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underoos-shield · 5 years

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little italy

summary: peter’s first day in a foreign country

warning: peter speaking italian

A/N: hello angels, i just rewatched ‘call me by your name’ and this fic series is going to be based on it. i hope you guys like it 💓 also, i’m trying to learn italian this year, so 99% of these translations are through google. please let me know if there are any errors so i can fix them!

so far, italy was beautiful. it was 6 in the afternoon when peter and his class arrived and the sun was setting, casting a beautiful glow on the buildings and architecture around them. it was golden hour in the beautiful city of milan.

peter had to resist the urge to kiss the floor once they made it out of the aircraft. the flight from new york to milan was eight hours too long, and peter had always hated airplanes, anyway. his family had a bad history with the huge machine and he was happy to be back on the ground. but he wasn’t home free yet, they still had an hour bus ride to get from the milan airport to their actual hotel in bergamo, italy.

after grabbing his luggage and typing a quick message to may, peter walked out of the airport and on the bus with the rest of his classmates.

ned was sitting next to the window near the center of the bus and the boy was furiously turning his head left and right as if he was afraid to miss anything. it was only their first day. and they had plenty of time for sightseeing.

they had to return home in a month, which was great, but the trip was expensive and peter was so grateful that may allowed him to go. although may had to take dozens of extra shifts to cover the expenses, it was worth seeing her boy’s excitement.

“what do you want to see first?”. ned breaks the silence as peter reads ‘call me by your name’ by andré aciman. he’s reading the italian version though, wanting to get a better grip on how to properly speak the language. although he’s completed the four years of learning italian at school and has gotten an a+ in every grading period, peter was slightly obsessed with mastering every hobby he had, and his latest one was one of the romance languages.

“not sure”, he says as he keeps his index finger under the sentence he was reading. one of peter’s pet peeves was losing his place, especially when he was reading a good book. “i’m hoping wherever we go has food. i’m starving”, peter laughs. ned agrees, none of the kids had had a proper meal in hours.

they stop at a small cafe in piazza vecchia. it was a beautiful place with amazing architecture. the contarini fountain was displayed at the center of it, decorated with sculptures of lions. peter lifted up his sunglasses until they rested on top of his head, holding back the mocha curls that he had spent a few months growing out. he’s just about to tell ned how happy he is to be there when a sweet voice fills his ears.

“benvenuto in italia!” (welcome to italy!).

the young boy frowns and lifts onto the balls of his feet to see who could have spoken those words, surely not any of his classmates. and although it was a simple sentence, peter had never heard of anything more beautiful in his life.

a young girl with gorgeous skin and silky hair greeted them once they had taken their seats at the small cafe. she was wearing a loose and flowy summer dress that made her appear to be sweet and innocent. her hair was out and slightly frizzy from the light wind. the stunning stranger’s voice was so velvety and peter raised his eyebrows once he got to look at her clearly.

she was so beautiful.

peter slips his way past his classmates to the front of the small crowd. she looked so different from the girls he had seen back home, none of them quite catching his eye the way she has.

her eyes skim over everyone and peter just about loses it when she smiles at him. she takes a moment to look over his appearance, and she admires him in his white t-shirt and beige khakis. he looks so american. his chocolate curls and brown eyes were basic, but attractive and captivating for some reason.

“per favore, lascia che ti faccia fare uno spuntino” (please, let me get you all a snack).

and by a snack, she apparently meant a platter of crackers, fancy cheeses (that even peter had a hard time pronouncing), and a plethora of different meats.

he’s starving, not having real food for almost half-a-day, but peter can only muster a few bites. although peter knows he should been enjoying the moment rather than spending it reading his new book, he can’t help but distance himself from his excited classmates. he likes to be alone sometimes.

“ciao, come va?” (hello. how are you?). music fills peter’s ears once again and it takes him a moment to realize someone was actually speaking to him. peter looks up from his page and is met with a friendly smile. he sits up from his bad posture and smiles back at her as he closes his book, this time not marking his place. he replies, saying he’s doing well, and tries not to get lost in her eyes as she introduces herself.

“sei molto carina” (you are very pretty). a small, shy laugh emerges from her and she tucks her hair behind her ears, allowing peter to see her beautiful face even clearer now. his eyes cast over her nose and mouth and finally her ears. he hums to himself as he sees her non-pierced earlobes...it was just something to notice.

“perché non sei con i tuoi amici?” (why are you not with your friends?). there’s genuine concern in her voice and she’s worried he might have not liked the snack she made for them.

“mi piace essere solo ogni tanto” (i like to be alone sometimes). it was odd to her, she didn’t understand it. she loved being with her friends at all times...maybe it was an american thing?

the girl-peter now knowing she goes by y/n- politely nods. she wasn’t a very judge-y person.

y/n lifts her neatly polished nails on the table, inching closer and closer to peter’s softcover copy. she’s impressed that he’s reading in her native language.

