The anime "Hetalia TheWorldTwinkle", which has been airing since July, is not only an attractive story, but also an official CD of many character songs. Recently, Seimi Iwasaki and Ayumi Asakura were interviewed and talked about their feelings about the character song.

【Norwegian Service: Seishi Iwasaki】

Q: It's hard work to record songs. So let's start the interview quickly, and after the recording is over, please tell us what you think.

Norwegian Servant Seimi Iwasaki (hereinafter Iwasaki): I'm sure everyone imagines "what Norwegian singing is like", and I want to give you the perfect expression of what you imagined. For this reason, you can't pull your voice too much, you can't seem to work too hard, and you can sing with a sense of detachment, of course, the voice is very clear. Although Norway has a hidden passion in its heart, it is like a whisper in terms of pronunciation.

Q: Once your blood is boiling, it's natural to let go of your voice, but Norway can't pronounce it with its throat in its voice, and it's not allowed to do that. It's going to feel hard.

Iwasaki: I feel like the form of the table when I sing is like the material of a daifuku cake on the outside, but the filling is very spicy (laughs). Maybe you don't understand what I'm talking about, but if you listen to the song, you'll understand what I mean.

Q: What was your impression of the song when you first heard it?

Iwasaki: I feel that both the melody and the lyrics are very Norwegian, and I think it's easy for me to sketch out what I imagined, so I didn't think it was difficult to practice it. It's easier to practice.

Q: So you don't have to practice with a loud voice from the beginning, right?

Iwasaki: That's right. From practice to recording, I've never had my voice open. Speaking of which, the mention of singing just now feels like a whisper, but it can't be 100% whispering, so I can only say that it has a feeling. If it's really 100% whispering, then you shouldn't be able to hear the sound, so it's just a feeling. For this reason, it has to have the more ethereal characteristics of Norway, so you really can't let go of your voice. I "cultivated" the ethereal thoughts in my heart and sang them (laughs).

Q: Where is the best place to feel the ethereal nature of Norway?

Iwasaki: It's the phrase "Whether it's the ghost of a handsome guy or a fairy in a Nordic-style sweater, everyone is my friend" ("イケメンの幽霊もノルディックセーター着た小さなニッセ (goblin)もみんな友だち"). I sang lightly in the Norwegian mood, and it fully reflects his characteristics here, the feeling that it seems to have disappeared but not disappeared, it really makes people feel like they have an ethereal feeling. Anyway, I personally think it can be ethereal here.

Q: Is there anything special about the lines in the song?

Iwasaki: My partner on the CD is "Iceland", but in fact, people from Northern Europe usually tease Iceland together. And it's not Norway alone that is playing tricks on Iceland, so I'm also imagining what I'd say when I'm one-on-one with Iceland. Actually, the content of the dialogue was very interesting (laughs). There is a certain ethereal feeling in it.

Q: So in this episode of the animation, the two don't have a separate dialogue, right?

Iwasaki: Basically, no. Most of this season's works also appear in the form of Nordic fives. Speaking of which, Norway and Denmark have a lot of conversations. So it's very rare to be with Iceland.

Q: Just listening to what you say, you can't pull your throat, you can't be too quiet, and you have to show enthusiasm...... It's hard to think about. So what's the hardest part of this?

Iwasaki: I'm a person who is more exaggerated in terms of body movements and voice, but Norway is a character who is the complete opposite of himself, and because the gap is too big, it is easier to create a character. Although it can be a little difficult to show the ethereal table, I still aim for the subtle boundary of "it seems to disappear but it does not disappear...... KnowledgeBecause the director gave me clear instructions, I could clearly feel the feeling I wanted to create, and for this reason, as a whole...... Maybe it's not that hard work.

Q: In what ways does the director give guidance?

Iwasaki: "I'm whispering, but please add a little more feeling that it's going to disappear" and "Please balance the pronunciation between what you just now and then sing it." Although I keep repeating it, if I want to make it disappear, then I really can't help but let the sound disappear, so I have to adjust a scale and sing it. The director really gave me fine boundaries and I just did what he asked me to do. Every time I give instructions on the details, when I sing the next part, I feel that it is easy to speak out, and I think the whole recording process is very smooth.

Q: I was instructed in the details, and then I sang with minor adjustments...... From a layman's point of view, this is not easy.

Iwasaki: Actually, that's not true. This is true both in singing and acting, and it's still easy to imagine what to do when faced with instructions like "a little more open than your voice is now." After all, it doesn't take a lot of time to give each other ideas and make adjustments to previous performances, so it's still easy to do.

