TV anime 【OSHI NO KO】has continued to make its twist and turns this spring 2023 anime season. In our next voice cast interview, Megumi Han, the voice of Kana Arima from 【OSHI NO KO】shares her energetic passion and love for Kana.
Were you familiar with 【OSHI NO KO】 before you were asked to perform as Kana?
Megumi Han: Yes, I knew about the series beforehand because every time a new episode was released, it was always trending on Twitter. That is how I originally found out about the series. And the title itself is pretty catchy. So, when I saw it trending on Twitter for the first time, I started to think: “Wait, who’s oshi are we talking about?” (laughs).
When you started reading the manga, at what point was the serialization story-wise?
I thought it would be best if I’d started from the very beginning instead of reading what the latest episode was. I originally thought that the story was going to be about the artist and the fan. But after reading it, it ended up being a story featuring a really charismatic character, Ai Hoshino, and the people who idolize her and are driven to insanity being fatefully swayed because of her story.
What was your first impression when you saw the script for the anime series?
I thought the script for the first episode was really amazing. The first episode was, instead of being broken up into three episodes, a total runtime of 90 minutes long. This makes it really faithful to the original manga as if you’re watching the first volume on screen. I think there’s a lot of meaning in that.
When I was reading the script, because you get to see the interpretation I didn’t have when reading the manga, it was almost as if I was able to get a clearer insight on the character’s personalities. It was almost as if I was able to see if I was correct with my questions during the voice recording.
For 【OSHI NO KO】, there was an audition to decide which voice actor would get the role. How did you prepare for the audition?
When I acted for the audition, I didn’t just get a script with only text on it. I got to read lines straight from the manga itself so I would know which scenes they’re from. Also, the scenes that were selected for the audition gave insight into why Kana is the way she is. It includes how she was brought up and why she acts the way she does. And because of that, I felt like I managed to better portray the character with that knowledge in the audition.
Other than that, there was also a musical audition with a song we had to sing. It was a song that already existed and sung by other idols. The song was picked because it suited the series so well. For the audition, I actually had to sing the chorus alone which I thought was very difficult.
For the line delivery part, I felt like I did everything I could. I walked out feeling like I gave my 110%. But, for the singing portion, I thought I failed. However, that wasn’t the case when hearing the result! In hindsight, that sense of self evaluation was actually more “Kana Arima”-like than I’d thought, which is why I got the role.
Some would describe Kana Arima as a very prideful person, but she can also be very caring and considerate towards Aqua in her own way. Do you find being able to play a hot and cold (tsundere) character like Kana challenging?
Hmm… The thing about playing a tsundere type character is that you can’t be too exaggerated. Though, I would say the theme of this series is “Lies are outstanding kind of love”, but when Kana interacts with Aqua, it’s like real love in a sense. Instead of making that love a love affair, it is more like a war buddy and sometimes a rivalry. I tried to be very natural, but people kinda accept it more as a tsundere.
Not to mention the script itself really isn’t that over the top. So, if I had acted naturally as best as I could to the script, then it would feel like a natural tsundere. Tsundere isn’t something you show, but it’s something you feel.
Do you have any inspiration that you pull from while channeling the energy to be Kana?
I’ve actually worked with child actors before, so I used that experience a little as a reference and hints as to how I should be acting as Kana. But even then, all children have different personalities, so you can’t really incorporate all those experiences. However, the one thing they all shared in common is that they really put in their soul to fulfill the requests the director may have for them.
They are very rich in emotion. And since they are kids, they are also very honest , rather than being shy or reserved like an adult. And in that, there are no lies in the way. This made for a great reference point.
How was it working with the other voice cast during the recording session? Do you have any memorable or funny moments to share?
The cast actually kinda resembles their characters so much that I wondered if they were auditioning for the characters, but rather with their personalities as well. Everyone really comes alive. It wasn’t just how they were in front of the mic, but it was the small gestures they would normally do that really fit the character perfectly.
You mentioned that they act similar to their characters in everyday life, what do you mean by that?
For example, Yurie Igoma-san, Ruby, is very energetic. It really fits her character. She would say “GOOD MORNING!!” and “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!” with such enthusiasm. It’s very pure and since Ruby is also new to the entertainment industry, this sort of freshness that Ruby has is not something you can express intentionally.
Not to mention the way that Takeo Otsuka-san, Aqua, looks after her really feels like they’re siblings. I sometimes think “Wow! How many lifetimes have you guys spent together as siblings?” Igoma-san would also ask Otsuka-san for help whenever there was something that she had questions about, which again really shows that sibling relationship and its reflected in the show.
Kana Arima would often take any roles that she can get her hands on. If she were in real world Japan, what kind of commercial do you think would really suit Kana? For example, a sports drink CM or banking CM?
Baking soda (laughs). This was mentioned before online, but the reason that the baking soda collaboration is real is because the fans love the character.
But if someone asked Kana to do a commercial on baking soda, she probably wouldn’t look very happy about the idea initially, but she’d definitely accept it and get it done.
Would you find Kana’s experiences or even the general experiences the characters go through to be accurate?
Yes! 【OSHI NO KO】 as a series covers ins and outs of the entertainment industry. So, I feel like it’s very real. Even if you’re already working in the industry or even if you’re just a fan who doesn’t know anything about the industry, you can find a common understanding in some way within the series because it is something we can feel in daily lives.
When I first read 【OSHI NO KO】, Kana was actually the character that I resonated with the most. So, in Kana’s case, if you ask something of her or have an expectation of her, she’ll do her absolute best to reach it. But if you expect nothing of her, she loses her will and purpose as an actor. That feeling is something that I really understand and relate with. She’s constantly searching for her purpose and that’s something I too understand.
Kana Arima has gained immense popularity overseas on social media. What do you think may be the appeal of her character?
It’s probably because she’s very relatable. Amongst the cast of gifted talents including Ai and Ruby, Kana has to work really, really hard to get to where she is and that’s very admirable. It doesn’t mean I think Ai and Ruby don’t work hard. Their talents are unique. If you were to call Kana a genius though, she’d be the genius of hard work.
When she was younger, she used to think only of herself and that she was doing this all for her own sake. But as she grew up, she realized that it’s for the director, Aqua, and Ruby, which shows growth and has great appeal. She didn’t want to become an idol, but for the sake of Ruby, Aqua, and the agency, she did it anyways. It’s always for the sake of someone.
Any final comments to both fans in Japan and international fans?
The feeling of having an oshi is universal. This feeling of wanting to support your favorite character is something that’s going to spread even beyond just Japan. This series will tell you that “Lies are an outstanding kind of love” but this feeling of wanting to support someone to the fullest is not a lie. It’s your true honest feelings, so this truth is something that only you as fans will understand. I would like everyone to find these feelings in the show and keep your eyes out for that feeling.
Special thanks to Megumi Han and KADOKAWA for the opportunity. 【OSHI NO KO】 is now streaming on HiDive and other platforms. Yen Press is publishing the manga in English.
For additional information on 【OSHI NO KO】, check out the official EN Twitter account @oshinoko_global.
Interview Interpreter: Adele San
Translator: M-san
