[Note: This is NOT a full interview. I skipped here and there, which will be marked]
Q Once again, nice to meet you today. Before the photoshoot, Hasegawa-san said, “This is the most nervous I ever felt”, didn’t you?
Hasegawa: That’s right. I mentioned it earlier, but I reaaaaaaally like Morita-san. I never thought that I’d be able to take pictures with her (laughs). I never thought that (the photographer) would tell us to move our faces closer, even though we are already at such a distance, and so I had no idea what I should do
Q You’ve mentioned it publicly for a while already, right?
Hasegawa: There was a time where I mentioned it for a bit on my radio. Quite a number of my fans are also fond of Sakurazaka46, and there are times when, for some reason, they give me Morita-san’s pictures. With this “Feel free to take this” vibe, they included it in their fan letters (laughs). So I’m sure that my fans who like Sakurazaka46 will be very pleased with this interview
Morita: Actually, I’m aware that Hasegawa-san has mentioned that she likes me…
Hasegawa: Ehh!
Morita: My fans told me, “She talked about Run-chan on her radio”, and so I listened to it…
Hasegawa: Ehhhhh!? No way, no way!!! To think that the person herself would be listening. This is crazy!! (Holding head with both hands) Ehhhh!!
Morita: When I was able to go shopping at Animate for a YouTube video, I bought goods of Kita-chan from Bocchi the Rock which made her fans really happy. It also made me hope to one day meet you
Q To think that it will happen so soon
Morita: That’s right, it surprised me too
Q Hasegawa-san is still frozen in place (laughs)
Hasegawa: I never even dreamed about this. I’m also shocked by the fact that she is “aware” of it. In the comments of that video, there were comments like “I’m sure Hasegawa-san must be happy” (laughs), which is right. But I’m really glad to be able to meet with her like this
Q I’m sure fans of you both must be happy as well (laughs). Now that you two met for real today, what was your first impression of each other?
Hasegawa: Ehh? Basically “Way too cute”. Seriously. Just before the photoshoot, the moment I saw her left shoulder, even though there was some distance, I was already feeling like “Oof…” (laughs). I can’t so easily approach her, so to speak. But to be able to see her from such a close distance… She’s even cuter than how she appears on TV.
Morita: I’m glad to hear that. Thank you very much.
Hasegawa: She looks so handsome when she’s performing, and isn't she just so cool? But when I actually met her, I thought that she was someone with a very wholesome vibe.
Morita: I’m glad to hear that, as I rarely hear people call me “wholesome”. But Hasegawa-san herself is also very pretty with a gentle vibe. She is someone who makes you think, “It would be nice to have an older sister like her”
Hasegawa: ... I’m flattered.
[Morita promoting Build Divide card game, Hasegawa promoting Gnosia anime, which she likened to Werewolf Game]
Q Today, we have prepared samples of Sakurazaka46’s card game, which is currently in production, for Hasegawa-san to look at
Hasegawa: I had a quick look at it earlier… (Picking it up) This is more like something to look at rather than use to play games… Card games are not usually thought of as “cute,” but this one is very cute. Even if someone doesn’t understand the rules of a card game, you just can’t help but want to collect them
Q The same goes with “Bocchi the Rock!” cards, you just want to collect them
Hasegawa: You just can’t help but want to get the hologram character cards of “Bocchi”, right? (Found Morita-san’s card among the cards she is holding) Ah! So cute. You also take pictures in such a casual way, like this?
Morita: That’s right. A pair takes two-shots together, and then includes messages for each other.
Hasegawa: I’m sure that’ll drive the fans to collect it because they’d like to know what your relationships are like. Though it is not exactly a card game, it reminded me of how I used to collect Morning Musume-san’s bromide when I was in elementary school. Oh my, the “Shoninyokkyu” card looks so handsome! This is quite a rare (shot), isn’t it?
Staff: That’s right, we newly took it from behind.
Hasegawa: Even the expression from behind is still so cool!... though it’s embarrassing to say in front of her person herself (laughs). But it’s so very cute. You stood out even in mid-performance pictures. Everyone, please do try to get this card
Q Hasegawa-san, what do you like about Morita-san? Though I know it’s a bit weird to say it in front of the person herself…
Hasegawa: When she first joined the group, I thought “A really cute girl has entered”. And then as time goes by, she has more of this adult charm, so to say; She becomes more beautiful and cool… Even now, she has this feeling as if she continues to pierce through heaven (laughs). Even in performance, despite her small figure, she has a very strong sense of presence and is dynamic. And it’s not like you have a long experience with dancing, right?
Morita: That’s right. I only started when I joined the group.
Hasegawa: And she performs in such a way that it is hard to believe. Being an idol, I am sure that performance is the biggest draw, but I am truly drawn to her “performance ability”. But when she appears in Sakurazaka46’s shows, she completely changes from being cool to being lively. It’s so soothing to see her finding something to be really funny and laughing out loud at it. I really love that gap of hers and the sound of her laughter. I think the way she likes cute things is also wonderful!
Q What does Morita-san think of that “confession”?
Hasegawa: Confession (laughs)
Morita: It’s amazing… I’m really so happy. I could tell that she checked various sources, and I never really got complimented like this before, so I think that I’ll see a nice dream tonight (laughs)
Q Morita-san, what kind of charm do you feel from Hasegawa-san’s voice?
Morita: I think the range of voice that she could play is truly amazing. From cool characters to cute ones, it’s hard to believe they are all voiced by the same person, which shocked me when I first learned about it. When we were doing the photoshoot just now, the “Thanks!” that she said when she received a panel was so lovely, it soothed my voice and made me think of how nice she sounds
Hasegawa: It makes me happy…! She complimented me…!
