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mirai-e-jump · 5 months

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Animage December 2023 Issue ft. Yuzuki Hirakawa Interview (translation below)

Publication: November 10, 2023 (between episodes 35-36)

"Remain Immovable"

Rita Kaniska, who rules the absolutely neutral country of Gokkan, is both the king and chief judge who passes down judgment on international criminals.

"The Law is the spear that pierces kings. The Law is the shield that protects man. For this reason, Gokkan will remain immovable."

Rita never wavers in their convictions at any time, and judges fairly according to the law.

However, just like anyone else, Rita also has a heart. They get angry at those who resell goods based on their beloved animated character "Moffun," and when their emotions get out of control, they scream in public.

When they tried to seal Grodie with the "Ice Seal," a secret sacrificial technique that's possessed within their right eye, they felt the fear of death. Still, Rita's strength lies in their determination to remain neutral and immovable as the king of Gokkan.

It must have been a positive thing for Rita to have friends who understood their way of living, were concerned about them, and tried to help them.

The current mission of the Royal Sentai, is to reclaim the countries of Chikyu that have been conquered by the Uchu Five Jesters. Goma, who rules Gokkan, is a difficult opponent, once messing around with the kings using a technique that switches bodies. What awaits Rita in the upcoming battle to reclaim Gokkan?

-I want to make use of the sword fighting skills I learned from Hachisuka-san-

"As the story progressed, the number of kings working together increased, but is there anything you're conscious of when expressing these relationships?"

Hirakawa: Basically, I try not to put my personal feelings into it, but after starting the second chapter, I feel like we're closer than ever. I'm not sure if a part of them that unconsciously feels at ease has emerged. However, I think Rita doesn't just think of them as their friends, rather, they're comrades that help protect Chikyu. When it comes to Hymeno, who is the closest to them, rather than being conscious of how I interact with her, I treat her naturally as Rita, reacting timidly to Hymeno's aggressive advances.

"We found it interesting that when they switched bodies with Yanma in episode 28, unlike the other kings, they didn't seem to become closer."

Hirakawa: Everyone else had good interactions, but we were in an interesting frame of, "Huh, what are we doing?" (laughs). In that episode, I also discussed with Director Kamihoriuchi Kazuya that among the kings, Yanma would probably enjoy being swapped the most, and that the most important thing was to enjoy the chaos of the situation. Also, I thought that if I went too hard in my approach, it would be too rough, or that it would come off as lame, so I decided to just do it naturally. The Director told me things like, "You don't have to try doing it like Yanma," so I felt like I played much more as myself

"Have you heard any feedback from Watanabe Aoto-san, who plays Yanma?"

Hirakawa: When we met up, he said, "It was alot of fun!" and "It was cool." But, Aoto's Rita was way too much (laughs). I don't really roll my eyes or cross my eyes or anything like that. "I" did that because I reached a state of maximum irritation due to the stress of being swapped…..if you think about it, could it be possible? When I saw the final cut and realized how he performed, I was surprised and asked myself, "I've been doing this?"

"What do you take into consideration when interacting with Morfonia, your retainer?"

Hirakawa: I try to be as "flat" as possible without being too overwhelming. Like in the kabedon scene in episode 25, when they want to convey their thoughts, I'm always conscious of conveying them clearly, even if it's in their own awkward way. No matter what Rita and Morfonia say to each other, they'll never leave each other, as they know that their relationship won't change, so I feel like they're not hesitant about it.

"Have you had any memorable interactions with Yuichi Hachisuka-san, PapillonOhger's Suit Actor?"

Hirakawa: We usually film separately from each other, so I share information with Hachisuka-san whenever we meet. He incorporates what I talk to him about into his actions after the transformation. When we're fighting unmasked, he's always by the camera man's side, giving me friendly and detailed advice. We also have alot of small talk that's unrelated to acting, so I'm very grateful that he's so open and friendly with me.

"In terms of unmasked action, we think that episodes 32 and 33 depicted some pretty intense action scenes."

