Voice actor idol unit i☆Ris' 26th single, "Yume e no Hitokakera" (Hitokakera to a Dream), will be released on November 19th. The title song is the ending theme for the second season of the TV anime series "The Ghost of Grief Wants to Retire," in which member Kubota Miyu voices the heroine. While i☆Ris does not have a designated "center," Kubota stands in the middle and sings. We spoke to Kubota about the song.
◇I'm not used to it so it's a bit uncomfortable
It has been about 13 years since "i☆Ris" was formed in 2012, but up until now, Kubota has rarely stood in the center while singing. She also stands in the center on the cover of "Yume e no Hitokakera." It seems that she is a little uneasy...
"It's rare, isn't it? But being told I'm the center... Dancing in the middle is a kind of challenge given my position. But it's not like I'm really excited about it (laughs). Of course I'm doing it properly. Because I'm not in the middle, I can have fun, and I like that. When we first performed this song at the release event, the fans were happy and said, 'We're so happy!' But I've been doing this for 13 years, so I'm not used to it and it's a bit awkward. Personally, I'm not particularly attached to being the center."
This is the first time in a while that the song has been tied to an anime. The song was composed by Kenta Matsukuma, who has worked on groups such as "BiSH" and "Atarashii Gakko!."
"We also did a tie-up with i☆Ris's animated film last year, which was an animated version of ourselves, and this is our first anime tie-up since 2022's 'Queens Bluff.' The song is sprinkled with words that evoke the image of 'The Grieving Ghost Wants to Retire,' and it's a song that brings to mind the scenes from the film. The band sound has a sense of speed and freshness, and it has a different atmosphere from our previous works. We've taken on challenges like this before, but this was another new challenge for us."
He said that what made an impression on him was that he was told to "sing casually" during the recording.
"Cry, the main character of 'The Grieving Ghost Wants to Retire,' basically lives a carefree life. He doesn't seem to be trying too hard. So, in a good way, I sang some parts with a relaxed attitude. There are some songs that are so full of energy that you'll be full after just one listen, but I also think there are some songs that are so rich that you'll want to listen to them over and over again."
◇Become an i☆Ris staff member in the music video!?
The music video, in which the members dress up as office workers and propose plans for an i☆Ris live show, is also likely to become a hot topic.
"It's a fresh MV about becoming a staff member of i☆Ris. It's been a while since "Shining Star" that I've done a story-based MV, so it's a bit fresh, and it's a bit awkward to act in front of the other members (laughs). It's different from when I was a voice actress, so I was nervous."
The music video also features a dance performance, choreographed by MIKA, who is well known for her work on previous i☆Ris songs.
"Cry, the main character of 'The Grieving Ghost Wants to Retire,' is in a party with his childhood friends and values his companions. There's a part in the choreography where everyone stands in a circle and looks at each other. MIKA also came up with the pose for 'A Piece of Dreams.' It's a pose based on the motif of a 'pinch' of food, and I'd be happy if everyone did it too. However, many i☆Ris fans have their own unique ways of enjoying the show, so although I'll give you some suggestions, please feel free to do whatever you like!"
◇Shocking Coupling
The coupling song, "Romantic Showdown," is an insert song for the pachinko game machine "Kakegurui." Kubota says, "You might be surprised!"
"I don't think you can really understand the impact unless you listen to it... I can't sing this song half-heartedly, I have to turn the switch on. I'm screaming! I want you to listen to the lines. It's the kind of song you can have fun headbanging to, but I can't imagine i☆Ris singing this song live, so I'm thinking about where to put it in the setlist."
On November 15th, they will hold a 13th anniversary live concert, "i☆Ris 13th Anniversary Live -TITLE MATCH-", at Pia Arena MM (Nishi-ku, Yokohama).
"Preparation is going fast, the setlist has already been decided and practice has begun. Last year we also performed at Pia Arena MM, which was the first time for i☆Ris to perform at this venue, but we felt that we wanted to get closer to our fans and perform in a more unique way, so we will be incorporating that into our performance, and I think it will be an even more enjoyable performance than last year. At i☆Ris concerts, there are times when we can be free and let our wings stretch, so I hope this one will be a fun day as well."
i☆Ris is celebrating its 13th anniversary since its debut, but they continue to evolve without running out of steam, holding tours and releasing new songs almost every year.
"We're also gaining new fans, which is quite strange. PriPara is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and kids who watched the anime have grown up and are now coming to our live shows. There was also a movie version last year, and it seems like there are people who have become fans in various ways. It's strange to think that after all this time, there is still room for growth!? But I think that because we've been around for so long, there are times when things can blossom."
The circle of fans is expanding not only within Japan but also across borders.
"I've had more opportunities to travel overseas from last year to this year, and I've realized that there are so many people overseas who support i☆Ris and who like the Pretty Series and the shows I appear in! So I'd like to perform more shows overseas. I've been to Asia and America so far, but never to Europe, so I'd like to visit more countries."
With a new song and a 13th anniversary live show, i☆Ris' evolution shows no signs of stopping. It seems they will continue to take on new challenges in their future activities. (Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB)
