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Q1. Thank you so much for your work today! To start things off, give us your impressions after the recording.

In DIG-ROCK, Tobikura is often the storyteller. This time around, however, I personally liked that the performances and event scenes started with his “Take care!” and “Good work out there!”, which impressively didn’t feel like awkward additions.

Q2. This is your second drama CD volume as part of Inkuro. Have your impressions of your own character or the band members changed since last time? Were there any points that you were especially conscious of when acting?

Playing as Tobikura, I enjoyed getting to know the four of them more: the bluntly honest Tsugumi; Toki, the outspoken tsukkomi; Mitsuru’s surprising passionate side; and Hibari, who brightens up the mood.

As for Tobikura, I was very happy to learn about his efforts to support Inkuro, as a new employee in their company, and how he handles the job.

Q3. In this volume, Inkuro was shooting for the CD jacket. Do you have any personal memorable moments from magazine shoots that you'd like to share?

In the summer, as night falls sooner, the light spots we were using often attracted a lot of insects. Once, I had to shoot with as little light as a phone flashlight, yet still struggled with the bugs for a while…!

The photographer seemed to have a lot of fun with the insects though, so it turned out to be a very fun shooting session (laugh).

Q4. Tobikura played yet again an active role as a manager. What would you do for him if you could help with his busy schedule?

※ Check the「A’s×Darling」interview page!

Q5. Finally, do you have any comments for your fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD?

The CD depicts Inkuro’s activities as they begin their journey as professional musicians, as well as what they were able to experience consequently.

I'm sure you'll be able to relate to their happiness and frustrations, and I hope you'll enjoy watching them and Tobikura grow, together with their links with the other band. Thank you very much!

Q1. Thank you so much for your work today! To start things off, give us your impressions after the recording.

This time around, I felt a stronger sense of adolescence among the four of them, as they were all together in their daily lives, getting along, worrying and working hard. I had a great time with the recording!

As a continuation of the previous tracks, there was a bit about Hibari and Mitsuru’s old band members. I was impressed that the story was not only about current Inkuro, but also about their past.

Hibari is a character with a range of emotions that are difficult to express. I hope I have managed to show when he's fooling around on purpose, and when he's just being himself.

Q3. In this volume, Inkuro was shooting for the CD jacket. Do you have any personal memorable moments from magazine shoots that you'd like to share?

I think we were shooting for a pamphlet, and we went to this beautiful, pristine, semi-basement studio.

I knew from the moment I walked in that I wasn't going to like it. When the make-up artist looked through the studio, they found a bill stuck on a door in the darkest part of the room… As we started shooting, we heard noises out of nowhere, like some real psychic phenomena!

Despite being extremely unsettling, I was able to take good photos (laugh).

Q4. Tobikura played yet again an active role as a manager. What would you do for him if you could help with his busy schedule?

Like Tobikura-san, managers in our industry are always busy, aren't they?

In my company, we offer quite the raise! (laugh)

It would also help his motivation, I want to reward him well for his keen work.

Q5. Finally, do you have any comments for your fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD?

This is Inkuro’s second volume, continuing with the story of the four’s youth and bonds. There is still one more volume to go, so look forward to more of their activities and continue to support them!

Q1. Thank you so much for your work today! To start things off, give us your impressions after the recording.

I could feel the atmosphere and bond that only a band can have, so I was glad to be able to share their happy moments and worries in the drama tracks. The recording was a lot of fun!

As the story progresses, I'm having a lot of fun playing Mitsuru, who is a character who speaks in a simple, honest way. In fact, some of his lines have a deeper meaning that makes you double take his words. The part where Mitsuru and Hibari face their past selves in order for Inkuro to do their best for their debut was very emotional, I think it was a great scene.

Q3. In this volume, Inkuro was shooting for the CD jacket. Do you have any personal memorable moments from magazine shoots that you'd like to share?

For the cover of a booklet, I had to take pictures at Kasai Rinkai Park, in winter, laying on the grass with my eyes closed; however, I’m very sensitive to cold temperatures. I was freezing so much that my eyes shut for good… As I started to lose consciousness, I thought “At this rate, I’m just going to die…!?”. In the midst of it, the staff called “Hatano-san!? Hatano-san…!?” and I was woken up (laugh). I would like to avoid shooting in ice-cold places in the future.

Q4. Tobikura played yet again an active role as a manager. What would you do for him if you could help with his busy schedule?

Looking at the manager, I think he’s too busy to even spend his money anywhere. I'd like to take on some of his burden and offer him fairly long vacations. It’d be nice if he could spend time doing the things he loves, going on a spa trip or visiting his parents.

Q5. Finally, do you have any comments for your fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD?

In the second volume, each character's personality has been explored more deeply, made in a way where the dialogue is very enjoyable to listen to. (laugh). As Eguchi-kun already said, Toki’s “hard worker” position has been plentily showcased this time around (laugh).

We hope you will look forward and continue to support us in the future as well!

Q1. Thank you so much for your work today! To start things off, give us your impressions after the recording.

I was happy to feel and work in Inkuro’s atmosphere together with these members again. We were able to record the song with more enthusiasm than last time, so it was lots of fun.