Hirakawa: That's right. It was the first time in the second chapter that I had to fight unmasked, and there were quite alot of moves. Rita's fighting style is not to attack the enemy themself, but to cut them down as the enemies approach them, so sword fighting skills are important. It's important to have a sense of balance between stopping your movements and applying force, and Hachisuka-san taught me alot not only during action practice, but also on the set. I've always loved to move my body, and even before King-Ohger I participated in a few practice sessions for action scenes and became interested in it. Hachisuka-san taught me the basics of how to hold, swing, and draw out the sword, and I'd like to continue challenging myself even after King-Ohger is over.

-Overflowing emotions between my mission and fear-

"The cast members of King-Ohger are actively engaged on SNS, but we have the impression that Hirakawa-san especially has frequent opportunities to interact with the fans."

Hirakawa: I'm conscious of doing something on SNS every day. I belong to LDH, which is famous as an artist agency, and their artists have many opportunities to directly interact with their supporters at things such as live performances and release events. However, the acting team doesn't have many opportunities like that, so I wanted to create a place to interact with the fans, so I use the Twitter space to talk and stream on Instagram Live. Also, I wanted to give people a chance to get to know me through Rita. I'm glad that the fans enjoy the gap between me and Rita.

"I see. It sounds like you had some deep thoughts and were communicating them."

Hirakawa: Well, I've always liked talking, so when I'm home alone, I sometimes start saying, "I'm kinda bored," or "I'll talk for abit" (laughs). I feel that I've become better at speaking since I've started streaming, and that my thinking is faster than before. Up until now, I haven't had many opportunities to communicate with the fans, so when I read their comments, it was encouraging to realize that there were so many people who supported me.

"Other than Rita, if you had to name your favorite character, who would it be?"

Hirakawa: Since playing him in the body swap episode, I feel attached to Yanma. I've always wanted to play a role with that kind of cool feel and slightly rough tone. Also, I guess I'd say Gira. I think his charm lies in that he's straightforward, honest, and cute, but the anger he shows and the feelings he has for his friends is also appealing. His face is looking more and more like that of a king, and in episode 29, there's even an effect where lights rush from his eyes, which was super cool!

"Please tell us about some of the most memorable episodes so far."

Hirakawa: In episode 30, the secret of Rita's right eye was revealed, and the culprit behind the "Wrath of God" was revealed to be Grodie, which still leaves an impression on me. I didn't know about the secret of their right eye, so I was surprised when I read the script. Grodie is played by Amano Kousei-san, who is a senior at my agency, and he also performed in Kamen Rider (played Sakuya Tachibana/Kamen Rider Garren in Kamen Rider Blade), so I have fond memories of being able to co star with him.

"Shiono Akihisa-san, who plays Souji Rippukan (Kyoryu Green) in episodes 32 and 33, also comes from the same agency."

Hirakawa: Yes. Shortly after being chosen to play Rita, I happened to have the opportunity to meet Shiono-san in another production, where I told him that I would be appearing in Sentai. I was very happy to be able to work together in the collaboration episodes, with Shiono-san encouraging me with, "Do you best."

"Going back to episode 30, we think it was a major turning point from Rita's perspective."

Hirakawa: The relationship with Karras, the previous king, was explored in depth, and Rita's actions towards their mission and determination to protect their people was depicted, which I thought was cool to play. For the scenes where Rita's emotions were overflowing, I wanted to express them in advance, and wanted to express them within the atmosphere of the scene. The scene where Karras collapsed in front of my eyes was so powerful, that I was surprised at how much emotion I felt inside of me and how much it moved me. The scene where they use the "Ice Seal" on Grodie is especially emotional. It's a secret technique that seals away both yourself and your opponent, so using it will lead to Rita's death. Rita is conflicted between their duty as a king to protect their people, and their fear of dying. I played the role imagining those feelings, but since I had never experienced the loss of a loved one, it became so overwhelming, that I couldn't stop crying during filming, and had to be given time to calm down.

