend my time peacefully in any environment. I am not the type who enters a circle by myself so if I am lonely, I’ll think of ways to cease my loneliness. Since I always love thinking about things even before, I was able to find the correct answer in my life based on the various ideas that arrived. If I continue doing this, I will never be apart from this. Although I was told that what they don’t understand what I am thinking (laughs).

I am not usually irritable or impatient. My own emotions do not explode. This is because my emotions already has a place to burst. I hold on to the feelings I have in my private life whenever I’m in front of the microphone. Even if something happens or makes me feel down, I produce a huge voice in front of the microphone. During the day, I release my emotions in front of the microphone. During the night, I release my emotions through drinking. I think I created a good system (laughs).  

After work, I usually go out drinking with fellow voice actors and staff. If I have to go and catch up for the last train, I continue drinking at home. I just moved to a new place so my room is very clean and comfortable. This time I bought an indoor plant that I’ve always wished to have. A room with a plant is very fashionable, right? (laughs). I have a one-seater sofa ever since, but now I also wanted to have fun with some friends so I bought a two-seater sofa as well. It creates a café bar-like atmosphere (laughs).

 “After 10 years, I want to be dandy who looks good in beard.”

The number of juniors in the industry have increased so there are a lot of times where I have to act as a senior at work. This is when I see something important: anyone is free to choose how to live as a voice actor so I don’t judge the juniors’ way of working nor urge them to improve. I often spoil my juniors and take them for a drink. I’m totally a drink bar senpai (laughs).

I admire a lot of seniors as a voice actor. The voice actors from the older generation are amazing in being able to change according to the needs at their age. As I, myself, would like to be recognized continuously, I would also like to be adaptive as I inevitably move forward to a change. A human voice is something that appears to an individual’s life. A person can change it in his/her own way. It is fun to develop and change, so I want to live happily every day and become a person that is recognized and appealing. I will live according to my feelings; my feelings are the only ones which will never change. From now on, I will not lie to myself. I want to go through what I want to do while having fun.

My personal dream is to buy a car. Since that seems to be too luxurious in my twenties, I would like to have a car in my thirties as part of my hobby. After ten years, I would like to become a dandy man who looks good in beard. My beard is very thin so even though it grows, something seems to be lacking. That’s why I’m wondering if it will be thicker 10 years from now (laughs). I went to a well-known fortune teller in Taiwan. The said fortune-teller seems to be accurate and is known for it. I was told that from that moment, my stubbornness will become prevalent. That fortune teller said, “You will become an obstinate old man in your 50s.”…what do you think? (laughs)  

“I would like to continue working in this field even after 10 years.”

“For about 25 years, I lived my life without attracting everyone’s attention”

During my interview in the first issue of Seiyuu Junon last November 2014, it was that time where I’ve been into this field for a year. Looking back, I didn’t have the composure and I was giving my utmost effort. In the location, it wasn’t only about following the script but I also had a hard time in fitting around. I had to do some things alone. When that happens, my voice doesn’t come out as if I couldn’t have the strength in using my throat. I think that all went in a bad direction.

At last, I was able to become flexible in understanding what is happening on my surroundings, and I was able to be natural without wasting any useless energy.

Something that hasn’t changed since my debut is probably doing some things at my own pace (laughs). That is probably the only thing that hasn’t been influenced by my environment. On the contrary, what has changed around my debut is my major premise. Around that time, I also had a part-time job, thinking, “Will I be able live well in this job of being a voice actor? I want to survive.” Now, I am thankful to fans who have continued supporting me because I am succeeding in this job. It really makes me happy.

What is unforeseen in this job, however, is that we unexpectedly have a lot of opportunities to stand on the stage (laughs). We do lives, events, and a lot more. I was really surprised the first time I knew about this. Originally, I’ve been the type who always does things behind the scenes. For about 25 years, I lived my life without gaining attention from other people (laughs). Until now, I am still not used in some work where we have to stand on the stage.

 “Cooking is like making craft which makes it fun. Right now, it is probably my obsession (laughs).”

The reason why I became interested in becoming a voice actor was because of singing. I used to be in a band when I was in high school and standing on stage and being watched by a lot of people for the first time, I saw the excitement of the audience. The simple, “You have a good voice” made me happy. That experience made me think how fun it is to express oneself through my voice. Another trigger that has made me work in this field is my interest in watching foreign movies. While watching them, I thought that I would like to try dubbing these someday.

