"Initial DLegend1 - Awakening", which will be officially released in Japan from August 23, 2014 (Saturday), is a must-see work for fans. In an interview with Hiroki Matsuura a few days ago, we already know a lot about this 18-year-old classic, so this time let's switch our goals and enter the world of the three main voice actors, Mamoru Miyano (Takumi Fujiwara), Yuichi Nakamura (Keisuke Takahashi), and Daisuke Ono (Ryosuke Takahashi), to see what kind of work it is in their eyes.

■ "Initial D" is a work that "makes men's blood boil".

――Please tell us how you felt when you were selected to be the voice actor of the new theatrical version of "Initial D".

Mamoru Miyano: I was shocked when I heard that there was going to be an audition session. And when I was selected to be Takumi's voice actor, I honestly felt a lot of pressure. I don't really know much about drag racing, so I will try my best to learn, show everyone my best acting skills, and face the inclusion with sincerity.

Yuichi Nakamura: The original "Initial D" is one of my favorite works before I became a voice actor. This time, I was selected to be the voice actor of the new theatrical version of "Initial D", and to be honest, I don't really feel the truth. After watching the full version of the video, I finally came back to my senses and realized that something new was indeed born. As a member of the production party, I felt very nervous.

Daisuke Ono: When I was younger, I used to discuss "Initial D" with my friends, and it was a work that made our blood boil. I didn't expect to be able to participate in its dubbing this time, so I was so lucky. At the same time, there is a lot of love from children in this work, so in order to turn everyone's love into a high-quality work, STAFF/CAST will work hard as one.

――Can I ask you how you feel after watching the new theatrical version of "Initial D"?

Mamoru Miyano: "Initial D" is a work that is very particular about "sound", using electronic music to record the sound of real drag racing and use it in the work. When you hear these sounds in the finished work, you will feel so handsome that you can't express your excitement.

Yuichi Nakamura: This is the first time we have seen this work in its entirety during this screening, and to be honest, the quality is completely beyond my imagination. The dubbing we recorded can almost be said to be only part of the material.,We don't know what kind of BGM will be added in the end.,So after watching the finished product, I was really stunned.。 Including the momentary pause where the theme song is inserted, the performance is really handsome and I am fascinated. For such a work that would surprise me even as a CAST, I can only describe it as "fantastic".

Daisuke Ono: As they said, the game scenes and the drama were fantastic. In the play, they are in adolescence, and the teenagers who love cars like their lives are cleverly portrayed in front of the audience. That's something I didn't feel when I read the original book.

――What do you think is the essence of the original work of "Initial D"?

Mamoru Miyano: I think it's "full of elements that make boys' blood boil." Sure enough, for the boys, the favorite is "manhood" and "fighting wits and courage". Each of the characters in "Initial D" has their own unique masculinity, and drag racing is a collision of masculinity between each other. This kind of bloody development is what every boy dreams of. I think that's the charm of Initial D.

Yuichi Nakamura: Although the theme is dangerous drag racing, the plot is an out-and-out shonen manga royal plot. So even if you are not familiar with drag racing, you can still enjoy the fun brought by "Initial D". I think that's the essence of Initial D. When I first read the original book, I wasn't interested in cars, but I was still attracted to the story. For example, if the subject of this work were changed from cars to bicycles, it would have been a success. But I was also struck by the question, "GTRs are all driven by bad guys, right?" "Such a ridiculous impact may be a way to enjoy it in a sense (laughs).

Daisuke Ono: From the role of Ryosuke, which I played, it was interesting to investigate the many unfamiliar words that appeared in the work and increase the amount of knowledge. The boys will be thrilled to get a glimpse of the world of drag racing.

Mamoru Miyano: If I had to say that, I'd like Takumi, starting with "What's so interesting about drag racing......? "We started growing together.

■ "Flesh-and-blood high school students" will also be one of the highlights of this work!

――Do you have any deep feelings about playing your role?

Mamoru Miyano: Although Takumi is a very sensible character, someone said to me during the audition, "I can't forget that he is only a high school student after all." Therefore, in the post-recording, I tried to substitute the vitality of my youth into the sound as much as possible, trying to depict a vivid image of Takumi.