"You played the part with a great amount of emotion."

Hirakawa: When I read the script, I often write down what I'm thinking of at that moment, but for the scene where I use the secret technique, I wrote, "I leave the rest to you." Then, when it came time to perform, I imagined everyone's faces…..I thought, "I don't want to die," and "But" and I cried not only as Rita, but also as Yuzuki Hirakawa (laughs). By deciding to protect the lives of their people and the peace of Chikyu more than their own life, Rita was able to grow even more, and when Hymeno stopped them, I feel that they were able to firmly realize that they were not alone.

"Finally, please tell us about some future highlights."

Hirakawa: In episode 36, Rita will do some interesting things in the scenes regarding Hymeno's marriage matchmaking, but I think episode 38 will be the main highlight for Rita. Filming is about to begin (at the time of this interview), so I know I have to do my best......I really hope everyone will look forward to it (laughs). _

Question to Kaku So-san! (Kaguragi Dybowski's Actor)

Kaguragi often goes to different places alone, like infiltrating other places, without anyone noticing. I'm curious to know how he manages to stay out of everyone's sight with such a large body. I also want to know how he takes care of his long hair. If you look closely, Kaguragi's hair is quite smooth. It's actually a wig, but I'd like to hear Kaku-san's interpretation of how Kaguragi takes care of his smooth hair. (-Hirakawa)

Questions from Murakami Erica-san! (Hymeno Ran's Actor)

Q: What kind of food does Rita like? If you were to make a Gokkan coat for Hymeno, what would you propose?

I have a feeling that Rita likes sweet things. I personally like wagashi, so I think they'd appreciate that (laughs). A coat that's a dress with her legs showing would look cold, so it should be like a poncho and worn over the top. I think a long coat with a hood would be nice. A fluffy white ball (snowman) coat, or a kamikiri (mantis) coat! (-Hirakawa)

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meganechan05 · 26 days

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Been thinking about coatless Rita with an undercut again... my shugods (´－ω－)人

#Himeno and Morf are so fcking lucky #my god-#i mean technically i can do some KanisCampa but i think Maple will just collapse before the coat is even off 😂#but my shugods-#Rita never takes off their coat bc Yuzuki isnt buff enough to show off how buff Rita really is #episode 38 is an exception bc Yuzuyan has idol build #...yeah #heh #heh 😏😏#buff rita #kingohger #king ohger #ohsama sentai kingohger #rita kaniska #rita kanisuka #kingoh doodles #super sentai

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mofffun · 3 months

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LOVE how Rita has been acting commander the last two ep. No one is "leader" but they are the one that knows the plans and assigns jobs and keeps everyone together (;_;)/~~~ Coupled with them saying "Karras, I didi it." in the latest manga chapter seeing Ohsama Sentai march towards battle…

#a very good counterbalance/save to the Moffun/Rittan materials lately #but the whiplash of seeing Rittan last Sunday → Yuzuyan on Wednesday → Saibannchou today lol.#kingohger spoilers #kingohger #mon mon

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akq96618 · 6 months

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How i supposed to be normal when in kingchan taisei said "actually when the camera is not rolling, we hold hands" and proceed to take ikeda masashi's hand....

#love the way masashi and yuzuyan wheezed together after that #translated by my little knowledge of japanese #I KNOW THAT... I KNOW THAT GIRAMIE HOLDING HANDS WHEN THEY'RE ALONE-#*screeching noises*#kingohger cast

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kstaki · 1 month

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I wanted to sub one part where they say who they wanted to play other than their character. (Sadly preoccupied to do so…see if ever got time to sub the rest of the video)

Found out someone already Sub it so sharing (with who So-San (Kaguragi) would like to play)

Because it was really adorable why Masashi-San (Jermaine) wanted to play Gira, only for Taisei-San to ahem broke ahem a rule that he shouldn’t said.