“posso leggerlo con te?” (may i read it with you?).

of course peter said yes. how could he refuse? it would have been foolish of him to say no. and he was happy he didn’t, especially now that her head was lightly resting on his shoulder.

the pair read a full chapter together, perfectly in sync until it got too dark to read. even their breathing evened out to match the other’s.

she left with a soft “ciao” and two kisses on peter’s cheeks. she would be seeing him tomorrow morning along with the rest of his class, they had breakfast planned out.

peter happily leapt into bed once he was in the comfort of his and ned’s hotel room. although his roommate had bid him a good night already, peter still kept his bedside light on. he was caught up in thought about his book, although he couldn’t think of much since most of his memory was filled with thoughts of y/n.

peter shakes his head as he grabs his copy from his bag, realizing he’s forgotten all about the chapter.

andré aciman summed it up perfectly; But it might have started way later than I think without my noticing anything at all... How couldn’t I have known, you ask? I know desire when I see it—and yet, this time, it slipped by completely.

chapter 2

tags! (plz let me know if u want to be removed)

@ephermcls @directionerfae @milkyholland @tomshufflepuff @spideychronicles @unicorntrooper @cloudyyparker @spideyphysics @evrthngblvk @im-marvels-slut @spdys @legendarypenofeating @mrvlfangirl3190 @sarepurdy @bbscx1987 @honeymarvel @emistrash @bisexual-jesus-jr @schyuler @stylemute @shuriwithparker @deviantsupporter @unknwn98 @ohhowiwishtobemrsstyles @unusual-kindred-spirits @bands-and-shietz @midtownhighs @iwillalwaysreturm @softestgalaxy @peterbparkerthsecondblog @tangledmusee @stydia-4-ever @bbyeliza @spideylovely

#peter parker #peter parker fic #peter parker imagine #peter parker x reader #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x you #spider man homecoming #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker fluff #spider man fanfiction #little italy fic #underoosshield #underoos-shield #call me by your name #cmbyn #parkersletters #collab #love her!!!#peter parker au

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ec-sanderssides · 7 years

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The sides watching old kids shows: Morality absolutely loving it and singing along to every cheesy song, Logan pointing out every mistake/stupid question the characters ask, Princey making a list of every quest he NEEDS to go on (based on what the TV characters do) and Anxiety wanting to turn the TV off the whole time

Okay, so sorry this took so long. I didn’t actually watch that much TV as a kid, (my parents weren’t a fan), so this took some more time for me to write, and I’m still not sure I did your awesome prompt justice. I hope you like it anyway though!

“Why are we doing this again?” Anxiety’s voice rang out in the common room, filled with mild irritation.

“Because” Morality replied cheerfully, “Isn’t it fun to relive the fun times of your childhood? Watching these shows brings back all kinds of memories.”

Morality had dragged the rest of the sides into the common room, for what he felt was a well deserved break. They had all been working hard lately, and what better way to relax, than to watch all the TV shows they loved as kids?

“Why would I want to relive childhood?” Anxiety complained, “Middle school was a nightmare, I’d much rather forget it. And anything we watched in elementary is bound to be boring and childish.”

“While that was a rather emotionally charged statement,” Logic cut in, “Anxiety does have somewhat of a point. While we did enjoy these shows previously, that was when we were at a less sophisticated level of thinking. I can’t imagine we’d find them to be very stimulating now.”

“You’re missing the point,” Morality said, determined to get the others on board. “We don’t need to be stimulated or anything like that. Tonight’s all about relaxing, not having to think too hard, and just feel like a kid again.”

“Well I think this sounds like a great idea” Prince boomed out. “Those year were the best. It was a time of imagination and adventure. I remember entering Daydream Mode almost every day. Why did we ever stop living like that?”

“Mostly because you kept doing it when Thomas had homework, and if you’d kept it up, he would have failed math.” Anxiety pointed out. He had flopped down on the couch, apparently resigned to the binge-watching.

“Yes, that was extremely irritating,” Logic agreed. “But regardless of your past habits, I suppose it is logical to take some time to rest. We don’t want to burn out after all. What are we watching first?”

That last question was directed at Morality. He shrugged.

“I don’t really know,“ he explained. “I just manipulated the mindscape enough that the TV will show us shows from when we were younger, but I left it up to chance which ones will come up. It’s more fun that way.”

“And if we hate the show?” Anxiety asked.

“Well, then we just change the channel, silly.” Morality grinned and sat down on the couch between Logic and Anxiety. “Now let’s start.”

The first show was PowerPuff Girls much to Prince’s excitement.

“I loved this show,” he proclaimed. “It gave me some great ideas for quests. Perhaps I should revisit some of them? Oh, and of course, Blossom just reminds me so much myself.”

“Who do you think the rest of us would be?” Morality asked intrigued.

“Well Doom and Gloom over there is obviously Buttercup,” Prince stated confidently.

“Do not involve me in this,” Anxiety said flatly.

Prince continued on as if Anxiety hadn’t said anything. “And for your Morality, you seem like the Bubbles type.”

“I love Bubbles!” Morality grinned. “But wait, who would Logic be?”

Prince and Morality looked over to study Logic, who only raised an eyebrow at them.

“He can be the Professor,” Prince decided. “They’re both brainy, scientist types.”

“I wouldn’t really consider the Profess much of a scientist.” Logic said dryly. “After all the entire premise of the show is based on his poor lab safety skills. Well, that and a ridiculous nursery rhyme about what constitutes human beings. I can assure you that what humans are really made of is-“

“Stop.” Prince commanded. “We don’t need to hear it, just watch the show.”

Logic frowned at that, so Morality hastily cut in. “It’s not that it isn’t interesting,” he insisted, “It’s just that the point of this was not to think. So maybe just sit back and enjoy it, silliness and all, ok?”