Yuichi Nakamura: I play Keisuke as a character who grows after the match with Takumi, and this story starts before the match with Takumi, and Keisuke has a lot of immaturity. Therefore, there is a big difference from the theoretical Ryosuke played by Daisuke Ono, and I will focus on showing this part to everyone, hoping that the audience who is watching this work for the first time can also understand this.

Daisuke Ono: Ryosuke is a ruthless military advisor who is often able to pierce the essence of things as if nothing happened. Rather than feelings, when dubbing Ryosuke, he said all the theories in one breath, so how much emotion was substituted into the recording was what I paid the most attention to this time. In the end, I came to the conclusion that Ryosuke "loves cars as life" beliefs. He's not working, he's chasing the fastest goal in life. Therefore, Ryosuke, who has a calm appearance, cannot dub without emotion. Let everyone hear the heat in the heart of the cold Ryosuke from the voice.

――How do you feel about Daisuke Ono and Yuichi Nakamura playing the role of brothers together this time?

Yuichi Nakamura: It's not the first time I've worked with Daisuke Ono, but it's the first time I've played a very related brother role like this one. In the past, when we dubbed together, we were often divided into two camps, such as the righteous side and the enemy side...... In that sense, it was very refreshing.

Daisuke Ono: I think Yuichi Nakamura's voice is actually quite close to mine. Although we are often divided into opposing roles, we still feel that there are many similarities.

Yuichi Nakamura: It's because of that I was assigned to the "brother" corner this time. I will cherish this experience.

Daisuke Ono: We often performed together on regular shows when we were two newcomers, and the experience of being on the scene together gave us a lot of heart. Time has passed, but I'm really happy to be able to play the role of brothers together in such a large group.

――Finally, please make a recommendation analysis for those who are watching "Initial D" for the first time.

Mamoru Miyano: The overall work is very realistic, and with the entertainment of the various performances, I think anyone can enjoy it. The deep human drama part is also one of the highlights. The story of the new theatrical version of "Initial D" depicts a group of "flesh-and-blood high school students", and I believe that everyone can find scattered information and gain empathy. Please advise me when it is released!

Yuichi Nakamura: The AE86 revealed by the owner in the manga was a very old car at the time, but now more than 10 years have passed since the original was born. From a modern point of view, I think it's interesting that the latest car that appears in the work has also become an old car. However, the body unveiled in the new theatrical version does not feel stale at all. At the same time, the most important thing is the plot, and drag racing is just one of the elements that support the plot. I don't think you need to pay too much attention to the age of the car or the old and the new. "Initial D" seems to be a work with a high threshold, but in fact it is suitable for all ages. So please stop and watch this work.

Daisuke Ono: Of course, "Initial D" is a drag racing theme work, so fans will definitely be able to enjoy it more comprehensively. However, even the audience who is not familiar with the car body will definitely have their own way of enjoyment. I think everyone should feel lucky to be able to come into contact with such a classic and excellent work as "Initial D" today. So don't be afraid, don't think about anything, just enjoy this work.

――Thank you very much.

"Initial D" (INITIALD) is a Japanese youth manga based on mountain road drag racing, and an anime series based on manga (including TV version, OVA, and movie version). The manga was written by Shuichi Shigeno, and since 1995 it has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine (Weekly ヤングマガジン), and the original single book has sold more than 46.8 million copies. The story revolves around the protagonist Takumi Fujiwara, and takes the audience into a world where drivers make a living from racing. It is worth mentioning that while this work is based on the theme of drag racing, it is also a very good youth-themed comic.

【STAFF】

Original: Shuichi Shigano

Supervision: Masamitsu Hidaka

Script: Guam Shinyori

Music: Akio Tsuchihashi

制zuò: The theatrical version of the initial D of the "Theater Edition" 制zuò Committee

Produced by SANZIGEN x LIDENFILMS

Rations: Pine bamboo

【CAST】

Takumi Fujiwara: Mamoru Miyano

Keisuke Takahashi: Yuichi Nakamura

Ryosuke Takahashi: Daisuke Ono

Takeuchi Shu: Minoru Shiraishi

Natsuki Motegi: Marei Uchida

Fujihara Harata: Hiroaki Hirata

Koichiro Iketani: Dai Tsuchida

Takeshi Nakazato: Shunichi Suwabe