The way Masashi-San was speechless for that moment & how Yuzuyan-San (Rita) reacted so fast to cut him off it TOO CUTEEEE. Then both Masahi-San & Yuzuyan-San keep saying 言わない is too precious 🥺

#ohsama sentai kingohger #kingohger #six kingdoms special emergency discussion meeting #gira husty #gira hastie #jeramie brasieri #rita kaniska #king ohger #I still amuse with the way Yuzuyan-San just trying to cover up the situation 🤣 (&partially scolding Taisei-San hahaha)#Masashi-San follow up with it 😆#So-San seem like he like 🤫 to the audience 🤣#the other two seem to be in their own world hahaha 🤣#although I feel like Taisei is still pushing his luck at the end hahahaha 😂🤭 still saying 緑(midori)

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meandmyechoes · 5 months

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hnnn the dance making-of

#dance yuzuyan in visible lighting??? and smile??

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millecrepe · 10 months

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youtube

I thought the relay interview for the movie was cute so translation under the cut

KINGOHGER RELAY INTERVIEW START YAAAAY

Q. Please introduce yourself

Taisei: Thank you Kuwagon! In the role of Gira Husty, Sakai Taisei.

Aoto: I'll take you to the top like a grasshopper! In the role of Yanma Gast, I'm Watanabe Aoto.

Erica: Let's go! Scorpie <3 Playing Hymeno Ran, I'm Murakami Erica.

Yuzuki/Yuzuyan: The mirror of the people, in the role of Rita Kaniska, Hirakawa Yuzuki.

Sou/Souchan: FOR THE OCCASION, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF! AS KAGURAGI DYBOWKY, I'm Kaku Sou. :)

Masashi: Did you have a good dream? ~ Playing Jerami Brasieri, Ikeda Masashi "to sa ~" (or so it goes).

Q. What do you like about your character?

Taisei: He's always outright and full of emotions!

Aoto: I respect that air of distance he puts up with people.

Erica: The way she always gets involved and be kind.

Yuzuyan: Eeeeeh, they're intersting...

Souchan: Eeeeeh, he's cute!

Masashi: Umm, his elocution.

Q. If you became a king what would you like?

Taisei: To slack off.

Aoto: I want to eat delicious foods.

Erica: If I was a king that's it? I want to try out lots of different fashion/styles.

Yuzuyan: Eeee, er, I'd like to eat luxurious foods everyday.

Souchan: I want to end wars (make them disappear). (everyone: wwwwww)

Masashi: Eeer I want Doraemon as my retainer. (everyone: wooo)

Q. What kind of extraordinary power would you like?

Taisei: Is it as a king? Er... Manipulating time. (everyone: ohooo) (taisei makes extra gestures) (everyone: wwww)

Aoto: Umm, free control over weight.

Erica: A power that would let me travel to various place... A door to everywhere! (off screen: Wait is it okay to say??)

Yuzuyan: (laughs at Erica's question) Err, something simple, to fly!

Souchan: I want to eat honyaku konjac (t/n > ref to Doraemon "translation gummy" he wants to speak every language)

Masashi: I want to be a human car-wash (t/n > ?? if you know what he means teach me, "want to be like a bathtub or something")

Q. If you could change countries, which king would you like to be?

Taisei: Yanma Gast. His chivalry... I like it ✧

Aoto: Kaguragi Dibowsky! I want to eat delicious foods (editors: second time lol)

Erica: Rita Kaniska, I want to become very smart.

Yuzuyan: Hymeno Ran, I want to wear a cute dress :)

Souchan: Hymeno Ran, eer, I want to be very strong (macho sdkfjhskdf) (everyone: akjzhdfkshfdslkf is that right???)

Masashi: Hymeno Ran, I want to be/feel beautiful.

Q. What's your favourite episode?

Taisei: Waah eer, the 1st? Ye personally I liked the first when I showed resolve to stand up to Racules!

Aoto: The 10th! When Legend KingOhger appeared!

