#it's......alright

Publication: April 1, 2026

Nagata Kouhei (Reiji)

"Were you told anything regarding the "PROJECT RED" series and "Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity" during the audition process?"

Nagata: No, I had absolutely no idea. I didn't learn about it until after I passed the final audition, where I was informed for the first time that I'd be working on a production separate from the Super Sentai series called Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity.

"So you auditioned as if it were for Super Sentai?!"

Nagata: Just as the final audition finished and I was thinking that "it'd be nice if I get picked," news that the "Super Sentai Series would be going on hiatus" began to break, so I was incredibly shocked. That's why until I actually passed the audition and received an explanation, I was just as anxious as the fans, as I wondered, "What's gonna happen?"

"You were more worried than the fans, huh? (laughs)."

Nagata: Even after being told that it was for Gavan Infinity, the only image I had was of Super Sentai, so I had absolutely no idea what filming would be like or what kind of hero I'd be portraying.

"Have you ever seen "Space Sheriff Gavan," which aired in 1982?"

Nagata: This is embarrassing, but I had only ever known of the name "Gavan," so when it was decided that I got the role of Gavan Infinity, I used that opportunity to watch it, but even by today's standards, it has a captivating appeal, don't you think? It wasn't just the action, as every single line spoken by Gavan (Ichijouji Retsu) had that "manly man" vibe and was really cool. That said, Gavan was a production that featured alot of unmasked action scenes, so I was initially worried about whether I could handle such a major role as Gavan. Still, the staff are kind and accepting, so I intend to create the best Gavan that I can right now.

"Even if you watch it now, the action scenes in Gavan are still absolutely amazing, right?"

Nagata: When you think about it in terms of today's safety standards, there are some scenes that'll make you think, "They were doing stuff like this?!" (laughs), but there's a certain level of intensity and coolness to it because it's from that era, you know? Still, when I see Shige-san, the Suit Actor in charge of Gavan Infinity this time, jumping from high places on set, I realize that while safety is still their first priority, he is risking his life to get those shots. We also want to take on that kind of pressure, pouring our souls into our roles and making it ours.

"Do you ever think about Gavan when developing your character?"

Nagata: I think they decided to make this new Gavan series with Gavan Infinity since the original Gavan was just so cool, and even though it's not a direct sequel, I want to capture the signature coolness that the original had. What makes something cool can change based on the person watching, but it'd be great if we can deliver a cool Gavan that can be made in the modern era.

"Speaking of, what heroes did you admire when you were younger?"

Nagata: Back then, I used to watch Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Ultraman all the time. The first heroes I was exposed to were from "Mirai Sentai Timeranger," so I think I was around 3 years old. I remember we had Timeranger action figures and a TimeRobo toy at home back then, and I used to play with them by transforming and combining them.

"Timeranger aired in 2000, with Kamen Rider Kuuga also airing at the same time."

Nagata: I also loved Kuuga since I thought he was really cool, and I even received his transformation belt as a birthday present. I asked my mother about it when I got older, but it seems that at the time, the sounds that came from the belt were so loud that it frightened me, and that I stopped wearing it after that (laughs). It'd make me happy if the children of today could feel the same sense of admiration that I had for the Timerangers and Kuuga back then.

"What was your initial impression after you first read the script?"

Nagata: In my mind, Super Sentai Red's have always been the hot blooded types, so while Gavan Infinity isn't part of Super Sentai, I wondered if Reiji might possess that kind of personality too. However, when I read the script, I found that there were some carefree aspects to him, so I thought he'd be a difficult character to play.

"We definitely think that Reiji's character is a difficult role to play."

Nagata: Director Fukuzawa was in charge of the pilot, and on set, I'd ask about his image of Reiji's character before acting, but there was initially a disconnect between the Director's vision of Reiji and my own, so I struggled since I just couldn't seem to get it right. So, on set, I was acting while trying out a variety of approaches and making mistakes, but starting with script supervisor Hideko-san, I received encouraging words from the staff like, "It's alright to do it with confidence," and thanks to them, Reiji's character is now taking shape within me. As I read the script, in my mind, I felt that Reiji was a character who was somewhat detached yet observant of those around him, with a strong core deep within his heart. That's why simply acting composed wouldn't match that image. Even now, as I play Reiji on set, I'm constantly learning new things, and although it's a difficult role, I also find that part rewarding.