Logic sighed, but then nodded, sinking back into the couch cushion. They watched a few more episodes of PowerPuff Girls before Morality decided to change the channel. He wanted to revisit as many shows as possible, and he’d only be able to keep the other on the couches for so long. Anxiety was already asking when he could leave.

“Seriously,” he said, from where he had now draped himself over the back of the couch. “I’ve watched TV with you now. I’ve relived childhood. Can I go now?”

“Aww, just give it a few more shows, kiddo?” Morality begged, looking at Anxiety plaintively.

Anxiety gave a long-suffering sigh. “Fine,” he muttered.

Morality beamed at him, and changed the channel. It turned to.. the Teletubbies?

Prince was staring at the TV in mild horror, Logic with confusion, and Anxiety fell off the couch.

“NO!” Anxiety said, “I’m not doing this, no. Turn it off. Turn it off!”

“It, ah, it can’t be that bad,” Morality said weakly.

“No, I think it can be,” Prince said, “This is one show we don’t need to rewatch.”

“They do seem much more disconcerting now then they did when we were children,” Logic added.

“Exaclty,” Anxiety said, having emerged from behind the couch to snatch the remote from Morality’s hand. “This time, I’m changing the channel, maybe we’ll get something good this time.”

Batman: The Animated Series flickered to life on TV.

“There,” Anxiety said, settling back on the couch. “Finally something decent.”

“Not a bad choice, Hot Topic,” Prince said thoughtfully. “For once we have similar taste. While it’s not Disney, there’s nothing like a good superhero story. And I’m not surprised that you like Batman. The two of you go well together, all dark and brooding.”

“Just shut up and watch the show,” Anxiety grumbled, tugging his hood up and over his face, his cheeks slightly red.

Just as Batman made a particularly daring leap, Logic spoke up again.

“You know there’s no way he would be able to do that,” he said. “The physics alone make it impossible.”

“It’s superheroes,” Anxiety replied, “As a general rule, they tend to throw physics out the window.”

“Well, yes, but normally that’s due to various improbable superpowers. But Batman is supposed to be entirely human. As such, he should be adhering to the laws of physics.”

“You know I bet I could do that,” Prince cut in, staring at the TV thoughtfully.

Logic looked at him in askance. “Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve been saying. The physics alone make it-“

“No, no” Anxiety cut him off. “Let him do this, I want to see Epic Fail fall on his face.”

“Oh, really, you think so? Well, I will certainly show you,” Prince said, rising from seat.

“How about we just finish watching the show, kiddos,” Morality said, knowing all too well what would happen if he let them continue. “And, Roman, if you really want to, maybe after you can try out some Batman moves. So long as you have some safety precautions, like mattresses, maybe some pillow armor.”

“Fine,” Anxiety and Prince muttered, both sitting back down on the couch. They continued to watch a few more episodes, but Morality could see that Prince was getting antsy, and on the verge of leaping into Daydream Mode.

Eager to prevent any death-defying stunts, Morality decided to change the channel before Batman gave him any more ideas.

“Pokemon!” he squealed in delight. “You guys it’s Pokemon!”

“Yes, we can see that,” Logic deadpanned, but Morality could tell he was pleased by the small smile tugging on his lips.

As the theme song began, Morality prepared himself. “I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was,” he sang out, motioning for the others to join in.

Prince was quick to jump at the opportunity, joining him on the very next line.

“To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause.”

Morality was all but bouncing now as he and Prince harmonized. Next him Anxiety was rolling his eye, and Logic only looked bemused, but Morality was quick to nudge them, begging them to sing along with his eyes.

Logan shook his head in exasperation, but still came in on the line, “Each Pokemon to understand the power that’s inside.” His voice was a little more halting and unsure than the other sides, but he didn’t stop singing.

Now Anxiety was the only one still silent, with the other three now staring at him expectantly. He stared resolutely at a wall, refusing to get drawn in, but he understated the determination of the others. Prince leapt off his seat, standing directly in front of Anxiety, impossible to ignore, as he leaned in, getting right in Anxiety’s face. Morality was now shaking Anxiety’s shoulder, and even Logic had leaned over to stare at him pointedly.

In the face of such an assault, Anxiety’s resolve cracked. Sounding extremely put upon, he sang, “Oh, you’re my best friend, in a world we must defend.”

The sides kept singing, their voices weaving in and out of each other as they sang the song from their childhood. And despite any initial reservations, they all seemed happy to do so. Even Anxiety had stopped looking so grumpy, and had a small smirk on his face.

As the last “Pokemon!” rang out through the common room, Morality could feel himself grinning widely. He knew this would be a great idea!

Bonus:

“You know, Anxiety, despite being an emo nightmare, your voice really isn’t that bad. Not as magnificent as mine, of course, but I really should gt you to sing more often. It may help improve that dark demeanor of yours.”

A pillow flew out and smacked Prince in the face.

“Shut it!”

#sanders sides #patton sanders #logan sanders #roman sanders #virgil sanders #ask #my fic #fanfic #I really hope this is ok #it was fun to write #but also kind of hard

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kuuxkat · 7 years

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[EN]Seiyuu Bible 2017 - Interview with Uchida Aya

Translated and Typeset by: @kuuxkat / QC by: ~mega @ #teamonibe

Originally Sourced from: 可丽饼小王子 here

Original TL by: 阿暄校对 Original QC by: 乔君

Images and Typeset by：鸡蛋仔小王子

DO NOT USE THE SUBS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES!