Erica: 17th, when Gira and Yanma clashed and bonded more.

Yuzuyan: The 16th, when we saw Rita's right eye, it's my fav.

Souchan: 15th when we got confused about Suzume.

Masashi: 11th I like the spider mask.

Q. Can you imitate your second in command?

Taisei: I'll do Racules!! King of Shugoddom, Racules Husty. I am the country. (everyone: wwwww souchan: so he's the second)

Aoto: (imitating Shiokara) Here comes! Detective Pillbug ~ (t/n > sorry I forgot the ref ;-;)

Erica: (rolling her fake mustache in the manner of Sebas) (editors: Sebastian??)

Yuzuyan: (imitating Morfonia) Rita ~

Souchan: (imitating Kuroda) LORD KAGURAGI!!

Masashi: (imitating Gerojim <3) Jeramiii... I think you are the most suitable to rule over Chikyu...

Q. Who would you take on a deserted island?

Taisei: Uwaa eer, Kaku-san! Like he's so kind, he would give me everything... (everyone: wooah)

Aoto: I would take Kaku-san too, I think he would have brought food with him.

Erica: For me a character, Yanma! I think he would develop/create something from nothing!

Yuzuyan: Kaku-san also, he would protect me.

Souchan: Myself! Like I'm pretty strong...

Masashi: Kaku-san! I want to become strong (macho) (everyone: wwwww)

Q. If you could travel to another world, what kind of place would you go?

Taisei: In the show? Ummmmm, I'd go to Toufu! Want to eat good food.

Aoto: Let's see. A world where we all talk the same language, all 7billion of humans. (everyone: waah)

Erica: A place with a lot of different sceneries... a world where I can explore like in a rpg.

Yuzuyan: Another world... eeeer, hmmmmmm, WAH HARD TO SAY (everyone: wwwww)

Souchan: I want to go to a world with the cutting-edge technology of N'Kosopa!

Masashi: A world where there's no timescape. (everyone: wooo)

Q. Tell us what you like about the person after you.

Taisei: (looks back) Chivalry (repeats it again)

Aoto: Her guts!

Erica: Very kind and cheerful person! (yuzuyan: peace sign)

Yuzuyan: His funny side (who laughs a lot)!

Souchan: The fact that he'll definitely laugh at even my most boring gag! (everyone: wwww masashi: who will)

Masashi: His cute side.

Q. Altogether, do a pose of the kingohgers getting along!

Everyone: (peace signs) Kuwagooon!

Q. Please do your Moffun's voice.

Everyone: Rittan (moffun's imitation)

Masashi: Let's do it in relay.

Taisei: Rittan... Rittan. Rita, I like you.

Aoto: Rittaaaaaaan wwwww (goes off embarrassed) (yuzuyan: that's not right wwww)

Erica: Rita is a genius.

Yuzuyan: Welcome back Rittan...

Souchan: Jerami Brasieri...

Masashi: Rittan I love you (aishiteru) (yuzuyan: no that's too much)

Q. Expose something cute from a cast member.

Taisei: Eeeee?? Um Aoto, he seperates his lunch in half (half and half) (everyone: wwww)

Aoto: Ikeda-kun's reaction when a moth came flying. (imitates his fright) (everyone: wwww souchan: right right!)

Erica: Yuzuyan when she forgot her gloves (imitates flustered yuzuyan) (everyone: www yuzuyan: it's true!!)

Yuzuyan: Eee hm that's difficult (erica: ye right?) eeeer let's see... Taisei, when he made a mistake "SORRY SORRY"

Souchan: Aoto in the Line gc "ah shoot I drank a little and I cried reading the script..." so he said (everyone: gibberish agreeing laughing at aoto)

Masashi: Souchan's hm. When Souchan overreacted to a gag "THERE'S NO WAY THAT HAPPENED" line (everyone: wwww)

Q. Invite fans on a date to see the Kingohger movie.

Taisei: (gets close and winks) I'm waiting on the other side... (everyone: woooooo)

Aoto: Come (t/n > I'm sorry he just said 'koi yo' I'm howling)

Erica: (tsun) It's not like I want to go with you or anything... (taisei: wah)

Yuzuyan: Let's watch the movie. (plain)

Souchan: (playing cute) So hm I got two tickets and not really have anybody to go with, would you like to go together? (everyone: oh that's a good way around wwww)

Masashi: Let's (nah) I'm appearing (in the movie) won't you come together with me?