"What do you pay attention to when playing Reiji?"

Nagata: I always approach things in a relaxed state so that I can deal with any situation that arises on site. I believe that actors must always possess logic and a set of principles that guide their actions. Additionally, they must be able to adapt in the moment to whatever's asked of them on set. For that reason, to ensure that I remain flexible when facing challenges on set, I try to stay as relaxed as possible.

"Requests can suddenly come up on the film set, so you need to be able to react quickly."

Nagata: Most of my work so far has been stage plays, and while stage productions take about one to two months to create and present to the audience, in the case of film production, we usually get to rehearse two or three times on set and then have to get it right on the first take, so you need to create a performance plan early on, otherwise things will fall apart. That's my current personal challenge. I want to listen to the opinions on set so that I'm able to play the role that's expected of me.

"Since this is the first installment of the PROJECT RED series, there aren't any immediate seniors to look to for guidance, is there?"

Nagata: Of course, including Gavan, I've checked out all of the previous Space Sheriff series, but times have changed, and the content has evolved quite abit. That's why I can really feel the staff's intense determination to create a brand new production from zero.

"On the other hand, following works will likely use Gavan Infinity as a reference, so isn't there some pressure in that regard too?"

Nagata: If those who go on to play leading roles in future productions are able to use Gavan Infinity as a reference and gain the confidence to perform in the way they want to, then that would make me happy as a fellow member of PROJECT RED.

"We imagine you've grown accustomed to being on set, but how's the teamwork with the regular cast members?"

Nagata: We were pretty talkative from the start, but now it feels like we're practically family. I go out to eat with Rui's Anna-san and Daisuke's Arihiro, and we get along really well with each other during our private time too. On set, all of the female cast members are cheerful and giggly, so I watch them with a smile, just like an older brother would (laughs).

"Whether they're regulars or guests, this production also features an abundance of unique characters."

Nagata: Including the villains, the characters that appear in Gavan Infinity are all incredibly unique. This is naturally the case for the hero Gavan Infinity, but the other characters play an active role, and the vibes they possess are also wonderful, so make sure to check them out. In a good way, the roles each and every one of us plays is different, so I sincerely hope that you'll find your favorite.

"The everyday interactions outside of the action scenes look like fun too, but what points does Nagata-san want us to focus on?"

Nagata: In particular, the Kiki and Koto duo is amusing due to the unique interactions that only a female pair can provide, so make sure to watch for that. Maybe it's because she's in the Forensics Division, but Kiki's character has abit of an otaku quality to her, which makes her interesting and lovable to everyone, and Kotobuki's a "tough onee-san" who can handle her own in action, so she's just the coolest.

"Compared to Super Sentai, there are alot more female regulars, aren't there?"

Nagata: Looking at the response on SNS, the female cast members gained a huge following quickly, which I was in awe of (laughs). Kiki's Kokona-chan really livens up the mood with her conversations of fortune telling and the MBTI. They're great at coming up with conversations, and are really nice girls.

"The female cast really brighten up the set, huh?"

Nagata: They seriously brighten things up. With AGI's Kohana-chan too, she'll make funny faces and dance in between takes on set, so she's a really unique and pleasant girl.

"How about the action scenes? We imagine that you have some experience with that from stage plays, but……"

Nagata: As expected, it's completely different from being on stage. With tokusatsu action scenes, we end up rolling around outdoors, so our costumes get covered in dirt. I always feel terrible about it and keep telling the costume designers, "I'm really sorry" (laughs).

"Is this your first time taking on post recording?"