I would like to thank the CN TL for taking the time and effort to clarify multiple areas in the interview. They are a great bunch so if you know CN, definitely do follow them for more content for Ucchi

Contents under the Cut!

Interviewer: “Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc” Announcer Yoshida Hisanori

The first thought after seeing the proposal for <LoveLive!> was “This is so interesting!”

Relying on her determination to fight hard in the front lines of being a Voice Actress and a Singer,

Uchida Aya!

If we are talking about Uchida Aya-san, as expected she is most famous for her performance in the hugely popular <LoveLive!> as the moe-type, healing character with that trademark ponytail: Minami Kotori! In one bound she leapt straight into the spotlight for a huge amount of fans by being a member of μ’s. She took part in 2015’s edition of <NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen>, and afterwards took the stage of the Tokyo Dome and hosted the Final Live which was held for two consecutive days.

Actually, after taking it step by step, Uchida Aya-san's solo music career had started to pay off. Her first single <アップルミント>(Apple Mint) was released in 2014, and in February 2016 her two concept albums (Sweet Tears/Bitter Kiss) both achieved good results in the weekly Oricon Top 10. (Ranked 8/9). And later in August 2016, she will have hold her own solo concert at Nippon Budokan. Achieving such results barely two years after her solo debut is really astonishing…!

With an appearance similar to the gentle and generous Kotori-chan, Uchida-san turns out to be super interesting when she speaks, (contrasting with her appearance.)

Her true colors show a more overconfident self, often compared by others to a stubborn child

(TL Note: The CN TL mentioned that the original context was of a “利かん坊” An incorrigible child?)

The atmosphere of the interview was very energetic, and the duration of the interview ended up being double what was estimated initially… so, the contents of this jam-packed interview will begin now...!

I want to see Totoro!

Yoshida: Among the many candidates to be interviewed among the Voice Actresses, this time I told my superiors: “You definitely have to ask Uchida-san to come.”

Ucchi: Thank you very much.

Yoshida: But personally, what I really want to know is whether. “Uchida Aya being called an [unruly child]” is really the truth (laughs). But in summary, I feel that you aren’t a “yes-man” who is lacking of opinions.

Ucchi: I’m definitely not (laughs).

Yoshida: Interviews with guests who take the initiative are the most interesting after all. If it is possible, I hope that we would be able to get a story as good as Yazawa Eikichi-san’s. (TL Note: Yazawa Eikichi is a very important figure in Japan popular music.)

Ucchi: I wonder if that’ll happen.

Yoshida: Speaking of which, this interview isn’t limited to your experiences since you became a voice actress, but will also contain contents from your childhood. Currently Uchida-san is a tourism special envoy for the Gunma Prefecture (1), that means, you are born in Gunma? Did you love anime, manga since you were young?

Ucchi: I already liked them at that time. When I was young, I especially liked to watch <Kiki’s Delivery Service> and <My Neighbour Totoro>, I kept playing dress up with my sister with the characters from Totoro. My mother told me, at that time I played as Mei and my sister was Satsuki (TL Note: The main protagonist of <My Neighbour Totoro>), and we memorized all the lines. Other characters like Kanta’s Grandmother we left it to our mother. But mother kept getting the wrong lines; it seems that she kept on being corrected by me and my sister with: “It’s not like that! At ‘that’ part it should be like ‘this’”. Each word and line can’t be wrong. I kept rewatching the taped program <金曜ロードショー> (TL Note: A program on Japan’s NTV where they play Animation related programs every Friday.) to the extent that the tape got damaged.

Yoshida: At that time you haven’t thought of becoming a Voice Actress right?

Ucchi: In comparison, actually I had more thoughts of “I want to see Totoro” then. Like going around picking up acorns, using a piece of fuki leaf as an umbrella (TL Note: In the movie, Totoro carried a huge leaf as an umbrella), if I discover a circular hole in a log, I’ll poke my head in to look for small Totoro’s etc.

When I was fourth grade, <Pokemon> was released, and at that time anime and games were a part of life that appears normally, but after I entered junior high there was a huge shift. Classmates in class would be reading anime magazines, and so I got to know some knowledge related to the subject. Before then I didn’t even know Anime would be broadcast late at night.

In addition, besides what I had read before: <週刊少年ジャンプ/Weekly Shounen Jump>, </なかよしNakayoshi> and <りぼん/Ribon>, I got to know from them that there are other Manga magazines.

Yoshida: It’s just like knowing that in this world there are companies out there which are like Square Enix… something like that? (TL Note: Square Enix is a Japanese video game developer, publisher, and distribution company. It also has a publishing department which serialises <Saiyuki> and other series under its name.)

Ucchi: Everyone were watching <Prince of Tennis>, <Bleach>, <ONE PIECE> and related Jump series. At that time I went over to a childhood friend’s house to play, as that child’s mother likes them too, so their home is filled with Manga. I’ll go there every day to read manga, and it was there that I first encountered the series <Saiyuki>(2). It is especially popular among the girls, so I borrowed it to read, I didn’t think it’ll be that interesting, in the end I was totally obsessed with it. With that as the trigger, afterwards I even found out that the project have fan clubs too. I previously knew that Idol Groups have fan clubs, I didn’t think that <Saiyuki>’s anime would have a fan club too, and after joining it you could even attend a meet and greet with the voice actors… My friend said: “I will be going, you come along too”, and just like that I was dragged there too.