Q: Is it easy for you and the director to share ideas?

Iwasaki: yes. And the songwriters love Hetalia too, so we don't have a split of opinion. Not only the character characteristics, but also the background of the characters are deeply studied before they are created. Because of this, the lyrics and the style of the song are not out of place. I think it's easy to fit in as a singer. We all love the world and the characters of Hetalia, and really, all of them are fans of Hetalia. Although it is work, our expression is already beyond the work itself.

Q: What kind of music does Mr. Iwasaki listen to?

Iwasaki: It's the exact opposite of the Norwegian character song. I always listen to heavy, hot, incendiary tunes (laughs). Therefore, when practicing Norwegian songs, I felt very healing after listening to the accompaniment. By the end of the exercise, I had become as gentle as Norway in my usual tone of speech (laughs).

Q: Let's change the subject, you've been dubbing Norway for so long, can you tell us a little bit more about what you see as Norway?

Iwasaki: It's a sensitive, incredible character. When I auditioned, I made what the staff told me: "Please express it with a slightly unbelievable feeling." After that, I started playing in Norway, and although he was sensitive, had a small voice, and had an uncanny feeling, he had to put his voice into the microphone enough to do it. If it's too much of a detachment, then the sound won't be clear, and as I said earlier, it will become a situation where the sound disappears. Anyway, when I was performing, I thought it was a very sensitive character.

Q: It's not just Mr. Iwasaki, but the voice actors of the work have been voicing the same characters all year round, so everyone is very compatible.

Iwasaki: The whole atmosphere is that we often understand each other's thoughts and think, "He's going to do it." In particular, there are many more opportunities for communication between the Nordic quintets, such as improvisation, than in the past.

Q: In this CD, Norway sings with Iceland, but it's not a duet. So, if you had the chance to sing a duet, which character would you like to sing with?

Iwasaki: It's nice to play the opposite role of Norway. For the Nordic group, I want to sing with Denmark. And then there's the United States and France...... The opportunity is rare, so let's sing with some unexpected characters. Haha, just kidding~ duet, if the characters are too different, then the creator will have to scratch his head (wry smile).

Q: In terms of melody, I'm curious about whether it's a waltz or a heavy rock.

Iwasaki: Oops~ I can't imagine Norway singing heavy rock songs (wry smile). After all, even if the love is up, it is impossible for him to shout "yes~" and "oh~!" "of. But maybe it's funny to have a feeling of "finally breaking out"? Fans may be angry, but it should be interesting to show "something that suddenly awakened" in the character song.

Q: Speaking of which, the character song was released in the middle of summer, so what does Iwasaki-san want to do this summer?

Iwasaki: I love the sea, but I haven't been there in the last few years, so I guess I want to go to the beach. I have a diving license, but I haven't dived at all. This year, I want to enjoy the beautiful sea.

Q: Is the destination domestic or overseas?

Iwasaki: Domestic. There are many diving spots overseas, but Japan is the best. In particular, the Kerama Islands in Okinawa are the most praised. There are many types of fish, including Japanese manta rays. Now I want to go just by saying it (laughs).

Q: I feel like Mr. Iwasaki is just summer.

Iwasaki: Really? I also wear a T-shirt for winter in the winter (laughs). Winter clothes are definitely a little thicker, but I usually wear T-shirts all day, and I start wearing beach shoes after June. It's really incredible that such a hot-blooded man is dubbing a Nordic character (laughs).

Q: (laughs). Thank you very much for your time. Finally, please give a few words to fans who are looking forward to the release of the CD.

Iwasaki: Finally, the character song was released when the plot of the Nordic Five reached its most exciting point. In this character song, I can feel the love of the producer, the director, me, and all the staff. As a singer, I'm looking forward to the finished product, so please look forward to it as well. It will definitely be a work that will satisfy everyone.

【Icelandic Service: Ayuki Asakura】

Q: Can you tell us about your thoughts on singing Icelandic character songs?

Ayumi Asakura (hereafter Amakura): Speaking of character songs, there have been songs that the Nordic quint have sung together in the past, but this is the first time that they have been released as a single. I feel very happy. I thought it would be a solo singing this time, but it turned out that I was mixed in with the Norwegian scene (laughs).

Q: When did you hear Iceland's character song "Come てみれば" for the first time? ~オーロラを越えて~》》, what was your impression?