Nagata: This is my first time doing post recording for footage, but I actually have some experience matching my voice to someone else’s movements. A long while back, I got injured on the opening night of my debut stage performance, so for the remainder of its run, a substitute took over for the action scenes while I provided the voice. However, recording while being able to watch the footage is slightly different from providing my voice on stage. Dubbing in real time while watching the stage is different from matching your own movements or those of the Suit Actor's seen on the screen, so I was initially at a total loss. Still, I'm managing to do it while maintaining thorough communication with the Director.

"You mentioned that you haven't seen the completed footage yet (at the time of the interview), but what are your thoughts in regards to the giant Robo battles featuring Cosmo Gavarion GC-R?"

Nagata: I'm of course looking forward to the giant Robo battles. The setting this time is space, so there are unit transformations. I think we'll see different fighting styles depending on the situation, so it'd make me happy if you look forward to those intense scenes. And above all else, just thinking about boarding a spaceship makes me really excited. When Bandai showed us the toys, I asked, "How did you come up with this?," and they replied with, "We created it based on the "know how" and experience we've accumulated up to now," which really left an impression on me. It made me realize once again that even the toys have their own history that's accumulated over time. I strongly feel that Gavan Infinity, including the toys and not just the main story, is built upon the accumulated history of the Super Sentai series and other tokusatsu productions that have been done up until now.

"Finally, please give a message to all of our readers."

Nagata: First, thank you for reading this far. Gavan Infinity is airing to extremely good reviews, but including the ongoing feud with Death Gavan, I hope you'll look forward to future developments. And then, have you all decided on your favorite character yet? Please give them lots of support. I look forward to your continued support!

Akahane Ryuga (Setsuna)

"We heard that during the audition stage, you were under the impression that it was for the new Super Sentai?"

Akahane: Yes, I initially auditioned with the assumption that it was for the new Super Sentai of 2026, but before the audition results were announced, there were reports that "the Super Sentai series would be going on hiatus," which surprised me. So, I was waiting for the results with anticipation and wondering, "What kind of show is it going to be?," but when I heard the name of the show, I remember being surprised all over again as I thought, "It really isn't Super Sentai, it's a new production."

"Even though you were told you'd be playing Gavan Bushido in Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, weren't you anxious since you initially didn't know the details?"

Akahane: I was. I initially didn't really have a clear vision of what kind of show it would be, and pretty much didn't know what was going on. But even at that time, I thought it'd be "nice if I were able to enjoy the job." I could sense all of the staff members determination to "take on a variety of challenges with this production," and for us cast members, our strongest desire is to also do our best to create a work that'll make everyone who watches it find it entertaining.

"Who were Akahane-san's heroes when he was younger?"

Akahane: My favorite was "Mahou Sentai Magiranger." I'm pretty sure I was around 4 years old then, and I still love it so much that whenever I go to karaoke, I sing the theme song and ending song. Back then, I watched various Kamen Rider series like "Kamen Rider Den-O" and "Kamen Rider Hibiki," but my parents enjoyed watching Magiranger with me, so to me, it remains a special show that I find incredibly entertaining.

"Speaking of, you've never seen Space Sheriff Gavan, have you?"

Akahane: It's a show from before I was even born, so……(laughs). However, I watched the original Gavan for the sake of creating this role, and as expected, the action scenes were incredible. I was especially surprised by Ichijouji Retsu's Ohba Kenji-san, as he performed some pretty intense stunts using his entire body.

"Ohba Kenji-san is a legendary action actor after all."

Akahane: I was surprised that he did his own stunts, like the scenes where he jumped off of high places, as his usual demeanor was incredibly cool too. We'd also like to perform our own full bodied actions just like the original Gavan did, so if the opportunity ever arises, I'd love to do some action scenes that are reminiscent of the Gavan from long ago. I'm sure that those who were part of the original Gavan generation and remember it will be overjoyed, and it'd make me happy if those who watch us going forward also find it interesting and think, "This is some incredible action."

"What was your initial impression of Aikokuin Setsuna's character?"