Q. Give us a reason to go see the movie.

Taisei: A thrilling and magnificent fantasy!

Aoto: The Gira fight at the climax where we all 6 unite!

Erica: The set is so extravagant/impressive it has great impact!

Yuzuyan: The super cool cast!!

Souchan: You'll get to learn about the 6 kings' past, it's so good!

Masashi: When we cross to the world of the dead, you'll definitely cry!!

(everyone gets in position) Go watch the movie!!! (waves at the camera)

#ready to rumble #translation #super sentai #kingohger cast #vid #kingohger

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retsuyachan · 2 months

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kingohger photobook summary

Get under the covers of the photobook 👍

Rita practicing zenryoku kings

damn hymeno has so many accesories

Kaguragi's part just looks like CM for farming

Sopping wet spider

Sunset spider

Kabedons, but not the way you think

Shoot with oniichan I cannot take it seriously, I have to ask couldn't you give Gira a real crown and not Burger king toy thanos crown

Yuzuyan is so pretty in regular clothes ngh

Masashi's handwriting...

Weird photo of kaguragi and gira lmao

Everyone's happy and that counts

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mirai-e-jump · 4 months

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UTB (Up to Boy) Magazine, February 2024 Issue (Vol.334) ft. Hirakawa Yuzuki Interview and Photo Shoot (translation below)

Publication: December 22, 2023

Immovable Upside

Currently appearing in "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger," the currently airing Super Sentai series, actor Hirakawa Yuzuki-san makes her second appearance in our magazine. She's changed her hair, having it cut into a shorter style, as she presents her pure and mature duality, which has become even more transparent.

-We've been rushing through the year-

"You've cut your hair short, and your look is totally different from the last time we saw you. Personally, how do you feel about your current short hairstyle?"

Hirakawa: Before I started acting, I always kept it short, so it somehow feels nostalgic. I cut it because of my role, but I thought it was abit of a waste since it's been that long for about 5 years (laughs). Still, I think it'll be fine since it grows quickly.

"Starting from episode 27, the second chapter of King-Ohger is set two years later. We think the change in hairstyle made it easier for you to make changes in your performance."

Hirakawa: That's true. I think I'm able to show more strength. I think that after two years, they're more aware and prepared as a king, and that they have a greater sense of responsibility.

"Now that the story has progressed considerably, are there any memorable moments from the episodes that have been broadcast so far?"

Hirakawa: In episode 25, the sense of distance between Rita and their retainer Morfonia, or rather, the values of their relationship have become much closer. It was a time where Rita gathered the courage to take another step forward on their own, so that episode left quite an impression on me. From there, the way they interacted with Morfonia changed completely, so I think it was a turning point for them. Also, in episode 38, they reveal the face they've been hiding up until that point, and showed all kinds of facial expressions as an "idol," so I hope you enjoyed it.

"It's already aired, so if you haven't seen it yet, please catch up and watch it…..! By the time this magazine comes out, filming for the final episode will be underway, right?"

Hirakawa: In about another month or so……"We've got such a long time before it starts!," is what I thought, but only for a moment. I think it was more instantaneous after the Summer film ended. Until then, we weren't used to filming, and everyone was in a state of just trying to figure things out. The cast members have been good friends since the beginning, but since we spent alot of time together, including during the regional promotional campaigns for the Summer film, we became even closer, and that time really flew by.

"For those who view things similarly, the "loss" seems to be intense."