Asakura: I think Iceland is a cold country, but after listening to this song, it feels like riding a bike in the green jungle under the warm sun. I think it's a very refreshing tune. Most of the songs I sang in the past were dance-like songs, but this time I unconsciously accelerated the rhythm of the song. The accompaniment is also a soothing acoustic guitar sound.

The lyrics are Saori Kodama who has written lyrics for many voice actors and works. When I first heard that Saori Kodama had come to compose the lyrics, I was taken aback. The lyrics also include Norwegian lines and dialogues (laughs). Sure enough, Norway still likes Iceland very much, right? From the title of the song, you can feel that both of them have a not very frank side. I guess it's a double tsundere (laughs). It's fun to sing songs like Icelandic while also finding a new side of him.

In addition, the song is reminiscent of Iceland's natural beauty and makes you want to go and see it. It also mentions Icelandic features and sightseeing spots such as ice caves and auroras, and of course, the most interesting thing is the "Blue Hot Springs". I think you can go through the travel guides.

Q: How did you feel after actually singing?

Asakura: The previous songs felt like they were an extension of the anime, and there was no breakthrough in the way they were sung. And this time, of course, there are some tsundere feelings that can't be let go, but there are also a lot of emotional exposures. I'm happy to be able to sing as an Icelandic who has grown up a little bit. And unexpectedly, I sang it smoothly, and I felt like I was really integrated with the character. As for Norway, Iceland doesn't usually talk to him, but I feel that it is still an atmosphere of daily communication, so I am relaxed.

Q: Did you have any impressive or hard work during the recording?

Asakura: Compared to the first time I recorded a character song, I think Iceland has grown a bit, and it would be nice if I could put this growth into a song. In the lyrics there are also words such as "what if...... Words? This is not a form of relying on others, but of taking the initiative to communicate with others. That's why I smile (laughs).

There is also the phrase "It is good to keep the rocks and mountains as they are, but it is not good if they are changed". I didn't expect Iceland to think so deeply. So when I sing, I want to show this mature side of him. The difficulty was that I hadn't sung with a character's voice before except Iceland, and this time it was fast-paced, so it was a bit of a hassle from a physiological point of view (laughs). That's why I wondered, "That's how Icelandic people sing?" Then try to get out of the pitch.

Q: Do you have any memorable lyrics or favorite melodies?

Asakura: "A national park that is a world heritage site, a mysterious ice cave, a black sand beach, and a blue warmth, if you want to see it, I'll take you there." The lyrics encapsulate all the charm of Iceland, and I'm excited to see what people think when they hear it.

Q: What about "Come てみれば? What are the highlights of ~オーロラを越えて~?

Asakura: It's a refreshing pop, but there's still a sense of sadness in the chorus. There are also exchanges with Icelanders and Norway. My wish is that when people feel like they're about to end, don't stop until you actually move on to the next song. I can't go into details (laughs).

Also, after I got the accompaniment, I would listen to it all the time, whether I was practicing or going out, so naturally my pace accelerated, and when I arrived at the station, I found that I was sweating all over. If you listen to it while you're working out or exercising, or when you're cleaning, you might be able to increase your productivity by a few percentages (laughs). If you listen to it at home, you want to go out, and you will become active anyway.

Q: The new anime series "The WorldTwinkle" is currently airing, so please tell us about the highlights of the anime and your fighting spirit.

Asakura: When I started recording, my first impression was, "Great!" I'm going to speak as Iceland! "Before, Iceland was a shy kid who would hide behind Norway as soon as he talked to someone, but now he takes the initiative to speak up and chats not only with the Nordic group, but also with other characters. I think that's the attraction. Of course, there is also a plot based on the Nordic five, so stay tuned!

Q: Finally, would you like to say a few words to the fans?

Asakura: After the new series began, I felt that the atmosphere of the whole dubbing scene was very joyful, and I could feel the love of the voice actors and staff for the work. This time there are more characters than in previous series, and there are a lot of unexpected dialogues, so don't miss every episode!

In addition, the CD of Norway and Iceland will also convey the good relationship between the two men, and I would be very happy if everyone could feel the excitement of the Nordic group!

■ Anime "Hetalia TheWorldTwinkle" character song CDVol.5

Norway (Seimi Iwasaki), Iceland (Ayumi Asakura)

Release Date: Friday, September 25, 2015

Price: 1,200 yen + tax

Publisher: FrontierWorksInc.

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