Akahane: First, I was surprised. Setsuna's an android, so at first glance, he seems emotionless, but he actually does have emotions, although he himself isn't aware of them……it was a difficult setup. That's why when I'm acting, I basically have to reduce any elements that might express emotion, which has been challenging every time. I learned from Director Fukuzawa Hirofumi-san that even when people are just walking normally or moving naturally, their movements can still appear to convey emotion. So, when it comes to creating Setsuna, I was told that it was important to minimize his emotional expressions and movements as much as possible. Still, it's not as if he has absolutely no emotions at all, so figuring out how to interpret that in my own way and incorporate it into my performance has been incredibly difficult, and I'm really struggling with it.

"Isn't it fairly difficult to restrict natural movements in order to suppress emotions?"

Akahane: I can't perform natural movements that "you'd expect people to make," so I often find myself wondering how I should move during those moments, and whether or not the movements I'm envisioning are actually the right ones.

"Even though you try to restrain yourself, he isn't completely devoid of emotion, so as an example, when something funny happens, he might crack a smile without even realizing it, making even a single facial expression complex, wouldn't you say?"

Akahane: All I can really do is practice in front of a mirror beforehand and check my movements, but……I'm curious to know what everyone thinks when they see it, and I plan to keep that in mind and remain conscious of it going forward. Even for action scenes, if my facial expressions look too strained, that alone can make him appear angry, so I'm paying close attention to every single expression and movement while discussing them with Gavan Bushido's Yoneoka-san. With Setsuna in particular, I have to perform his actions in a way that feels smooth and composed so that his sword swinging doesn't look reckless. I of course put my all into it when it's necessary, but basically, I want to convey Setsuna as having a calm and quiet image. Unlike in stage plays, I have to act in a way that makes my movements look as small as possible, so that's also been difficult.

"While the job of an actor is to primarily show emotion, in a way, this is the opposite kind of challenge, huh?"

Akahane: That's right. This time, the role requires me to suppress my emotions, which is the complete opposite of what I usually do as an actor. However, showing zero emotion won't work either, so finding the right balance is crucial. I often wonder how to convey this to those I'm performing together with, and how the viewers will perceive it……I find myself thinking about a variety of things (laughs). That's why now, I try to actively communicate with Director Fukuzawa. I think asking questions about anything I'm uncertain of will be beneficial for me, and in regards to Setsuna, I believe the image the Director has in his mind is the correct one, so I'm going to do my best to trust the Director and the staff and follow along.

"What kind of roles has Akahane-san mainly played up to this point?"

Akahane: I've mainly played lively, upbeat college students up until now, so Setsuna is my first time playing a character with calm vibes. That's why I felt that playing the role of a reserved android was a new challenge for me, and I feel that by playing Setsuna, it'll almost certainly help me develop my range to handle a variety of roles. I'll do my best to portray Setsuna as a way to take my career to the next level.

"Your skills are guaranteed to improve if you take on challenging roles, as your repertoire will also expand."

Akahane: That's right. I think there are definitely things I can do even within being unable to move around, and I think there are many things that I've only noticed because of this kind of constraint.

"Was there anything that surprised you once you actually entered filming?"

Akahane: It'd be the "stop change" filming technique that's used for scenes where I change into his separate Gavan Bushido form after the Jouchaku process, or when the Gavarion Blade extends from the police notebook. For example, with the Gavarion Blade, the technique involves stopping the camera while I maintain the same pose, switching to the Gavarion Blade, continuing to shoot, and then stitching the footage together later on, but since it was my first time experiencing this, I was surprised and thought, "So this is how it's filmed." It's the same with the green screen shots, but I've been given the opportunity to experience a variety of things I've never done before, so it's been a great learning experience.

"Those are things you only ever really see in tokusatsu productions."

Akahane: Speaking of things unique to tokusatsu, this is my first time doing post recording, so it's been pretty difficult. I have to match my voice with the Suit Actor's movements, which also means my breathing needs to sync up and that I have to adjust the phrasing of my lines so that they'll match his movements. That's when I realized how essential it was to properly coordinate with Yoneoka-san beforehand. If we don't discuss things properly beforehand, the movements and voice won't sync up, which causes there to be a feeling of inconsistency. So for the recording, I'm making sure to note the duration of each line in the script in advance and prepare thoroughly in my own way. I'm managing to get by, but if I had to match the lip syncing as well, then that'd be impossible (laughs).