Yoshida: Who were the Voice Actors that attended that event?

Ucchi: Hoshi Sōichiro、 Ishida Akira、Hirata Hiroaki、Seki Toshihiko, these few. When they entered, the entire place rang with screams of support fit for an idol.

Yoshida: It definitely would be like how you described it.

Ucchi: Although I did watch Anime and Manga, but when I actually saw in person a voice actor reading the lines live, I still couldn’t help but feel affected by it. And they really looked like they were one with their characters. Afterwards I borrowed from my friend <Seiyuu Grand prix>, and I started paying attention to the names in the cast list at the end of Anime.

Yoshida: So at that time you started having interest in the career of a Voice Actress?

Ucchi: In Anime Magazines you’ll be able to read ads on training centres and selections, and I got to know that there were ways to become voice actors, and it’s not like how entertainers/actors would be scouted out by talent scouts out on the streets. As previously, I always thought that voice acting wasn't for ordinary people like us, but is a career only for those who were given that talent by the heavens, so after knowing that one could become a voice actor by studying, it’s the first time that I realized the truth (of the voice actor profession).

Yoshida: It felt like you were being tied to the world of Voice Actors huh?

Ucchi: When I was in my third year in junior high, I signed up and joined a selection that was published in <Animage>. If I won first place, I would be able to obtain a chance to study for free at “日ナレ/Nichi Nare” (日本ナレーション演技研究所) (TL Note: It’s a voice actor training school that is owned by Arts Vision Incorporated, many famous VAs studied here). After I passed the local preliminaries, I set off for the Nationals.

Yoshida: Did you go by yourself?

Ucchi: I only told my family, and I went by myself to take on the challenge. From there I had to go through the Kanto convention before squeezing into the Nationals, alright?

Yoshida: That’s amazing! Did you have any acting experience before that?

Ucchi: As at that time I only took part in the children’s local theatre club in my hometown, so I was very surprised at the result. In the end when I finally won at the Kanto Convention, I started to feel: “Eh? Maybe I could do this?”....

Yoshida: So the final outcome was?

Ucchi: I wasn’t even in the running for the winner or the runner up, just as I was starting to get depressed, I heard: “This time we’re giving away a special prize,” and my name was read out.

Yoshida: Oh Oh!!

Ucchi: But as it was a prize decided in the spur of the moment, so there weren’t any additional prizes for it. Even if I did win an opportunity to be an extra (ガヤ) and the privilege to take part in the recording of an Anime, but at that time no matter what I really wanted to win the chance to study at a voice actor school for free. After the selection was over and as I was interviewed, I even said words like: “I am very resigned that I couldn’t win first place” then.

At the summer vacation before I was promoted to high school, I got notified about the opportunity to take part in a recording as an extra, but at that time I had already clearly said that I will attend a volunteer activity that was organized in town, I was taking younger children to a camp and there were clashes in the time table, so I had to push away the recording session as an extra.

Yoshida: So that is the project that you were unable to debut from. After attending high school, were there any preparatory works that you did to become a voice actor?

Ucchi: I had forgotten all about that.

Yoshida: Did you attend a normal high school? (TL Note: There are differences between a vocational based high school and the traditional ones)

Ucchi: Yep, as the uniforms were very cute. So with this as the deciding factor, none of my friends in high school were from the same junior high as I was. At that time I joined the tea ceremony club, but I didn’t have much passion for it. In comparison, I was even more willing to take part in a volunteer group that had been active for 30 over years in my city, at that time I was very passionate about the activities there. And when I go over, I could meet with my childhood friends from other high schools, I was especially happy. So I totally forgot about all the things related to voice actresses.

Additional Notes:

1) Gunma’s special tourism envoy for the entire Gunma Prefecture. Ucchi hosts a FM Radio station in Gunma with the title [うちださんのおうっちー] and [内田彩のおひるのほーむるーむ] - a music program that is centred on Anisong.

2) Saiyuki: A series created by Minekura Kazuya, it was serialised in <G-Fantasy>(Square Enix). Its characters are very bishounen like, and it makes use of many whacky elements, and as such is hugely popular with girls from junior high onwards. It was first animated on 1999 in an OVA and following which, a TV series and Movie.

Graduation and attending voice actress school

Yoshida: So from when did you start on the road towards a voice actress again?

Ucchi: It’s on the eve of graduation; I was looking through the information of many different specialized schools. For the beautician and costume design schools, I heard that there were people who after becoming ‘office ladies’, went to take on jobs as a manicurist or designers. If that was the case, I felt that there isn’t a need to rush to study there. What I wanted was to take on a challenge that I “had to do it now”, so I went to enrol in a specialized school for voice actors. As I didn’t have enough money to live by myself, so I had to take a roughly three hours one way journey from my old home in Gunma to attend school.

Yoshida: If that’s the case, you surely would have took on many part time jobs right?

Ucchi: I did take on quite many of them. I don’t need to talk about weekdays, but in the weekends I would also be sent to some events too, talking on a handset and all that.