I decided to enroll in a training school when I was still in college. Although before that, I thought that I will have a simple life and find a job in my hometown (laughs). I enrolled in a training school when I was in my sophomore year in college. It was around the time I went to Tokyo that I decided to enter in the said school. Even if I decided to go to Tokyo and get a job, I went there without knowing the situation and if I’ll be able to have a stable work. For the sake of living, I got a part-time job. It’s been four years now since I started living alone in Tokyo and now I’m somehow used to it. Lately, I realized the fun of making meals. Until then, I used to buy bentou or prepared dishes, but now I was able to discover the fun of cooking. Making my own meals also makes my stomach full. It’s been a passion to the point that I cook meals no matter how busy and late I go home (laughs). Lately, I’ve been cooking fried dishes such as fried chicken, pork cutlet, and sweet and sour pork made from deep-fried pork. I want to challenge myself with more complicated recipes. Although when I don’t have time, there are a lot of instances that I cook pasta.

 “I like playing the roles of villains and bad guys”

During recording, there are a lot of times where we try to see the incomplete animation if our voices match. Once our voices have been listened to, the animator will complete the animation. Before, an animator told me, “While the voice actors act with their voices, the animators act with their animations.” Those words remained in my heart. When both voice actors and animators’ roles go well, the result will be remarkable. I was impressed when I saw the on-air for the first time. I am glad that I am doing this work.

I think it is very difficult to dub in a tremendous speed that is beyond expectations. Last time, I could not keep up with the speed and I was the only one who had retakes. In that matter, my voice acting abilities are being tested based on power and improvising skills. It is difficult yet interesting at the same time.

I don’t particularly like my voice, but I am not saying that I hate it either (laughs). How should I put it? Hmm…I guess it’s a so-so feeling (laughs). I am usually told that my voice is low, but it is not extremely low. I sometimes wish that I have a clearer voice. However, I was born with this voice and I hope I’ll be able to know more about it.

What I would like to challenge from now on is dubbing a regular foreign program. Specifically, I would like to voice villains and unpleasant characters. I want to say something bad through the lines of these characters. Bad things that I cannot usually say in everyday life (laughs).

After 10 years, the first thing I would like to do is to continue working in this field. I want to firmly and confidently say that everything will be fine. In addition, I want a bigger place to live in where I can have a room for my hobbies such as playing the piano and the guitar (laughs).

However, my favorite phrase is “All Worldly Things are Transitory”. I also have a belief that nothing is firmly guaranteed and one’s current situation will continue to be as it is. Because of this, I can always move forward in spite of the hardships that I will encounter. I will stay positive because I know that difficulties will not be permanent.

“I’ll Always Be Here.”

“The belief of loving my own character more than anyone”

Anyone has a vision of “Someday, I would like to become this person.” Having that significant vision, being able to work as a voice actor means that you can be anyone and it varies in nature, profession, and even nonhuman characters. I think that is its best charm. If my character makes the people happy through my voice and its lines, my joy would rise as well. It’s my policy to keep in mind the people who watch the work I do no matter what kind of role I have.

In order for that [policy] to be fulfilled, I give my love for that character more than anyone and bring life into it. This is through carefully reading the manga if it’s a manga adaptation. Or if it’s from a game, I will be engrossed in playing without taking note of the time. These are the things that I expect myself to do passionately. If I didn’t do these, it will be disrespectful to the fans of the original works. If I didn’t do my best in becoming that character, it is going to be disrespectful to the character as well. In the eyes of those who are into the original work, they probably think that I’m “someone who makes my own image of the character though my voice”. However, if people will think that “Rather than having a good voice for the character, Aoi-kun’s performance is really good”, that would be the best feeling.  

 “The fascination of letting people know that young male characters doesn’t necessarily have low voices”

As you may have noticed, my voice is really high and because of it, there’s been an increase of opportunities in playing roles of young male characters or even female characters. Being challenged with these kinds of roles that aren’t usually played by other male voice actors is extraordinary. To be honest, this makes me happy.

Generally, there are people who think, “A man normally has a low voice”, but I think that there has been an increase of voice actors who have the same voice range as mine. Rather than being tied in the “male character = low voice” viewpoint, I want everyone to widen their perspective and see how interesting the performance is. If someday, I will be given an opportunity to act various roles from a young child to an adult character, it will make me happy.