"There are alot of Voice Actors appearing in Gavan Infinity who you could use as reference."

Akahane: I've watched a fair amount of anime, but I've been a huge fan of Koyasu-san since even before that. That's why when I heard that Koyasu-san would be voicing Patran, I was shocked and thought, "For real?!," and was really happy. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of working together with him in the recording booth someday. I believe there's so much I can learn from Koyasu-san, so I want to savor these moments and take in as much as I can.

"Has there been any challenges with the action?"

Akahane: In regards to the action, the flow of the movements and what I have to do changes every time, so it's been challenging to adapt to that. I consider facial expressions to be part of the action as well, so I'd like to focus on those finer details too. Just because it's an action scene doesn't mean the characters should always have a frantic look on their faces, and I think that if we don't consciously incorporate variation into the pace, like making him take care of things in an unexpectedly effortless way, Setsuna's actions won't make his character stand out, so I'd like to keep that in mind going forward.

"How's the teamwork with the regular cast members?"

Akahane: I think the atmosphere is good. During our spare time, I often make small talk with Reiji's Kouhei-kun and Superior Rui’s Iriyama Anna-san, and I think that we've been able to capture that atmosphere in the filming as well. I haven't had any scenes with the other cast members yet, so it feels like the time should come soon……With Kouhei-kun in particular, we talk about all sorts of things, including acting. In fact, since Kouhei-kun was in a stage play where he fought with a sword, he even showed me how to swing one. In that sense, I think we've really become a really great team.

"Including Akahane-san, for the time being, it doesn't look like the cast will have many scenes with the members from the other worlds aside from Nagata-san, but it'd be great if everyone from the other teams get along with each other.

Akahane: Yeah. I want us to perform together someday.

"Do you have a favorite character, a setup you're curious about, or any aspects you're personally keeping an eye on?"

Akahane: Of course, the one I'm personally most curious about is Setsuna (laughs). I'm really curious about Setsuna's past, like why he was created and who created him, and since we haven't seen how he became the captain of the Peacekeeping Corps Special Forces Unit yet, it'd make me happy if that past comes to light. I'm really looking forward to it myself, and I'd love for everyone to get to know Setsuna even better.

"We're also looking forward to seeing how his relationship with Reiji develops."

Akahane: Yeah. I think Setsuna will gradually change as a result of his encounter with Reiji, and I think it'll be quite interesting to see exactly what parts of him change. I hope everyone will enjoy seeing that kind of aspect as well.

"Finally, please give a message to the readers."

Akahane: In the beginning, the staff told me that Gavan Infinity is a "production of defiance" and a "production of determination." I can seriously feel that determination on set, and I personally believe that this production will be incredibly rewarding for me. It'll be fun to speculate about the relationships between the unique characters and what will happen next, but I also think you'll be able to see how us actors grow, so I hope our fans will enjoy that aspect of the show as well. Also, I believe there will be more new discoveries as the story progresses, so it would sincerely make me happy if you'd look forward to the development that come next!

Sumi Kokona (Kiki)

"We heard this from the others, but it seems that you weren't told anything regarding Gavan Infinity during the audition stage, right?"

Sumi: That's right. I took it thinking it was an audition for the Super Sentai series, so even during the audition, I kept emphasizing how I'd "always wanted to be a Sentai hero." So then when I passed the audition and was told, "You'll be Gavan Luminous," I was surprised and was like, "Gavan?!" (laughs).

"That must've been a shock, huh? (laughs)."

Sumi: It was. Still, they're both heroes, so nothing changed, and the joy of "I can be a hero, I'm so happy!" was much greater.

"Have you always liked heroes?"

Sumi: I have an older brother, so we used to watch Super Sentai together when we were younger, and while I've never been to one myself, my brother would go to hero shows and seemed to have alot of fun, so I always thought, "Someday, I want to become a hero that children will love." Also, since I practiced karate, I figured it might be useful for the action scenes.