Yoshida: Did you know Miyamori Sachiko-san(3) from that specialized school?

Ucchi: Yes. Our personalities match very well, so we became very good friends.

Yoshida: Currently the two of you are very active in the industry; it’s really quite an incredible chance that let the two of you meet. So from that, I feel that you would have started taking part in auditions along with taking classes in the specialized school, right?

Ucchi: I didn’t do that… in my first year I had the image of an honest and studious model student; I did my best to get the privilege of having lower school fees. Although I did my best at school, but that didn't mean I could debut, as the moment when I thought I could, I'd be informed that the operation of the specialized schools had failed... I didn’t have a choice but to transfer to another training centre, but that too closed down...

Yoshida: It never rains but pours huh?

Ucchi: In the specialized school you could see many different agencies’ recruitment qualifications, and among them there was one company, an agency who was recruiting fresh candidates. That would be JTB Entertainment, and that was also the agency of Ogata Megumi-senpai's (Voice of Ikari Shinji from <Neon Genesis Evangelion>). After seeing the recruitment notice I thought that this agency could be a nice choice.

(TL Note: Ucchi is referring to JTB Entertainment Academy which was founded in 2007 and she was one of the pioneer batches of students)

Yoshida: Why was that?

Ucchi: Because I felt that if I entered a big company as I am now, being able to stand out among hundreds of other applicants and being selected by the agency would be quite difficult. Since that was the case, then joining a new agency that's just starting out, thirsty for talent, wouldn't that be an opportunity in its own right? If I couldn’t make it even in that environment, that means that I didn’t even have an ounce of talent in this area, so let’s just forget it.

And since the senior that I admired was in that agency too, as I thought about that I decided: Let’s just go there.

At that time the teachers in the specialized school did advise me to go for other different kinds of agencies, but in the end I still decided that I wish to go to JTB. And with regards to the “Going to a newly founded agency, it’s really a big gamble.” stuff like that, I turned a deaf ear to them.

Yoshida: At such a crucial time, you made the decision just by yourself huh?

Ucchi: It’s because there were children who were younger than I am who were enrolling one by one into the school, I was feeling a little anxious as I thought to myself that: “But I’m starting from zero again, huh?” and also at that time I was putting my all working to earn some money. So I moved to Saitama, and I firmed my resolve to work hard and move towards my goal.

The realization on the live set of <おでんくん/Oden-kun>

Yoshida: After that you finally debuted right? What was your project debut?

Ucchi: My debut project was <おでんくん/Oden-kun>.(4) Just by chance this project’s sound director Nagasaki Yukio was invited to JTB to teach, and he approached me whether I could do the voice of a passer-by, so I debuted then. This project gathered Tanaka Naoki of ココリコ Kokoriko (ココリコ Kokoriko is a Japanese Comedy Duo consisting of Endō Shōzō and Tanaka Naoki) and many other individuals who weren’t voice actors all, taking part in it. Everyone were all smiles on site, and as they conversed finished the recording. All of these happened in front of my eyes, it was so fun and so interesting to the extent that I couldn’t help but be all smiles the entire time. But, I wasn’t able to finish my voice acting the way I imagined I could… The professional actors could actually create characters which were so lively and interesting, akin to giving them life. Even the few, who weren’t voice actors, also managed this. It’s because they were actors and actresses who had trained themselves in their own technique that allowed them to be able to make every line from the characters seem so interesting. At that time I thought in my heart that compared to them, I couldn’t grasp the trick of it… I deeply understood the harsh reality of the world of the voice actors. I even started beginning to feel that perhaps I didn’t like performing, I wasn’t sure where my hard work was leading to, and I was a little lost.

Yoshida: You just started out and encountered such negative thoughts? But after this you did receive another job right?

Ucchi: Yes, I took part in <Munto>(5) a project by Kyoto Animation. The producer for the <Suzumiya Haruhi> and <Lucky Star> series Itō atsushi-san inquired about me after hearing my voice sample. It was my first time having a role as a semi-permanent character, I was cast as the role of the protagonists’ brother.

Yoshida: Were you cast as a boy?

Ucchi: Yes, as a boy called Chikara-kun. And along with Aizawa Mai who was cast as the main protagonist and Shiraishi Minoru we performed together in the Web Radio for this Animation. The recording was once every week, and each performance was only for one or two lines. But I was really happy to be able to participate in this project together as one of the hosts for the radio. But as I wasn’t very used to conversing, I was criticized by Lantis producer Saito Shigeru-sensei to say more. (TL Note: The broadcast’s distributor was Lantis, and the Director was Saito Shigeru) In the broadcast program I was being forced to take part in improvised performances, and there were many scenarios where I had to make up replies on the spot, and that was extremely fun.

Yoshida: I originally thought that Uchida-san would be the type suited to such types (impromptu performances), it looks like it’s actually more of it being stimulated out of you, huh?

Ucchi: I accumulated lots of very precious experience indeed.

Footnotes:

(3)Miyamori Sachiko (宮森幸子), current stage name is Miyamori Seira (宮森セーラ). Her current agency is IKUSHIMA PLANNING INC. She debuted as part of the Idol Seiyuu Group “Baby POP School” as one of its new members (2006). She is currently active in the industry as a VA, in stage plays and advertisements.

