Nogizaka46 member Nagi Inoue will be appearing as a voice actor in episode 141, "Professor Rokujo's New Invention," of the TV anime series "The Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo" (NHK Educational TV, Fridays at 6:40 p.m.), which will air on December 13th. This will be Inoue's fourth role and fifth time appearing in Zenitendo, and his first time as a semi-regular. We spoke to Inoue, who loves anime, about what goes on behind the scenes at the recording studio and his thoughts on anime.
◇I became a part of the anime!
Inoue is 19 years old and was born on February 17, 2005. In February 2022, she passed the audition to become a new member of "Nogizaka46". She is currently active in the group, including taking the center position in the 36th single "Cheat Day" released on August 21. "Reiko Hiroshima and illustrated by jyajya. Inoue made her voice acting debut in episode 112, "Gomakashi Bolo", which aired in January, as Nyagi, a golden maneki-neko cat who works in Zeni-Tendo's underground workshop.
"I was very nervous when I tried voice acting for the first time. It was difficult to match the lines with the movement of my mouth, and I had to act in a voice with a different atmosphere than usual, so I was feeling my way around. But it was my dream to appear in an anime, so it was fun. I was happy not only to be able to stand in front of the microphone, but also to see my name on the script, and I felt like I was a part of the anime. Everything about it made me happy."
This is his fourth role and fifth time appearing in "Zeni-Tendo," and he is appearing as a semi-regular, but he said, "I'm always nervous."
"The tension I feel when I stand in front of a microphone is different from the tension I feel when I'm on stage at a live concert as an idol. During a live concert, I have a strong feeling that I'm somehow able to stand up thanks to the support of my fans, but I get a little nervous when recording. I've received a lot of advice, and I feel like I'm slowly getting used to going to recordings."
Although she is nervous, she is also happy to be appearing in an anime.
"I love anime and have been watching it for a long time, so I knew that voice actors were playing characters, but seeing the process of everyone's voices becoming anime up close at the recording studio was moving. It's hard to put into words, but it was the first time I saw the process of creating something I love, so I now have even more respect for voice actors. They're really cool!"
◇ I like new challenges
Tsugumi, played by Inoue, is an AI girl created by Professor Rokujo, who has been imbued with a huge amount of data on Zenitendou's customers and human behavioral psychology.
"She's so cute! After reading the script, watching the video, and hearing about the character, I was able to get a sense of her true nature and the difference in the expression she shows to those around her. She speaks mechanically to the professor who created her. She also appears as a character within the app, and is cheerful and friendly to those looking at the app. Although she is one character, it felt like there were two of them, which made it difficult."
Although this is her first role as a semi-regular, she will be playing a difficult character.
"It's difficult. I usually speak quickly, so I try to speak slowly, but when I get nervous, I can't help but speak quickly... In the episode where Tsugumi first appears, there were a lot of lines, which was a bit troubling. On the other hand, in episodes with fewer lines, there are times when I have to get my point across clearly, so I wonder if I'll be able to do it, but I like new challenges, and the fun of acting is increasing."
◇ Someday I'll be a Pretty Cure
Inoue has loved anime since he was a child and still watches it almost every day.
"When I was in kindergarten, the first thing I fell in love with was 'Pretty Cure'. I went to events and was given merchandise, and even now when I watch it I feel nostalgic. Even now, I look forward to the new anime airing each season, and recently I've been enjoying 'Wisteria of the Staff and Sword.' The anime was so interesting that I bought all the volumes of the original manga. I also like light novels and manga, and if I find something interesting, I'll buy the whole series."
Anime also provides energy for their daily lives and idol activities.
"I like the virtual world of Sword Art Online, but anime allows you to experience things you can't experience in the real world. Anime has helped me a lot, and there is a lot I can learn from it, so it has had a big influence on me. Not a day goes by that I don't watch anime; it's simply a way to relax and relax, a form of entertainment, and a part of my life that I can't live without."
When asked "Would you like to try voice acting again?" her eyes lit up and she replied, "If the opportunity arises, I'd love to!"
"I want to continue taking on new challenges in the future. I want to play a variety of roles, but when it comes to something bigger, I want to become a Precure one day. I feel like idols and Precure are somewhat similar. Precure transform and become a presence of hope for everyone. As an idol, I also put on a costume and stand on stage feeling like I'm transforming into a Precure. I dream of playing the role of a girl who transforms."
I'm also looking forward to seeing Inoue shine as a voice actor.
