Seiyuu Grandprix Apr. 2020 "Idolm@ster SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 13" Article

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The last stage is Japan! Giving hospitality with the best smiles to the idols who had gone on a departure!

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THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 13

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The finale decorating the CD series, “THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TREASURE” operating on a grand scale of a world tour, is the 13th CD, whose theme is “Japan”. The voice actor of Shingen Seiji, Masumoto Takuya, and Iseya Shiki, Nogami Sho, will talk about its charm.

The Voices of “Welcome Back” to the Idols Who Connected the World

—The “WORLD TRE@SURE” Series finally comes to a close with this article! This time’s stage was Japan.

Nogami: When the series began, all the members of High×Joker were each wondering where the idols would go… and we were excited about it.

Masumoto: As each country began being filled in one by one, we got more and more excited. I remember thinking, when America and Hawaii showed up, “You can do something like that too!”

Nogami: And then going, “So it’s Japan~!” afterwards. (laughs)

Masumoto: It was so unexpected that it surprised me. (laughs)

Nogami: You’re right. It really was surprising. But the staff members told me, “The last one is Japan. It’s the place where everyone who had traveled the world will return.” So at that point, I went, “Oh, I see!”

Masumoto: When you think about it again, it does make sense that we’re at the host country.

—This grouping of 4 members was rather interesting to see together.

Nogami: It sure was something else that I was surprised by. (laughs)

Masumoto: I took an interest in the way we’d sing it exactly because it’s not a very usual combination.

Nogami: I participated in Beit’s “Omoi wa ETERNITY” [as back dancer] for “Idolm@ster SideM Radio 315 Pro Night! Dramatic Meeting!”, while Massan (Masumoto-san) and Fuumin (Shioya Fumiyoshi-san) danced in the back of “Saikou COUNT UP!” before. Our indirect connections end there. But it sure was a new experience, being able to sing with these group members.

Masumoto: I’ve sung the mental attribute song with Kitamura Sora, but that’s not the case with Takajou Kyouji. Even after we’ve come this far.

Nogami: Now that I think about it, I’ve gotten along well with Massan for a while now, as you can see here. But I feel like Shiki and Shingen-san don’t have very many interactions… I can’t really imagine these four being seen together in the agency in the first place. (laughs)

Masumoto: But on the other hand, that’s exactly why it’d be fun to imagine them consulting each other on how it’d be best to give hospitality to the people coming back!

Nogami: I have a feeling that if they’re thinking up a plan to welcome everyone back, they would center the plan around Shingen-san. He’s always an unsung hero who supports them from the back, so it’s at times like this that he would take action with mature efforts.

Masumoto: I think it’s possible that he’d leave the role of exciting other people to the other idols. There’s a chance that he’d stay the whole time in the kitchen just cooking. (laughs) Afterwards, Kyouji and Sora would carry the food, while Shiki makes others excited, maybe. (laughs)

—The song that these four sing, “Welcome to Japan!” is a melody befitting of Idolm@ster SideM containing EDM (Electronic Dance Music).

Nogami: The first one to do the recording was Massan, while I went afterwards.

Masumoto: I remember there having already been a part division set up to a certain degree at the time. During the parts I had to sing, I tried to slam all of Shingen’s sense of himself into the song, with everything I had. All of our types of voices were all over the place and different. Nogamin (Nogami-san), you went the high range?

Nogami: Now that you mention it, I guess that’s the case among the four, me being on the high end. On the other hand, Massan, yours is on the low end.

Masumoto: But I didn’t really need to adjust it to become particularly low. I remember having sung it in a good condition. Plus, there were a lot of great things about the song. I was surprised when the intro to the song began playing, and at that point, I was going, “I love this already…” (laughs) It’s a song filled with the sense of Japan being seen by someone overseas, after all.

Nogami: I couldn’t even imagine how they’d establish a difference between that and the traditional unit, Sai. When I heard the completed song, I went, “Are these guys geniuses!?” With the viewpoint of it being that it’s welcoming back the people who are returning to Japan, the lyrics also fit it very well. I could also accept how, despite it being themed after Japan, there were a lot of English lyrics in it. (laughs)

Masumoto: I struggled a lot on the pronunciation of “Relationship” during recording. (laughs)

Nogami: I feel like the lyricist, Matsui Youhei-san, is aiming to add more and more English as time goes on.

Masumoto: Speaking of which, does that mean that the [CD] jacket’s outfits are also Japan as seen from overseas? It’s got a Neo Ninja-ish theme to it. (laughs)

Nogami: It’s totally ninja-like, but judging by the color, they’d totally be unable to sneak around. I feel like they’d get cut down when all their stomachs are showing, like “Your waist is wide open!” (laughs)

Masumoto: I think it’d be interesting for them to dress that way, considering what Japan’s idols do. It’s my personal dream to wear a headband, so I hope that we can wear it at a live too……

Nogami: Are you serious!? But I think I might just understand how you feel. If we’re going by that line of thought, I end up wanting to recreate that double-sword holding style like the CD jacket. Then I can’t avoid having to use a headset for that. But if I use a headset, I’ll end up having to do more action…… Honestly, the three other than myself are people who can dance. Thinking about how it’ll be displayed at a live makes my head hurt with all sorts of different thoughts. (laughs)

A Mysterious Feeling Coming from Re-Recording A Song That Was Already Familiar

—The coupling song, “MEET THE WORLD! (Japan Ver.)” was recorded.