(4) <おでんくん/Oden-kun>, is based of the original concept of the author Lily Franky’s <おでんくん> (Published by Shogakukan Inc.). Since 2005 it was broadcasted on NHK’s educational TV Channel (Currently NHK Educational TV) as <天才ビットくん/Genius Oden-kun> and subsequently released as <天才てれびくんMAX ビットワールド/Genius Oden-kun MAX Bitworld>.

(5) <Munto> is a project made by Kyoto Animation. The main character Yumemi Hidaka is a junior high student who is able to see the floating islands in the sky. One day a celestial, MUNTO who claims to come from the heavens appears and tells her: “Please save the two worlds…” Ucchi is cast as the main protagonist's younger brother, Hidaka Chikara-kun. The OVA was broadcasted in 2009.

The first time being casted as a main character in an original series.

Yoshida: Afterwards, finally you performed as the main protagonist in <KIDDY GiRL-AND> (6).

Ucchi: That’s right. This time I was cast as a girl. It is the sequel to an earlier series <Kiddy Grade>, but it didn’t have a base to work with, it was an original project. The characters too were also all new. Previously I was very uneasy, but after finishing the recording for one episode, the original creator rated it as “Straight up suitable”, and so I became more relaxed.

Yoshida: Who were the producers then?

Ucchi: This project’s director was Gotoh Keiji, and the sound director was Satō Jun'ichI. I grew up with <Sailor Moon> which was directed by Satō-sensei, so to be able to read lines under his guidance, to me it’s really like I owed something a great favor in some way, it really was just incredible.

Yoshida: Although one might say that it’s being given a favor, but at a crucial turning point, it was you yourself who made that decision decisively. In that project you released a song for the first time too right?

Ucchi: Yes. I sang the animation’s opening song, and released a CD. And it is because of this project, that I was able to take part in an event for the first time; and at that time it was my first time wearing the same clothes as the character. It really was a project that allowed me to take in lots of experience.

Yoshida: Before that you liked fashion, right?

Ucchi: That’s right. When I was attending the specialized school, there were classes relating to fashion. But at that time the teacher told me: “Uchida already has her own “Uchida World”, so there isn’t much that needed to be taught”. It’s the same for hair styles too; I modelled for a beauty salon at Harujuku. I challenged the Wolf Cut and other advant-garde styles, and there were incidents where I couldn’t take part in auditions due to that. (TL Note: ウルフカット/Wolf cut is a hairstyle where your hair crown is cut circular similar to a mushroom shape, but the back of the hair is cut in slightly thinner layers. As the layer of hair at the back of the nape resembles that of a wolf, it is named as such.)

Yoshida: So you weren’t able to attend auditions due to problems with your hairstyle?

Ucchi: It seems that those with straight and long black hair, those with the delicate feel would be better. So there would have been incidents like this where due to my own wilfulness I would muck things up.

Yoshida: Just in passing, you paired today’s outfit by yourself too?

Ucchi: Yes. As it’s an interview by <The Nikkei>, there would be young adult readers, so I tried a combination that’s more relaxing.

(6) <KIDDY GiRL-AND> Is original animation set in a sci-fi world in the future where human beings had colonised space and is the sequel to <Kiddy Grade>. Uchida-san was casted as the protagonist Ascoeur. This Animation ran from 2009-2010.

The possibilities of <LoveLive!>

Yoshida: Your encounter with <LoveLive!>, it was after <KIDDY GiRL-AND> ended right?

Ucchi: Yes. I had been under the care of Lantis’s producer Saito Shigeru-sensei before, as I had this layer of relationship it led to me talking with him about the <LoveLive!> project, finally I was given the chance to appear in it. And before that during <KiDDY GiRL-AND> I had experience singing.

Yoshida: From right at the beginning did you know that this project would be releasing an animation?

Ucchi: It’s not like that, at the beginning there was only one proposal plan. I had gotten and finished reading a file that had the contents of: “The Minami Kotori that Uchida-san would be performing as would be like this”, but at that time I already felt that this proposal was very interesting. I originally did really like AKB48, and had gone to the AKB theatre at the Don Quijote Akihabara Outlet. (TL Note: There is an AKB theatre on the 8th floor of the Don Quijote Akihabara Outlet.)

Yoshida: Did you go there to see a performance too?

Ucchi: I did. During the early days, girls just need to spend 500 yen and they can watch one performance.

Yoshida: That was the time where they (AKB48) started being well known right?

Ucchi: On the streets there were trucks driving around which were printed with “AKB48”. I felt curious, so I went with my close friends, in the end after watching one performance I was in idol hell sank so deep that I couldn’t extract myself free…even if it was just the performance itself, it was terrific. No matter the outfit or the dance were very cute. So after receiving this project <LoveLive!>, rather say that I wish to be an idol, why not say that the fact that I was being able to be casted as an idol that made me especially happy.

Yoshida: You really like idols huh, after performing as an idol anime character, you caused explosive repercussions in society didn’t you?

Ucchi: It was like that, yes. But from the beginning the staffs has been very optimistic. At the time when they were first selling the PV, it gave a feel like the girls really existed. They blurred the names of the voice actresses, and they stopped me from releasing news that (I was a voice actress in this program.) But at the start only slightly more than 400 CDs were sold.

Yoshida: Indeed...