[More about voice work]
Q I feel that the two of you have a similarity in being “expressionist”. Hasegawa-san, what do you keep in mind when you are expressing yourself with your voice?
Hasegawa: When voicing, most of the time I will be acting together with someone else, so every year I feel the need to treasure the “atmosphere” that was born in the moment and the “something that is born from your interaction with others”. I’m a worrywart, so I would always practice again and again. But if I’m too stiff, then what I created in the real recording would look like a “recital”. But acting is something you do with others, and I thought that wouldn’t work/be good.
Of course, I think it’s great to prepare a lot, but recently I’ve come to think that it’s best not to be too rigid and accept “what is born in the moment”. What the others do will change the way I respond, so when I’m recording, I am always conscious of wanting to be an actress who can listen to what the others are saying and respond accordingly.
Q Morita-san, are there any similarities between what she just said and what you value in your performance?
Morita: Right. When it comes to concert performances and MV’s performances, some things are firmly decided and there are parts where we are told “You can freely do what you want here”... But if it gets decided too firmly, then what I practiced will be left as a fixed idea in my mind, and when I perform it again and again through the tour there are moments where I feel like I’m only able to express it in the same way. That is why there are songs that I don’t put much practice into. Such as not deciding anything concrete for the free dance part and trying to dance it on the spot…
Hasegawa: On the spot!? Amazing. That is something that you wouldn’t be able to do without courage, isn’t it?
Morita: I thought that by taking such a challenge, it might become an opportunity for me to become someone stronger. The parts where I interact with other members are already fixed, so I tried to challenge things in my own individual parts.
Q So when performing, you try to cherish your desire to challenge things.
Morita: That’s right. I want to always have a “feeling of playfulness”. Of course, I think it’s wonderful to be able to perform the same way every time, but some people come to watch the same show again and again, so I want those people to enjoy it too. That’s why I try to change it up and add a bit of fun, and on days where I think “I’d like to express it in this way today”, I will play around with it a bit
Q If the two of you were to work together in an anime or such, what kind of characters and relationship would you like to have?
Hasegawa: Eh, I wonder what…? But today she mentioned “big sister” earlier today, so maybe if we appear as sisters, the wota would lose their minds over it (laughs). Power abuse. And I also like “Pokemon”, so I think a partner-like relationship between a person and a mascot would be nice too. Either role seems fun to do
Morita: As for me… I think being the pet would be nice (laughs). I’ll take the pet role
Q By the way, do you have certain animals in mind?
Morita: Since I have no experience in voice acting, maybe I’ll start from the cries of a bird…
Hasegawa: An actual animal? When it comes to anime, there are several talking animals.
Morita: Oh, right! I imagined a pet that couldn’t talk, but being able to would be nice as well?
Hasegawa: It’s nice, isn’t it? Awesome, right? (laughs). I would love to see it
Q Using this opportunity, is there anything that you’d like to ask each other about?
Morita: My voice doesn’t really carry well. Are there any tips to make it carry better, or to raise it easier?
Hasegawa: I wonder. I’m someone who has had a loud voice since the time I was born (laughs). In the past, even when whispering, I’d be the only one getting scolded. They say, “Everyone can hear everything”. In any case, my voice has always carried over for a long time, even during choir competitions, people would say “Hasegawa-san’s voice is the only one that I can hear well”. Even after entering this industry, people often say that “Your voice comes through easily on the microphone”. So because of that, I never really struggle with that… I think that enunciation is also a big part of “voice carrying over”. Sakurazaka46 has a lot of fast-paced songs, right? If you train your enunciation, the meaning of the lyrics will be conveyed much better, and I feel that you will be able to convey even more what you want to deliver to the audience… but since you are moving that much, I’m sure that you already have the lung capacity for it
Q Then on the other hand, what does Hasegawa-san would like to ask Morita-san?
Hasegawa: Are you enjoying life…?
Morita: (Laughs)
Hasegawa: But if she is living a happy and healthy life, isn’t that a great thing?
Q True…!
Hasegawa: I would like to hear what she recently enjoyed and such. Though I’m not sure if I can ask that question (laughs)
Morita: Yesterday I went shopping on my own, and I had a lot of fun
Hasegawa: That’s really nice. It’s wonderful that you have time to go shopping on your own. Being able to properly rest, sleep, and eat delicious food would be best
Morita: I’m quite the outdoor person, so I would go out whenever I have the time to. I often go on a solo trip
Hasegawa: Eh! Where do you go?
Morita: Recently, I've been to Kakegawa in Shizuoka prefecture. I’ve also been to Miyagi and Aichi
Hasegawa: That is quite an extensive range! I’m an indoor person, and so I don’t really go somewhere far on my own. I feel really jealous about it
Q Morita-san, do you have a place that you’d like to recommend to Hasegawa-san?
Morita: Do you like animals?
Hasegawa: Yes, I do
Morita: In that case, I’ll recommend “Kaikyokan” (Shimonoseki Aquarium Kaiyokan) in Yamaguchi. The way the fish are displayed is really interesting. In front of the tanks, there are signs saying "how to eat this fish". Yamaguchi prefecture is a place famous for its seafood, so there is a market nearby where you can eat what you buy there while looking out at the sea, and there is also a small amusement park. There is so much to enjoy in just that area, and you can also feel the nature, so it is very refreshing for me
Hasegawa: ... I’ll go! (laughs)
[Ending with them talking about what kind of deck they would like to make]
----
Translation: tmi
QC: celebes186
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