Nogami: Even before our recording of it, I listened to this song at rehearsal for our lives. I remember being so confused, not knowing what to do, and going, “Wait, what the heck is this song!?” when they said “All right, we’re going to put the choreography in now.” (laughs) The choreo was incredibly difficult, and I can’t remember how many times during rehearsal I felt like screaming, “BUT THE FLAAAAAAG!” (laughs)

Masumoto: It’s really difficult, being tasked with having to carry something around. In the first place, there were a lot of brand new elements to it, so it was a lot of hard work. When all our hand movements had everyone signal for departure, I felt really emotional, so I’m sure everyone watching must have been stunned as well. I feel, no matter how hard something is to do, if we all come together as one, we might just be able to pull it off.

—As well as the choreography being difficult, the song’s key seems to be on the high side of things.

Masumoto: Honestly, in my case, it was at the “Join Us” part at the beginning. I had this sense of fear that I would just take off, flying out of control out of nowhere, though I did somehow manage to pull it off. (laughs)

Nogami: We did both the song and dance with everything we had on stage, so in that case, this time’s CD recording went off with absolutely no problem at all. The content regarding this song had to do with what we could do with what we remembered. The feeling of everyone building it up together was really impressive.

Masumoto: Our feelings felt very complete. When I went to the recording studio, I thought, “This has to be it!” as I presented it in a way that I was confident in.

Nogami: That’s the privilege of being the last ones!

—The “WORLD TRE@SURE” series here will be the last one as well, but are there any developments that you’d like people to look forward to after this?

Nogami: I do feel like I’d want to go to all sorts of different places in Japan to do lives.

Masumoto: Starting from here, heading to other locations while performing the places’ atmospheres will also give a slightly different feeling as well!

Nogami: Exactly that! It would be nice if people who are usually unable to come to the lives would be able to enjoy themselves in person. I’d be glad if we could build up those opportunities little by little and continue on.

= INFORMATION =

Takajou Kyouji (CV: Umehara Yuuichirou), Shingen Seiji (CV: Masumoto Takuya), Iseya Shiki (CV: Nogami Sho), Kitamura Sora (CV: Shioya Fumiyoshi) participate in “THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 13”, currently on sale in Lantis. “THE IDOLM@STER SideM 5th ANNIVERSARY DISC” series is also currently being released. “Altessimo” “Sai” and “High×Joker” participate in “THE IDOLM@STER SideM 5th ANNIVERSARY DISC 05” to be released on April 22.

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A question from the role of Kurono Genbu, Fukamachi Toshinari-san

“What are the traditional foods you want to recommend to us, who’ve come back from overseas?”

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Masumoto: Sashimi! I went to eat eel sashimi recently. Its fleshy taste and crisp sensation were what made me reaffirm the deliciousness of fresh fish. It’s something you wouldn’t be able to eat overseas very often, so I’d definitely like you to try!

Nogami: I’d go with white rice, miso soup, and natto. You can go with the standard ingredients for miso soup, tofu and seaweed, but I’d also recommend putting in potatoes and mustard spinach.

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A question from the role of Sakuraba Kaoru, Uchida Yuuma-san

“Out of Japan’s four seasons, which season [shiki] do you like best?”

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Masumoto & Nogami: ISEYA!

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Shingen Seiji

A mental attribute idol, affiliated with the former civil servant unit “FRAME” alongside Akuno Hideo and Kimura Ryuu. His former occupation was soldier, and his special skill is quickly dismantling firearms. 31 years old, a Capricorn born on December 24. He has a bulky, muscular body, but he has an unexpected side, with his hobby being cooking.

Masumoto Takuya — Born on March 13. Ken Production. Major roles are: Movie “Marriage Story” (Charlie/Adam Driver), “Parade e Youkoso” (Mark/Ben Schnetzer), Overseas Drama “FBI” (Zeeko Zaki), and more.

Iseya Shiki

A physical attribute idol, affiliated with the 5-person former high school light music club band, “High×Joker”. 16 years old, an Aries born on April 12. Has amazing vocal ability as the former vocalist of the light music club. He can attain any score at karaoke of his own free will.

Nogami Shou — Born on September 9. VIMS. Major roles are: “Zoid World ZERO” (Leo Conrad), “TSUKIPRO THE ANIMATION” (Kuga Ichiru), “Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 2” (Oowaki), and more.