It has been revealed that singer Akina Nakamori will be making a guest appearance as a voice actress in the anime "Araiguma Calcal-dan" (Yomiuri TV/BS Nippon TV). Nakamori, who was recently interviewed, talked about her feelings about the dubbing recording, saying, "I know I'm being spoiled, but I'm not good at talking fast, so I thought they would record it separately and then join me in (laughs). Just now, (the staff) told me, 'You'll be recording alongside everyone,' and I was like, 'What?!' I'm already drenched in sweat."
When asked why she thought the dubbing was done separately, Nakamori said, "From what I've seen on TV and such, I imagine that dubbing is done in a row of microphones, and you stand next to the voice actors and recite your lines together, like a dialogue." She went on to honestly reveal her feelings before the recording, saying, "That's why I'm really nervous. I feel like I'll get so nervous that I'll end up doing a lot of retakes, and I've heard that the voice actors I'll be working with are all famous, so I'm worried that I'll be a nuisance to them and hold them back..."
This is the first time Nakamori has tried voice acting in 33 years since the animated film "Run, Melos" (released in 1992). She plays the idol character "Vocal", a nationally popular VTuber born in Kiyose City (Tokyo) who charms fans with her cute looks and singing voice. Kensho Ono plays the role of a subculture fan who is an enthusiastic fan of Vocal.
She smiled and said, "It was a cute character so I was happy." When asked what made her decide to take on the role, she said, "Since I was little, I've loved playing with children. I thought it would be nice and honourable if they thought it would be interesting to see me, one of the few people still around, appear in the film. When I was offered the role, I was overjoyed to accept it."
Like "Rascal the Raccoon," Nakamori's songs have been loved for many years, and when asked how she felt about this, she said, "I feel surprised that I've been able to make it this far (in the entertainment industry)." She expressed her gratitude, saying, "It's amazing that the various works that have been cherished since long ago, such as paintings, manga, and music, remain, and it's wonderful. I feel like the things that should remain remain. It feels like a miracle that I'm even here, doing this interview in front of you all. Thank you."
When asked about her future plans, she said, "If I can be someone who can provide days and time that as many people as possible can have a good time and feel that they had fun, then my goal would be to go as far as I can. I feel that this is who I should be." She added with a lot of humor, "I would be happy to hear whatever people want and be able to accommodate them. Although if I asked Akina Nakamori and she said no then I would be sorry (laughs)."
"Araiguma Calcal-dan" is an official spin-off anime produced as a 50th anniversary project for Nippon Animation, the company behind the classic anime "Rascal the Raccoon" that was broadcast in 1977. It depicts the members of the Tama branch of the secret society, the Karukaru Group, who aim to conquer the world, working hard on their mission. It airs every Thursday at 12:54 a.m. on Yomiuri TV and every Saturday at 11:28 a.m. on BS Nippon TV. Nakamori will be playing the vocals in episode 13, scheduled to air on June 26th, and episode 18, scheduled to air on July 31st, on Yomiuri TV.