I had been aware of this for a while but my character, Toki, was supposed to be a cool and level-headed leader. However, when you understand their group dynamic, you soon find out that he’s more of a tsukkomi to the others’ bluntness… (laugh) ¹ I used to wonder how far I could go with this character, but now I can answer without any hesitation. I’d like to be razor-sharp from now on (laugh).

Q3. In this volume, Inkuro was shooting for the CD jacket. Do you have any personal memorable moments from magazine shoots that you'd like to share?

I was shooting for a magazine in a place that used to be a hospital, but I happened to have a high fever that day... I wasn't feeling well to begin with, but from the moment we arrived the staff started feeling just as sick, saying ”Something feels weird”. Once we got to the basement for the shooting, they got to the point of saying "Nope, not there, I won’t go in”... We wrapped up the shoot without any issues, though a few days later the building got listed as a “haunted spot” (laugh). I was surprised to see that everyone's intuition was spot on.

Q4. Tobikura played yet again an active role as a manager. What would you do for him if you could help with his busy schedule?

“It’s either money or vacations!” I thought, but if it’s a man… (Ito-san: How about Kamakura ²?) ...Ah! Was it Kamakura?! Right, Kamakura! I think that visiting the Great Buddha or seeing historical buildings like that helps to cleanse your mind. I feel like I would be healed too by going with him (laugh).

Q5. Finally, do you have any comments for your fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD?

There are many scenes scattered throughout the tracks that are key to deepening the members’ bonds, though we'll have to wait and see how Inkuro’s debut got them out there in the entertainment world. We hope you’ll enjoy the song as much as we did while imagining what their future activities will be!

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⁽¹⁾ A “tsukkomi” is one of the archetype characters played in traditional Japanese comedy known as manzai, based on duo-banters with a “boke”. The tsukkomi is usually played by a serious, straightforward individual, who uses dry humor to verbally criticize the simplest spontaneity of the boke. When Eguchi says he wants to be “sharper”, he means in the way he’ll play Toki’s critical banters.

⁽²⁾ Kamakura used to be, on paper, Japan’s capital during the Kamakura period. It became a popular tourist destination thanks to their numerous festivals, as well as Buddhist and Shinto temples.

Q1. Thank you so much for your work today! To start things off, give us your impressions after the recording.

Tsugumi is a very energetic character, so I am just as energized when I play him! After recording the second volume, I felt how appealing he is as a character all over again.

This time the story was about Inkuro's debut, so I wanted to convey the enthusiasm and positivity that went along with it, as well as the nervousness and anxiety of their current situation.

I was also impressed by the members’ passion who didn’t rest on the fact that they were rookies just starting out, enjoying the uncertainty of their debut, and thinking about how to improve more than before. It was my favorite scene as it showed Inkuro’s nice teamwork!

Q3. In this volume, Inkuro was shooting for the CD jacket. Do you have any personal memorable moments from magazine shoots that you'd like to share?

I was eating a rice ball during a photo shoot, both my hair and makeup were perfect, so I said, "Alright, let's take some pictures!” but when I checked them, I found seaweed on my teeth… “That was close!”, I said (laugh). It sure is hard to notice it on your own... Moral of the story is that it's better not to eat in between shoots.

Q4. Tobikura played yet again an active role as a manager. What would you do for him if you could help with his busy schedule?

I guess the only thing I can do is to take him out for dinner… Inkuro is now rising in popularity, I think Tobi-chan is very busy managing them. I'd like to listen to his stories as much as possible over a good meal and talk about the future of Inkuro. He would say “Let's keep working together!”, so I'd like to share Tobi-chan’s enthusiasm.

Q5. Finally, do you have any comments for your fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD?

As this is the second volume, I sang a new song this time around as well. Through the events that have occurred since Inkuro's debut, they started to develop professional awareness, and I believe that they will continue to grow in the future. We hope that you will enjoy their activities and new songs as much as we do!

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♪ When recording for「RISE」

Q1. What were your first impressions when you heard the song and read the lyrics?

It had a more party-like feel than “RISE”. As this is their second song after their debut, I thought it would be good to take on the song with a lot of energy to not lose their momentum. Tsugumi has that air to him that pushes us to go as far as we want: the lyrics emphasized that sensation, especially the “Ain’t it better to just do it?” ⁽¹⁾ part which truly made his personality shine. I think it's the kind of song we can all get excited about and have fun listening to!

Q2. What was it like to actually sing it? Tell us what you were the most conscious about and what we should look forward to.

It's a fast-paced song with a nice groove, so I tried to keep that rhythm throughout the song. I’m also looking forward to how the counting at the beginning will look like in the finished song (laugh). ⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾ “Ain’t it better to just do it?” is the first sentence of “Pump it!!” first chorus.

⁽²⁾ He’s referring to the count up from 1 to 3 at the very beginning of “Pump it!!”.

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odorekijin

Entries tagged with .dig-rock_ic vol.2

Cast Comment : Kento Ito (as Tobikura Sora)

Cast Comment : Tachibana Shinnosuke（as Shibasaki Hibari）

Cast Comment : Hatano Wataru（as Hayama Mitsuru）

Cast Comment : Eguchi Takuya (as Mizukawa Toki)

Cast Comment : Yuuma Uchida (as Nonaka Tsugumi)

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