Hirakawa: It might be because me and the rest of the cast are starting to become aware of the end, or maybe it's because some fans are also like, "It's coming to an end….?" I still go out to dinner with all the cast members after filming, so I think we'll still probably see each other again ever when it's over. We've been together for a year and we've gotten to know each other very well, so when I imagine the end of filming, I feel incredibly sad.

"As a fan, I'm going to miss seeing everyone's friendly conversations on Toei Channel very much……Now, 2023 will soon come to an end, looking back, what kind of year was it?"

Hirakawa: We've really been rushing through the year. I've been working hard during the filming of King-Ohger in order to make it better and to help myself grow. I was able to experience many things this year, as there were quite a few jobs that came about as a result of King-Ohger, and it was the most thrilling year for me as a performer. Of course, there were many things I worried about, but I think it was also an extravagant year, filled with many happy and frustrating experiences.

"What kind of year do you want 2024 to be?"

Hirakawa: I think I'll be apart of King-Ohger until the first half of the year, when we perform at G-Rosso, but after that, I'll have to move forward on my own. I'd like to "polish" my inner self and become a more appealing person. As for my work, I'll do my best to continue to appear in productions without taking any breaks inbetween.

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mirai-e-jump · 3 months

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+act Magazine January 2024 Issue ft. Hirakawa Yuzuki Interview (translation below)

Publication: December 12, 2023

Hirakawa Yuzuki plays the immovable Rita Kaniska (PapillonOhger) in the Super Sentai series "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger." In her first appearance in this magazine, she says that while her first priority is to complete this role, there are also things she wants to accomplish next.

"When did you first become interested in acting?"

Hirakawa: It wasn't until I joined my agency that I first became interested. Until then, I was attending a business high school in Kumamoto, my hometown, and wanted to become either a tax accountant or a certified public accountant in the future. Around that time, I learned about the "LDH Presents THE GIRLS AUDITION" and I told my parents, "I should enter like it's a commemorative entrance exam.*" I won the Grand Prix in the vocal and dance category, not the acting category. However, it wasn't until I joined the agency that I tried singing, dancing and acting genuinely. So, it was abit embarrassing being told that I was the Grand Prix winner in the vocal and dance category. (*exams taken for schools you have little to no chance of getting into)

"Your first performance was in a stage play."

Hirakawa: It was in "Moryo no Hako" starring Tachibana Kenchi-san. The play was set where the curtains rise on a scene between me and another girl, and I was so nervous that it caused my stomach to hurt every day. Once I said a few words on stage, I was okay, but until then…I guess that once I got on stage, I felt like I had no choice. But, until I was offstage, my heart would be pounding like crazy.

"Did the fact that it was your first time on stage, and your first performance, have a big impact on you?"

Hirakawa: I always thought that if I broke the tempo of the play in the first scene, things would become out of sync. Even during rehearsals I was told, "The beginning is important. It determines the quality of the performance." That's kind of scary. It's a big responsibility. But, I think they trained me well on that stage.

"What did you find interesting about the stage?"

Hirakawa: I always took lessons with two or three people at most, so more than anything, I enjoyed creating a production together with many people. I also thought it was fun to be with my dependable and kind seniors all the way through the rehearsal period, and that they started to feel like friends.

"Were there any memorable words that were said to you during rehearsals for the play or on the stage itself?"

Hirakawa: They'd say "Just try things out for now." I think I tend to worry about what other people think of me. If I think that I have to do something, I focus on only that. Still, I was told, "Just give it your all for now. It'll be easy to control things from there." This is often said on the set of the Sentai series that I'm currently performing in.

"Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger, right?"

Hirakawa: Their keyword is "Immovable," and I do what I can within that context and to "just give things a try." If I really deviate from the character, the Director will get me back on track.

"Have you seen any other Sentai productions?"

Hirakawa: When I was little, I watched "Tom and Jerry." I haven't really watched the previous series. In middle and high school, I was either doing practice lessons, club activities, eating meals, or sleeping (laughs).

