特別インタビュー
2008-11-06 Thu
Minori Chihara
［Big in Japan!］ avex WORLD AUDITION 2008 “Special Interview”
Showing your true face is really important. -Minori Chihara-
インタビュー
-- What made you think that you wanted to turn pro?
From the time I was little, I was very shy and could never get up in front of other people. But, because I have always really liked songs, I started to think that I should go down the road of “expression.” Looking back, because I was always so bad at expressing myself, I used to think that I wanted to live with my head held high, doing what I wanted to do. I think what made me want to turn pro was thinking that I wanted to change who I was.
--What kind of training did you do?
While watching anime, I wrote down the dialogue in a notebook and imitated the voice actors that I thought acted well. I wanted to study how to speak with voice inflections that I hadn’t used before. The same with songs, I copied the sound of singers that I admire.
-- Do you have any special advice for those living abroad who want to be successful performers in Japan?
I don’t have a lot of experience working abroad, but I think basically the things you should do in Japan or abroad are the same. What do you want to express? If you have the answer to that inside of you, I think you can leap over the language barriers.
--Is there an important point to remember at auditions?
Because I am very well aware that it’s impossible to not be nervous, I think it’s okay to be nervous! This isn’t true in every case, but I think it’s important to show your true face at auditions. I think the process up until you make your debut is really important, so you just have to keep challenging yourself.
-- Is there a part of avex that you think is really great?
The reason that I am successful now is because of avex, and I’m very thankful for that. I think that if you feel there is potential in new genres, then having the attitude of wanting to try new things is really wonderful, and it’s great to have a style of attack that remains unchanged, no matter how many years go by.
--What is important for realizing your own dreams?
Meeting new people. My current manager is the one who uncovered Minori Chihara. My manager knew that I could make it, and didn’t give up on me when things weren’t going well. If I had to say I was one or the other, I would say that I’m a pessimist, and that has been the case for a long time, but because I met someone who believed in me, I really felt that I could improve myself. I didn’t realize my dream because I became a professional voice actor, that’s just the beginning. Now I want to work with my team and together strive to realize a larger dream!
【Profile of “Minori Chihara”】
Voice-actor.A graduate of the avex artist academy in April 2004, she made her debut as Aya Natsume in “Tenjo Tenge” (Heaven and Earth).In 2006, she got her big break as Yuki Nagato in “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” and has since been gaining popularity as a voice actor by continuing to act in various hit shows. To top it off, she has also been working tirelessly as a singer and will be starting a Japan-wide tour in 2009.
From the time I was little, I was very shy and could never get up in front of other people. But, because I have always really liked songs, I started to think that I should go down the road of “expression.” Looking back, because I was always so bad at expressing myself, I used to think that I wanted to live with my head held high, doing what I wanted to do. I think what made me want to turn pro was thinking that I wanted to change who I was.
--What kind of training did you do?
While watching anime, I wrote down the dialogue in a notebook and imitated the voice actors that I thought acted well. I wanted to study how to speak with voice inflections that I hadn’t used before. The same with songs, I copied the sound of singers that I admire.
-- Do you have any special advice for those living abroad who want to be successful performers in Japan?
I don’t have a lot of experience working abroad, but I think basically the things you should do in Japan or abroad are the same. What do you want to express? If you have the answer to that inside of you, I think you can leap over the language barriers.
--Is there an important point to remember at auditions?
Because I am very well aware that it’s impossible to not be nervous, I think it’s okay to be nervous! This isn’t true in every case, but I think it’s important to show your true face at auditions. I think the process up until you make your debut is really important, so you just have to keep challenging yourself.
-- Is there a part of avex that you think is really great?
The reason that I am successful now is because of avex, and I’m very thankful for that. I think that if you feel there is potential in new genres, then having the attitude of wanting to try new things is really wonderful, and it’s great to have a style of attack that remains unchanged, no matter how many years go by.
--What is important for realizing your own dreams?
Meeting new people. My current manager is the one who uncovered Minori Chihara. My manager knew that I could make it, and didn’t give up on me when things weren’t going well. If I had to say I was one or the other, I would say that I’m a pessimist, and that has been the case for a long time, but because I met someone who believed in me, I really felt that I could improve myself. I didn’t realize my dream because I became a professional voice actor, that’s just the beginning. Now I want to work with my team and together strive to realize a larger dream!
【Profile of “Minori Chihara”】
Voice-actor.A graduate of the avex artist academy in April 2004, she made her debut as Aya Natsume in “Tenjo Tenge” (Heaven and Earth).In 2006, she got her big break as Yuki Nagato in “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” and has since been gaining popularity as a voice actor by continuing to act in various hit shows. To top it off, she has also been working tirelessly as a singer and will be starting a Japan-wide tour in 2009.