"Which Super Sentai in particular left the biggest impression on you?"

Sumi: "Ressha Sentai ToQger" was right in my generation, so that one is particularly memorable. I remember how the story would progress on the train, and that the "stand behind the white line and wait please~" narration during the transformation was also incredibly unique and amusing.

"How long did you practice karate for?"

Sumi: I practiced for six years, from when I was 6 to 12. At first, my older brother was the one taking lessons, but my father thought, "Even as a girl, it's best to be able to defend yourself, and since your brother's doing it, it'd be best if you do it together," so I started in order to build up my endurance. I started after making a promise with my father that "I would never quit until I earned my black belt," so even though I really wanted to quit halfway through, I managed to hold out until I got it (laughs).

"Is your father strict?"

Sumi: Rather than strict, he's the kind of person who seriously hates half hearted efforts more than anything, so because of that, I've also come to hate doing things half heartedly (laughs). Still, I feel like the endurance I developed through karate is still useful to me now, as no matter how tough things get, I've come to believe that "if I can just endure it now, things will work out," so in the end, I'm really glad I kept at it.

"Speaking of, were you familiar with the Space Sheriff Gavan series?"

Sumi: I didn't really know much about it, so I did various research, but when I actually watched it, I was surprised by how incredibly cool the action scenes were. The unmasked action in particular was the first thing that surprised me, as I was like, "He can move like that?!" I heard that for the Space Sheriff series back then, many of the female regular cast members were Suit Actors or had backgrounds in action, so I was initially worried as I thought, "Will I be able to handle this?" Also, my parents were part of the Gavan generation, so when I told them, they were initially really shocked and said, "Eh? You're gonna be Gavan?!" (laughs).

"What were your thoughts after actually reading the script?"

Sumi: First, there's a Gavan in each dimension, but they rarely all come together, which gives it a unique appeal that's different from Super Sentai, so I found that aspect refreshing to read. Also, including the villains, all of the characters are incredibly appealing, and I really like how the Emorgears are depicted as proper characters. It was easy to picture the Emorgears rejoicing at meeting up again, and reading it got me excited.

"Is there anything you pay attention to when playing Kiki?"

Sumi: Kiki fights by using joy as her power, but……well, fighting while feeling joy, if I get it just alittle wrong, wouldn't my role turn into that of a psychopath? (laughs).

"That's true, fighting while smiling might be even scarier than if you were angry (laughs).

Sumi: Right. That's why I'm especially conscious of that part and how to express the intensity of that joy and who she's directing it towards when performing. I'm careful not to make her come across like a psychopath, instead, making her look like she's fighting for the sake of someone else's smile, or that she's interested in things like the enemy's weapons. Also, since it's a role with an otaku personality, I try to act while being conscious of the contrast between her usual speech and how she speaks when she suddenly gets excited and starts talking really fast when she sees something she loves.

"Do you yourself have anything in common with Kiki?"

Sumi: I don't really have an idol I'm particularly passionate about, and since I usually tend to speak pretty slowly, I'm really struggling with her fast paced dialogue. I'm managing to do it by reciting lines at home, and by doing things like practicing tongue twisters and working on my articulation.

"Is this Sumi-san's first time being involved in prolonged production?"

Sumi: This is my first time. That's why I'm just happy to be on set right now. No matter how early I have to get up, once I'm on set, I have a great time just talking with the makeup artist and staff, so if anything, I'd like to stay on this set forever. It feels lonely when there's a break from filming, as I also can't meet up with my partner, Takanari Kotobuki's Lana-chan……which is why I want to film forever.

"It seems like the cast has great teamwork, huh?"

