"Oshi no Ko" Lynn Interview

The 35th and final episode of the third season of the TV anime "Oshi no Ko," based on the popular manga serialized in "Weekly Young Jump" (Shueisha), aired on March 25th on TOKYO MX and other channels. In the third season, which saw a turbulent development including Kana Arima's scandal, Aqua's exposure of Ai's "lies," the production of the movie "15 Years of Lies," and the revelation of Aqua and Ruby's "past lives," we must not forget the presence of Saito Miyako, the president of Ichigo Pro and the guardian of Aqua and Ruby. In the final episode, Miyako's past was depicted. We asked Lynn, the voice actress who plays Miyako, about what happened behind the scenes of the final episode.

◇Miyako's past is finally revealed, cherishing the flow of emotions

"Oshi no Ko " is a popular manga series created by Aka Akasaka , author of " Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, " and Mengo Yokoyari, author of " Scum's Wish ," and was serialized in "Weekly Young Jump" from April 2020 to November 2024. It tells the story of twin siblings left behind by Ai, a genius idol who suddenly dies.

Miyako is the wife of Ichigo Saito, the former president of Ichigo Production. After Ai's death and Ichigo's disappearance, she took over as president of Ichigo Production and has watched over Aqua and Ruby's growth as a mother figure. After reading the script for the final episode, which depicted Miyako's past, Lynn said she felt like, "Finally, it's my turn to be the focus."

"The story didn't really explain what happened to Miyako that led her to be with Ichigo, or what her feelings were that brought her this far, so when I read the original manga, I thought, 'So that's what happened.' However, I thought Miyako's past wouldn't be depicted until much later in the story. So I was surprised when I saw the script and found out it was in the final episode of the third season. I was completely caught off guard."

In the final episode, Miyako recounts her past in a monologue, and then coincidentally reunites with Ichigo.

"I knew that recording would take a very long time because Miyako's true feelings are revealed when she reunites with Ichigo. I knew it wouldn't be easy. I kept turning the pages of the script, and all I got were Miyako's lines, so I braced myself and went to the set thinking I wouldn't cause any trouble for Hiroo Egawa, who plays Ichigo."

During recording, we focused on capturing Miyako's emotional flow.

"The monologue was Miyako reflecting on that time, but I tried to portray her feelings at the time as accurately as possible. There was the feeling of being radiant, then things gradually didn't go as planned, she became depressed, she felt empty, and then Ichigo came to her rescue—that was the flow of emotions. I tried to keep that in mind during the test, but for the actual recording, I was told, 'It's okay to emphasize that even more,' so I focused on it even more. Also, the scene where she straddles Ichigo and cries out when they reunite was a really great scene when I read the original manga, especially with Miyako's close-up expression, so I was very determined to nail it."

◇"Ichigo is so cool after all" The deep and appealing charm of [Oshi no Ko]

The recording of the final episode, including Miyako's scenes, was a more meticulous and dedicated experience for both the staff and cast than ever before.

"I think I was able to perform the role I wanted to during the actual recording. I wanted to portray Miyako not as a mother or a company president, but as someone who only Ichigo sees, someone who is still somewhat the same as she was back then, so I really let my emotions show. These emotions weren't just one thing; there was anger, frustration, and happiness at seeing him. All sorts of emotions were jumbled up inside me, and I think that led to those tears, so I hope I was able to portray that well."

They had expected the recording to take a long time, but it went surprisingly smoothly.

"Perhaps it was because it was a scene that depicted Miyako's true feelings. Miyako always seems to be burdened with some kind of role, like 'I have to act like a mother' or 'I have to do my best as the president,' but this was a scene where she truly shed all of that and spoke about herself, so I think it was good that I was able to act honestly."

Actually, this was the first time I'd ever interacted with Mr. Egawa, who plays Ichigo.

"It had been since episode 1 that Ichigo and Miyako had a scene together, and even then they weren't acting with dialogue, so it felt really natural to have them actually talk to each other for the first time. Also, I thought Ichigo was really cool. His proposal, or rather, his line, 'If you'll support me, I'll show you the most dazzling view in this world,' is the best thing a person who's despairing about life could say. And the way he said it so casually made me think, 'Ah, how wonderful.' That's why Miyako wanted to dream with him, and I think she worked so hard with the feeling that she had to continue protecting the place where that dream could come true."

With Ichigo returning as a part-timer, Ichigo Pro restarts with Miyako working together once again. The story takes a dramatic turn as production begins on the film "15 Years of Lies." Not only are Aqua and Ruby, who have learned about each other's past lives, captivating, but the stories of the adults, such as Miyako and Ichigo, are also worth keeping an eye on.

"When people ask me, 'What kind of work is "Oshi no Ko"?', I can't explain it in one sentence. Roughly speaking, it's a story of reincarnation, but it's also a story of revenge, a story of growth, a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, a romance, and a story about family. The way all of these are interwoven makes it a truly unique work. That's why it constantly makes you feel like, 'I absolutely have to see the ending of this story with my own eyes.' I think it's truly profound. I hope everyone will stick with it until the very end."

(Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)