 “The complex becomes an advantage not to hate myself”

Before, having this kind of voice was my complex. I have always thought that there was something wrong with my voice. While I was in my adolescence, I wasn’t able to find the answer for me to get out of my suffering. I think that there are also people who suffer from their own complex. However, even though I wasn’t able to move forward in that moment, I thought that this complex will surely change into an advantage for other people someday. This is why the last thing that I wanted to happen was to hate myself. It isn’t necessarily to become useful and important, but I wanted to be proud of something.  If something that people say distress me, I would just ignore it. Since I wanted to prove myself during my adolescence, it was during that time when I wanted to get rid something different about myself. That’s when I realized, the people who either teased you or always at your side may also have some troubles. Looking back, I did not have any time to hate myself, but I should have respected and accepted my own personality more. Hence, the feeling of happiness while I’m living my life now is here. I never wanted to hate myself.

 “There has been an increase in expressing oneself as a voice actor and singer”

This year, being able to hold a Budoukan live has become an achievement. Rather than going beyond my character, I personally was able to enjoy the thrilling experience as an artist. Thanks to the voice actor activities that I’ve been getting, I was able to sing songs, wear various clothing and accessories, and I was able to express myself in different ways. Perhaps this could not be done without being given an opportunity to voice act and to sing. From now on, I would like to show the “Aoi Shouta” which only I can express again and again. Aside from the stereotype where every male character should have a low voice, wearing clothes made of tulle or wedding dress-like clothes is something that I would like to show. I would like to break the stereotype and make people think that guys can wear something like this, too (laughs).

I use ladies’ western-style clothes assertively. Even though there are people who think that it is uncomfortable to see a man wearing such, this is something that Aoi Shouta does. Of course, while I show my cool side as a man, I think that being able to express myself in a visually neutral [among genders] way is what I want to pursue.

There are a lot of times where I think, “What if the fans who are cheering for me are suddenly gone?” This is probably strange but I want to bring my fans to my grave (laughs). Thinking about living together with my fans is the source of my vitality.

-end-

Q1. Who among the members you can rely the most?

Imaichi Ryuji: Of course, these are the two leaders. Naoki-san is the mother who, without anyone noticing, takes care of the things including small stuff. NAOTO-san, on the other hand, is the father who tells us about the important things. When I am lost, these two try to understand and help me solve them. They are really reliable.

Tosaka Hiroomi: NAOTO-san adapts fast. Even though he meets the person for the first time, he can see what kind of person he’s dealing with. He’s familiar in being with other people so he is a very reliable senior.

NAOTO: It’s NAOKI. We’ve shared a deep bond by being in both EXILE and JSB and I think that we both understand each other. The person who understands me is NAOKI and the person NAOKI understands is me.

Kobayashi Naoki: I always want to hear Tosaka’s opinion. In whichever state the group is, he is ready to say his opinion about that matter and in that sense I think that he is very reliable.

ELLY: NAOTO-san is good in making the conversation flow while NAOKI-san is very delicate especially when casually talking to him in private. These two leaders are really reliable.

Yamashita Kenjiro: You can rely on everyone. Everyone’s strong points vary that’s why it depends on these points on how you rely on them. It’s a group where everyone skillfully blends well.

Iwata Takanori: I was able to function properly as a member of EXILE thanks to the guidance of NAOTO-san and NAOKI-san. I won’t be here if they weren’t able to teach me proper behavior and courtesy.

  Q2. Who among the members think about the other members the most?

Imaichi Ryuji: That’s ELLY. With his producer-like opinions, he’s able to know the appeal of each member and pull us. He puts his mind when he explains his proposal about the group.

Tosaka Hiroomi: Last time, I went out for dinner with Imaichi-kun and he went, “Being with JSB is really good”. I’ve been thinking the same thing but it’s not something you say normally. However, Imaichi-kun telling me this made me feel like there’s someone who’s in the same boat as me.

NAOTO: Probably Ryuji. You can see how he passionately sees the members as important people for him and when we’re in trouble, I can see him trying to do his best in dealing with it.

Kobayashi Naoki: This is probably Ryuji. He doesn’t only think about himself but he also thinks about the others’ opportunities in work. He’s the type who always thinks about other people’s feelings.

ELLY: Everyone thinks about the other members but image-wise, that would be Imaichi-kun (laughs).

Yamashita Kenjiro: Everyone is passionate but the one who shows stronger feelings is Imaichi. He’s stoic and pays attention to his surroundings. If a member feel sick or sad, he’s really going to contact you.

