Kikunosuke Toya x Sayumi Suzushiro x Yuka Nukui:Interview for the anime "Danjoru?" Is friendship between men and women possible? What are the three's views?

The TV anime "Danjo no Yujo wa Seiritsu Suru? (Iya, Shinai!!)" based on the light novel written by Nana Nana and illustrated by Parum, published by Dengeki Bunko (KADOKAWA), will be broadcast on TOKYO MX and other stations from April 4th. The abbreviated title is "Danjoru?", and the story is about best friends Natsume Yuu and Inuzuka Hizuki who have sworn to be eternal friends, but when Yuu reunites with his first love Enomoto Rinne, things start to go wrong... We spoke to Kikunosuke Toya Yuu, Sayumi Suzushiro, who plays Hizuki, and Yuka Nukui, about the behind-the-scenes of the recording, "Can Friendship Between Men and Women Be Established?"

◇ Friendship between men and women is possible, but...

-What is your impression of the work?

Toya: First of all, I was attracted by the title. It depicts the friendship between men and women, but also romance and emotional turmoil. It's a very satisfying read.

Suzuyo-san, the title is interesting, isn't it? The title is strong! What? Which girl? Will the friendship not work out? I was curious as I read. Not only is the title powerful, but each character is strong and interesting. I'm so curious about everyone's conversations.

Nukui: I'm jealous of Yuu! He's in the best position. There are some parts that make me chuckle, and I was interested in each character, such as Himari's wavering heart and Makishima's intentions. Each character has their own dreams and their desire to support each other as best friends, and they're all deep and interesting, making it a fascinating work.

--Toya-san, do you prefer Himawari or Rinne?

Toya: At first, I thought Rinne was cute, but the more I read, the more I liked Himawari. Himawari is more human than anyone else, she worries and gives us energy, and she really hits home.

--Do you think friendship between men and women is possible?

Toya: I think I would. I actually have friends of the opposite sex.

Suzuyo-san, what if they come on to you?

I don't think that will happen, Toya-san . So I would say "will."

Suzuyo: Yes, I do. I also have one friend of the opposite sex.

Toya-san, what if they approach you?

Suzuyo-san, you're asking the same thing (laughs). But I don't think that's the case.

Nukui: I also "do." I have three siblings who I grew up with, and although we don't see each other often because we're all on our own paths, we're like family. We're more than just friends.

Toya-san, what if someone comes on to you?

Nukui-san (laughs): I don't think that's the case. I think you can build friendships and relationships of trust.

Toya-san, it's free! We are adults now. It might not work for high school students.

Suzuyo-san, that may be true! Things are different now than they were in high school.

◇ Cherish the liveliness of the dialogue

-What is your impression of the character you play?

Yuu Toya is a flower accessory creator, so he is absorbed in flowers. In his heart, he has his first love, Rinne-chan, and she has become the ideal, but when he meets Rinne-chan again, everything changes. I think it's good that his heart's fluctuations are human. He has to choose between flower accessories and love, and it will be interesting to see how he decides.

Suzuyo: I think Himawari is cute and has a natural idol quality. If she makes one wrong move, girls might be jealous of her, but she's so carefree, easygoing, and straightforward that it doesn't happen... I think the aura she naturally has is a big part of her charm. She can be unconventional, but I'm drawn to her. They say that the more difficult a person is to get along with, the more attractive they are, and I think that's true of Himawari. There's something about her that's so appealing that you just want to let her lead you around.

Nukui: I haven't played many roles as a girl who is demure and takes a step back like Rinne, so I was determined to take on the role. Himari knows how to use her cute side, and although she is cunning, she doesn't come off as vulgar. That's the kind of talent she has. Rinne doesn't flaunt her cuteness, but she looks cute because she's honest. Her clumsy cuteness is her charm, and she also has a hidden passion. She also has a bit of madness about her (laughs). She has the strength to not bend even in front of Yuu and Himari's fast-paced conversation, so I wanted to cherish that core. There are times when she reveals herself in front of Himari, and there were also times when I had to fumble my way through the role.

Toya: It's a fun piece with lots of dialogue. The conversation between Yuu and Himari was particularly interesting, and there was a back-and-forth between them (Suzuyo's acting). Dialogue is the basis, but I felt that it was a piece that would be interesting if it was done well.

In the conversation between Suzuyo and Yuu, Himari is the one who throws, but her feelings gradually change, and she becomes shaken by things that she was not shaken by before, and the atmosphere of the exchange changes. I wanted to cherish the live feeling of the exchange, where you listen to the other person's lines and think about how you will respond. Everyone was really into it, so I was able to go along with it and have a fun exchange.

Nukui-san (Toya-san and Suzuyo-san) are long-time best friends, and have a natural exchange as if they grew up together. From Yuka Nukui perspective, there were some aspects that I was envious of. Rinne also has her own tempo, but when she gets between the two of them, it doesn't create an awkward atmosphere, and that was possible because of the two of them.

I love how angry Rinne gets during her conversation with Toya-san and Himawari !

Suzuyo: I also auditioned for the role of Rinne, and I remember it was difficult to balance the usual calm tension with the sudden bursts of emotion. (Nukui's acting) doesn't go beyond the character. It's so addictive that you want to make him angry (laughs).

-What was the recording like?

Mr. Nukui, it was a lively set. (Mr. Toya) would suddenly throw things at you, right?

Toya-san, me?

Suzuyo: That's right. Everyone reacted to that. It was also fun to be on set with my junior, Bonkohara Yasushi (who plays Makishima Shinji), for the first time.

Mr. Nukui summarizes the discussion.

Mr. Toya has excellent communication skills.

Suzuyo: Exactly. She brings it all together so naturally.

--Please give us a message regarding the anime's broadcast.

Toya-san's heroine is super cute. What's more, she's really pushy. If you empathize with her while watching the anime, you'll be overwhelmed. Rinne's lovey-dovey appearance is also super cute. Watch while getting excited about the heroine!

Suzuyo: I hope you enjoy the changes in Himawari and the others' emotions, but the other characters are also unique, and rather than just the three of them having a romantic comedy, they also involve the people around them, so I hope you will pay attention to their relationships and bonds. It all comes together in many ways, so I hope you will pay attention to them and enjoy them.

During the recording, I was also envious and amused, and enjoyed it. It's full of strong elements, and I'm sure you'll be swept away by it. I'd like you to watch it while drinking Yogurtppe (a lactic acid bacteria drink from Miyazaki, where the anime is set). You'll also be able to enjoy the colorful scenery of Miyazaki, so I hope you'll look forward to it.

-Have you ever been to Miyazaki, where the film is set, to promote the film?

Toya-san hasn't been there yet...

All three of us want to go!