Sumi: Yes! I of course get along great with Lana-chan, but Nagata-san plays the dimension traveling Gavan Infinity, so we often film together, and I feel like we've gotten pretty close. He's like a really reliable older brother, as he not only teaches me the tricks of post recording techniques, but also consults with me on my performance as an actor. Lana-chan initially gave off such a cool image, so I was worried if "we'd be able to get along," but as we spent time together in places like the dressing room, we became friends much faster than I expected, and now we all go out to eat together after filming finishes. During the adlibbed scene in episode 3, where we were talking about ramen, we actually started to crave ramen as we were talking, so we went out together to get some after filming. I think it's because everyone gets along so well that Lana-chan and I have been able to really convey the partnership of the "Kiki/Koto" duo. However, Reiji's a character from a different dimension, so I haven't had the chance to work with Akahane-san, and we've never even filmed together, so we haven't really had a chance to talk much yet. It feels like that time will come soon.

"The topic of post recording came up, but what are your thoughts on that?"

Sumi: This was my first time doing post recording, so I really struggled at first. I'm the type of person who likes to have everything prepared before heading to the set, but with recording, you don't really know what kind of voice you should use until you actually see the footage. That's why I couldn’t really prepare for it, and initially really struggled with it, receiving tons of criticism, which was very frustrating. So, I thought about what I could do and started going to watch Gavan Luminous's Suit Actor Nanako-san's action scenes even when I wasn't scheduled to perform. After actually going to observe her and letting my imagination run wild by thinking about what "kind of voice I could create," I went into the recording session, where the Producer praised me by saying something like, "Your recording was great." Hearing that, I feel like I've finally started to gain some confidence as of late.

"What about in regards to action?"

Sumi: Part of it has to do with the fact that she’s only just become Gavan Luminous, but I haven't had any action scenes at all yet, and I've yet to do any genuine action moves. Kiki tends to be the type who fights using weapons or her intellect, so Koto does most of the physical actions.

"Does Sumi-san want to give it a try?"

Sumi: I really want to! On set, Lana-chan and Nagata-san practice their action scenes in between takes, where I'll just watch them and think, "How nice~," and will occasionally try to imitate them. I watch them with a feeling like, "I can't do that, so sad, so jealous" (laughs).

"Is there any part of the show that you're particularly curious about?"

Sumi: What I'm most curious about is why Kiki became Gavan. Koto could've also become Gavan, no? Still, I get the feeling that the reason why Kiki became Gavan might be explored further in the future, so I'm looking forward to it. As for the other characters, I really love Setsuna's setup about "not being able to cry." The fact that he can't cry makes me wonder if there will ever come a time when he can, as it's not like he's completely devoid of emotion, right? Setsuna's pretty mysterious, but in that sense, his character is incredibly appealing. I'm excited to see how developments unfold from here on out, and I get really excited every time I read the script.

"Now that she's become a hero, various Gavan Luminous goods will come out, so that's something else to look forward to."

Sumi: I'm super excited. My parents are already committed to buying them, as they've been enthusiastically saying things like, "We're gonna collect everything," which is overwhelming. They've already bought stuff like the small Gavan Luminous sofubi that's currently available. It's the same for magazines, as they said they'd "definitely buy" this issue of Uchusen too. My relatives are also supporting me, and I've been getting messages from them saying that they'll "buy merch too."

"Thank you so much. Please give our regards to your parents."

Sumi: I've also found myself checking out the toy section. When they first started to go up for sale, I went to check it out, thinking, "I wonder what the display looks like? I hope they're selling well," and there was a small child testing out the DX Gavarion Trigger, and that made me really happy. Their mother was saying, "Let's go already, you already played with that alittle while ago," but as I was secretly watching them, I thought, "It'd be nice if she buys it for them someday" (laughs).

"If you go to a toy store after this, people might recognize you as Kiki."

Sumi: I wanna get caught. During filming, children were noisily shouting, "Ah! It's Gavan!" at Nagata-san, and deep down I was really jealous. At that point, episode 3, where Gavan Luminous makes her appearance, hadn't aired yet, so nobody recognized me at all, but Nagata-san was waving back at the children. Seeing that, I really wanted them to say, "It's Luminous!" or "It's Kiki-chan!" at me too (laughs).

"And now finally, please give a message to the readers."