The TV anime "A Star Brighter Than the Sun ," based on the manga by Kawahara Kazune, known for works such as "Sensei!", "High School Debut," and "Aozora Yell," will be broadcast on TBS every Thursday at 11:56 pm starting October 2nd. It depicts the first love of Iwata Saku, a girl who is stronger than average. Iwata Minori Fujidera will be played by Fujidera Yoshinori, who has also been making waves in shows such as " Himitsu no AiPri" and "Hana wa Saku , Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku ." We spoke to the fresh Fujidera, who just graduated from high school this spring, about what goes on behind the scenes of recording and his work as a voice actor.
◇ Admiration for the kind-hearted Sakuei
" A Star Brighter Than the Sun" is a manga that has been serialized in Bessatsu Margaret (Shueisha) since June 2021. When Iwata Sakuei was in elementary school, he fell in love at first sight with Kamishiro Kouki. Kamishiro was small and skinny, but by the time he reached middle school, he had grown into a refreshingly handsome young man, and he had become a distant presence. However, at the school's final sports festival, the first love that he had kept hidden deep in his heart begins to stir. Yuki Ono is played by Ono Yuki.
"When I first read it, it was funny, cute, sad and heart-pounding... I couldn't stop turning the pages and I truly wanted to play the lovable Sakuhide. The story progresses from Sakuhide's point of view, so I was moved, excited and empathetic as I read. At the audition, I went in with the desire to play Sakuhide, but all the staff were really warm and welcoming. I remember thinking that I wanted to work with such wonderful people. I was nervous, but it made me want to play Sakuhide even more."
Sakuei, played by Fujidera, is a kind person who cannot leave people in trouble alone. How did you try to portray such an earnest and kind character?
"I was aiming for a natural performance. I loved how the lines resonated with me, and I felt that Sakuhide was thinking about a lot of things, especially in the monologue, as if she was looking down on the big picture. Sakuhide's words are full of consideration, and her choice of words is wonderful. There are times when it takes her a little while to put her feelings into words, and I related to that. When I auditioned, my manager told me, 'You have a similar vibe,' which made me happy. I admire kind-hearted girls like Sakuhide."
Another feature of the film is the large number of monologues, which convey a sense of kindness.
"I paid particular attention to switching between monologue and on-screen dialogue. At first, I was worried that even though it was a monologue, it would sound like on-screen dialogue, which was technically difficult, but I got advice from Ono-san, who plays Kamishiro, and spoke with the sound director, and little by little, the direction I wanted to go in became clearer. It was difficult, changing the distance of the microphone and slightly changing the distance and range of the words, but it was fun."
◇I can't imagine myself without coming across this work
I was often helped by my co-stars, including Ono.
"Everyone is just as warm as the world of the work. I had the opportunity to meet with Ono-san once before recording, and that was the first time I met her. The moment she walked through the door, she was as bright as the sun and supported me throughout the recording. I had worked with Hina Yomiya(who plays Onodera Hisui) on my debut production, and at that time we only got to work together once or twice, so I was really looking forward to it. When I told Hitsujimiya-san about it, she said, 'Me too,' which made me really happy."
At the time of her debut, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recordings were often split up, but for this production, the cast was able to gather together and record. As she performed alongside her seniors and recorded repeatedly, she began to realize her own growth.
"It's fun to respond directly to what I hear, and the atmosphere is completely different, so I feel like each recording is unique. I learned so much that I can't imagine myself without coming across this project. With each recording, I felt like I was getting closer to Sakue-chan."
◇I would like to eventually play boys and adults as well
Fujidera is 18 years old and was born on December 18, 2006. She was selected as the grand prize winner from a total of approximately 1,500 applicants in the "NEXT Voice Actor Artist Audition," and made her debut as a voice actress in 2021, when she was in her third year of junior high school, playing the role of Omegawa Auru in "Watchapuri Maji!". She graduated from high school this spring.
"I feel like my life has changed since graduating from high school. I no longer meet the same people in the same places every day, so the rhythm of my life has changed the most. There are no school rules anymore, and I've started enjoying getting my nails done, something I didn't get to do much when I was in high school. I've always loved making things, so I'm enjoying all kinds of nails. I've also become more focused on my work. I wanted to see a lot of different things, so the other day I went to see a rakugo performance for the first time. I learned a lot, such as the tempo of the words, and I'd like to go again soon. I want to see and learn from all kinds of things."
Fujidera, who is constantly learning and growing even outside of recording, was asked about her goals as a voice actor...
"I would like to play a boy someday. I have done a little bit of acting in games and anime, but it was a lot of fun and I would like to do more and pursue it further. I would like to be able to respond instantly to what is asked of me and become a voice actor who can show different sides to me. Right now, I'm of course having fun playing a life-sized girl like Sakue-chan, but someday I would like to try playing a more mature character or a big brother-like character who brings everyone together, and above all, I would like to become a voice actor who can always be close to the character."
With the broadcast of "A Star Brighter Than the Sun" approaching, Fujidera said, "This work is wonderful for its delicate emotions, such as monologues, and comical scenes, and I hope you will pay attention to the contrast between them. The charm of each character will become more and more apparent, so I hope you will look forward to it. The story of the original is also progressing rapidly, so I hope you will enjoy both the anime and the original." Armed with her fresh charm and challenging spirit, Fujidera will soar high as a voice actor, and we look forward to watching her future growth and success.