Ucchi: Afterwards it was revealed at <Dengeki G’s Magazine> (7). I was very happy to be able to take part in a planned project of this particular magazine. (Previously serialized in this magazine) <Sister Princess> is a project that I have always followed since junior high, the first item I bought from Animate was also one of its side-goods.

I had to take part in a project called <Baby Princess> in almost the same period as <LoveLive!>. When I met Kimino Sakurako-sensei when I was working there, I even implored her to sign an autograph for me. So, if <LoveLive!> was a project that is planned to be serialized in the hands of Kimino Sakurako-sensei, it definitely would be especially interesting! At the very beginning I had a very different expectation about it,

Ucchi: When <LoveLive!> held it’s very first event, I didn’t know how many individuals would attend, I was extremely uneasy. At the end I heard that the all 80 seats of the event grounds were all filled up, it really shocked me. At that time, I even said words like: “For the people who attended this event here today, I will work hard so they would be able to say in the future that “I was one of the people who had attended this event!”..

Yoshida: And you went to perform at Tokyo Dome, so that is really incredible. But, it’s not just performing for the voices, even you yourself would have to sing and dance right?

Ucchi: Yes, but I guess it does suit me, right? As I had liked AKB48 before after all. Kotori-chan belongs to a type that has lots of girlish charm, so I looked at AKB48 member Kojima Haruna-chan and used her as a reference. But rather perform by myself on the stage, in the end creating a character through performing turns out to be more fun.

Yoshida: Whether it’s performing a character, or as an idol you seem to enjoy it both. So naturally the sense of your distance between you and your projects was unusually good right? Speaking of which, your music activities could be called smooth sailing too. After debuting as a singer for just two years, you have already released 4 albums; it really makes one feel at awe. And finally, you will be performing a concert at Nippon Budokan.

Ucchi: I, right at the start didn’t want to debut as a singer at all.

Yoshida: And why is that?

Ucchi: Having a solo event with the name “Uchida Aya”, it makes me feel that it’s unsophisticated/dumpy. I have always been grumbling about how “It could clearly be part of a group or as a member of a band, right?” even till the end. But when I recovered my wits, I discovered that the die was cast.

Footnote:

(7) Dengeki G’s Magazine, the first issue was released at 1992, published under ASCII Mediaworks under Kadokawa Dwango Corporation’s Umbrella. It is a magazine that focuses on news for Anime and Games. <LoveLive!>’s manga started serializing here, <Sister Princess> and subsequently <Baby Princess> which Uchida-san took part in are both original projects headed and designed by novelist Kimino Sakurako. Kimino Sakurako herself is part of <LoveLive!> as well.

Increasing comrades during music activities

Yoshida: The Album Company is ZERO-A huh? Having a producer like Kudo Tomomi, she can be said to be one of the leading individuals in the industry and everyone knows her. So for Kudo-san to select Uchida-san from the entire group of voice actresses from <LoveLive!>, I find it very fitting, and very interesting.

Ucchi: Ah well, I have started activities without even realizing it. From my first meeting with the staff, the time frame between the first album and the second album was especially quick too… I have released 4 albums so far, but single record releases are still zero. And there haven’t been any tie-up projects. (Correct up till August 2016)

Yoshida: Even without a tie-up, you still managed to surge all the way up the Oricon charts right? That’s very amazing! Even if you have results like these, are you still nursing an attitude of unwillingness?

Ucchi: Yep. I’m not really creating music by myself, I’m just simply singing after all. It’s like all the products were stuck with the label of “Uchida Aya”. Would that cause problems for my image? I really worried about it a great deal, I even cried because of it.

Yoshida: But, looking at it now, you’ll discover that regardless of those worries, haven’t the audiences accompanied Uchida-san all the way up till now?

Ucchi: I’m an individual who before doing things is extremely cautious and prudent. But once I actually started doing it, no matter what the result is, I’ll always be happy. With Kudo-san as the leader, the entire staff organized itself to be a very spectacular team; I really hope to let them enjoy being a part of it too.

Yoshida: Preparing with an attitude of pessimism but when actually doing it, meeting it with optimism huh?

Ucchi: That’s right. When I’m with <LoveLive!>, as I’m one among many in the group, it should be okay if I do my part right; but in an individual event, one would have to take everything into consideration. The staff members have put in lots due to me, so I feel that I myself have to work hard too. But from the results, by the time I recovered my wits I already have comrades with me.

Yoshida: In summary it feels like a private firm where the people around you had forced you to the position of president...

Ucchi: You might have hit the nail on the head. It’s like I received an assessment of “Osh, President! You singing was great.”, “Then I will sing a little then.” - like that. If one isn’t careful, perhaps there would be a feel that I’m being forced to sing (laughs).

Yoshida: You have the credentials to be a president alright? Those who become presidents are those who are fighting for many individuals, and as you can make the final decision yourself, you have to combine both perseverance and determination.

Ucchi: Thank you for your praise. First of all I have to work hard to prepare for the live at the Budokan (Happening on August 2016).

Footnote:

(8)ZERO-A Corporation is a company that was specially set up specially for Anime Music and the Voice Actor market. Besides Uchida Aya, the producer Kudo Tomomi is also in charge of the seiyuu team “petit milady” comprising of Yuuki Aoi and Taketatsu Ayana.

#seiyuu #ucchi #my translations #translations #seiyuu bible #articles #teamonibe

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