"What kind of programs do you currently watch?"

Hirakawa: Since I started working, because I have alot to learn, I've been watching various things. I've only been alive for 22 years, so there are many things that I don't know. I'm learning about these experiences as I watch these works. What have I been watching…I really can't remember (laughs).

"(laughs). How do you remember your lines?"

Hirakawa: One of my strong points is memorizing things, but I'm the type of person who (intentionally) forgets them immediately (laughs). When they say, "We're done filming this scene," I instantly forget about it. So, I don't really remember much. Recently however, at the recommendation of a co star in King-Ohger, I watched the entirety of "Heaven and Hell: 2 Psychos," starring Ayase Haruka-san.

"Were you interested in Ayase-san and Takahashi Issei-san's personality changing performances?"

Hirakawa: It was interesting to see how the two of them came to know each other through swapping bodies. I also experienced performing a body swap in King-Ohger. Before we filmed it, it was recommended to me with, "This show, it's got body swapping," so I learned alot from it.

"For Rita, did they have the keyword "Immovable" from the beginning?"

Hirakawa: Since my role is that of the International Chief Judge, the words "always neutral" were there from the audition stage. When I was reading the script before filming started, the Director said to me, "Rita is Immovable. That's it." It doesn't mean that they shouldn't move, but that they're unwavering. I was also told, "There may not be much movement, but it holds various meanings. Please be extremely immovable this year." That's why even now, I'm looking for things I can do within being "immovable."

"What did you do at the audition?"

Hirakawa: It was an audition for two roles, the yellow Hymeno Ran, and Rita, who I'm playing. I played both roles in the first round, but when I entered the second round, in terms of her character, I thought, "I'm definitely not Hymeno." From there, I went after Rita.

"Did you feel any similarity between Rita and yourself?"

Hirakawa: I thought I could create something close to the calm and dignified feeling of the character. I'm also pretty tall (166 cm, 5'5"), so I thought that the darker color would also suit me in terms of image. Actually, I had auditioned for the Sentai series and Kamen Rider series multiple times, but most of the roles I've gone for up until now have been for the heroine. So, I thought it wasn't really suited for it. But, with Rita I thought, "That's definitely me." I was pretty enthusiastic, thinking that if I missed out on Rita, I wouldn't get a role like this for about four or five years. And then, until I started working in this industry, I hated my voice.

"But it's an attractive voice, with a deep bassy tone."

Hirakawa: When I finished my first performance, many people said to me, "Your voice is really nice." Do the people around me see this voice as my weapon? Rita's words are very persuasive, or rather, have weight to them. I knew from the audition that I could use my voice in this role. However, since filming started in King-Ohger, I felt that my voice has become even lower. I was trying to make my voice sound deeper, but I ended up sounding lower than usual (laughs). I might be stuck with this low voice. Maybe it'll go back to normal once this role ends.

"What do you currently find interesting about performing?"

Hirakawa: Rita only keeps their left eye visible, right? However, there's a limit to what can be expressed with just the eyes. They're a character that doesn't move that much and doesn't laugh. Things like the inflection and intensity of my lines and how they're conveyed are different from how it's been in the past. Still, by experiencing this kind of role, I feel that the range of my expressions have expanded in slightly different directions. I think I'm lucky.

"What kind of roles would you like to play in the future?"

Hirakawa: In episode 38 of King-Ohger, I performed with my face showing, but I was embarrassed since it had been awhile. A year ago, I would've been able to do it normally, so first of all, I'd like to "reset" that (laughs). I don't have much of a funny role now, so I'd like to play more energetic roles. Also, I want to wear a uniform! I want to be in a school story. It doesn't matter if I'm a class president, a bully, or some kid with a depressed personality. I just want to wear a uniform (laughs). I definitely want to make that happen. But for now, my first priority is to finish King-Ohger. It's been a year, and I think the real battle afterwards will be letting go of Rita and returning to Hirakawa Yuzuki.

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