Iwata Takanori: There’s no one who don’t think about the members but probably NAOTO-san has the strongest feelings. During the training camp for EXILE audition, he made me remember once again my purpose of joining the said audition. To be honest, that was very difficult. I am really thankful to NAOTO-san for giving me a turning point.

 Q3. Who among the EXILE TRIBE members do you respect?

Imaichi Ryuji: It’s ATSUSHI-san. If not because of him, I don’t think I will be able to become an artist. His being detailed as a vocalist is really amazing. He also taught me that I should show humility in order to reach people’s hearts when singing.

Tosaka Hiroomi: HIRO-san is already an obvious answer, but the way ATSUSHI-san thinks about some matters is undoubtedly amazing. He has unexpected advices when we ask for some and I think that is a manifestation of his seriousness towards his work.  

NAOTO: I respect everyone but the one I respect the most is of course, HIRO-san. He’s amazing in being a performer, producer, managing the company, and being a human being. He’s also overflowing with kindness.

Kobayashi Naoki: I respect all the seniors and the juniors. Being with these amazing people is something that is rare, right? It’s like we all ride the same ship wherein there is a navigator and a captain. We all have each of our own duties and responsibilities and therefore, I respect everyone for that.

ELLY: I respect HIRO-san as a man. As entertainers, I respect MAKIDAI-san and AKIRA-san. Whether in acting, caster, DJ, and dancing, they have this certainty in the wide ranges of their activities. I also rap but I am the only one in the younger generation who’s into this. It feels like I should walk on my own path.

Yamashita Kenjiro: Of course that would be HIRO-san. Being the original EXILE member, I really honor him. We’ve made history and live our lives with him. Even when we perform in live concerts together, you can really see how happy he is as he deals with us.

Iwata Takanori: HIRO-san’s vision has always surprised me. He’s able to look back five years ago, and able to specifically tell us what to do tomorrow. He’s a prodigy.

Q4. Are you strict to your juniors?

Imaichi Ryuji: Sometimes, I can be strict and sometimes, I can be gentle. For example, I remind them to be careful with the language they use especially when they are with other people.

Tosaka Hiroomi: In my life and at work, I don’t really have any experience in having juniors but I learned from the seniors that if the juniors acknowledge me, I should fully help them. I think I’m not the type who approaches them though (laughs).

NAOTO: For the sake of the entertainment we bring which is sending Love, Dream, and Happiness, we value everyone. HIRO-san as a producer already gives us guidance so as much as possible, we try to be less mindful towards who the leader and who the juniors are.

Kobayashi Naoki: The seniors have always guided me but I still don’t know how to lead the juniors. This is why I always say the exact thing HIRO-san wanted to tell the juniors. I am responsible for their lives so I am neither strict nor gentle. That may sound dry but that is for real.

ELLY: I usually get praised in giving advices about choreography towards to the juniors such as GENERATIONS and THE RAMPAGE. However, I am really loose instead of strict (laughs).

Yamashita Kenjiro: It varies. I give my juniors advice in a polite manner if they are troubled. However, if the answer is already obvious, I’ll be very strict in answering them.

Iwata Takanori: I’m not yet at that age. Whatever I tell the juniors, the seniors probably tell me: “If you tell this to the juniors…well, it’s a little bit…” and that is probably because I am still incomplete. Although I had this sense of leadership in my dance circle when I was still in the university (laughs).

Q5. Do you think that you can form a friendship with women?

Imaichi Ryuji: I don’t think so. The ways of thinking of men and women are totally different (laughs).

Tosaka Hiroomi: There’s a slight difference in being friends with an opposite sex. If you find the person charming, there might be a chance of becoming intimate and see the person as more than a friend. That’s why I don’t think it’s possible.  

NAOTO: A friendship in high school among the opposite sexes without any romantic feelings is probably normal. However, lately…well…this is something I can’t really imagine (laughs).

Kobayashi Naoki: Whenever a guy and a girl get interested to one another, the only word that comes into my mind is “romance”. This is why when I get interested with the opposite sex, I go, “Is this love?” In my opinion, I can’t form a friendship!

ELLY: The opposite sexes can be friends but not best friends. I can only be best friends with a guy.

Yamashita Kenjiro: I think it’s possible. I have a lot of female friends. I’m still friends with people I’ve danced with back in my vocational school. Some of them got married and have kids. I visit them in order to see them and their kids.

Iwata Takanori: There is one woman whom I consider as such. I have this accomplished feeling of “I did it!” because compassionate love always rises above passionate love.